GladYouCame (2 page)

The strong-willed, determined woman had been set on healing
after her experience with a sadistic Dom. Watching the couple fall for one
another had only made Dade more aware of his feelings for what he couldn’t
have.

What he shouldn’t want.

After Beth left he rolled up the plans and returned them to
the carrying tube. He would start really digging into the details a little more
in the morning. The conversation with Beth had soured his mood and he wasn’t up
to dealing with the rebuild just yet. No matter how much he was looking forward
to seeing Sanctuary rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

He couldn’t say he missed the warehouse much since the
explosion three years ago thanks to Alex Conner’s psychotic ex-wife. In a fit
of jealous rage she’d snapped the gas line and started a fire that had leveled
Sanctuary, the surrounding buildings and nearly killed both Alex and Elena.

In some way, it was good because the building held an odd
assortment of memories. Lately most of them hadn’t been of the pleasant
variety. Especially after Beth had been kidnapped and held hostage there by a
former pseudo-Dom who took pleasure in torturing her.

This little town tucked into the shadows of the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Virginia was never short in the drama department.

Locking his workshop, he made his way to the main house to
find Grant Lee, the contractor he’d hired for the renovations, was just
cleaning up. Dade had meant to have the work done when he’d first bought Old
Man Reever’s ranch several years ago but it had never been a priority. Now that
he’d gotten around to it he was regretting the decision to wait as long as he
had.

This job was going to cost a small fortune. And time he
didn’t have.

“How’s it looking?”

“Most of the work seems like it’ll go along fairly smoothly.
But I did locate a few areas that could be a problem. There’s a lot more
termite damage under those floorboards in the main room than I expected. Found
some under the master bedroom too.”

Dade winced, thinking about how much he’d already agreed to
pay Grant’s company. “How much more is that going to cost me?”

“Nothing. I suspected as much when I gave you the initial
estimate. Old Man Reever didn’t exactly take care of this place for the past
forty years. So I figured I’d encounter a few surprises along the way.”

“Oh good, then you’re only partially raking me over the
coals.”

Grant laughed, shaking his head. “Sounds about right. Two
ways I can go about this. Work room by room like we have been and just
generally make a nuisance of myself for the next six months. Or we can gut the
whole place, shore up the structure so we meet county building codes and do the
build-outs in two or three months. As long as we don’t find any more surprises.
Given the fact this whole area was a battlefield during the Civil War, there’s
no telling.”

“By the gleam in your eyes I think I already know the answer
you’d prefer.”

“Would be a hell of a lot easier just to be able to gut
everything and start from scratch.”

Dade didn’t have a lot of work scheduled over the next few
weeks, mostly because his creative brain had shut down. So finding another
place to live for a few months wasn’t as disruptive to his schedule as it
appeared.

If a customer placed a rush order he could always fire up
the oven at the workshop without interfering with Grant’s work. He’d built his
custom glassmaking company, Meltdown, from nothing in the backyard of the tiny
house he used to share with Tanner, so he’d worked in less than ideal
conditions. It would be a while before he needed to start on the work for
Sanctuary.

At least a month depending on when the building permits were
actually issued.

Finding a place to live for that long would prove to be the
hardest obstacle. He didn’t relish the idea of moving into a hotel or The
Quilted Cow, a bed and breakfast in the heart of town, for that long. Too cozy.
He’d gotten use to the dozen acres he’d been surrounded with for the past four
years.

Besides, too many damn tourists in those places for his
liking.

He liked his solitude just fine.

“If you can give me a few days to find somewhere, that’d be
great.”

Grant tipped his gray Stetson. “We’ll start work at the
front of the house. Should give you about a week before we start the demo in
the master.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

* * * * *

Dade quickly realized that Grant’s plan sucked to high hell
when he realized he’d forgotten to bargain for the kitchen. That had been gone
since day one of the demo, which meant he’d been living off Waffle House
specials for the past six days.

Elena may love the place but the greasy offerings had
started churning up the acid in his stomach. Popping antacids wasn’t how he’d
wanted to spend his nights. Home-cooked food had never sounded so decadent.
Which is exactly why he’d fired up his motorcycle and ridden into town tonight
to visit one of his favorite places, the Southern Ridge Grille.

Genevieve Fitzgerald’s restaurant.

A Friday night tradition, his mouth was already watering at
the thought of diving into a large bowl of whatever soup she had on special for
the night. He hadn’t seen the couple since their traditional dinner with their
group of friends. And kept telling himself it wasn’t because he was avoiding
them. That he was simply busy with packing up the rest of his belongings and
trying to find a place to live for the next few months.

In truth, he knew better.

In truth, he knew he couldn’t keep up this kind of behavior
because someone was likely to get suspicious. Maintaining his normal routine
was the best, if most painful, option.

Kara greeted him with a warm smile as he stepped through the
door. “Hello, Mr. Ellingson. I have your table in the back waiting for you. If
you’ll just follow me.”

The efficient hostess was off in a blur. As he followed, he
heard the quiet buzz of whispers behind him. He wondered what the hottest piece
of news about him on the gossip circuit was.

Most of their babbling was lies thought up by people who had
too much time on their hands. Or people who had nothing of value going on in
their lives. They never ceased to amuse him with the level of items they
conjured. Unless their grandiose fabrications were hurtful. Usually he didn’t
let the noise get to him but since the latest round had involved those he’d
cared about, he’d spoken up and told the intrusive busybodies to mind their own
business. His loud barking had shut down the chatter about him and any of the
renters at the warehouse for the past few years. At least that he was aware of.
The signs of construction at the site had obviously gotten the gossips chomping
at the bit again.

“I’ll tell Mrs. Fitzgerald that you’re here.”

“Thank you, Kara.” He did his best to try not to appear
agitated at the thought of such special treatment at the restaurant. It wasn’t
something new. Whenever Genevieve’s friends came through the door they were
treated to first-class service from the staff. But after talking again to Beth
earlier in the week, he felt as though everyone knew his secret.

That’s absurd, you ass. Latest town gossip probably just
has you bedding a few tourists. Same shit, different day.

Truth was, he’d been seeing less and less of the few
submissive lovers he’d always kept in the wings. In fact he couldn’t remember
the last time he’d actually asked anyone to join him at Sanctuary before the
building had been blown apart.

He’d once talked to Ryan about the fact BDSM just wasn’t
giving him the thrill he sought anymore. He knew it had to do more with the
company he chose to keep within the confines of the lifestyle than anything
else. The partner could make all the difference in the world when it came to
the exchange of power.

Or partners, in his case.

It was always a pair. Always.

Maybe the pickings were just too slim.

Or he was just too damn choosey for his own good.

“Dade, how wonderful to see you.” Genevieve swept in,
planting a friendly kiss on his cheek. She smelled of warm vanilla and honey,
with the underlying hint of chocolate teasing his senses. A smear of flour
dotted her nose and he had a sudden urge to reach up and kiss it away.

Get. A. Fucking. Grip.

Her chestnut locks had been piled high on her head in a
messy bun, a few curls escaping the bundled mass. Green eyes shined bright
despite the low light of the evening service and a faint pink tint colored her
cheeks. A sign she’d also been running around issuing orders to the cooking staff.

God, how sad was it that he knew her routine? He needed to
stop this insanity before he slipped into stalker mode. That would really get
the town gossip train chugging along.

“Full crowd tonight.”

“Just the usual Friday night at the grille. Mostly all locals.
Tourist season should be winding up soon. Hey, how were the movies? As
action-packed as Cooper promised?”

“An Indiana Jones overload. All four films in one sitting.
Think my ass went numb around hour five. Had to work hard to convince him not
to break out the old television show once we finished with the movies.”

Genevieve’s delightful laughter washed over him. “Sorry we
missed that. I’ve just been so damn busy, that night was the one night Tony and
I both had off.”

“Don’t have to explain to me.”
Please, for Christ’s sake,
don’t. I don’t need more ideas in my brain. I saw enough as it was.
“I
understand.”

“Probably going to be the same tomorrow night.”

How had a month gone by so quickly? “Don’t know if I’m going
to make it myself.”

“That’s all right. Think Allison said a few others can’t be
here as well. Tony and I are both planning to be here for dinner, of course.
But as for the movie marathoning, I don’t know yet. Rumor has it a food critic
has been nosing around some of the surrounding towns. It would be better if I
stick around in case he decides to give us a try. The last thing I need is for
something to go haywire. Bowl of your usual?” She turned to the nearest
waitstaff member without waiting for his answer. “Greyson, can you grab me two
large bowls of the soup special on the rail? And a bottle of the
savennières
that just came in too. That should pair up nicely together.”

Two bowls? Surely she didn’t mean to sit here and eat with
him. He was looking forward to having a nice meal. But with her sitting across
from him, dinner was going to be anything
but
relaxing.

The waiter reappeared with the wine and two glasses. He
displayed the bottle, waiting for Genevieve’s nod of approval before making
swift work of the cork. Once he decanted the wine, he moved off with the
efficiency Dade had once admired of the entire staff. Right now, though, he
despised it. The last thing he wanted was to be left alone with her.

“Anything exciting going on right now?”

“Having some renovations done at the main house at the
ranch. Contractor is taking over the place for a few months. Brings my life
pretty much to a grinding halt. Not sure how exciting it is being run out of my
own house.”

“If you need a place to crash you can come stay with us
while you’re waiting. No trouble.”

His stomach clenched at the thought. No way. No how.
“Thanks, but my property has enough buildings. I can hole up in one of them for
a few weeks.”

“Do they have a kitchen? Shower? A comfy bed?”

He dodged her rapid-fire questions. “I think I can survive
for a few weeks.” He thought about asking Ryan if he could crash at his old
cabin but his best friend had enough work on his hands with the warehouse
construction. The last thing he needed was to worry about cleaning the rustic
one-room building. Patrick and Allison didn’t have any spare rooms because of
their daughter Riley. And Alex and Elena’s place was too small to accommodate a
guest for a few months. Not to mention they were getting ready for an addition
of their own.

“Which means no. Bring your stuff by the house tomorrow.
I’ll clear out the guestroom tonight and it’ll be yours for as long as you
like.” Greyson arrived, carrying a wide tray filled with everything she’d asked
for. She took the two steaming bowls from him, rose and squeezed Dade’s shoulder
as she moved away to check on other customers. Before giving him a chance to
protest her offer.

He couldn’t stay at their house.

Wouldn’t.

Not after he’d just come to terms with the fact he wanted
more than friendship with them. How stupid of an idea would it be to dangle the
figurative carrot right in front of his eyes?

He might be a master of control but some limits he wasn’t
willing to test.

No two ways about it, he needed to find somewhere else to
live.

He dug into his soup, his eyes fluttering closed at the
succulent meat that melted on his tongue. He was so busy having an affair with
the soup, he jumped when Genevieve slid into the seat across from him again.

“God, I haven’t eaten all day. Is it good?” She lifted a
spoonful to her mouth. He watched with rapt interest as the spoon disappeared
between her lips.

As she slowly chewed.

As her tongue darted between her lips to collect a drop of
the broth.

His dick twitched.

Fuck.

“Needs a bit of pepper.”

“Genevieve, I can’t accept your offer.”

“Pfft. Please. I’m not going to take no for an answer. Tony
and I aren’t home all that much because of our work. It’ll be nice to know
we’re actually paying our mortgage for a reason instead of using it like some
overpriced hotel. I’m not going to take no for an answer, so you might as well
just accept it and enjoy your dinner. Here, dip your bread in the broth, it’ll
bring out some of the spices in the soup.”

He plucked a chunk of bread from the basket she offered,
grumbling about the fact he really needed to stop this habit of befriending
stubborn, obstinate women who wouldn’t let him just take care of himself.