Midnight Thunder(INCR) by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

and find everything the way it used to be.”
    â€œI could loan you a couple of my Remington prints for the time you’re here.”
    He smiled at that. “Thanks, but we’ll survive without art on the walls.” He turned and reached up over the door to the beam above it. “This is still here. That’s good.” He traced the logo they’d created and carved into the wood. A stylized
TMB
was tucked under the outline of a jagged mountain peak.
    â€œIt’s not as if Herb and Rosie would ever sand it off. I’m sure they love knowing it’s there.”
    â€œThey probably do.” Cade stepped back and gazed up at the logo. Then he turned around. “I’m a jerk—you know that?”
    â€œThere have been times I would have agreed with you, but this isn’t one of them.”
    â€œNo, seriously. Just because I got spooked by the idea of tying myself down, I pulled away from all the important people in my life.”
    â€œWhile I’m flattered if you put me in that category—”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œThat’s nice to hear, but even if you’d stayed, Damon and Finn would have left. You were the first to go, but Damon always intended to go to California for the real estate opportunities, and Finn’s research told him Seattle was his best bet for the microbrewery.”
    â€œOnce again, you’re right.” He shook his head. “God knows I should have learned that nothing stays the same.”
    â€œSome things do.”
Like my love for you.
She wouldn’t drop that bombshell now. She might never drop it. He was tired, and his emotions were frayed. Tomorrow he might not be nearly as susceptible to the nostalgia swamping him today.
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œDust.” She glanced at the vacuum cleaner in his hand. “Ready to activate that bad boy?”
    â€œAbsolutely. What’s the plan?”
    Somehow she kept from smiling. If he only knew. “I like to vacuum top to bottom, so if you start with your bunk, I can come behind you and put on the sheets while you vacuum Damon and Finn’s bunks. I’ll make up those while you take care of the other surfaces, and then we’ll finish with the floor.”
    â€œExcellent.” He walked over to his bunk. “Should I mess with the top part since nobody will be up there?”
    â€œI’d say give it a once-over, so dust doesn’t filter down on you.”
    â€œGood thinking. I’m on it.” He located a plug and fired up the vacuum cleaner.
    She allowed herself a moment to watch his back muscles flexing under his Western shirt as he wielded the vacuum. A video would go viral in seconds, especially if it included the part where he leaned over to reach the far corner of the bottom bunk and stretched the denim covering his mighty fine ass.
    Damn, but he looked good. Five years had only added to his considerable sex appeal. He’d had girlfriends—of course he had—but she didn’t want to think about him getting naked with anyone else.
    â€œAre you ogling me?” he asked as he continued to work. Laughter rippled in his voice.
    â€œAbsolutely not.” She spun around and stepped outside where they’d left the laundry basket full of linens.
    â€œI do believe you were, Lexi Ann,” he called over the noise of the vacuum.
    â€œThat’s because you’re so full of yourself,” she called back as she fanned herself.
Whew.
She’d have to concentrate on her bed-making task or she was liable to jump him before they finished cleaning the place.
    And they did need to finish, because he felt responsible for doing it. If her plan worked, she’d leave him sleeping like a baby in a nice clean cabin that was ready for his buddies. She’d wake him in time to get dressed and drive to the airport.
    His voice rose over the whine of the vacuum. “My bunk’s ready for you!”
    Laughing, she scooped a