Free Kade: Armed and Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray Page A

way.
    With a shiver and a sigh, Kelsey opened her eyes and looked out the window. It was
     a beautiful day, and she was tired of being cooped up. She stood and stretched her
     stiff limbs, then wandered out of the study and into the kitchen. Delicious smells
     came from a pan of ground beef simmering on the stovetop, next to a pot of bubbling
     red sauce.
    “Need help?” Kelsey asked when she saw Kade’s mom at the counter shredding a head
     of lettuce.
    “You can grate the cheese.” Sadie pointed to a block of cheese on the counter as she
     scooped lettuce into a colander. “I’m making a batch of enchiladas for the Frontier
     Homemakers’ dance and potluck tonight.”
    After Kelsey washed and dried her hands, she started grating cheese onto the plate
     Sadie provided. “Sounds like fun.”
    Sadie took a bunch of green onions and chopped them into small pieces on a wooden
     cutting board. “I was hoping you might like to join us.”
    Kelsey glanced up from the growing mound of cheese. “I don’t know how to dance to
     country-western.”
    “Nothing to it.” Sadie shrugged and scraped onions into a small bowl. “If Kade’s not
     too tired after work, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind showing you how to two-step.”
    Heat warmed Kelsey’s face at the thought of dancing with Kade. “I wouldn’t want to
     impose.” She finished her task and set down the grater. “What else can I do to help?”
    “Would you mind chopping these?” Sadie handed Kelsey two plump tomatoes. “And nonsense
     about imposing. I’m sure Kade would enjoy it. He’s quite good.”
    “I’m sure he is,” Kelsey murmured as she took the knife and cutting board Sadie handed
     her.
    Sadie scooted an enormous baking dish onto the counter. “Besides, you’ll have a chance
     to meet some folks you’ll be interviewing.”
    “True.” Kelsey nodded as she sliced one of the tomatoes. Who knew, she might enjoy
     herself. An image of Kade holding her close flashed in her mind, and her hands trembled.
     The knife slipped and she barely avoided cutting her thumb.
    She needed to get her mind off Kade or she’d end up slicing off a finger.
    Before she could think better of it, Kelsey asked, “Does Kade usually go?”
    “When I can convince him.” Sadie began filling and rolling tortillas and placing them
     into the pan. “He tends to shy away from these things.”
    Kelsey gave an inward sigh, mentally shaking herself. She couldn’t allow herself to
     trust so easily and to want so much so soon. Especially a man who continually invaded
     her thoughts and made her feel as if she were melting inside every time he looked
     at her. She was only there for three weeks and then she would be gone.
    Kade would be out of her life forever.
    Why did that thought make her feel so hollow?
     

Chapter 7
    After debating whether to wear a skirt or slacks, Kelsey opted for a new pair of jeans
     and a silky blouse in shell pink.
    Her stomach clenched at the thought of Kade asking her to dance with him—if he went.
     She could almost feel the warmth of his body close to hers, his arms wrapped around
     her, his lips brushing her ear...
    Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Get a grip, Kelsey.”
    She was acting like she was in high school again, getting ready to attend one of the
     functions where boys lined one wall and girls grouped together against the other.
    Memories of her younger sister’s first school dance abruptly came to Kelsey. She closed
     her eyes, remembering how pretty Naya had looked in her indigo dress. How her brown
     eyes had sparkled and how nervous she’d been the first time a boy asked her to dance.
    Kelsey had been fiercely protective of her younger sister and had refused to let Naya
     out of her sight that night. But in the end, just a couple of years later, Kelsey
     hadn’t been able to protect her. She hadn’t been able to do anything to prevent her
     sister from dying.
    As she wiped away a tear, Kelsey forced the thoughts from her mind. It