Cade's Challenge

Chapter 1

Hidden in the late-night shadows, he watched as the lights went off in the house. Watching, always watching. He waited a while longer, and then made his move.

* * *

Sallie Archer hovered on the edge of sleep, its tantalizing promise edging closer with each tick of the clock. The familiar comfort of her big bed, combined with mental and physical exhaustion, brought another hectic day to a close. Her muscles went limp and her brain slowly relinquished all thoughts and worries.

Then, suddenly, an unfamiliar sound jarred her awake again, jerking her back to consciousness. Fighting the pull of fatigue, she lifted heavy eyelids and let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room.

Movement to the right of her bed startled her and then made her go numb with shock. She watched in horror as a man slipped through her French doors, leaving them ajar as he crept past the foot of her bed toward the opposite side of the room. He glanced her way, and she stopped breathing. 

Sallie’s chest constricted. All her breath got trapped in her lungs and then started to burn. Her stomach alternately clenched and roiled as panic washed over her. Her heart pounded brutally. She watched, frozen with terror, as the sinister figure finally stopped staring her way and disappear into the living room.

A rush of blood clamored in her ears, deafening her when she most needed to hear. She had to move, to do something before he returned, yet she wasted precious time frozen with fear.  I won’t be immobilized by fear! I won’t be immobilized by fear! She chanted the childhood refrain, but she still couldn’t move a muscle.

Calm down. Calm down, she mentally commanded herself and dragged in a soundless breath. Maybe she’d imagined the ghostly image. Living alone sometimes made her feel vulnerable, especially at night, when dreams tended to tangle with reality. She strained to hear sounds from the living room and heard a quiet thud of footfalls on the carpet.

This was no dream.

She needed to call 9-1-1 and get help. With what seemed like superhuman effort, she mustered the strength to lift her arm toward the nightstand and her portable phone.

Damn! It wasn’t there. Swallowing a sob, she remembered carrying it to the bathroom earlier. Her habit of leaving it all over the house was an irritation, but she’d never imagined it might get her killed.

Her next thought was escape. Fear had her momentarily paralyzed while the instinct to flee warred with the instinct to lie still and not draw attention to herself.

She could get out the same way the intruder had gotten in, and pray he didn’t see her. The security light shone brightly through the sheer lace curtains of the French doors. It beckoned her, suggesting safety.

She could make a run for it, but first she had to get her limbs to move. Another silent sob clawed at her throat as she forced her reluctant muscles to cooperate. With slow, cautious movements, she eased from the bed. Listening intently, she waited until her trembling legs would support her. She wanted to be able to run once she’d cleared the terrace. 

Taking a deep breath, she bolstered her courage and slipped across the room, then quickly darted through the doors. The warm spring air assaulted her senses as she left the cool of the air-conditioned room. The sudden change in temperature caused goose bumps on her goose bumps. Her feet tingled as rough concrete replaced plush carpeting, the feel racing up her quivering legs.

In the next instant, she turned and slammed into a very tall, broad shouldered man. They collided with a thud and she sucked in her breath, her heart pounding frantically in her chest. Her muscles constricted as renewed panic surged through her, and all she could think to do was fight.

Fists balled, she started swinging wildly, pummeling his chest and shoulders until he grasped both her arms and locked them against her sides. He mumbled something, but she was too panicked to hear. It had been years since she’d felt so helpless and afraid, but she’d vowed to never be cowed by another man. With her arms trapped, she started kicking, refusing to succumb to his overpowering strength.

He pressed her against the building, the weight of him firmly anchoring her in place. He was hard and heavy, nearly suffocating her as he tried to still her frenzied thrashing. Her lungs burned, and she struggled for air as his head dipped closer.

Shh, Sallie, it’s Cade, he whispered near her ear. Stop fighting me.

The sound of her name stalled her rising hysteria. She froze, trying to absorb what she’d heard while struggling to drag air in and out of her tortured lungs. With supreme effort, she stopped thrashing and forced herself to concentrate.

Even though she was pinned to the wall, this intruder wasn’t forcing himself on her. He’d only tried to stop her from lashing out at him. The voice, though a muffled whisper, held the familiar cadence of Cade Langden’s low, Texas drawl. 

Once her breathing had calmed a little more, her mind started to clear, too. Her senses began to register the scent and feel of the man whose body pressed fully against hers; chest to chest, stomach to stomach, thighs to thighs.

A whiff of familiar after-shave drained more tension from her. The blinding haze of fear slowly cleared from her vision. His distinct features came into focus; the ruggedly handsome face with strong jaws, a straight nose, sensuous mouth and firm, stubborn chin. Caramel-colored eyes framed in thick, dark lashes, stared into hers. They were the deep, warm eyes of a man she’d trust with her life.

Her body went slack with relief. She would have crumbled, but he gathered her close. Sallie sighed a ragged sigh and slipped her arms around his waist, dropping her head to his shoulder. The pounding of his pulse echoed the roar in her ears. His heat enveloped her, chasing away the chills. She didn’t know why he was here, but she knew she was safe.

After another minute, he put a hand under her chin and lifted her head so that she could see him more clearly. Then he put a finger to his lips, warning her to be quiet. He seemed as tense and primed for battle as she had been just seconds ago. Every muscle in his body felt coiled against hers. She could tell he was listening for sounds from inside her home though his gaze remained locked on her.

For an instant frozen in time, they stared at each other as strangers with bodies meeting for the first time. The male scent of him triggered a deeply feminine reaction. Her breasts were crushed against the rigid wall of his chest. Their hearts hammered a riotous rhythm, pounding against each other.

Never had Sallie been more aware of the differences between male and female. His broad shoulders spanned inches beyond hers. The feel of his hard stomach and muscled thighs was indelibly printed against the softness of hers.

She and Cade had worked together, side-by-side, for the last five years, but they’d never crossed the line between professional and personal. Being forced to do it now, under such bizarre circumstances, had her senses reeling.

Stripped of her usual defenses, it was impossible to ignore the sheer male potency of him. Her skin tingled everywhere they touched. Cade shifted slightly and the movement heightened the awareness of body against body. Heat flooded through Sallie on a wave of erotic sensuality, shocking and scorching in its intensity.

His gaze probed so deeply that it stilled her breathing again. The brief flare of smoldering desire in his incredible eyes was flattering, frightening and totally unprecedented in their relationship. 

Before her befuddled brain could arrive at feasible explanation for their reaction to each other, they heard a thud in the living room. There was grunting and cursing and the sound of some sort of skirmish. Then the front door slammed against the wall. Cade released her, heading into the house.

Stay here!

Another chill raced over her as she lost the heat of his body. Ignoring his order, she ran after him, snatching her robe from a chair as she passed through the bedroom. She shoved her arms through the sleeves and followed him into the darkened living room. Moving quickly toward a light switch, she flipped it to illuminate the room.

It was empty except for them, but the front door stood wide open. Cade went to the doorway and peered into the night.

What in the world is going on? she demanded, hating the raw, distraught sound of her own voice.

Steven and I saw someone breaking into your house. We separated so that I could cover the balcony while he went around to the front. He must have surprised the guy when he tried to leave.

Steven Tanner was the security chief at Langden Industries. Cade owned the company, and she was his executive assistant. Neither man had ever visited her home. She couldn’t imagine what had brought them here tonight.

You saw someone breaking into my house? she asked, following him to the door.

Yeah, he said as he stepped off the small porch. We called the police, but didn’t know how long it would take them to respond. He strode down the sidewalk to the parking area of the condominium complex, surveying the surrounding area.

Sallie kept him in sight, but stayed hidden in the doorway. Her pale yellow nightgown and robe were sheer and nearly transparent. She didn’t care to parade around where her neighbors might see. She lived in a quite community where everyone respected each other’s privacy, and she had no desire to make a spectacle of herself.

A stiff breeze whispered across her flesh; a norm for Dallas, even this late at night. The air was warm and balmy compared to the cool of her house, but it chilled her sweat-dampened skin. She crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed her forearms with hands that trembled. With a little more effort, she regained control over the rest of her quivering body.

Her attention stayed on Cade as he paced the sidewalk, and then headed back toward the house. He reached the porch at the same time Steven came jogging around the corner of the building. 

I lost him. He had a car parked on the other side of the complex. I couldn’t even get a clear plate number, he added.

It’s dark, and he must know his way around, said Cade. He caught us off guard, so there wasn’t much we could do.

You could explain to me exactly what’s going on, she demanded huskily. 

The men exchanged glances, but before they could reply, a police cruiser pulled into the parking lot, lights flashing. Sallie cringed, but was relieved that the policemen weren’t using their sirens.

I’ll go talk to them, said Steven. There’s probably nothing more that can be done tonight.

Cade nodded and reentered the house, then closed the door. He immediately started searching her home.

It hadn’t been that long since she’d left him at the office. He still wore the jeans and dress shirt he’d worn earlier, so he must have worked all evening. A glance at the clock showed just past twelve.

When she could trust her voice not to squeak, she asked, What brought you here at midnight? And how did Steven get into my living room to run off the intruder?

There’s not a lock Steven can’t open, Cade explained as he came from her kitchen and headed back toward the bedroom. We had an anonymous phone call warning us that one of our staff might be in danger. We drove over here to check on you and saw a man on your balcony. Can you tell if anything’s missing?

Sallie decided to postpone her interrogation until she had his full attention. Her gaze swept the living room, but the only thing out of place was a chair. She figured it got shifted during the scuffle, so she slid it back to its normal position.

A quick perusal of her desk assured her nothing important was missing. Her briefcase was locked, and her pocketbook still held her wallet with its usual contents, including the cash. Steven stepped back in the door and asked if there was any theft to report. She shook her head, and he left again.

Cade prowled through her house, and then returned to the living room. Sallie tightened the belt of her robe, but that didn’t make her feeling any less exposed. This was the first time her boss had ever stepped foot inside her home. It made her nervous. She watched intently as he roamed the room. 

Cade had thick, dark hair, warm brown eyes and bronzed, golden skin. He had a lean, muscular build with broad shoulders and narrow hips. His good looks and easy charm made him a hit with most women, but had never been a factor in their working relationship.

Until a few minutes ago, they’d never been in a physically compromising position. A rush of heat coursed through her as she remembered the feel of being pressed so tightly against him. She quickly banished the thoughts. Gorgeous men like Cade Langden didn’t get personally interested in plain women like her. For that, she’d be eternally grateful.

Did you get a good look at this guy? she asked.

From a distance, he looked short and stocky.

He finally stopped searching and moved closer to her. His gaze lingered on her features, and she felt the unaccustomed wash of heat in her cheeks. Clenching her teeth, she willed the silly feminine reaction to subside.

I’d say he’s in good physical condition if he managed to out run Steven. 

Do you think this is related to the trouble we’re having at the plant? she asked.

Langden’s manufactured tractor engines. Until recently, they’d never had security problems, but there’d been trouble brewing of late.

I’m guessing it’s the same guy since he called the office. What I can’t understand is why he singled you out. His brows creased in a deep frown. He didn’t try to hurt you, so why break in here? What’s he after that he thinks you might have at home?

I don’t keep any important papers here.

Maybe he just wants to up the ante a little, Cade growled, raking a hand through his hair. He’s not satisfied to cause trouble at the plant. He wants to get personal. He probably figured we’d be more alarmed with you as a target.

Sallie didn’t like that suggestion at all. Nor the worry etched on Cade’s handsome features. Do you think he’s playing some kind of sick game with us?

It’s hard to tell. His mouth tightened in an angry scowl. He was probably wearing gloves, but we could get the place dusted for prints.

Sallie shook her head. She didn’t want to involve the police any more than necessary. I wasn’t attacked and it doesn’t look like anything was stolen, so there’s not much the police can do except make a mess.

I think it’s time we filed a police report on the whole situation, said Cade, propping his fists on his hips. The cotton of his shirt stretched