My jaw dropped. When she looked at me I mouthed, ‘Whore’.
“Takes one to know one,” she whispered.
“Yep. I guess I should be going. It was great seeing you again, Jon.”
He was taking out a tape measure and glanced my way. “Yeah, you too, Amelia.”
Pointing to Waylynn, I whispered, “Behave!”
She winked and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Trouble was indeed back in town.
Sitting in the cabin, I stared at the computer screen. With a deep sigh, I shut the laptop and stood. This place was my safety net. Where I could relax and totally get lost in writing. The only thing I was getting lost in was an endless array of useless thoughts—and then the sound of whistling caught my attention. I jumped up and made my way over to the window.
Wade.
My heart started to beat a little faster as I watched him on his horse rounding up a lost calf.
I swallowed hard. Jesus Christ, that guy is good looking. He finally got the calf and was guiding her back out into the open field. Damn, that cowboy is one hot son-of-a-bitch.
A slow smile pulled at my lips as I was hit with inspiration. I sat down and opened my computer. Pulling up my manuscript, I started to write. I was on a roll, the words flowed from my fingers. I squirmed a bit in my seat as I wrote the scene. An evil smile spread over my face as I took my characters on an erotic ride. Before I knew it, I was writing them both coming at the same time. My heart raced and I took a deep breath. I slowly blew it out as I pushed back my chair.
“Holy shit. That was hot.”
I chewed on my lip, but couldn’t help the chuckle that rose up. I walked over to the window to where I’d seen Wade earlier.
I was finally getting my mojo back, and I knew exactly whom I could thank for that.
Wade was the first person I saw when I walked into Lilly’s Café. Our eyes met and I couldn’t ignore the small twinge of excitement.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked as I approached his table.
He nodded, then sighed. “I’m good. Waiting on a lunch date, but it looks like she isn’t showing.”
I pulled my brows together. What idiot in her right mind would stand up Wade Adams?
“What’s her name?” I asked.
“Kendall Young.”
Fighting to hold back my smile, I pulled out the chair and sat down. I raised my hand and got the attention of Lucy, Lilly’s daughter. “I’ll take my regular.”
When I turned back to Wade, he was smiling. “Please feel free to join me, won’t you, Amelia?”
I chuckled. “Yes, thank you. Let me tell you why I felt confident enough to have a seat and share my lunch with you.”
Wade leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his massive chest.
Shit, this boy has a body. No. Not boy. Man. Wade Adams is all man.
Lucy set down a Diet Coke in front of me, not bothering to hide a grin.
I took a drink. Long and slow, building up the anticipation of my big reveal.
“Please, take your time while I sit here with bated breath, awaiting your explanation.”
Gosh, he was cute when he was frustrated. “Okay. I’ll be frank. Kendall Young won’t be joining you for lunch.”
His left brow lifted along with the left side of his mouth. “Really? And you know this how?”
“’Cause she’s married.”
Wade’s smile dropped, along with his arms. “Are you shitting me right now?”
I had to force myself not to laugh. “Nope. Dead serious. Let me guess. You met her at Cord’s, she flirted, probably kissed you, promised to meet you for lunch here?”
He snarled. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
I shrugged. “Kendall got pregnant right out of high school and her parents forced her and Leo to get married. About once a month she gets a wild hair and goes to Cord’s Place with the intention of having an affair. She always backs out.”
“Motherfucker.”
“Oh, you won’t be fucking her anytime soon. She’s actually very much in love with Leo. Just a little bitter she missed out on that part of life.”
Wade shook his head. “No, I didn’t say I wanted to fuck her, I said motherfucker.”
With a wink, I replied, “I know.”
Dropping back in the chair, Wade let out a frustrated groan. “Are all the women in this town crazy?”
Lucy set my hamburger down. I lifted my gaze from my burger to Wade. “You want the truth or want me to lie?” Looking at the empty spot in front of him, I said, “You gonna eat?”
He shook his head. “I’ll just have a salad, please.”
“A salad? What kind of pussy cowboy orders a salad?” I asked before taking a bite of my hamburger.
“The kind who just got stood up by a married woman. The idea of hooking up with someone’s wife makes me feel sick. I’m not that kind of guy.”
His words were so sweet I almost awwwwed out loud.
Setting my hamburger down, I stared at him. “You’re not like normal guys, Wade.”
Now it was his turn to laugh. “What do you mean?”
I half-shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re…different. It’s obvious you care about people. The way you are with Chloe is adorable. Do you have a younger sister?”
His face dropped, and he moved around in his seat. “I, um…had two younger sisters. They died in a car accident along with my parents a year ago.”
Now I felt sick. “I’m so sorry, Wade. I didn’t know.”
He forced a grin. “It’s okay. I probably need to start talking about them more. At least that was what my counselor back in Colorado told me.”
“I’d love to hear about them. And your parents. If you feel like talking.”
His body relaxed, and the way he was looking at me warmed me through. I’d never had a guy look at me that way before. I wasn’t sure if he was thankful for my offer or if it was something else.
When Lucy brought over his salad, Wade said, “I think I’ll take a burger and fries, if you don’t mind.”
I smiled, as did Lucy. “Not at all. How do you want it cooked?”
“Medium well. Thanks.”
After Lucy turned to leave, he continued to speak. “I grew up right outside of Colorado Springs. My father owned a cattle ranch. My great-grandfather actually started the ranch, and it was passed down to his son and so on. The plan was for me to go to school, get my degree, and take over. My father wanted to spend more time with my mother and sisters. It gutted him when I decided to go to college in Texas.”
“Why did you?” I asked.
“Texas A&M had the best program for my field. He got over it quickly. I went home as much as I could, so it wasn’t all that bad.”
I smiled. “How old were your sisters?”
He played with his fork as he answered. “Grace was eleven and Anna was fifteen. I was ten when my parents told me they were having another baby. Then again at fourteen I got the news our family was growing. Man, I prayed so hard for a baby brother.” Wade let out a soft laugh. “But when I held Grace in my arms for the first time I knew I was meant to be her big brother. It was my job to protect them.”
His voice cracked, and he closed his eyes. I reached across the table and took his hand.
It took a few moments for him to continue. “I’d been home for a couple years. Running the ranch and all. Anna had begged my folks to go to Denver for the weekend. My father didn’t want to go, said he had too much to do. I talked him into going. Said I’d stay behind and make sure everything got done. Anna was so angry with me. She wanted us all to go as a family.”
He closed his eyes and shook her head. “She accused me of staying behind so I could be with Caroline, the girl I had been dating since high school.” When he opened his eyes, he looked straight at me. “She told me I picked a girl who didn’t deserve me over my own family. It wasn’t true. Caroline wasn’t even in town that weekend. The only way I could get my father to go was if I stayed beh
ind. I told her that.”
“Did she finally believe you?” I asked, while silently saying a prayer she had.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “She sent Caroline a text asking if she wanted to go to Denver.”
I grinned. “Smart girl.”
“She really was. Caroline told her she was in San Francisco with her grandparents that weekend, but I could still see the hurt in Anna’s eyes. She wanted me to go and couldn’t understand why I didn’t go with them. They were on their way back, not very far from the house. A young kid was texting and crossed the center line. Hit them head on. My mother and Grace held on for a few days. My father and Anna died instantly.”
Tears rolled down his cheeks, and I had the urge to reach over and wipe them away.
“I rotated between their rooms. Praying to God not to take them. They died a day apart. My mother’s heart gave out, and Grace… They couldn’t stop the internal bleeding. It felt like my life was over.”
I squeezed his hand, and he looked at me. “I tried to hang onto the ranch, but I couldn’t do it. Everywhere I turned there were reminders. I sold it six months after my folks passed away.”
My heart dropped. “Oh, Wade. I’m so sorry.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. I wasn’t about to let it go, not after all the hard work my dad had put into it. His best friend and another local rancher bought it. Promised me if I ever changed my mind he’d sell it back to me.”
I smiled. “That was nice of him.”
Wade grinned slightly. “Yeah. He’s good people.”
“What happened with Caroline? Was she upset when you moved to Texas?”
“Yeah, no. She broke up with me shortly after the accident. She thought that I was giving up and said she couldn’t emotionally deal with helping me through it all.”
I gasped. “What?”
“Yep. Those were her exact words. I spent the next four months drinking myself to death. Felt like I didn’t have anything to live for. Then I got a phone call from Trevor. He’d flown up for the funerals and had kept in close contact with me since the accident. Called me damn near every day.”
I now remembered Trevor going to Colorado to help out a college friend. He never did tell me the story though. My chest filled with pride as I thought about how caring my brother had been.
“He offered me a new start. I spent about a month getting my shit together and settling up everything in Colorado, then headed to Texas.”
I smiled. “I’m glad Trevor called you.”
For the first time since I had met Wade, I saw a light in his eyes. “I am, too. Your brother saved me, and I’ll forever be in debt to him for that.”
It wasn’t lost on me that I was still holding his hand. I didn’t let go, and he didn’t pull away. His thumb brushed over mine, and I couldn’t ignore the way my chest fluttered. Our eyes locked. Awkward, yet mesmerizing at the same time. He withdrew his hand as Lucy set his food down.
I watched while he took a bite and moaned in appreciation. “Damn. That’s a good burger.”
“It is!” I said with a smile.
We sat and ate for a few minutes. Pushing my plate back, I placed my elbows on the table and stared at him.
“I know your loss is still very new. And I’m not saying I want my family to replace yours, but I know you’re staying in the main house for another few weeks. I want you to start eating with us.”
Wade stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “What?”
“I’ve seen you sneak out at the crack of dawn, and I know it’s so you can avoid breakfast. I want you to join us. You ain’t got nowhere to be that early in the morning that can’t wait. Trevor eats with us, so can you.”
“Amelia, I appreciate you trying to make me feel welcome.”
“I’m not making you feel welcome, Wade Adams. You are welcome. You’re part of our family whether you like it or not. That means eating with us. At least breakfast. Will you do that for me?”
A wide smile built over his face. “Yes. I’ll do that for you, Amelia.”
His words touched me more than I thought they would, and I had to push away my growing feelings.
We stared at each other until my phone started ringing. Glancing down, I read the caller ID.
“It’s, um, it’s Liam.”
Wade nodded. “No dirty sex talk at the table, please.”
I swiped across my phone. “Hey, Liam. What’s up?”
“I’m not going to be able to make it this weekend.”
Disappointment should have rushed through my body; it didn’t. “Why not?”
“Nancy got me an audition for a Broadway play. I can’t turn it down.”
“Of course not,” I said. “When is the audition?”
“Saturday afternoon.”
“Really? What play?” I asked.
“It’s for a dramatic adaptation of a 19th century literary piece.”
I grinned. “Walter Theatre Productions?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“One of the girls I went to college with works for the production company.”
“Really? Small world. Think she can help me get the part?”
I was stunned for a moment by his request for her to help him with the part. “I doubt it.”
Wade laughed and shook his head.
“Who’s that?” Liam asked.
“I’m having lunch with Wade.”
“What the fuck? Why?”
“Why not?” I asked, not the least bit pleased with his outburst.
“The guy clearly wants in your pants, and you’re having lunch with him?”
I stood and covered the phone. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
Wade nodded and continued to eat his hamburger. The second I left the café, I ripped into Liam. “How dare you! You don’t even know Wade. He works for my father and brother and happens to be a friend of mine and part of our family. You don’t hear me complaining that you’re living with your ex. And the last time I checked, Liam, I don’t remember us being exclusive.”
“Is that what you want? To see other people?”
“Liam! We’ve barely gone out on two dates.”
“We’ve fucked plenty of times.”
“Oh, so that makes us boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Maybe!” he shouted over the phone.
“Have you gone out with anyone since I’ve left?”
“No.”
I sighed. “Neither have I, but Liam, I also wasn’t out to be in a serious relationship.”
“Then I want to be exclusive.”
Rolling my eyes, I asked, “Why?”
“Because I don’t want you having lunch with this Wade guy.”
Anger pulsed through my body. “You’re being a complete dick. I’ll have lunch with whomever I damn well please. You don’t see me telling you to move out of the apartment you share with your ex, and I know for a fact she walks around naked! You told me.”
“That’s different.”
I groaned. “I’m not doing this. The only time you ever call is when you want phone sex. If you need sex that bad, fuck your ex.”
Hitting End, I stared at my phone. I was about to go back in when it rang.
Liam.
I debated sending him to voicemail, but answered. “What?” I snapped.
“I’m sorry. I got jealous, and it’s only because I want to be the one having lunch with you.”
“Wade is just a friend. Liam, maybe what we shared in New York was just meant to be fun. You and I both know this isn’t going to work. Not with you being in New York and me in Texas.”
“I’m not ready to just give up like that, Amelia. Are you?”
I wanted to be honest with Liam. I was forcing myself to feel things for him that just weren’t there. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone though. It was better to do it in person. “I’m not sure what I want at this point, Liam. Why don’t you go to the audition, and we’ll talk about visits after?”
Liam
let out a sigh. “Okay, I might not be able to make it to Texas if I get the part.”
“We’ll talk Saturday night, okay?” I asked.
“I want to see you, Amelia. How long are we going to have to wait?”
My chest felt like someone was sitting on it. “Let’s talk about it after your audition, and we have a better idea of things.”
The silence on the line proved that Liam was not happy about having to wait.
“I’ll call tonight, if I can.”
“Okay. Talk soon.”
“Bye, Amelia.”
“Bye, Liam.”
The line went dead, and I walked back into the café. At the mere glimpse of Wade my stomach dropped. I stood frozen in place as I stared at him. He was talking to Lucy and wore a huge smile. There was something about him that held me captive, and I knew that I couldn’t go on with Liam. It wasn’t fair to him or me. When Wade looked at me my breath would catch, and I got excited at the chance of glimpsing him. I wanted to explore these feelings. Especially since I’d never really felt them before.
I knew then what I had to do.
I will end things with Liam this weekend.
I dragged in a deep breath as I walked into the apartment. Nancy sat at the table surrounded by a few of our mutual friends.
“Liam!” they all called out. “We need another player.”
Forcing a smile, I made my way over to them. “For what?”
“Strip poker, and don’t say it.”
I lifted a brow. “Don’t say what?”
“If you say one of the five forbidden words, you have to take a shot.”
Nancy was looking up at me with a smirk. She must have had ten layers of clothing on.
“Afraid you’ll lose, Nance?”
She laughed. “You know how bad I am at poker. How was the audition?”
I was still pissed about not being able to make it to Texas. Amelia seemed to have something on her mind, and I had a feeling I knew what it was. Things weren’t going to work out between us. I think we were both lonely when we hooked up in New York. I wasn’t going to lie to myself and say I didn’t crave her. I did. But not in a healthy way. I was using her to fill up an empty space. I just didn’t know why it was empty.
“I got the part.”