He glanced at her son playing in the sand then at others in the water. “Nothing special tonight. I saved adventure for another day.”
They sat in silence. Sophie was at a loss for words—so unlike her. He remained quiet, but she sat close enough to feel the warmth from his body and the dampness of the sand. Out of the corner of her eye, she viewed him sitting with his knees bent and arms resting across them, his fingers loosely entwined. She leaned back on her elbows and stretched out her legs on the warm sand. His gaze went to her legs. “How long is your vacation?”
“More than likely this week.” He turned to her. “How about you?”
His eyes looked so caring and full of sincerity but kind of sad at the same time. “I’m heading out Saturday. Thanks for getting my money back. I would’ve had to contact my sister to ask for a loan and change my flight. She didn’t want me to come, so I’d have to grovel for years.”
“I take it your family isn’t close.”
“Well, my sister and I are, but my brother…” Sophie paused, sighing. “He’s another story.”
“Every family has one, Sophie.”
It sounded nice the way her name rolled off a stranger’s lips.
Emmett stood in front of her blocking the sun. “Mom, can I go get some water for my castle?”
“Honey, we don’t have a bucket here.”
The young boy begged, “I’ll hold it in my hands.”
“You can try, but it’ll all fall out before you get back.” She stood and brushed off her shorts and legs. “Let’s go.”
Wade got to his feet with great speed. “Here, I have an idea. Mind if I go down there with you?”
Sophie nodded her approval. “Hold on, Emmett. This is Mr. Emory.”
“Hey, mister. Come on.” Emmett took off running.
Wade ran past him, took his shirt off, and doused it in the water. He dove in the waves and came up some yards out, shirt still in hand. “Take your shirt off, Emmett. We’ll squeeze the water out onto your castle. It won’t be much, but a few trips will help.”
Emmett giggled and removed his shirt without asking. He followed Wade back to the sand castle and they squeezed out their t-shirts. Sophie laughed with them and did her best to ignore the bare-chested stranger dripping beside them.
“Mom, can we bring a couple cups tomorrow?”
“Sure. I don’t see why not.” She turned to Wade, unable to avoid his athletic physique as he sat back in the sand. She dropped beside him as if she’d known him. His calf muscles showed prominently when he’d ran with Emmett. “Do you know where you’re staying when you leave here?”
“Yeah. It’s a block away from the beach. I don’t mind walking. My room will be high enough with an ocean view where I can see the water without even going out.”
She smiled to herself. “But the whole experience of being out in it is what matters.”
“That’s true.”
Sophie stared straight ahead, debating on inviting him to enjoy the sunset with them tomorrow, but why not? He seemed nice enough. “How about meeting us right here tomorrow night for a do-over?” He remained quiet. Dammit. Why’d she ask? “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
He stood and peered down at her, a long stare in fact, and his gaze roved over her legs. “I’d be happy to. Same time?”
“Sure.”
Emmett came to her. “Let’s get some ice cream before we go back. Okay?”
“Okay, honey. We’ll get some before returning to the room.”
“Hey, I like ice cream. Mind some company?”
Sophie eyed her son for a reaction to Wade inviting himself. He had a big smile on his face, which wasn’t what she’d expected. Emmett certainly didn’t like the one guy she had dinner with sometimes which meant nothing more than friendship. Not that getting ice cream with Wade was a date. “What do you think, Emmett?”
“Yeah, come on, mister.” He took off running.
“Not so fast. Wait.” She hadn’t meant this moment. Sophie liked sitting here beside this kindhearted man.
Wade whistled and gave her a hand up. Emmett came to a stop and waited. “Thanks, Sophie. Guess I shouldn’t have invited myself. Seems like the night’s coming to an end too soon.” He got his wallet from beneath the towel he sat on then shook the towel and wrapped it around his neck, glancing to the sky a moment. They trailed after Emmett.
Sophie followed Wade’s gaze to the sky. The brightest stars twinkled in the darkest of blue. She agreed the evening had gone too fast, but she’d keep that to herself. They walked on. “How long have you lived in Canyon Junction?”
“All my life. I never had a reason to leave after attending U of A, Agricultural & Life Sciences. I studied racing and breeding.”
“You worked with race horses?”
Wade shrugged. “All kinds of horses. I’m a ranch foreman and part owner for a ranching supply company. I didn’t finish the program. I don’t want to get into why.”
“I wasn’t going to ask.” This was a touchy subject for him?
“My job satisfies me for now, but I’d like to dedicate more time to working with horses full-time, maybe buy more property to keep them on. I won’t be heartbroken if I don’t. Being a business owner now isn’t a problem. So where do you live if you know about my small town?”
Well, she wasn’t telling him exactly where she lived. “Oh, not too far.”
The man cocked a brow. “If you’re worried about me finding you, you shouldn’t have given me your first and last name.”
She tilted her head in a cocky manner. “If I did give my correct name.”
He chuckled. “You got me there. You teach your son to lie. What kind of ice cream do you want?”
Ignoring his sarcasm, she removed her wallet from her bag. “What do you want, Emmett?”
“That caramel thing I like. A big one.” He stretched his arms out to his sides to prove he meant big.
Sophie laughed. “All right. Me too, but we’re getting medium-size.”
Wade ordered their items plus a banana split for himself. He wouldn’t accept her money, which pissed her off. A stranger didn’t need to buy their ice cream, or even eat with them for that fact.
“Let’s have a seat over here.” He directed them around a couple closer outside tables.
She didn’t know why they joined him instead of going back to her room, but to be honest, she didn’t mind his company at all. It was nice to talk to an adult. Besides, it would give her a chance to pay for she and Emmett’s ice cream. “You should’ve let me pay to make up for you getting my money back.”
“It’s no problem, Sophie. It looks like your kid likes ice cream as much as I do.”
Emmett laughed, and she handed him a napkin to wipe his mouth. “Mind your manners, young man.”
Emmett asked him, “Do you have any kids, Mr. Em-Em. I forgot your name.”
“Emory. You can call me Wade if your mom doesn’t care. No, I don’t have any kids.”
“No, Emmett, you call him Mr. Emory.” She wasn’t comfortable with that at all. There were too many horror stories on the news. Wade didn’t seem like a pervert. They never did though.
“But, Mom, he beat up Uncle Clay. He’s nice.”
“You still use his last name. It’s never nice to beat up anyone. He didn’t beat him up.” Emmett glanced at Wade and shrugged, and it about broke her heart. He liked this man, but they didn’t know anything about him. At least not yet she didn’t. Emmett so missed his dad these past three and a half years. “Mr. Emory, I demand you accept money for our ice cream. Please.”
He leaned in. “You don’t have to call me Mister.”
She laid down the money.
“Listen, it was no big deal to get your ice cream.”
She frowned. “I know you’re from a small town and everyone knows everybody, but this is California, and we don’t know each other. I have my son to think about.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He picked up the money.
“C
ome on, Emmett. Have a good night, Mr. Emory.”
“Bye, mister.”
Wade called after her. She debated on turning but did. She widened her eyes when he didn’t respond. He blinked. Had he been reluctant to say whatever it might be? What had he wanted?
“Have a good one.”
There waited an extremely handsome man she had no business looking at like she had. “See you on the beach tomorrow night.” It was a public beach, after all, and she already suggested they return. She’d justify this the best way she knew how—anything to deny the fact…she liked being in the presence of Wade Emory.
“Mom?”
She pulled her gaze from Wade and his confident swagger as he walked on. “What?”
“He’s nice.”
“He is, but he’s a stranger.” A kind stranger from home. She took a quick look back, but he was gone.
“How come you can talk to strangers and I can’t?”
Sophie smiled at her intelligent son and brushed a lock of dark hair from his eyes. “I could say because I’m an adult, but that doesn’t answer your question, does it?”
Emmett shrugged. “It’s okay. I knew you were going to say that.” His grin resembled his father’s which caused an ache in her heart, albeit, it warmed her to see the resemblance.
Chapter 2
Wade finished breakfast in his room, poured a cup of coffee, then opened the balcony door one last time to sniff the air and enjoy the cool breeze. Hell, he didn’t have to leave here. His thoughts went to sitting with Sophie and her boy last night. She was nice enough, sort of, and damn pretty. Emmett’s physical characteristics resembled Wade’s with brown eyes and the same thick hair like his but a shade lighter from the sun.
Curiosity about her life filled his musings. He’d come to California only to meet a woman from home? Interesting. His flight left Saturday, if what the nurses said about his brother came true. In his mind he made a pact with himself. If they were on the same plane heading home, he’d search her out in baggage claim in Phoenix to pursue a date.
“Get in here.”
Wade glanced toward her voice. “Mornin’.” With her hand holding her son’s arm, she turned toward him and smiled. Wow, what an attractive morning smile. Better than what he’d seen on her face when he’d left them last night.
“Good morning, Mr. Emory—”
He corrected her, “Wade.”
“Are you getting ready to leave?”
“Yep, one last cup of coffee.” He raised it to her. Leaving this extravagant place wasn’t a necessity. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it, but this place wasn’t him. He didn’t need a thick robe to don after getting out of the shower or fancy sheets on the bed with a piece of chocolate on his pillow each night, though the chocolate tasted special.
She told Emmett to go inside. “Can I talk to you?”
He nodded then entered his room without hesitation. Wade changed out of running shorts and pulled on jeans. Before he had time to get a shirt to go into the hall, he answered the knock at his door. She and Emmett stood there. He held the door open, sweeping his hand forward.
Her gaze glued to his chest first off. “No, I don’t want to come in. Y-you didn’t tell me where you were staying.”
Was he supposed to? “Just a minute.” He nearly jumped up and clicked his heels together. Instead, he pulled on a t-shirt and wrote down the hotel name. “We still watching the sunset tonight?” Damn, how manly had that sounded?
“Yeah, if you come.”
“Sounds like a date…I mean, not a date, but a plan. Sorry.” He couldn’t win for losing.
She gave a shy smile he hadn’t seen before though she’d seemed direct and not shy last night. “I know what you mean.”
Wade handed her the slip of paper with the name of where he’d be staying. He was surprised and glad she wanted to know. “In case you need anything, do you want my phone number?” He didn’t retract his gaze. Neither did she. Say yes.
She handed her phone over, and he took no less than a few seconds to enter his number. “Here you go. Well, I better get outta here. Hey, Emmett, don’t forget the cups for your sand castle tonight.”
The kid had a cute smile like his mom. “I won’t. Mom? Don’t forget.”
“It’s your responsibility, boy.” She brushed his sun-streaked, brown hair from his forehead then glanced at Wade. “See you later.”
“Do you swim?” He asked without a thought.
“Yeah, but I don’t like Emmett to swim in the ocean. Rip currents, you know. We’ll go to the pool later.”
“All right. I thought it might be a nice night for a swim.” In man speak, he’d like to see Sophie in a bikini.
“Have fun if you do. We don’t mind watching.”
He nodded and closed the door. Wade checked the bedroom again, washed the cup, and sat it on the counter to dry. In a way, he hated leaving this nice place, but the other place was four-star, too, however not on the ocean and with no fluffy robes. Maybe he’d have a whiff of the salty air. Admittedly, he missed the dry, baked smell of the desert.
***
All he’d thought about today was Sophie. Here he went again. He’d known better than to start something on vacation. The last vacation crush he’d met in Las Vegas had been in the Air Force. Crush? He could fool himself if he wanted to, but it had been much more. It had lasted until her deployment when she’d cut all ties.
A voice in his head reminded him Sophie wasn’t military, and she lived in close proximity to him. He didn’t know for sure, but everybody in Arizona didn’t know the location of small-town Canyon Junction. Maybe tonight she’d let it slip. He could’ve shaved, but to be honest, he liked the shadow on his chin.
Later that night, he paced in his room. Would he get the cold shoulder again? If she hadn’t approved earlier, he never would’ve sought them out. Wade brushed his teeth before going out the door. He had a bad habit of falling too fast for women—if only he’d remember that tonight in her presence.
Emmett played on his knees dumping sand in a pile, then he patted it. Sophie knelt beside him in the golden rays of fading sunlight. Highlights in her hair caught the sparkle. Wade took his time walking up to them, but first he stayed back to observe. Off to the side, another body made his way over.
Trouble was the last thing he wanted, but if good old Uncle Clay tried anything, he’d feel the sting of his fist. His pulse raced. Emmett spotted Clay and ran up to him. Pounding his uncle wouldn’t be good in front of the boy.
Wade took a seat on a bench before venturing their way. Everything seemed calm between them, and Clay bent over to form a part of the castle for Emmett. For a moment, it looked like there might be an argument going on, but Clay left them. Waiting before joining them, Wade observed the copper-streaked sky as the sun dropped lower. He brought out his phone to take a picture. Sophie and her boy were in the forefront, but their faces were hidden in the silhouette. In another minute, Clay returned.
The three of them took a seat in the sand and stared at the burning horizon like everyone else there tonight. A couple times Sophie glanced back and around the area as if looking for someone. She had his number and could use it. However, with him sitting here, it looked like he stood her up. He couldn’t let her think of him as that kind of man. He brushed windswept hair from his face and trod toward them, taking a seat as if he belonged there. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Look.” Sophie pointed to the horizon. “You didn’t miss a thing. Wade, meet my brother, Clay. Clay, Wade.”
“Yeah,” Wade replied dryly. They nodded at each other. Emmett got up and went to sit in front of his uncle. Clay put his arms around him. “You guys interested in pizza before heading back?” Wade asked.
Clay cocked his head toward Wade. “Who the hell are you?”
Sophie pushed his shoulder. “Shut up, Clay. We met at the hotel. I invited him.”
Clay was nothing like his sister other than the dark hair and eyes. The guy had a hateful attitude. H
e bet she wore a glare directed at her brother.
Sophie asked Emmett if he wanted pizza before going back.
“Sure. I always want pizza. Uncle Clay, you coming?”
“I don’t think so.” Clay stood and ruffled up Emmett’s hair. “You eat a slice for me.”
Wade nudged Sophie, whispering, “I don’t care if he comes as long as he behaves.”
Now he got the glare. “You both behave.”
“Hey, don’t blame me.” He bent his knees and dangled his hands over them. So much for being the nice guy.
Clay gave Emmett a hug. “I’ll send your mom a copy of your castle picture.”
“Thank you, Uncle Clay. I love you.”
“Love you too. See ya, sis.”
Sophie turned to Wade. “I’m sorry, but I felt the tension between you two like a firestorm could start any moment.”
“I had myself under control. What was that about, anyway, the other day with him?”
“Family stuff. Money. I wouldn’t give him any, so he came back to take what he wanted.”
“Nice guy.”
“He is when he wants to be. He’s good to Emmett.”
“Not when he slung him to the ground.” The sky before them darkened except for the burst of color on the horizon sending bright orange reflections onto sea and sand. Stars popped out here and there. Peaceful waves lapped the sand in between the big sloshes slamming the shore. “You still up for pizza? On my adventure today, I found a cool little place tucked away. It looks decent.”
“Still want pizza, Emmett?” She took another picture of him with his castle.
Emmett laughed. “I’m hungry. Building sand castles is hard work.”
Wade grinned. “You bet, bud.”
Sophie’s hand touched his in the sand. He didn’t move, but she did as if touching him had been an accident or she hated the feel of his skin. “Let’s go.”
“Brush the sand off.” Sophie stood to help Emmett get most of it. She removed his t-shirt and shook it before handing it back.
Wade didn’t miss the way her hands brushed over her ass, reminding him to do the same thing to rid his jeans of sand. He stood and his was damp when he brushed. Sophie smiled at him. Her tawny complexion looked smooth and healthy at sundown. The way her face lit up when she smiled was like a blast of dynamite blowing up around him.
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 2
