“I know. They don’t look like country western singers these days. Most don’t wear cowboy hats. How dare them,” she said in a lively voice. Sophie crossed her leg and swung her toe to the easy beat.
“The old guys can still put the young ones to shame. Are hats your weakness, darlin’?”
Sophie gave him a smile that got his nerves to trembling. “You’re stepping on holy ground there, be careful what you say. Per your question, maybe you’ll have to find out what my weaknesses are.”
“I know a few.” Holy shit. He didn’t mind challenges, especially if it meant exploring her body to learn more of what she liked. Wade picked up his hat from the backseat and put it on.
“Are you about to break out in song?”
“Not a chance.” He grinned when she turned away, but the smile remained on her sensual lips.
“You do look mighty fine wearing that hat, Cowboy.”
“Thanks. You look damn good in those Levi’s.” He coughed to prevent from saying something stupid again, albeit, he glanced at them fitting snug against her thighs. Again, he reminded himself to move slow. With her beside him now, it’d be damn hard to go slow when they’d already taken it fast.
If he’d wanted to ignore what happened between them, they’d be sitting in a crowded restaurant tonight. “Are you going to let me kiss you again? I don’t know about you, but I haven’t forgotten being in your bed.” There it was out in the open now.
He nearly ran off the road staring at her silence. Wade lifted a hand off the steering wheel. “Being with you makes it impossible not to think of that night.”
“Do you think I don’t? My God, I’ve tormented myself for three weeks thinking about it.”
“But I’m thinking about it positively. You look at it as if it was something wrong or dirty, but what the hell, we never did anything other than a few steamy caresses…and kisses. Fantastic kisses. The fact that we’re together alone right now proves—”
“It was so out of the norm for me, Wade.”
He sighed. At this rate, they’d never be in the sack again. “I had condoms that night.”
“What? You did? Then… Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me for not making love to you.” He laughed. Then he peered out the side window and frowned.
“It proves what kind of man you are.”
“A stupid one. I turned down the opportunity men dream of.”
“You’re a gentleman. You read something in me that I didn’t see myself.”
That’s right. “While we’re talking about it, how do you feel now? You said you were embarrassed. Now you say you tormented yourself for doing—”
“Not for what we almost did, but because I…I want it to happen again.”
She did? No problem. Wade pulled off the road toward the trailhead.
“Not right now…”
“What? No, that’s not why I pulled off. Good God, Sophie.”
Sophie splayed her hand over her midriff. “I yearn for your touch. How’s that? Is that what you wanted to hear?”
He hit the brakes to slow it down over ruts in the road. “Only if it’s true.”
She clasped his hand. “It’s damn true. I haven’t stopped thinking about you for one minute. I’ve barely thought of Rhett. That’s what you’ve done to me. Waves of desire keep rolling over my body when I picture…us happening.”
Shit. Her saying that and being out here with no one around was going to kill him. “I thought about you constantly, and I figured you’d decided nothing could come of this. I still want you as bad as I did that night.” Shut up!
“I need to prove something to myself and you.”
Dare he ask what? Wade blew out a breath. Of course, he should ask. “What?”
“I need to know what I feel inside is more than my lustful, lonely yearnings.”
“How you going to do that?” He pulled up as far as he could to the trailhead and parked.
“I don’t know. I’ve only been in love once, and I didn’t expect to ever feel it again.”
There was no answer to this right now. They might as well start at square one. “I brought a small fold-up table with attached stools. I’ll get the horses out and tie them up. Then we can get the food together. I’m starving.”
Sophie opened her door. “Alrighty. Sounds fun. Get the table, and I’ll set it up.”
“Come on back to meet my horses.” Wade hopped out and rushed around the front of the truck to her side. She stepped out and he drew her into his arms—couldn’t prevent himself from holding her. “I’m crazy about you, so I don’t know what will happen next. Those so-called lustful yearnings are eating me up inside, honey, but I hope it’s more than that. You might do good to not let me hold you like this until we know.”
“What if I want you to?”
“Then you best be prepared for the consequences of two people giving in.”
Sophie chuckled and raised her hands to his face. “I guess we have to fight them until they win.”
Winking, he said, “Don’t you know? They already won.” He moved away and opened the trailer doors. Wade entered and brought out his roan and patted him. “This is Abacus.”
She ran her fingers through his mane. “Oh, he’s lovely. Which one will I ride?”
Wade tied him to a tree and came back to reenter the trailer, taking hold of the other harness. “This one’s Bender. You can ride him. He’s friendlier than Abacus.” Abacus snorted as if he’d understood.
“Bender?” Sophie chuckled. “That’s cute, but weird. Who named him?”
“Guilty. Yeah, I was on one when I bought him, but I barely remember getting this guy. Jake told me I got a good deal. It was a long time ago. This guy’s been with me a while.” Wade patted Bender’s neck and wrapped his other arm around Sophie’s shoulder. “At least I wasn’t on a bender when I ended up in your bed. I remember every second. Every single second.”
“Stop that kind of talk.” She grasped Bender’s rope. “I’ll tie him. You get the table. I’m hungry.”
They parted but both turned back grinning. It wouldn’t take much for him to take her back inside the truck with one little inkling of encouragement. Not much at all.
***
Sophie ran her hand over Bender’s sleek back. It took every ounce of strength to keep from running into Wade’s arms again. The throb in her chest quickened. Her skin perspired, and her toes could’ve curled inside her boots. She caught herself smiling while watching him get the table up. “Wasn’t I going to do the table?”
Wade brought a rag from his truck and dabbed at his shirt. “It’s all right. I got grease on my shirt from the tailgate.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head, exposing a tattoo on the side of his right rib. How had she missed it on the beach and in her bed? Upon closer inspection, it looked new and still had red around it. He caught her staring at him. She took a deep breath and strolled over. “Did you make the barbeque beef yourself?”
“Yeah. I cooked it in the crock pot, but I have a smoker. I use that when I’m home all day.”
She took his hand to stop him from what he was doing. “I can’t think straight around you. There’s no denying what’s going on between us. I’m sorry I waited so long.”
He gave her a kiss on the forehead on the run. “It isn’t necessary to deny. We both feel it. How about getting the paper plates, buns, and napkins from the bag in the bed of my truck?”
She clenched his arm. “In a sec.” Sophie rose to her tiptoes to kiss him then backed up toward the truck. “I’m so happy with your dinner choice. Thank you.”
“Anybody can take a woman to a fancy restaurant. I wanted something different for our first date. It was almost a hot air balloon ride.”
A balloon ride? But she didn’t… “Um, so you know, I have an issue with heights.”
Wade nodded but didn’t seem to be paying much attention. “You’ve succeeded in making this date special. I’ll set the table.” She fanned her face as she ambled to t
he truck in a stupor. His remarkable scent must’ve been pheromone cologne. Her willpower wasn’t that strong when it came to fighting off the urge. She liked what thinking of him did to her body and senses. Before long, she’d have to buy a vibrator.
After experiencing the titillation from his caresses, her subconscious remained attentive to every movement he made. Rhett had never… No, it wouldn’t be fair to think of him as being an inexperienced lover. She couldn’t call herself an expert, either. She stood straighter, staring off into a saguaro filled landscape. Would she be able to satisfy Wade?
Sophie set the table so they’d sit across from each other to observe his captivating brown eyes—to acknowledge each moment together. Again, she questioned herself… Was what she felt for him nothing more than a shameless desire? Until she knew for certain this was more than physical, she’d apply the brakes. Wade looked up at her and smiled. Sophie sighed. It wouldn’t be easy to put him off.
She opened the food containers and stuck serving spoons into the dishes. Wade spooned out a heaping amount of barbeque onto their buns while she opened the bottle of a red blend wine. “This sounds delicious. Great choice. You’re a wine connoisseur?”
“Hardly. My buddy’s wife is some kind of wine specialists. She recommended this.”
Usually, a couple had a first and more dates before experimenting in the bedroom. They’d done this kind of half-assed backward. Sophie handed Wade his glass before they sat. “To our first real date.”
He tapped their glasses. “Cheers.” They took a drink then sat. “Do you say grace or anything? You didn’t before dinner at the beach. Just wondered.”
Sophie clasped Wade’s hand then peered at her plate. “I know I should make my boy, but we don’t. I will bow my head with you if you do.”
“Nah, I’m sorry, but I don’t, either. I’m thankful for a lot of things, including this meal. I’ve been meaning to go back to church. It’s been a while. Too long.”
“You’re welcome to come with me and Emmett. I mean later when you’re ready, if you ever want to.” Holy horse manure, she couldn’t have him go with her without others knowing about him first.
Wade took a drink of wine then set his glass down. “Maybe the day will come, but not now. Sophie, you didn’t want to have dinner with me in your town let alone go to church with you. Take it slow with your friends if you want to, but I won’t remain a secret date forever.”
She squeezed his hand, but he pulled it away. “You aren’t a secret. You don’t understand.”
“I do. You have to save your reputation while honoring your husband.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s been over three years. I said my piece. Enough of this for now.” He nodded to her sandwich. “Tell me how you like it.”
Sophie picked up her sandwich to take a bite, but with the weight of the meat he’d stacked, the insides fell out. She widened her eyes and laughed. “This makes it look more delicious.” Sophie picked up a fingerful of the saucy meat, tilted her head back, and dropped it into her mouth. After chewing, she licked sauce from her lips and fingers. “Mmm, yum. I want the recipe.” She picked up her fork and added what had fallen to the plate, back to the bun, lifting it up this time with two hands.
Wade took a bite and a piece of the sauced brisket fell to his second shirt of their date. “Crimminy.” He chuckled. “I’m glad I have a couple shirts in the truck.”
“I wish you would’ve warned me to bring an extra.” She picked up her fork and knife to cut the rest of the sandwich into quarters. She took a bite and licked her lips as another hunk fell onto her blouse. Wade snorted a laugh.
She dabbed it with a napkin before eyeing him. “It almost matches one of the roses on my shirt. You’re laughing at me for making a mess of myself?”
“Sorry, it’s satisfying to see you enjoy it so much, but honey, do you have to lick those precious lips?”
She ripped off a piece of bun, dipped it into the delicious sauce on her plate, and rapidly dabbed it against his nose. “Take that, food-fighter.”
“Oooh, you should not have done that.” He flipped a forkful of potato salad at her, but she ducked, so he stuck his finger into a dollop on his plate and smeared it across her lips.
“Mmm, it tastes good.” She slowly ran her tongue over her lips, while gazing at the other items on the table. Sophie lifted her eyes to meet his glassy stare. Smiling, she dipped her fingers into her wine and flicked them at him.
“Whooah…you’re in trouble now.” Wade jumped up, came up behind her, and lifted her off the seat. She squirmed, trying to get away, but he held her tighter around the waist, letting her kick and laugh.
“Put me down, you…you…” She laughed harder.
“You want a food fight, I’ll give you one.” Wade moved close to the table, dipped his fingers into his wine glass and pressed two fingers against her lips.
Sophie stopped squirming. Grasping his wrist, she licked the wine off a finger and made sure to get each drop. Wade abruptly put her down, rubbed at the back of his neck, then sat. Gulping, he muttered, “Come on, finish so we can take a ride.”
Sophie checked her blouse now stained with wine and a spot from the potato salad and meat. She picked up her glass and took a drink. Mr. Wade Emory had a weakness for having his fingers licked. “Do you do this kind of thing often?”
“Never before in my life.” He scooped out another spoonful of potato salad and continued to eat.
“Good because my son doesn’t need a reason for starting a food fight at home or school.” She hunched her shoulders and giggled. “If we do it again, let’s make sure he isn’t with us.”
Wade set his fork down and picked up his glass. He narrowed his eyes. “I knew you were a bad girl.”
She snickered and lifted up a quarter of her sandwich. “No, I’m not.”
Wade held his glass up to her, and she tapped hers against his. Her insides twitched when he smiled mischievously. She’d never been involved in a food fight, either. Oh, no. Miss Goody-goody would never do anything to get into trouble in school. A glow swept over her to think of the adventures ahead of them. Sophie nodded toward the crock pot. “Can I have the recipe? My dad will love this.”
“Don’t you mean, may I? Aren’t you a teacher who is supposed to use correct English?”
“Watch it, hotshot. May I have the recipe?”
“Nope. Sorry.” He gave a conniving grin then winked. “Family secret.”
***
They’d put the food away and packed everything back into the truck. Wade nodded toward the trail after they saddled the horses. “We won’t ride long or far.”
“Let’s not forget who the troublemaker was at the table. Otherwise, we could’ve ridden longer.”
“Ah, hell no, you aren’t putting that on me. It was all you, delinquent.”
Sophie mounted Bender and smiled down at Wade. He retrieved another clean shirt from his truck and pulled off the food-stained shirt. “You didn’t have that tattoo on the West Coast.”
He lifted the hem of his shirt to view it. “It’s new.”
“What is it? Can I see it?”
“May you see it?” He snorted and lowered his shirt. “Not now.”
“Then why did you get it if no one gets to look? May I?”
Wade lifted his shirt again to expose his ink.
Sophie had been overcome with emotion. She clapped her hand over her mouth. The tattoo was in black and gray. One lone bird sat on a tree branch with three in gray flying away.” Her eyes welled. Sophie held her hand out to him. How sentimental.
Wade mounted Abacus then nodded to the left at the widened section of the trail. “We’ll be able to ride side-by-side for the distance we’re going. How experienced a rider are you?”
“I know what I’m doing. Your tattoo is heartwarming.”
“Let it rest, Sophie. Kick it. Yaaaa…” Off he went ahead of her.
Sophie nudged Bender forward and into a gallop. Wade slowe
d to a trot ahead of her, and she caught up with him. She patted Bender’s neck. “I like your horse. Good boy.”
Wade removed his hat and dropped it over the saddle horn. “He’s the best thing I ever bought on a bender. In case you’re about to ask, no, I never bought a woman on a bender.”
Sophie laughed. Good to know.
He turned the horse around. “Come on, let’s mosey on back.”
“I don’t doubt you wouldn’t have to hand over money. It doesn’t make sense for you to pay a woman when they must drop at your feet.”
“Your comment is appreciated, I think, but I’m not that exciting. Besides, I said I never bought one on a bender. Or ever.” Wade laughed then shook his head.
“Yes, Wade, you are exciting.”
He gave a low chuckle.
Sure, he could laugh, but he had to know damn well he was hot goods. She happened to be the lucky woman at his side for the moment. The more she got to know about him, the more she’d like to remain at his side. “You’re a catch, and you know you are. I’m happy to be with you tonight.”
He pulled the horse to a stop and she halted Bender beside him. Wade put his hat back on. “You have it all wrong. Yeah, I like women and love to have fun when I go out, but I’m not the guy who has them hanging off my shoulders. You haven’t dated for a lot of years, and I’m honored that you chose to date me.”
She smiled. “Well, I think we’re both lucky we stumbled upon each other four hundred miles away from home.”
“Yep. Let’s go. There’s time for carrot cake before we go if the coyotes haven’t gotten into it. We’ll drop off the horses and food at my place before I take you home. Does that work for you?”
Sophie blew out a breath. “I put the food inside your truck. It’s safe. All right, we’ll take these boys home first, but only to unload, right?”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 7
