Sophie faced him and smiled. “No, I’m not. You know, I forgot what it felt like to enjoy happiness. Yeah, I’ve had things make me happy, like students at school, dinner with friends, Emmett, of course. It wasn’t the same as having happiness move into my heart again. I hope you’re serious about all this.”
She was all he’d thought about for the three weeks since he’d been home, yet he was unable to explain to himself why. The ex in Vegas and he had a decent relationship while it lasted, but she didn’t move him like Sophie did. “I’ve been serious about us since the day I met you. Speaking of, how’s it been going with Clay?”
She took a drink of wine. “My dad already kicked him out once when Clay started an argument with him. It would’ve led to blows if Clay hadn’t left.”
“Drinking?”
“Or drugging. When he’s sober he’s a different person. Quiet, but when he gets a few shots into him, he turns into a hateful wild man with a hellish temper.”
“How’s he keep a job?”
“We’ll see how long it lasts this time. Somehow, he got a new ranching job since jail, but on the weekends, he becomes good-old-boy Clay, hanging out with his drinking buddies and enemies. They don’t handle their liquor, either. It’s a bad mix. I fear for what will happen to him one day.”
“It sounds like my brother. He started early. My dad sent him to live with my grandpa as a teen, but he only got worse. He held a grudge against my dad. I can’t say I blame him. He lived hard and died nearly broke.”
Sophie brought his arm around her shoulder and snuggled into the crook. “If anything, you can understand Clay’s actions then.”
“Yeah, but I won’t take him hitting on you or Emmett.”
“He and my husband got into it over me. It turned out bad for Clay. Please don’t get involved.”
Wade moved his arm from around her and sat forward. “We spent over an hour in my bedroom. Are you seriously telling me not to get involved? Last I checked, I was.”
She sat her glass on the glass-top table and stood. “I have to go home. Emmett will be getting me up at dawn. He’s excited about coming over tomorrow, but now I’m—”
He clasped her hand. “You aren’t going to say you’re not sure, are you?”
Pulling her hand from his, she peered at the floor.
Wade stood and held her shoulders. “That’s how it is?” After a moment’s silence, he shook his head. She was no different after all. Again, he’d let himself go. He should be getting used to this by now. He swallowed the remainder of his wine and pulled his boots on. “You ready?”
Sophie carried her glass to the counter in the kitchen. She turned and spoke. “I can’t have you fighting with my brother.”
“And I can’t have your brother fighting with you.”
She sighed. “As long as he stays gone, no one has to worry about anybody fighting. I’m hoping for the best for him right now.”
Go ahead and keep hoping, darlin’. Once he had hoped the day would come when Heath would straighten up his life. He half-ass did at the end, but it was too late by then.
He picked up his keys from the counter and opened the front door. “Call in the morning to let me know if you’ll be over. If your kid likes leftover brisket, there’s plenty left. If not, we’ll throw something on the grill.”
“He’d eat it.” She went out ahead of him but faced him in the driveway. She peered around at the landscape to the light at the rear of his home. “Thanks for the tour and…everything.”
Everything? Bullshit. “You’re welcome. Glad I could oblige you.” He opened the door and waited for her to get in but slammed it closed. At the rear of his truck, he stopped to take a big breath in and out. He glanced upward at the same damn big, lonely sky he looked at each night of his sorry life. Hell no, he wasn’t sorry now for sleeping with her. She’d been a good lay.
At her house, her brother pulled up behind him, got out, and came up to the passenger side before she got out.
“You?” stated Clay. “Damn, Sophie, you dragged him all the way from California?”
Sophie stepped down from the truck. “Shut up, Clay. He lives here. You might as well leave because Dad isn’t letting you in if you’re drinking.”
“Come on,” Wade said. “I’ll walk to the door with you.” He took her arm, bumping Clay’s shoulder on the way. “Go on in.”
She kissed his cheek. “Please don’t say anything to him.”
“I’m only here to see that you get inside. It’s what a date does.” Sophie folded her arms across her chest making it obvious she wasn’t going inside with the two of them out here. He turned to walk down the steps.
“Wade?”
He whirled, making eye contact with Clay who stood squarely between he and Sophie. Clay made no attempt to move to the side on the narrow walkway. Instead, Wade made the move and went around the idiot toward Sophie. “What?”
Clay rushed past him and near the door. He whipped around to face Wade. “Damn, don’t be rude to my sister, jerk.”
Sophie slugged Clay in the arm. “Go home.”
Clay left for his truck and spun the vehicle in a circle before leaving.
“How old did you say your brother was? He acts eleven.”
The door opened and her dad stood there, messy salt and pepper hair on the longer side. He wore a black t-shirt with Willie Nelson on the front, and gray sweat pants.
Sophie opened the screen door. “Can you come out a minute, Dad? I’d like you to meet someone.”
Wade rolled his eyes. He’d seen the guy at Jake’s buying feed for his horses—usually a friendly kind of fella. He went up the steps and stuck his hand forward. “Wade Emory.”
Sophie nodded to Wade then her dad. “Meet my dad, Aaron Price.”
“How do you do, sir. I’ve seen you around Lawton Ranching Supplies.”
He shook Wade’s hand. “No doubt. I buy my feed and hay there. Most supplies. You too?”
“I’m part business owner with Jake. I work there.”
He glanced at Wade with a threatening stare. Aaron asked Sophie, “What the hell was going on out here?”
She moved closer to Wade and clasped his arm. “Clay pulled up when we did, acting like a smartass. Is Emmett sleeping?”
He nodded, turning halfway around, “Of course, like the good boy that he is. Good night, Soph, darlin’. Wade.”
“Night, sir.” He’d turned off the porch light when he went inside.
Sophie sat on the bench beside the door. She sighed. “Wanna sit?”
Wade crossed in front of her and sat. “I gotta be getting home.”
“Forget what I said about my brother. He’s such a bastard sometimes and needs to be knocked on his ass. I know Emmett will do it when he gets older.”
“Don’t let that happen. Hitting a relative is never a good thing.”
“I know, but what are we supposed to do?”
“Someone has to be stern with him so he knows he can’t get away with abusing your family.” He put his arm around her and drew her closer. “Why not let me take care of that?”
“I certainly don’t want him coming between us, and I’ve already made the first mistake by what I’d said. He needs to be ignored.”
“Do you have any other brothers? You said you had a sister.”
“My dad has a son we’ve never met. My mom and I moved into this place before Clay and Kathy came along. He adopted me. We were like one happy family for a long time. Then my brother became a teenager. My mom got sick. It turned into a long string of events.”
Wade detected the sorrow in her voice. “I’m sorry it’s hard on you all. Will you bring Emmett over tomorrow? Don’t be stubborn now. I’ve already met some of your family. What could be worse?”
Sophie softly laid her palm against his face. “We’ll be there tomorrow.” She leaned in to kiss him. “It’ll be morning before we know it. Go get some sleep. I think we’re in this for the long haul, Cowboy.”
“I�
�m glad you came to your senses.” He held her close, whispering, “What we did tonight is beautiful. Special. Don’t feel bad about it.”
“I won’t. When I get in bed tonight, I’ll be warm all over like being cuddled in memories of earlier.”
Wade left her arms and moved toward his truck. “Go inside, Soph.”
She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Sweet dreams.” Then she rushed inside.
Wade got in his truck and left. On the way down the dirt road, lights came up on him from behind. He didn’t have to think twice about who it was, but he had to wonder why. He didn’t want to hit him again. He rubbed his jaw to remind himself of the slug he took. Glancing in his rear view mirror, proved his theory. He sped up, hit the brakes, then whipped his truck around, coming to a complete stop beside Clay’s truck part way off the road by then.
He hopped out and went to Clay’s door. Wade jerked it open and grabbed Clay around the throat. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but you need to back down. For Sophie’s sake, I won’t beat your ass, but I gotta tell you right now…don’t ever hit her or her boy again because I won’t think twice the next time. Don’t hurt either of them. Am I clear?”
Clay lifted his hand to cut Wade’s arm away and rubbed at his throat. “Stay away from my family, coward.”
He clenched his jaw and his fists. Wade stared him down. “That’s not going to happen. I’m not going anywhere. Deal with it.” He walked away, got back in his truck, and turned around toward home. In his mirror, he noticed Clay turned around. He had confidence that Sophie’s dad wouldn’t let anything happen if Clay had gone back there. Sophie had said Clay lived near them. Damn asshole.
Chapter 7
Sunday morning, Wade observed the half-wall enclosure he’d built around the office in the barn. He’d left the top half open on all three walls because he didn’t want to be shut in.
He’d ignored the harassment and jokes from the ranch hands who had accused him of having a long-lost kid, and how he’d been caught by the woman who wanted to collect child support. Wade picked up the wood sculpture of a horse he’d carved before he met Sophie. Emmett might like it.
Settling down to go through the books lasted about five minutes before his thoughts drifted to Sophie’s perfume in his bed this morning. It occupied his mind far too long. Even after their night, he wasn’t sure where he stood with her. However, her last words bolstered his confidence.
Wade peeked at his watch then stood at the doorway in the supply barn, looking out at the sunny morning while sipping coffee. He patted and spoke to the horses on the way back to his office.
After two hours of work on the books, he grabbed his hat and left for home. First off, he opened the stable doors to turn out his horses. He’d bring them in before Sophie arrived with Emmett. After a shower, he finished off a piece of toast leftover from this morning.
Before he knew it, her truck pulled in the driveway, an hour earlier than he’d expected. He met them when they got out. She stepped out wearing a sleeveless turquoise and orange plaid shirt with the top three buttons undone, tight jeans, in which she’d donned a belt with a large oval buckle, and brown boots. He gave her a casual hug, whispering, “You look sexy.” Emmett seemed shy this afternoon. “Hey, Emmett, how you doing?”
“Okay. Where’s your horses?”
“They’re out of the barn. You’re early or I would’ve had them in. Let’s go call them. Better grab an apple out of the burlap bag in the stable.”
“Let’s go.” Emmett’s face glowed with happiness.
Wade clasped Sophie’s hand as Emmett ran off. “You’d think the kid never saw a horse before. You’re early.”
“We skipped church this morning.”
“Bad girl. Good thing this wasn’t the day I decided to meet you there.”
As they walked, Sophie took his arm and pulled him to her side. “You look nice today. Smell good, too.”
“I just got out of the shower. I’ve been on the job at the barn. We’ll take Emmett over later if you want.” He glanced ahead, saying to Emmett. “They’ll come up if you wait.”
Wade walked up and both horses came to him. “They must be a little shy today. Give me your apple.” He took a knife out of his pocket and cut the apple in half, gave it back to Emmett, and wiped the blade on his jeans before putting it away.
Emmett laughed as he gave the apple to them. “Their whiskers tickle. They need a shave. What’s their names again?”
“They’re overdue for a trim.” He ran his hand over his chin. This was a day he should’ve shaved, but he thought he’d had another hour. His scanty mustache filled in as best as his could, and he’d leave it alone. He patted the roan first. “This is Abacus.” Giving the bay a pat next, he said to Emmett, “This is Bender. You can ride him.”
“I want to. What will my mom ride?” Emmett glanced back at his mom with a wide grin.
Wade replied, “I’ll share Abacus and let her ride with me if she doesn’t mind.”
Emmett hesitated and gave him a stare as stern as a father might.
Damn, but he wasn’t asking permission. He had to remember these two once belonged to another man.
Bender nudged Sophie’s shoulder as if he remembered her. She patted him and mussed Emmett’s hair. “I’m fine with the idea of riding with you.”
Wade cocked his head back toward the house. “You guys hungry? We can have leftovers or hot dogs.”
The boy wrinkled his nose. “Eww, I don’t like leftovers.”
“You’ll like what Wade made yesterday, son.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, I am hungry. You got me up too early today, Ma. We didn’t even go to church. Why did ya?”
Wade clasped Sophie’s hand again, taking in the warmth and velvety softness of her skin. “Well, I’m glad you two came early. It gives us extra time for a longer ride. Let’s go grab some grub.”
“Come on, Emmett.” Sophie nodded for him to follow.
They went back to the front of the house. Emmett ran to the edge of the driveway. “You have a basketball hoop.”
“Yeah, I shoot a few hoops now and then. I don’t have much time for that though.” Wade opened the two-car garage door. He removed a cover from the only car in there.
“Yikes.” Emmett’s mouth fell wide open. “That’s a cool car.”
“It isn’t cool, yet, but one day it will be. It’s a classic. A 1967 Chevrolet Nova SS.” Wade cocked his head toward the car. “It’ll be super cool when it gets finished.”
Sophie held her mouth open. “This is incredible. I didn’t know you had this car.”
“How would you? We didn’t come in this way last night.” Oh, shit, should he have said that? “I keep it covered when I’m not working on it.”
“You put too many hours in at your job.”
“It is my job. How many hours do you put in correcting papers? Come on, Emmett. We’ll go in through the garage.”
“Take your shoes off at the door, boy.” Sophie stopped inside to remove her boots then glimpsed the great room, her gaze lifting to the loft. “The house is bigger than I remember.”
Wade reminded himself to ask her why she’d never told him she worked in his school district. At Heath’s memorial, he about fell over when Brenna had arrived, and they’d recognized each other. Had Sophie heard about his date with Bambi, the drunk? If not, he’d better tell her himself, because before long, she’d know.
“I’ll be right out.” Wade went to wash his hands. One date with Bambi had been enough. He’d had to clean the interior of his truck twice to get the red wine stain out of the carpet and upholstery. She’d pulled the cap off the already opened mini-bottle at the exact time he’d hit a bump in the road. He’d had to hose off the exterior door of his truck after learning she couldn’t hold her booze.
Bambi hadn’t waited until dinner to have a drink that night. Plus, she’d had a few during dinner. Then on the way home, she pulled another mini out of her purse. It wa
s one too many, hence the upholstery and puking. If she’d had her way, they would’ve had sex in the driver’s seat before he pulled in her driveway, albeit, she would’ve been too drunk to remember it the next day. She’d been strong for her petite size, and he couldn’t get her out of his truck soon enough. He shook his head to clear that memory and entered the kitchen. “You can show your boy around while I get the food heated.”
“I’d rather not roam through your house.”
“It’s okay. I don’t have anything to hide here. You aren’t showing him my drawers and closets, are you?” He directed his hand toward the loft. “My bed is made.” Wade winked then opened the fridge. “You guys want soda or iced tea?”
“Soda,” yelled Emmett. “Mom likes iced tea with sugar.”
“Thanks, but I can speak for myself, darlin’,” Sophie replied, frowning. Emmett ran then slid across the floor before rushing up the stairs. “Take it easy young man. Don’t get nosy.”
“You can take him out on the deck off my bedroom. See what you missed…” He continued warming the brisket while they walked around.
Sophie peeked her head around the stairway. “From what I remember, I didn’t miss anything.”
He gave a sideways glance. “Good point.”
Through the doorway Emmett could be heard talking in the loft and saying it would be fun to play in. Then he yelled over the railing, “Mr. Emory, do you have video games?”
Wade left the kitchen and looked up at him. “I might have a couple around here.”
“Will you look?”
“One day I’ll search for them. Today’s all about getting outside with the horses.” He planted his hands on Sophie’s waist and rushed her around the island. He drew her into his arms and kissed her. When they came up for air, he smiled, “It’s hard to do this with a kid around, huh? Maybe one day he’ll get used to us.”
“Maybe. Let me go up there to see what he’s into.” She meant to get away but he wouldn’t let her go. How could he when she smelled like last night?
“I’ll be up in a minute.” Before letting her go, Wade wrapped his arms around her for a good measure of a snuggle. “You smell so good. You do it to drive me crazy, don’t you?”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 9
