“Wade?” She smiled so sweetly, that he felt like one of the students in love with their teacher. “My goodness. Hi. What a great surprise.”
With his back to the door, he heard it open but paid it no mind, then someone grabbed hold of his arm. Oh, shit!
“Wade Emory?” came out in a flirty voice he never wanted to hear again. “This is the last place I expected to see you.”
Bambi glanced around the office, smiled at Sophie, but jerked him against her. The stunned look on Sophie’s face said it all. He should’ve told her about Bambi by now. Sophie stared back and forth at them. This wasn’t good. He needed a quick escape.
“What are you doing here?” Bambi asked still holding his arm like she owned him.
“Um, um, I’m doing Br-Brenna a favor.” He jerked away and held the medicine bottle up to the secretary. “This is for Jaelle Carlson. She needs to take it now. Brenna asked me to bring it up.”
Bambi took his arm again. “You never called me.”
“Yeah, that’s the way it is.” He had to be rude to get away from her. The door opened again.
“Wade?”
Another familiar voice shot ice through his veins. Double shit, no. He glanced at Sophie, who had moved out of the way from the crowd filling up the office, then he glared over his shoulder. “Cynthia.” Could this get any worse?
“Wow, I do get to see you before I leave town.”
“What are you doing here?” He forced out the words when all he wanted to do was hide behind the secretary’s desk.
“This is my cousin. She babysits for a student here, but the school called saying he was sick.” She introduced him to her cousin.
He nodded as he moved closer to the door. Bambi glowered at Cynthia. Sophie’s expression couldn’t be interpreted.
Sophie scooted between he and Cynthia. “I have to get to class.”
He held her arm. “Sophie, wait.”
She didn’t look at him as she snuck through, but her perfume lingered—the same perfume in his sheets.
“I gotta go.” He rushed out the door, leaving Cynthia’s questions and before Bambi grabbed his shirt sleeve again. In the hallway he called out, “Sophie.” She turned. He marched toward her. “Do you have a second?”
“No, I’m working. You got some explaining to do, Cowboy.”
His breath caught. “Yeah, I know. I can.”
Sophie checked the office, saying on her way, “Good. I have to go.”
“I’ll call you tonight.”
Sighing, she came back and stood close in front of him, lifting her eyes to his. Man, he loved her eyes. “I’m not sure what I’ll be doing.”
His first reaction was to grasp her arm, but that wouldn’t be a good idea here. “You don’t want me to call?”
They stared at each other in silence for too long. Dammit, that said a lot. He backed toward the exit. Wade leaned his arm against the exit door. She stood in the same place. All of a sudden, the door opened. He had to catch himself. Another female voice said his name and squeezed in the door. Uh-oh. “Kay? Hey there.” He flicked his gaze to Sophie and sensed she wanted to say something more, but he shook his head and shoved the door open to hightail it out of there.
“Wait.” Kay called after him.
He turned back to acknowledge Kay. Sophie marched away.
“What are you doing here?” Kay asked strolling up to him.
“I did someone a favor.”
Kay watched Sophie walk down the hall and smiled as if getting it. “I haven’t seen you since I stopped working at the hotel outside of town.”
“Yeah, I know. You moved.” He brushed his hand toward his truck. “I’m in a bit of a hurry. Nice seeing you again.” Sophie peered over her shoulder with a frown before disappearing at the end of the hall, but not before the resentment showed in her eyes.
Kay touched his arm to get his attention. “I just wanted to say hi. I wasn’t sure that was you at first.”
This must’ve been the last place any of these women had expected to see him. “Yep, it’s me. Did you move back to town?”
“I did. The other place didn’t work out. I took a job at the Sunset Grille until I can get something that pays more. Stop in sometime. Let me buy you a cup of coffee.”
“I’m busy these days, but, yeah, maybe. Take care now.” Sophie had totally disappeared. There was nothing he could do now. He raced to his truck before some other nightmare from his past appeared. The universe had plotted against him today.
Instead of going home, he went to Rob’s Place, a local sport’s bar a long-time friend owned. The ranch was the last place he needed to be for fear of Cynthia showing up. He once liked that woman—liked her a whole lot. They’d gotten along great and had from the beginning. However, she’d kept the news of her deployment secret until a few days before she left, which told him how little she had cared about him. Again, he reminded himself that he’d rushed into this relationship with Sophie just as fast. He set his hat on the bar stool beside him and ordered a longneck. “How’s it going, Rob?”
“Not bad, I’m getting ready for the lunch rush.”
“While I’m here, how about a carryout. A burger with the works?”
“Yep, grill’s all hot. I’ll put your order in.” Rob left for the kitchen but returned when the bell chimed on the door.
“Thanks.” Wade took a big swig from the bottle and visualized the shocked look on Sophie’s face when Bambi strolled up to him. He sent a text to Dane: Shit just happened.
Dane replied: What? Where you at?
He returned a text: All four women, past and present showed up at the same time. It was like a nightmare. I’m lucky to get out of there with my life.
He didn’t need to hear Dane to know he laughed his ass of. He read the reply. Yep, a big LOL glared at him. He sent back: I’m at Rob’s Place waiting for lunch. Come up.
Dane replied: I’m on my way.
“Hey, Rob, can we make that order for here? Dane’s coming up. Order the same for him.”
“Gotcha.” Rob went to the kitchen. He came back out a moment later, and Wade ordered a tall glass of water. He drank down half the bottle of beer then shook his head as he replayed the short time in the building. How had something like that happened? His phone beeped. Bambi? There was no way in hell. She sent a second text. Nope. As if that wasn’t bad enough, when he was ready to block Bambi’s number, a text came in from Cynthia. He muttered under his breath, “Shit. What the hell?”
Dane chuckled when he slid in beside him. “What’s the matter, bud. Got women troubles? Tequila, Rob.”
Wade held his phone up to Dane. “A text from Bambi and Cynthia. Don’t be setting me up with anybody again, all right?”
“I didn’t set you up with the chick in the Air Force.”
“Yeah, I know. Don’t even mention Bambi’s name again. She had her hands all over me up there in the office in front of Sophie.”
Dane shook his head. “Should’a mentioned her to Sophie. I told you.”
“I was going to last night, but she got all mad about her kid bronc riding. We didn’t get a chance.”
“Her kid bronc rides? How old did you say he was?”
“Hey, I ordered you a burger and the works. Her boy is almost nine. No, he didn’t bronc ride and never will after yesterday.”
“I told you dating a woman with a kid was a whole new tool in the toolbox. You can’t get in the middle. She lost her husband, man, she doesn’t want to lose her son, so she’ll overprotect him.”
Wade lifted his palms from the bar. “I’m not trying to. I told her I’d call her tonight. She didn’t know what she’d be doing.”
Dane laughed. “Ouch. Women. I’ll have a longneck when you get a minute, Rob.”
Rob brought it over and leaned his elbows on the bar. “How’s it going? I haven’t talked to you guys for a while. It sounds like you’re having women problems. I’m a good listener.”
“Yeah, I might take you up on that
in a couple days.” Wade finished his beer and slid the bottle away.
“Another one?” Rob asked when his helper sat their food down.
“Nope. I gotta work when I go back. Ketchup for these fries would be good.”
“Gotcha.” Rob brought out ketchup from beneath the bar.
Dane took a bite of his burger. “I have to admit, it’s kind of nice seeing you with a woman…” He chuckled. “I mean woman problems.”
“I’m glad you think it’s a joke. Sophie might never talk to me again. Why does this bullshit happen to me? I should’a been a monk.”
“Take it easy. You told me to remind you the next time you—”
“It’s not the same. I mean it. Sophie is special.”
“Damn, Wade. Give her a chance before you write her off. You know women are like that when they see another woman grabbing on their man.”
Wade laughed and stuck a French fry into his mouth. “What are you up to today?”
“I wasn’t far from here when you called.” Dane checked his watch. “I told Gracelyn I’d take Will to the doctor so she doesn’t have to leave work. Mom’s watching him right now, but he isn’t feeling well.”
“It sounds like something’s going around school. Jaelle has strep throat.”
Dane banged his fist against the bar. “Dammit, I bet Will does. He was over there with his cousins last week.”
Wade dunked a fry into the ketchup so hard it spattered on the bar.
Rob came over with the bill, and a towel to wipe it up. “Hey, you know, we haven’t partied together for a long time.”
“Yeah, we’re all due for a party,” Wade muttered dryly.
Dane finished his burger and ate a few fries, tossed money on the counter, and stood. “Thanks for ordering for me. I gotta go pick up Will. Good luck, Wade.” He strode out the door.
“Give us a call one night, Rob. We all need a break.” Wade glanced at the money on the bar. Dane had left enough for both orders. He tossed down extra tip money. “Have a good one. I might see ya in a couple days.”
“Stop back anytime.”
Wade headed toward the ranch to see if it still stood in one piece. He pulled in and went to his office to check if any new orders had been called in or had arrived. As soon as he sat in his new office chair, he sent a text to Sophie: Call me when you get off work. All he could do now was wait. If she got pissed at something that was out of his control, then he didn’t need her. He’d chalk it up to one more mistake in the love-life of Wade Idiot Emory.
Chapter 9
Sophie sat in her car after work picturing her co-worker with her hands all over Wade. She’d told him she wouldn’t promise not to be jealous. Bambi and Wade? She didn’t want to discuss this on the phone. She dialed home. “Hi, Dad, are you able to watch Emmett after school? I’m making a stop on my way home.”
“I don’t have any plans on leaving. He’ll be fine. We’ll go horseback riding for a short spell.”
“Thanks. Make sure he starts his homework. I have a simple dinner planned. I’ll fix it when I get home.”
“Tell me what it is. You know, I don’t want to forget how to take care of myself. One day you’ll be leaving, and I need to get back to waiting on myself instead of depending on you.”
“You know I love taking care of you.” She told him she had ham steaks in the fridge, and he could fix whatever he wanted with them.
“Sure, you take good care of me, honey, but you have a life. Take your time. I’ve got the boy, and we’ll make pancakes.”
“That’ll be fun!” Without calling first, she drove to the JL Ranch. Wade’s truck was down near the larger barn. He must’ve heard the vehicle because he came to the barn door with eyeglasses in his hand. He folded and put them in his shirt pocket. Wade came toward the passenger side and leaned his forearms on the window frame. “Howdy, Sophie.”
She smiled. He looked handsome here in his element. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
“Only for some closeup stuff. My eyes are betraying me. Do you want to come into my office or go stand by the corral?”
“No thanks.” She got out and went around to his side.
He held his hands up surrendering. “About the bullshit in the office. Where do you want me to start?”
Sophie thought a minute. What did she want to hear? “Um, how about in backwards order. The woman at the door? I believe her name was Kay?”
Wade folded his arms. “Look, I don’t care how it looks, none of that was my fault. I’m not dating any of them. Besides, you never said you wanted us to be exclusive.”
Had she a right to inquire of these women? Sure she did. He was right. No one mentioned not seeing anyone else. “But you are, or have, dated them?”
“Yeah, before I met you. I told you who I am. It’s up to you to believe me.”
“What about Kay?”
In a frustrated gesture, Wade took his hat off, brushed his hand through his hair, then put the hat back on. He peered at the ground a second before looking at her. “She used to work at the hotel in town, when it reopened. We dated a few times. Nothing more than a couple dinners.”
“Did you sleep with her?” She paused. “Never mind.” He peered off to the side with a frown on his brow. She’d hurt him by distrusting him.
“For one thing, it isn’t your business who I slept with before you. What do you think?” Wade walked to the rear of her truck and lowered the tailgate. She came back and sat on it beside him. “I don’t owe you any explanation, but I choose to explain. Whatever happened with any of them was way before I met you. I haven’t seen Cynthia for three years. A little bit longer for Kay. I didn’t know she moved back to town.”
“Which one is in the military?”
“Why do you want to know? It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”
She ran this all through her frazzled brain. “Bambi works here. Kay worked somewhere, so that leaves Cynthia. She’s the one you cared about the most.”
Wade stood, hooked his thumbs over his pockets, and blew out a breath. “I stand by the Fifth Amendment.”
“Okay, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know about this one, but…Bambi?” She tapped her nails against the tailgate she sat on. “Bambi? Really?”
Wade rolled his eyes. “I dated her one time too many. She’s a drunk among other things. I wouldn’t want her teaching my kid.”
“She’s a good teacher. I have to give her that much. She’s a little wild.”
Wade nearly choked. “Look, the blind date with her was disastrous. Brenna’s the one who fixed us up then encouraged Dane to encourage me.”
“That surprises me.”
“I’ll be right back.” He got up and headed toward the barn. “You want water or soda?”
“No thanks.” She went around to her door and got her water bottle then leaned against the side of the truck to wait for him. She unbuttoned her outer blouse and removed it, leaving a deep purple tank top underneath. Her gaze followed Wade back. He looked so good yet beaten thanks to her. Well, no, it was thanks to his harem. This wasn’t like her at all.
“Are you jealous of those women, Sophie? You don’t have to be.”
“That’s not true. Cynthia means, or meant something to you.”
“She ditched me before her deployment. She didn’t want me waiting for her in case she didn’t come back. It’s that simple. I haven’t talked to her since she’d been gone. I didn’t know she was in town until she called me last…”
Sophie smiled. “You should stop while you’re ahead. I can’t believe this happened to you all at once. What’s the chances of that?” She laughed. “I feel bad for you.”
“Do you?” he questioned dryly.
“Well, yeah, but I admit to being jealous. I wanted to yank Bambi’s hands off you in my school office.”
“That would’ve been fun. Tell her we’re dating, but don’t believe a damn thing she says.” He removed his outer shirt. Sweat beaded on his face so he wiped it off with his shi
rt. “Bambi didn’t get what she wanted that night in case you’re wondering.”
Sophie hugged him. “Poor baby.”
He put his arms around her. “Look, I don’t like to get drunk myself. How do you think I feel about dating a woman who carries bottles of wine in their purse? Did I mention one bottle spilled all over my truck? Keep that to yourself. I shouldn’t be saying anything about her.”
“There’s so much I don’t know about you.”
“And vice versa.” Wade clasped her hands and held them behind her back. “How about we change that. I don’t want to date anyone else.”
“I didn’t know I wanted to date anyone until I looked into your eyes.”
Wade grinned. “Does one of us want to say the word exclusive?”
“Emmett only wants me to date you. He’s being possessive. I knew he liked you, but I didn’t know how much until we talked recently. If you…” How could she explain this without coming across as pushy? “If you don’t want to make something out of us, or at least make sense of all this, please let me down now. If you hurt my son, you hurt me, and I don’t want him getting any more attached if you don’t…” That sounded awful. They needed to take it slow and let whatever this was, grow. “I’m sorry. I never expected my son to like another man. He’s lonely, and I don’t want him to tangle up his thoughts and think things he shouldn’t.”
“Look at me.” He lifted her chin until she met his gaze. “I don’t want to hurt nobody. I know you come as a package, and not only Emmett, but your brother, your dad, sister…”
Sophie laid her palm against his face. “You have nobody. What happened to your family?”
“Listen, let me take care of what I was working on, then we’ll go back to my house.”
“Okay.”
He took her hand. “What time do you want to be home? Do you have to fix dinner?”
“My dad said he would tonight. Apparently, he’s feeling smothered by me. I don’t know why.” She chuckled.
“How about getting a carryout at the Sunset Grille… No, n-not there, um, maybe Chinese food?”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 12
