“As far as I know, Sophie won’t be there this time. Depending on how Saturday goes, maybe Sunday you’ll let me take Noah alone. I want to take him to see the horses, and maybe go by Dane’s. Remember him? I’ll bring Noah back to you later in the evening if he’s not fussing. Sooner if he is.” Shit, he talked as if he knew for sure.
“It’s going to kill me, but I guess I have no choice. I’ve never had to share him before.”
“Get used to it, Cynthia. Think how much better it’ll be to know he’s with his father while you’re gone.” He didn’t say it with any animosity because his words were truthful. “You know what kind of man I am. I’ll take care of him. You don’t have to worry.”
Cynthia grasped her boy’s hand. “I know. It’ll take time.”
Time was running short for them to bond. Wade had to get to work though he hesitated on purpose. He hugged Noah before handing him over to Cynthia.
“I have to fly back home to take care of paperwork, but I’ll be back. I may have to do this a few times before my leave ends.”
“If you want the fax number to the ranch, you can have paperwork sent there. Maybe it’ll save you a few trips.” He took a business card out of his wallet. “It’s on here.”
“Thank you. Some of it will be too personal to fax, but I will what I can. Let me know when you get the results back.” She turned toward her car.
“Yeah…”
Noah turned and smiled then he waved. “Bye.”
A knot stuck in his throat. He waved back, for words wouldn’t come. He had a son. “Wait.”
Cynthia stopped. Wade strode over and held his hands out. Cynthia put Noah into his arms. “What is it?”
“I have to tell him now. Sure, he won’t understand, but I don’t care. I’m his dad, and he needs to know he has a—”
“Dad…”
Oh, my God. His throat closed up. “He said Dad. I’m your daddy, Noah. I’m your daddy, son.”
“Should you have said that before you got the results?”
“I don’t know. Would you have gone this far if he wasn’t?”
“I’m glad you see it my way.”
A sad demeanor loomed over Cynthia, but she’d done this to herself. She shouldn’t have waited until the kid was past two before telling him. After what he’d just said, the kid better be his.
“Dad-dy…”
Wade smiled and handed him back. “That’s right, Noah.” Now, he didn’t know if he could wait until Saturday to see him again. “What’s your room number at the hotel?”
She gave it to him. “If you want to see him before Saturday, it’s okay.” Cynthia gave Noah a big squeeze. “He has a way of growing on others. Bring Sophie, and I’ll leave you all alone in the room, so she can get to know him, too. He’ll be comfortable surrounded with his familiar things.”
“What’s his favorite toy?” Some would call him a fool for not waiting for results, but deep in his heart, he knew. He had a difficult time removing his eyes from Noah’s face. All his little facial expressions were too cute to waste one more minute missing. He might’ve seen a slight resemblance to Heath, meaning the kid had Emory blood.
Cynthia chuckled. “A big truck.”
Wade glanced back at his. “Maybe he’ll like a real one.”
“He would like it much better than my compact car.”
“Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow?”
“Call first. I need to go home as soon as I get a flight. I’ll make the arrangement when I get back to the hotel. I’ll let you know.”
“Leave him while you fly home. He has to get used to me.”
“I’m not sure if I’m comfortable this early on. No, I don’t think I can. It isn’t like I’d be able to rush over to get him if he’s upset.”
“All right, but I know it’ll work out. I feel it in my bones.” Wade headed back to his truck as she buckled Noah into his seat. A change had come over him to hear a kid call him Dad. He got in his truck and sent a text to Sophie: That went well. Heading to work.
She replied: It took a long time.
Wade sighed. He called her… “We talked in the parking lot a few minutes. I had to do it. Couldn’t keep my mouth shut—”
“What did you say, Wade?”
“I told Noah I was his dad. He called me Daddy. There are no words to explain that feeling.”
“I’m happy for you.”
Was she? It didn’t sound like it. “Listen. I don’t need no results to tell me he’s my boy, as you already suspected anyway, but I want you to go over to her room in town with me to spend time with him—”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. She said she’d leave us alone with him for a while. He’ll be more at ease there for now. Sophie, do this with me?”
A sigh came through the speaker. However, she agreed.
“Aw, thanks, honey. She’ll be going back to Nevada a few times to finish up paperwork until Noah gets comfortable with me.”
“That makes sense. I can’t imagine how’ll she’ll feel sharing him after having him to herself. Paperwork for what?”
“Paperwork to change his last name to mine and add me to her military records as his dad. It’s her fault if she feels bad. How’s Emmett?”
“Oh, we’re home. They released him. I scheduled the MRI. Do you know they suspect a torn ligament? How is that possible?”
“Oh, wow. Can I kick your brother’s ass now?” Wade drove out of the parking lot toward the Sunset Grille to pick up lunch.
“Stand in line. There’s no word from him yet.”
The stupid sonofabitch. “Want me to call the sheriff’s department to see if they picked him up again? I know the sheriff and a deputy well, so one of them will tell me.”
“I guess.”
“Okay. I’m picking up lunch to take back to work. See you at dinner.”
“Looking forward to it, baby.”
“Me too.” He hung up and called Steve, a deputy friend to ask about Clay, but nope, Clay hadn’t been picked up nor had there been any hospital reports. He could be lying dead in the desert. No one knew how bad he’d been hurt in the accident. He texted Sophie the news while waiting for his order. In the meantime, he sent a text to Dane to tell him about the paternity tests, and that he was called Daddy for the first time in his life. Dane replied with a thumb up. Had everyone thought he’d gone crazy for rushing this too soon? Were they right?
***
Wade and Sophie knocked on the door at the hotel the next evening. Cynthia opened it and invited them in. She nodded to Sophie, then said to her boy, “Noah, look who’s here.”
Noah looked up from the floor wide-eyed. After a few minutes, he smiled but went back to playing with the pickup truck his mother had mentioned.
“I’ll sneak out, but I’ll be in the lobby downstairs if you need me.” She left and Noah stared at the door.
“Mommy?”
“She’ll be right back. Remember me?” Wade asked
Sophie gave him a subtle push toward the child in the sitting area. “He won’t bite. He’s a cutie, Wade.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.” He sat on the floor in front of Noah. “What do you have there? Is this your truck?”
Noah looked down at his shirt, and his brows pulled together like he’d been surprised he didn’t have the same shirt as yesterday.
“One day I’ll take you for a ride in my big truck. Would you like that?”
He cocked his little head and peered at Wade. “Here, Daddy.” He handed him the truck.
Wade could’ve lost it right there, and his throat tightened. A fit of anger came over him because he’d missed important months of this child’s life. He accepted the truck. Wade took Sophie’s hand. “This is Sophie. Noah, can you say hi to Sophie?”
“Hi, Soapy.” He smiled at her and did a little open and closed-fisted wave.
Sophie laughed and took his hand in hers. “That works for now, little guy. You’ll get it right one day.”
&nbs
p; Her words made Wade smile. It sounded like she planned on being around. He questioned, “Now what?”
Sophie laughed again and this time Noah did, loud and husky for a little boy. He handed her a blanket. She sat on the floor, snuggling it against her face. “I bet this is what you do. My boy had a blankie.” She pressed it against his cheek. Noah cuddled it then stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Wade tried to remove it. “Oh oh, a thumb sucker.”
“He’ll stop in time. Without his mother here, he might do it more often. Get used to that, Wade.” She smiled at him. “I’m proud of you. This could’ve gone in the opposite direction. You’re doing a good job. It’ll come natural before long.”
“Ya think?” Wade laughed and Noah crawled onto his lap. Wade held his hands out to the side but grinned. “He likes me.” Noah pointed to a bag of crackers on the table and peered at Sophie. “Do you think he can have one?”
“Why not? It’s okay or they wouldn’t be there.”
Noah said, “Soapy? Give me a quacker.”
“Aww!” She took one out of the bag and handed it to him. “He’s so adorable.” Tears formed in her eyes, but she diverted her gaze.
“What’s the matter?” Wade asked.
“I don’t know,” Sophie said sniffling.
“You want another child and think you can’t.” Wade leaned in to whisper, “Keep in mind, I have strong swimmers.” He shook his head. “Wait, I’m sorry. I assumed more than I should’ve.”
“No, you didn’t.” Sophie wiped at the tears. “You know what I told you the other night? I’m in this for the long haul if you let me. You don’t believe me, do you? I don’t need more time to tell me how hooked I am on you.”
Yeah, he’d had a hard time convincing himself she’d stick around, but life’s lessons had taught him that, often, people didn’t stick around. This was his problem, not hers. Noah cried, and he didn’t know why. He lifted him into his arms then stood and walked around the room. “What’s the matter, little guy. Come on, don’t pull this on me now. I’m trying to prove something to your mother.” Wade stood in front of the mirror to peer at them together. Wow, look at this. Noah reached out for Sophie.
She took him when he leaned toward her. “Shh, it’s okay, Noah. You’re safe, sweetie.” She held him tight and walked around the small sitting area.
Wade gulped down a knot in his throat to see her holding his son. He wanted that woman to have his baby. Damn, but he was crazy for falling so hard for this child, but he couldn’t help it. This looked real. It was all different now. She made it different and was the reason.
Cynthia knocked before entering the room. Her eyes widened to see Sophie soothing her son, and she gasped.
If Wade had to guess, she’d been shocked and caught off guard to see another woman coddling her child. “He fussed a little. I walked him around a bit, but he reached for Sophie.”
“It’s okay, he likes women.” She held her arms out and Noah went into them. “Other than that, how did it go?”
Wade stuck his hands into his pockets, saying proudly, “He called me Daddy again. It went well. We gave him a cracker. Hope that’s okay.”
“Of course. That’s why I had them out.”
Wade held his hand out for Sophie. “So, Cyn, I’ll see you Saturday at the Sunset Grille?”
“Sure. Say bye, Noah.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
He’d done it again and it wasn’t an accident. The boy knew. His heart pounded. Wade smiled at Sophie. “Ready?”
She nodded. “He’s adorable, Cynthia. You’re a lucky woman. If you have time, maybe you could put a list together for Wade of his favorite foods and what he can and can’t eat? Allergies, medical stuff, etc.”
“That’s a great idea. I will. Wade said you had a son, too. How old is he?”
“Oh, eight going on nineteen. He’ll be nine in a few days.”
“The kid’s a fantastic artist for his age,” Wade stated. “We better go. Thanks, Cynthia.”
“Come again.”
“We will. Bye, Noah.” Wade lifted his hand to wave then Noah did.
“Bye, Soapy.”
She waved and said good-bye.
He and Sophie sauntered down the hall hand in hand, but Wade put his arm around her shoulder before they got to the door. “Thanks for coming.”
“What about Saturday with Cyn?”
Wade sighed. “Instead of them going to my house, I thought it might be better to meet for lunch. I want you there. Come on, say you’ll come with me. Maybe later we can go to the house to see how Noah reacts there. I’m sure Cynthia wouldn’t go with us.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Thank you. Were you okay back there?”
“Yes, I was after a few minutes. Better without her there. It’ll all work out, honey. Maybe Noah can celebrate Emmett’s birthday with us. Let me talk to Emmett first. You’ve made a friend in him, and he might not like you catering to a little one.”
Wade stopped outside the exit door of the hotel. “He’ll have to get used to this situation like the rest of us.”
“He will, but…well, Emmett likes you a whole lot. I’m not sure how he’ll take to me holding a little one, either.”
“I like him as much. Baby, I got a big enough heart for all of ya.”
She placed her palm against his cheek and smiled. “I know you do. I see more of it every day. Um, you aren’t going to like this, but I believe she’s lying to you about her engagement. There is no ring on her finger. No pictures.”
Wade peered up at the overhang above them. He’d noticed that. “Why would she, Sophie?”
“She lied to you about your child. Maybe that isn’t all.”
He thought about that a moment. So what if she lied about a fiancé? It didn’t matter. “You aren’t thinking rationally.”
“Or you aren’t. What if I wasn’t in the picture? Would you consider—”
“I’m yours, woman.” He never expected to have one woman worrying about another one where he was concerned. Stuff like this never happened to him before. He put his hand to the small of her back to move her along, and they got in the truck. “Is it too late to pick up Emmett? Want him to join us?”
Sophie hooked her seat belt. “Um, he’s resting, but I’ll call on the way home. Let’s go to your house and crawl into your bed. I bet it isn’t made.”
Wade lowered his voice, saying intimately, “You’re right. It’s been waiting for you all this time.” At that moment, Wade blasted the radio when “Making it easy,” a jazzy country song came on.
“I like this song. Sexy!”
He chuckled. “Good, cause I’m in the mood to be sexy.”
“Hit the road, Cowboy. We have a few hours to get lost in. You do have condoms? Because if not, you better stop to get some because that’s a baby-making song.”
“Hey, woman, I had them the last time you let me sleep with you.” Wade ran his hand over his jaw. “Hmm, now I’m not sure if I can let you sleep with me.”
Her gaze roamed over him before they left the parking lot. “Better make your mind up soon before I change mine, but for the record, I’m anxious and hot.”
Wade raised the console and released her seat belt. Their lips connected in a hot and heavy kiss as he held her tight. “Don’t you dare change your mind, darlin’. You haven’t seen me hot and anxious yet.”
“Yes, I have,” she whispered. “Drive before I take you right here.”
Wade straightened himself up and shifted into gear. “Before you take me?”
“If it was dark here, you’d see me unhook our jeans and I’d crawl on your lap.”
He chortled and drove toward home. Where had she been hiding this? Wade checked the horizon. It wouldn’t be dark for a while. Her idea sounded like fun. “Whoa, what are you doing?” He glanced down at her fingers on his button. Then his zipper went down as far as it could. “Sophie, I have to drive.” He sat up straighter. “Don’t waste it.”
&nbs
p; “You’re good for more than once.”
“Oh, shit.” He hit the brakes and spun around in the road, floored it, and bounced into the parking lot at Rob’s Place.
She laughed. “We’re getting a beer? Now?”
“Don’t worry about it. Zip your jeans, darlin’.” He zipped his.
He rushed around to her side and took her hand. Together, they entered the sport’s bar. “Two longnecks, Rob.” He pointed to a booth, but he kept walking, dragging Sophie right behind him. They stopped outside the lady’s rest room. “See if anyone’s in there.”
Wide-eyed, she asked, “Why?”
“Just do it.”
Sophie entered but popped her head back out. “It’s vacant.” He rammed in the door, pressed her against it, and unzipped his pants, then dropped hers to the floor. “Now what are you gonna do, smartass. Take me? TAKE me if you dare. Take me dirty.”
He stepped out of his jeans and lifted her. Wade took her, or they took each other right there. When someone tried to get in, Sophie hollered in a demanding yet sensual voice, “It’s occupied.” His lips went to her neck and they drilled each other in a sexy rage. He kissed her neck, her jaw, and her lips to drown out his own heavy breathing and moans. He couldn’t think of anything but the pleasure overtaking him and the building release that was soon to follow.
Her voice whispering his name and the gentle breaths tickled his ear and sent chills over his body, mixed with his heat causing his blood to sizzle. Sophie accepted everything he gave and vice versa. She was wild tonight but later in bed they’d be gentle and romantic. Her muscles tightened and she sliced one hand through the back of his hair, clenching hold. Her heart pounded against his chest as she experienced her own pleasure. He couldn’t hold it off any longer, then he exploded. Holy hell, he hadn’t remembered the condom he’d removed from his wallet on the way in. She did things to him to make him senseless.
When it was over, he released her legs to the floor, and they clung to each other panting against the door in the sitting area of the lady’s rest room.
After they got their jeans in place, Sophie smiled up at him with wonderment in her eyes. “What happened to you, mister? Was that your anxious and hot? Wow.”
“Yeah, I think so. I figured you’d like the lady’s bathroom better than the men’s. Hey, it’s pretty nice in here. I didn’t know Rob had it in him to decorate something like this.”
Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3) Page 20
