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Tears rolled down his cheeks, and I had the urge to reach over and wipe them away.
“I rotated between their rooms. Praying to God not to take them. They died a day apart. My mother’s heart gave out, and Grace… They couldn’t stop the internal bleeding. It felt like my life was over.”
I squeezed his hand, and he looked at me. “I tried to hang onto the ranch, but I couldn’t do it. Everywhere I turned there were reminders. I sold it six months after my folks passed away.”
My heart dropped. “Oh, Wade. I’m so sorry.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. I wasn’t about to let it go, not after all the hard work my dad had put into it. His best friend and another local rancher bought it. Promised me if I ever changed my mind he’d sell it back to me.”
I smiled. “That was nice of him.”
Wade grinned slightly. “Yeah. He’s good people.”
“What happened with Caroline? Was she upset when you moved to Texas?”
“Yeah, no. She broke up with me shortly after the accident. She thought that I was giving up and said she couldn’t emotionally deal with helping me through it all.”
I gasped. “What?”
“Yep. Those were her exact words. I spent the next four months drinking myself to death. Felt like I didn’t have anything to live for. Then I got a phone call from Trevor. He’d flown up for the funerals and had kept in close contact with me since the accident. Called me damn near every day.”
I now remembered Trevor going to Colorado to help out a college friend. He never did tell me the story though. My chest filled with pride as I thought about how caring my brother had been.
“He offered me a new start. I spent about a month getting my shit together and settling up everything in Colorado, then headed to Texas.”
I smiled. “I’m glad Trevor called you.”
For the first time since I had met Wade, I saw a light in his eyes. “I am, too. Your brother saved me, and I’ll forever be in debt to him for that.”
It wasn’t lost on me that I was still holding his hand. I didn’t let go, and he didn’t pull away. His thumb brushed over mine, and I couldn’t ignore the way my chest fluttered. Our eyes locked. Awkward, yet mesmerizing at the same time. He withdrew his hand as Lucy set his food down.
I watched while he took a bite and moaned in appreciation. “Damn. That’s a good burger.”
“It is!” I said with a smile.
We sat and ate for a few minutes. Pushing my plate back, I placed my elbows on the table and stared at him.
“I know your loss is still very new. And I’m not saying I want my family to replace yours, but I know you’re staying in the main house for another few weeks. I want you to start eating with us.”
Wade stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “What?”
“I’ve seen you sneak out at the crack of dawn, and I know it’s so you can avoid breakfast. I want you to join us. You ain’t got nowhere to be that early in the morning that can’t wait. Trevor eats with us, so can you.”
“Amelia, I appreciate you trying to make me feel welcome.”
“I’m not making you feel welcome, Wade Adams. You are welcome. You’re part of our family whether you like it or not. That means eating with us. At least breakfast. Will you do that for me?”
A wide smile built over his face. “Yes. I’ll do that for you, Amelia.”
His words touched me more than I thought they would, and I had to push away my growing feelings.
We stared at each other until my phone started ringing. Glancing down, I read the caller ID.
“It’s, um, it’s Liam.”
Wade nodded. “No dirty sex talk at the table, please.”
I swiped across my phone. “Hey, Liam. What’s up?”
“I’m not going to be able to make it this weekend.”
Disappointment should have rushed through my body; it didn’t. “Why not?”
“Nancy got me an audition for a Broadway play. I can’t turn it down.”
“Of course not,” I said. “When is the audition?”
“Saturday afternoon.”
“Really? What play?” I asked.
“It’s for a dramatic adaptation of a 19th century literary piece.”
I grinned. “Walter Theatre Productions?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“One of the girls I went to college with works for the production company.”
“Really? Small world. Think she can help me get the part?”
I was stunned for a moment by his request for her to help him with the part. “I doubt it.”
Wade laughed and shook his head.
“Who’s that?” Liam asked.
“I’m having lunch with Wade.”
“What the fuck? Why?”
“Why not?” I asked, not the least bit pleased with his outburst.
“The guy clearly wants in your pants, and you’re having lunch with him?”
I stood and covered the phone. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
