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“It’s a lot of work, but we love them all. Annie is our biological daughter. James, the oldest, is, as well. He’s heading off to Texas Tech next fall. Makes me so sad.”
I leaned against the counter and looked into the living room. James was sitting next to Wade and a boy named Thomas, playing a video game.
“My parents had seven kids, so I love the chaos.”
Wanda chuckled. “Chaos, indeed. We wouldn’t change a thing.”
I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Wade. He had amazingly spent equal amounts of time with each kiddo. I would have never known seven of the kids were not his own blood. He treated them all like kin.
“Wade sure is good with the kids,” I said, my internal thoughts slipping out.
“He is. Always has been. Lord, that boy was good with his little sisters, too. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. Broke his leg once climbing up a tree to save Grace’s cat who was stuck. A branch he was standing on snapped, sending him to the ground. Do you know he got up and climbed back up and got the cat?”
Grinning, I replied, “That sounds like something he would do. He’s such a gentleman.”
“Indeed, he is. How do you know Wade?”
Her question pulled me from my trance. “He’s my brother’s friend from college. When Trevor found out what had happened to Wade’s family, he offered him a job on my father’s ranch.”
She lifted a brow. “What does he ranch?”
“Cattle, mostly. Goats, grain for feed. They want to go organic, and Trevor said Wade was the guy to do it.”
Wanda grinned. “Well, it’s good seeing him smile. The last time we saw him he was a bit of a mess. I think coming to Texas was the right thing for him to do.”
I nodded, not really sure how to respond.
“Go on in there. If you don’t pull him from the game now, y’all might be spending the night.”
With a chuckle, I made my way into the living room. Wade glanced up and smiled. My stomach dropped and I prayed like hell my cheeks hadn’t turned red. The naughty things that had been running through my mind about Wade were starting to get out of control.
Zeroing in on his lips, I let my wayward thoughts run wild again.
What would those soft, plump lips feel like on my skin?
Was Wade into rough and fast sex? Or slow and romantic? The latter I’d never experienced before. I only wrote about it.
The idea of his hand slipping into my panties and making me come was almost too much to take.
Jesus. What is wrong with me?
I sat down on the sofa, keeping a good distance between us.
“Can you play, Amelia?” James asked.
Laughing, I said, “The only thing I can play is Frogger. I’d kick your butt, though.”
Wade looked at me. “Want to make a bet?”
My smile grew. Boy, oh boy, could I think of some things for us to bet on.
“What should we bet?” I asked.
Wade pointed to James. “You pick.”
Damn it. My bubble popped.
“How about loser has to cook dinner for the winner.”
Okay, that was safe. Although not what I had in mind. By the look on Wade’s face, I was going to guess he had some different ideas, as well.
“Sounds perfect!” I said.
After changing out the games, I was handed a controller and Wade and I started to play.
Ten games later, I was up nine to one. “I’m pretty sure I’ve won,” I said while attempting to hide my victory smirk.
Wade rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I let you win.”
“You did not!” I gasped while pushing his shoulder.
He looked at me in that moment and we burst out laughing. He’d been schooled in Frogger…by a girl. And he knew it.
Wade dropped the controller on the coffee table. “We need to run, y’all. Let’s plan something soon.”
The next thing I knew, Wade was grabbing my hand and leading me out of the house. I’d never in my life felt my heart pounding like it was in that moment. The feel of my hand in his was the most amazing thing ever.
What. In. The. Hell.
He was guiding me out of the house, not kissing me! Yet, by the way my heart raced, you’d think we were making out in the truck. When he dropped my fingers, I instantly missed the connection. I shook my hand to get the tingles out of it.
Oh, dear Lord.
I’m falling for Wade.
This is not good. Not good at all.
Or is it?
Wade walked out of the print shop carrying two boxes filled with pens, magnets, and notepads. He only teased me once about the cover of my last book while I was looking over the swag. The model on it had his shirt hanging open, abs on full display. It was a steamy cover, if I did say so myself.
