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She forced herself to do as he asked.
“I like you the way you are, too.”
Tears stung at her eyes. Just like their last conversation, he’d taken her off guard and made her feel worthy of something more. She blinked them away, offering him a smile she wasn’t prepared to give. They needed a change of subject. He’d wanted a fresh start, right? “So what’s the plan? You’re not going to take me to some fancy restaurant, are you?” She plucked at his shirt with veiled disdain. “This is definitely not you.”
Wade grasped her fingers in his hand, then pressed them flat against his chest. “Okay, I get it. And in answer to your question. No, we don’t have a fancy restaurant reservation.”
She lifted a questioning gaze upward. If they didn’t have a dinner reservation, then what did he have planned?
As if he could read her mind, he grinned, jutting his chin toward his truck. “Get in. I’ll show you.”
12
Wade
Wade caught himself staring at her again. Even with her hair pulled back into a messy bun, and her jeans torn and tattered at the knees, Brielle was beautiful. Up until recently, he’d always thought this was her way of showing just how confident she was. He wouldn’t have been surprised to see her go around town stark naked, still managing to hold her head high.
Now, he knew better.
After their conversation the other night, her insecurities only made her appear more human. She probably fretted about that very outfit she wore now. His sister had a habit of doing the same thing. He could imagine Brielle changing her outfit three times and trying to fix her hair in several different ways.
Brielle eyed him, and he whipped his head back around. Great, now she had caught him staring. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. It was fine. She knew he liked her. There was no reason to be worried about scaring her off.
Unless she thought this was overkill.
What was he thinking? He’d allowed himself—and Tad—to get into his head. She was on a date with him. That should account for something.
“What’s Tad up to tonight?”
He stiffened. “I don’t know.”
“Right. I just figured…” She let out a soft laugh. “Of course you wouldn’t. I don’t even know why I asked.”
He peeked at her out of the corner of his eye. “It’s fine. I think he said he was going to look around a little bit. He asked me if there were any good clubs around.” He chuckled. “I told him to go to the country club.”
A smile spread across her face. “I don’t think that’s the kind of club he was looking for.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I should have told him to head all the way out to Colorado Springs and hope that he got lost coming back.”
“Wade! You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Why? Because he’s your husband?” Wade winced as soon as the words spilled from him. He knew better than to bring up that issue. Brielle didn’t need him bringing any of that up. Why did he have to go and open his big mouth like an idiot?
“No,” she murmured, “because you’re better than that.” She stared out her window, her voice softening further—almost to the point he didn’t hear her. “It’s one of the reasons I like you so much.”
“You don’t know that.”
She glanced toward him. “Yes, I do. The folks in Copper Creek might only see you for the few mistakes you made when you were younger, but I see the real you. I see a man who is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his family, and a guy who is willing to let a complete stranger into his home for a friend.”
He gave her a sharp look. “I thought we’d finally gotten past that.”
“Past what?”
“You thinking of me as a friend.”
Brielle’s smile returned. “I suppose you’re right.”
One more point in his favor. She had finally admitted that there was something more between them. She was on a date with him. The only thing that weighed him down was the fact that it had taken Tad showing up for her to finally do so.
