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“First of all, I get to decline to spend time with either one of you if I have something else I’d rather do. One thing I’ll agree with is that neither one of you should be sneaky about the time you spend with me. It should all be on the up and up. That means no secret outings without the other one being aware. I don’t want to have to log a certain amount of time with either one of you. This has to happen naturally. If you can’t handle that, then you might as well drop out now.”
This time when the men looked at each other, they seemed to finally size one another up differently.
“I get to choose who I kiss—ifI want to kiss one of you. You may hold my hand if you wish because I have no problem with that. Otherwise, just treat me like you would if we had just started dating. Do you think you guys can agree to that?”
Wade cleared his throat. “I have a question.”
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear what he had to ask. This dating thing had already gotten out of hand, and she had barely reined it in. “What?”
“This whole mess started because you want to keep it a secret from everyone else. How are you going to explain that you’re dating both of us?”
Brielle laughed. It was probably because she needed to keep her emotions in check. “You don’t get out very often, do you?”
His ears reddened. But it was when he dropped his eyes to the ground that she felt guilty all over again. “Wade,” she said in a softer tone. “I haven’t had a single long-term relationship since I was in high school, and even then, my dad wasn’t aware of it. The guys I’ve been dating lately tend to be okay with the fact that I don’t want to commit right now. I thought you knew that.” Her stomach roiled. She’d thought he had been just as much aware of her situation as the rest of them. “I’ll understand if you want to drop out.”
Wade shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Tad moved forward and clapped Wade on the back. “Sounds good to me. I like a challenge.” He glanced up at the sky and then brought his eyes back to Brielle. “Today’s gonna be a long one, but I’d like to be the first to ask you to dinner after we’re through.”
All at once, Brielle’s body reacted to his request. From the hair on the back of her neck to the way her stomach turned over, she hadn’t been prepared for all of this to start so quickly. Though, now that she thought about it, she really should have known. It was just a date.
With a guy she’d married on a whim.
Brielle nodded stiffly. “It’s a date.”
* * *
She satdown in the chair Tad pulled out for her at the local steakhouse restaurant. He took the seat across from her and nodded his thanks to the hostess as she held out their menus.
“Your waitress will be here to take your order shortly.”
Brielle picked up her menu and kept her eyes glued to it as she drew the courage to have the hardest conversation she’d likely have in her life.
“You’re awfully quiet. Are you okay?” Tad asked.
Her gaze darted up to meet his over the edge of the menu.
Tad put his menu flat on the table and glanced around the restaurant. “This is pretty nice for such a small town. I hear Colorado Springs isn’t too far, though. I’d like to take you there for something later on.”
There was no putting off what she had to say. They’d have to get to it eventually. She sighed and placed her menu on the table. “I think we’re both crazy.”
He grinned at her, his eyes flashing with amusement. “Haven’t you ever heard that life isn’t interesting without a little crazy?”
“Yeah, but I think this takes the cake. I don’t know of a single person who would do what you’re doing.”
Tad chuckled, seemingly unruffled by her comment. It was as if he had heard it so many times by now that he expected her to bring it up. “It’s like I said. My parents were divorced. I don’t want to follow in their footsteps. When we got married that night, it was a decision I made with all of my faculties. I knew I wanted to be with you.”
“But we barely knew each other.”
He shrugged. “When you know, you know. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have an impulsive streak. You were fun and bright, and I could see a wonderful future with you.” He leaned forward, his eyes flashing. “And it didn’t hurt that you wereveryeasy on the eyes.”
“And what if you showed up here and I said no? What if I took you to court so I could marry someone else?”
“Who? Wade?” Tad laughed. “That guy has it bad for you.” He tilted his head and his focus seemed to rip right through her. “But I get the feeling you don’t care for him as much as he does you.”
She looked away, warmth flooding her cheeks. “I think I just got used to fighting the way I feel about people. I’ve been burned too many times.”
He frowned. “I’m so sorry, love. If I could take away that pain, I would.”
