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Her sister turned but kept her back pressed up against the shelving behind her. “Are you okay?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well, about a week ago, Wade’s cousin shows up out of nowhere and… you justgo outwith him? Isn’t that a little weird? Don’t you think there’s something…offabout him?”
Brielle bristled. “There’s nothing wrong with Tad. He’s a sweetheart.”
“I know. I get it. He’s cute and handsome. He fills out a pair of jeans like nobody’s business.” Eloise went quiet for a little while. “But there’s definitely something going on. You can’t deny it. I’ve never seen you act like this, and it started after he got here.”
“Act like what?” she snapped. “I’m not doing anything differently than I normally do. A new guy comes to town, I date him.”
Eloise gave her a pointed look. “Iknow, Bri.”
Her stomach bottomed out, dropped like a sack of potatoes and landed with a crash. Eloise knew what? She couldn’t possibly know anything about her marriage. Brielle had kept it a secret from everyone. The only one who knew was Wade, and that was because she’d needed his help.
Brielle glanced toward the doorway as she got to her feet. “What are you talking about?”
“Tad isn’t Wade’s cousin… is he?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“For heaven’s sake, Bri,” she hissed. “Shane’s cousin found out you were married. I don’t know what you think you’re doing with him, but—”
Brielle’s blood ran cold and she nearly collapsed onto the couch, leaning on it to stay upright. “What?” Her voice rasped and her heart pounded.
Eloise hurried forward. “What’s going on? You can tell me.”
She fought back the dizziness. If Eloise knew, it was only a matter of time before someone else figured it out—especially if Shane’s cousin had something to do with her secret getting out. Brielle shook her head sharply. “I don’t believe you. I don’t know how you figured it out…”
“Bri…”
Brielle flinched at her sister’s critical tone. She hadn’t expected to feel so judged by the one sister she felt she’d grown closest to. “He asked that we get to know each other this month before we sign papers for a divorce. That’s all. He just… didn’t want to walk away if there was a chance we might hit it off.”
“You can’t tell me that doesn’t sound—”
“Crazy? Yes, I’m aware. But this isn’t your decision. It’s not Wade’s, either. I get to choose what I want for my life.”
“Wade? Is that what this is about?”
Brielle snapped her mouth shut. Eloise didn’t know that she was going on a date with Wade tonight. No one did. That was one thing she wasn’t willing to advertise to anyone at the moment. The last thing she needed was for a conversation like this to hit her at every side.
It was probably a little too late for that now. She justhadto go open her big mouth and make everything worse.
“You’re dating Tad so you don’t have to deal with Wade, aren’t you?”
Okay, so she didn’t know. That was good, right?
“Brielle,” Eloise sighed. “Wade actually cares about you. Everyone can see it. He’s said as much. Why are you entertaining this stranger when you know that you have something great?”
How could she tell her sister that she was terrified? She’d made mistakes in the past. She’d allowed herself to get swept up in something that she wasn’t prepared for, and she ran. She had feelings for Wade; she knew it.
What if she ran off on him, too?
That realization dawned on her like she’d been sprayed in the face with a hose at full blast. Giving Tad a chance wasn’t just about righting the wrongs of her past and keeping her family out of the loop. She was trying to protect herself and Wade from her destructive nature.
Goosebumps accosted her and she turned away from her sister. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Eloise snorted. “Yes, I do. So does Shane.”
