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It was as if a volcanic eruption exploded inside her. Heat, fire, and desire combined together to flood her entire being with a sensation she knew she’d never experienced in her lifetime. The only man who had come close to creating this feeling had been James. Not even Shane could stir up what Wade just had.
Before she had a chance to gather her thoughts, Wade pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to clean up, then I’ll take you home.” He handed her his keys. “Start the truck for me, will you?”
She nodded, unable to find her voice. Her eyes followed him as she started the truck and the headlights illuminated the entire area. He pulled out his phone and his demeanor shifted. Brielle couldn’t put her finger on what it was exactly, but the way he was holding himself wasn’t quite right. He turned so his back was to her, which made it that much more difficult to read him. How was she supposed to figure out what was going on if she couldn’t see his face?
Brielle leaned forward in her seat, but it didn’t do any good. Wade typed something into his phone and then shoved it back into his pocket. He glanced back toward the truck, and that was when she got her first good look at his face.
The lines etched there had completely erased the loving expression he had worn moments ago. There were hints of concern mingling with a distinct anger she could see even from where she sat in his truck. Whatever that message had been, it had completely destroyed the mood of their night.
Wade put everything in the back seat and then climbed behind the wheel.
She sat there for as long as she could, waiting for him to tell her what had happened. When he didn’t bring it up, she glanced at him. He’d put the truck into drive and had pulled out onto the winding road that would take them down the mountain. Both hands gripped the steering wheel, and his whole body, from his jaw down to his legs, appeared tight and immovable.
“Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” he muttered.
“Doesn’t seem fine,” she murmured. “Was it because—”
“If you are trying to apologize again, Bri, I swear…” Wade faced her. His hard gaze softened but only slightly. “Do you trust me?”
She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut just as fast. Trust had been a hot-button topic between her and Shane. It didn’t come as easily as Wade might think. Even if in her heart shedidtrust him, it wasn’t a simple concept. “Of course, but—”
“No buts. You either trust me or you don’t. There is no in-between.”
“You can’t just say something like that,” she protested. “There are always exceptions to the rule.”
He shook his head. “Not when it comes to me. I will never lie to you.”
Something felt off about this whole conversation. It was like he was trying to make her look somewhere else so that something bigger could happen right under her nose. Brielle frowned as she scrutinized him.
A huge part of her wanted to say she trusted him without question. He didn’t have any reason to lie to her, and it wasn’t like he was keeping any secrets from her—well, not that she knew of.
On the other hand, she couldn’t deny that her gut was telling her that hewas,in fact, keeping something from her that she needed to know. She just couldn’t figure out a way to bring it up without it turning into an argument.
The inside of her cheek turned raw as she gnawed on it. Sometimes it was better to take a leap of faith.
Right?
Brielle cleared her throat and nodded. “I trust you,” she whispered.
“Good. Then trust me when I tell you that everything is fine. And if it isn’t, I will make sure it will be. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“Okay.”
He smiled, but it didn’t brighten his eyes like his smiles usually did. Wade was worried about something, and what made her nervous was that it seemed like it involved her.
Wade set his focus on the road, and they carefully made their way down the mountain. She kept her gaze trained on the road ahead, fully aware of each and every time Wade glanced in her direction.
The old Brielle would have made an excuse to use his phone. The old Brielle might have even used manipulative techniques to get him to tell her everything. But she didn’t want to be that Brielle anymore—not when she was with Wade.
She released a heavy breath, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest. She’d finally made a breakthrough with Wade, and she wasn’t about to destroy that because of her incessant need to control everything.
Some things in life couldn’t be controlled.
Wade reached for her hand, lacing his fingers between hers. She looked down at where his large hand dwarfed hers, then lifted her gaze to meet his. He glanced at her and then back to the road before lifting her hand to his lips. “I had a good time tonight,” he said.
“Me too,” she whispered back.
