CHAPTER 13
Danielle and Wade
Wade watched as Dani took in her first spoonful of chili. The expression on her face was priceless. And when she licked her lips, he felt a stirring low in his gut. To be honest, that stirring had been there since he’d sauntered out of the kitchen and seen her. She must enjoy wearing sundresses, as evidenced by the fact that she was wearing another one. He had no complaints - it showcased a gorgeous pair of legs, nice shoulders, and a graceful neck.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked.
“Wade, the chili is delicious. So is the cornbread. You must give me the recipe for both.”
“I can give you the basic recipes, which I got from Elena. But over the years, I’ve added a few more ingredients to make it more to my liking. Like an extra dash of cayenne pepper. It doesn’t seem to bother you.”
“It doesn’t. I like hot and spicy foods,” she said.
“So do I. The hotter the better.”
Dani chuckled. “Now, I won’t go that far.” She took another spoonful of chili then asked, “How long have you been on the rodeo circuit?”
He grinned. “Probably all my life. My parents were part of the circuit before I was born. That’s how they met.”
“Really?” she asked in a voice as if she truly found what he’d said fascinating.
“Yes. They had been married three years but quit the circuit when my grandfather died. My grandmother needed their help with the ranch, and they never went back, even when my grandmother passed away less than a year later. By then, they decided it was time for them to start a family. I was born a year and a half later.”
“Did they have any issue with you going on the rodeo circuit?” she asked.
“Not at all. Instead, they encouraged it, but with stipulations. During the off-season, I had to take classes at college. They didn’t care how long it took; they wanted me to get my degree in their lifetime. I understand that’s the same stipulation my father’s dad had made to him.”
“Did you do it?” she asked, nibbling on another piece of cornbread.
Wade enjoyed watching her eat. The lusciousness of her mouth, especially her full lips, was making his body throb in certain places. “Yes. It didn’t take me as long to finish as I thought it would, thanks to online classes. I got my bachelor’s in Agriculture from Texas A&M University.” Pushing his plate aside, he said, “Now tell me something about Danielle Manchester.”
She smiled, enjoying conversing with him. “It was my father’s ardent desire after my two sisters were born that I would a Daniel. He desperately wanted a son who would follow in his footsteps in the military. Needless to say, when I showed up, he was sorely disappointed.”
“I’m sure he wasn’t that disappointed.”
“Trust me, he was.”
Wade studied her features and saw the old hurt in her eyes. Had her father actually said that? As if she read his thoughts, she said, “I overheard him telling Mom about it one night. I’d hid out in their bedroom, because I was afraid of the storms. They didn’t know I was under the bed.”
His heart went out to the little girl who’d heard her father say he hadn’t wanted her. He couldn’t understand some men’s obsession with sons. If he were ever to get married, he would be thankful for any child born from their union. “Did you tell your mother what you heard?”
“No. I’ve never told anyone, not even my two sisters,” she said. “Just you.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to that. Giving himself some time to think, he said, “I take it your family travelled a lot, since your dad was a career military man.”
“Yes, but I didn’t mind. It drove my oldest sister, Kim, crazy, though, because she always had to leave her friends. Libby and I considered it an adventure. We enjoyed living in various countries, embracing different cultures and meeting new people. I’ve stayed in touch with several of them over the years.”
Now, to get her to talk about something he desperately wanted to know, something he had been curious about ever since the day they’d met. She’d said that she and her boyfriend had split up a few months ago. Just how many months were a ‘few’? She’d said she wasn’t going back to him, but that wasn’t always the case. He’d discovered that if the end wasn’t definitive, many couples often reunited before the one-year mark. He sure hoped she’dmade a clean break.
When the room got quiet, he couldn’t resist saying, “Tell me about your ex-boyfriend, Dani.”
She gave him a surprised look. “Why?”
“Just curious.”
She pushed her plate away. “Are you willing to answer my questions about your ex-girlfriend?”
Wade thought that would only be fair. “I don’t have a problem doing that.”
