He raised his arms then hesitated. "I want to hug you, but I'm afraid to hurt you."
"Hug me on the other side, Jayden."
Jayden went to move around the bed to the other side, but Wilson grabbed his wrist.
"Do you think you could put some clothes on?"
"Oh, yeah." Jayden's cheeks flushed. He snagged his clothes off the floor and pulled them on. He felt much better after he was covered up. He moved around the bed—carefully stepping over the body someone had covered with a blanket—and climbed up on the other side.
As soon as he was close enough, he stretched out next to Wilson, carefully laying his head on the man's uninjured shoulder. Wilson's arm pulled him tight, and the man's lips pressed against the side of his head.
"It's over, Jayden."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Jayden breathed deeply to try and keep his tears of relief at bay. He was so tired of trying to fight people who thought they could get ahead by stepping all over him. He wanted to just enjoy life for a change and not hold mistrust in his heart. He was really hoping Cade Creek was the place to do that.
Jayden tilted his head to be able to look at Wilson's face. "You know, I was thinking."
"Oh yeah, about what?"
"I'd like to open an amateur photo contest for the newspaper. Every week, we can give out a gift certificate to Kapheri's Koffee Korner or something."
"I think that's a wonderful idea."
"And maybe we can look into that horse ranch."
"Yeah?" Wilson's grin grew wider, telling Jayden he'd chosen the right house. "You want the horse ranch?"
"I don't want to breed horses or anything, but a couple of horses would be nice. Of course, you'll have to find someone to take care of them because I don't know crap about horses."
"Not to worry, love. I know plenty."
Huh.
"You know about horses?"
"Boarding school."
Jayden chuckled. "Well-rounded education, huh?"
"Of course. As a future politician, my father wanted me to have the best education money could buy."
Jeez, he was being groomed for politics that early?
"He'd turn over in his grave if he knew I planned to give up all his hard work and scheming to marry a man and live in some backwoods town in the middle of nowhere."
Jayden's heart skipped a beat. "So, we're still getting married?"
Wilson chuckled. "I guess you'll find out this weekend."
Chapter Sixteen
Wilson pulled the edge of the curtain back and looked outside. He blew out a heavy breath. There were a whole hell of a lot of people moving about out there. Lex stood in the middle of everyone with his tablet, giving directions. Hanging lights, putting up decorations, covering tables with white tablecloths. It was very busy.
He didn't see the one man he most wanted to see.
