They chatted about her brothers for a few minutes, and she promised to visit as soon as she had proper transportation.
“Anyhow,” her father said, clearing his throat.“I’m on my way to pick up the boys from baseball practice.”
“Tell them I said hi.”
“Will do.Take care.”
“You, too.”
“Bye, now.”
Meredith hadn’t expected any tender words from her father.She hadn’t expected him to call at all.The fact that he’d reported her missing shocked her.Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked at Wade.
When he wrapped his arms around her, she surrendered to the moment and pressed her face to his chest.The tears flowed freely, surprising her once again.His presence always seemed to bring all of her emotions to the surface, and his easy acceptance soothed her more than any words could.His body felt hard and strong, his heartbeat steady.She let herself cry and be comforted.Her nose started running, so she pulled away from him and searched for a tissue in her backpack.Chico, who’d fallen asleep on top of it, didn’t appreciate the interference.She blew her nose noisily, while Wade studied her with a half smile.
“What?”she croaked.“I look terrible, right?”
“You look adorable.”
“I bet your other girlfriends didn’t do this.”
“They used tissues, I assure you.”
“Did you have to bail them out of jail?”
“No,” he admitted.“That’s unique.”
She blew her nose again.“Your father said I wasn’t your usual type.”
“What type is that?”
“Classy and well-groomed.”
He pulled her back into his embrace, heedless of the crumpled tissues in her hand.“You smell like a wood nymph,” he said, burying his face in her damp hair.“And you look like you’ve been frolicking naked in the rain.”
She braced her palm on his chest.“I look like I’ve been rolling in mud.”
“If you think that’s a turnoff, think again.”
“I’m all wet.”
He murmured his approval, as if she’d meant something dirty.She twined her arms around his neck and clung to him.It felt good to be suffused in his warmth, after the day’s chill.He reached under the hooded sweatshirt to test the dampness of the fabric.She lifted her lips to his, and he accepted the peace offering eagerly.He kissed her as if he’d been waiting his entire life to do it.He kissed her as if he’d lived only for this moment.He kissed her as if he might never get the chance again.
She kissed him back with all of the love she felt but could not express.With all of the hope and hunger inside her.With sweetness, and with sorrow.The exchange became heated, with his hands roaming her body and hers tangling in his thick hair.His tongue plundered her mouth in passionate strokes, over and over, taking and giving in equal measures.He tasted faintly of peppermint.The windows in the truck fogged with steam.
Wade groaned and tried to get closer, lifting her against him.This move dislodged Chico from his nap.The dog startled awake with a grumpy snap.They broke apart, laughing softly.Even without a feral Chihuahua, the cab of the truck wasn’t spacious or private enough for a sensual interlude.
“He bit your father earlier,” she said.
“I’m sure he deserved it.”
“How did you convince him to release me?”
“I threatened to expose a family secret.”
Her chest tightened with a mixture of sympathy and guilt.She’d disrupted Wade’s life.She’d interrupted any sense of peace and order.Raising her hand, she touched his clenched jaw.“I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye.”
He captured her hand and held it.“So am I.”
