She examined his face, as if judging his sincerity.“I don’t need a pity date.”
“Are you familiar with men?We don’t do pity dates.”
“I’m just trying to understand.”
“There’s nothing to understand.I like you.”
“You said you didn’t want to start anything.”
“That was before you kissed me in the kitchen.”
“You kissedmein the kitchen,” she said.
“You said you liked me.”
“I was on drugs.”
“Yeah, but you meant it.”
She fell silent, refusing to admit the truth.
He chuckled at her obstinance.“I’m not suggesting we get married, Meadows.I’m inviting you on a casual outing.You don’t have to tell my mother about it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She nodded a curt acknowledgment before she walked away.Wade watched her go, his blood pounding with adrenaline and another, more disquieting feeling.He wasn’t sure how to categorize the connection between them.In truth, he’d never put much effort into female companionship.Official dates weren’t required.He didn’t ask women out unless he wanted to spend time with them.The fact that he’d taken this leap with her felt both inevitable and foreboding.It was like jumping off a cliff without knowing what troubled waters lay below.He couldn’t resist taking the plunge.
Maybe she’d reject him, and they could avoid catastrophe.He didn’t think she would, though.She’d been tempted two nights ago, after that soul-wrenching kiss.He’d been dying to touch her ever since.They were on an emotional collision course, and he couldn’t stop it.He didn’t want to stop it.
He had to have her.
They were both harboring dark secrets, and carrying a ton of baggage, which made them ill-suited for romance.This didn’t matter to him anymore.He wasn’t concerned about her past, or worried about his own.He wasn’t afraid of getting hurt again.The desire thrumming through his veins drowned out everything else.
Wade understood the risk he was taking.Whatever happened between them, he wouldn’t escape from it unscathed.
He wouldn’t escape from any of this unscathed—and he did not care.
Chapter Sixteen
Meredith spent thenext two days trying to summon the strength to say no to Wade Hendricks.
He helped by making himself scarce.He left early and came home late.The only hint of his presence was the faint smell of cedar-sage soap that lingered in the bathroom after his morning shower.
Wynona had also been absent from the ranch.She was following a destructive, but steady, routine.She slept until noon, puttered around the house for a few hours, and went out to carouse with Patty.Meredith figured that Wynona was partying every night to escape her grief.Wynona needed to stay sober to process the death of her son, and to move on from the loss.Meredith didn’t know if the woman could overcome this struggle, but Meredith sensed she was softening toward Wade.
The decision to stay or go wavered at the back of her mind.She’d finally found a truck in her price range.She’d left a message with the owner, but he hadn’t called her back yet.Meredith didn’t want to leave the ranch at such a fraught time.She’d confided in Wade about Tripp, and he’d vowed to protect her.The question was, would she let him?
What else would she let him do?
Saturday dawned bright and hot.Meredith completed her usual chores, noting that Wade’s truck was gone.Maybe he’d forgotten about their date.Maybe he’d grown tired of waiting for her answer and gone in search of a more agreeable woman.
Meredith pictured his topaz-brown eyes, cruising over her body, and didn’t think so.He wasn’t the type of man who gave up easily.
At midmorning, when she was watering plants in the garden, she heard his truck pull into the driveway.The sound brought a swarm of butterflies to her stomach.If they were going on a picnic, she needed to get ready.After a short hesitation, she walked toward the house.Daisy raced along beside her with a slobbery tennis ball in her mouth.The dog had been right as rain, with no signs of another seizure.Meredith petted her furry head and tossed the ball for her.She flew after it in an energetic blur.Chico also gave chase, even though he had no chance of getting there first, and couldn’t fit a tennis ball in his mouth, regardless.King just watched it bounce across the driveway.He was more interested in sniffing Wade’s truck tires and prowling around the property like a guard dog on patrol rounds.
Meredith left her boots by the kitchen door before she ventured inside.Wade must have gone into the barn, because he wasn’t there.She ducked into the shower, used the rose-scented soap liberally, and took the time to shave her legs.Choosing an outfit was difficult, because she didn’t have anything fancy, and she didn’t want to borrow from Wynona.She finally settled on a lavender tank top and a blue chambray skirt.Shoe options were limited to leather sandals or gray canvas tennis shoes.The sandals matched better but weren’t appropriate for a hiking trail.She donned the tennis shoes.
Apparently, she was going on this date.
She fiddled with her hair for a few minutes before deciding to leave it down.She didn’t want to try too hard, and she knew he liked her well enough without pretty clothes or makeup.She applied some lip gloss and mascara and called it good.
