Trampling through the woods with Piper and Ellie on a fairy tale mission to find the prince and save him from the evil dragon—Wade inevitably played both roles, alternating back and forth until all three of us girls toppled over in a fit of giggles.
And then, my favorite… lying on a blanket in the middle of his backyard, watching for shooting stars. Just Wade and me. That was our thing. We’d take turns making wishes, sharing dreams. His, of course, was to one day play professional hockey.
And mine? Secretly, I wanted to stay on my family’s ranch and turn it into a venue for weddings and family reunions. I imagined families coming on the weekends to enjoy a petting zoo or apple picking, then visiting a small shop with homemade jams and jellies crafted from our orchards, along with other specialty items sourced locally.
A rush of emotion overwhelms me, making me acutely aware for the first time in months of how lost I’ve felt. That’s what propels me forward into a jog toward the one person who always made me feel safe and protected. By the time I launch myself at Wade, wrapping myself around him like a kitten clinging to a tree—the man’s as tall as one—tears I haven’t let myself shed since my life started to crumble stream down my cheeks.
His clean scent—a mix of soap and something spicy—fills my nose. The ends of his wet auburn hair tickle my forearm as I clutch him tighter, and his T-shirt feels damp, as if he pulled it on in a rush before he finished drying off from a shower.
I know I should let go, but I don’t want to. I’d forgotten how grounded Wade always made me feel, that everything would be okay, no matter what. And right now, I’m desperate for a dose of that—a ray of hope, a safe place to land.
Wade’s arms hold me like a vise, and his warm chuckle rumbles through me, shaking loose the lingering tension left over from driving for hours. “Wow, you’re that happy to see me?”
A wave of embarrassment surges through me. Wade knows nothing about what happened over the last year or why I stopped communicating. I want to tell him, but I can’t. What if he doesn’t understand? What if he thinks I’m stupid for being so gullible? Which I was. A complete idiot to be so trusting…
I let go of Wade and drop my feet so fast that I stumble back. He catches me, one hand on my back, the other around my upper arm. His hold on me is comforting, yet solid and uncompromising. For a moment, I allow myself to languish in this place. It’s been a long time since I felt safe—protected.
When I notice the mix of confusion and concern in his expression, I wipe my cheeks and force a laugh. “Just glad you’re not still sweaty from practice.”
Wade’s smirk returns, and a gleam of mischief sparks in his hazel-green eyes. Laughter trickles from behind him. That’s when I realize we’re not alone. Several guys, who I assume are his teammates, stand about twenty feet away, their expressions filled with curiosity.
I’m sure my face is redder than apples at harvest time, but it’s Florida. Maybe they’ll just think I’m sunburned. Or better yet, heatstroke. That would be a convenient explanation for my emotional reaction to seeing him, right?
Wade, ever the gentleman, takes my arm and tugs me closer to him as he faces his teammates. “Fellas, this is my best friend, Aubrey Sutton. She’s going to be our new PR specialist.”
Half a dozen sets of eyes stare at me with varying levels of curiosity as they express various welcomes and greetings.
I attempt a bubbly wave, which probably makes me appear like a flabbergasted teenager. “Hi, just call me Bree.”
One by one, the guys come forward and introduce themselves. I’d pictured this scene with me dressed in my favorite flared pants with a bodysuit and oversized jacket to make my first impression. Not a pair of tattered jean shorts, my old Lone Creek Coyotes T-shirt that I wore to every one of Wade’s junior league games, and my hair pulled up in a messy bun to hide how much I need to wash it.
But this is what I get for being impulsive, right?
Wade stares at me with a funny expression on his face.
Then it dawns on me that I’ve barged into his life with no warning and interrupted him in the middle of his workday. I forget that sometimes. That hockey isn’t just something Wade does for fun; it’s hisjob.
Moving closer to him, I lower my voice. “I’m sorry, I should have called sooner. Or just waited at your apartment until you got home.”
His eyes widen ever so slightly. “It’s okay. We’re done for the day. Perfect timing.”
I point at my old SUV and the small U-Haul that holds my entire life. Or rather, what’s left of it. “I can wait in Big Blue.”
Wade’s expression turns nostalgic when his gaze lights on my rundown vehicle. “Still running, huh?”
With a shrug, I hold out my hands. “If you don’t mind the occasional backfire and an AC system with commitment issues.”
He chuckles as he tips his head toward the arena. “You could come inside and look around.”
The other players watch us, their expressions remaining curious. He’s right. This place will become my new work home in a couple of days. Enough time to get settled and figure out my next steps. Also on my to-do list? Give Wade an explanation for my silence…and an apology.
“Sure. Give me the tour.” I flash him a smile I hope convinces him I have my act together.
But my best friend knows me, probably better than anyone. And judging by the look he’s giving me, he’s not buying it.
Chapter Three
WADE
