Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
WADE
By the time I reach the address Bree handed me, my bravado has almost dissolved. Once I park, I pick up the slip of paper from the cup holder and check that I have this woman’s name in my head.
Charlene Winston, who likes to be called Char.
I study that detail, written in Bree’s familiar handwriting. She’s the one I’d rather be spending the evening with, even if it means sitting in front of the TV eating one of those pizzas she likes.
Might as well get this over with. I told Bree I would enjoy myself—more out of an attempt to tease her back, but for the sake of this woman who had so generously donated her money to help sick kids with cancer, I put on my game face, ready to show her a pleasant evening.
I just hope she’s not the handsy type. That I won’t tolerate. I lift my hand to knock, then turn and stare off into the distance, thinking of Bree, of course.
The door whips open. A rush of sweet honeysuckle teases my nose, painfully reminding me I won’t see her tonight. I turn to face my date and freeze.
Bree stands in the doorway, her cornflower blue eyes more vivid than ever. My gaze coasts down her body like I did earlier, taking in every curve accentuated by a dress that appears made for her. My perusal stops at the folds of fabric dancing around her legs before shooting back up to her face.
“Bree, what are you doing here?”
She lets out a soft giggle. “I’m your date.”
I look past her, searching the simple entrance to the small apartment for what, I don’t know. “What about Charlene?”
The redhead I remember from the auction comes into view and makes a fake coughing sound. “I’m sick. So sorry. I hope you don’t mind if Bree takes my place.” She hands Bree a clutch and whispers, “Get going before I change my mind.” Then she coughs again and winks at me.
Bree steps out, closing the door behind her. When she walks past me, headed for my truck, I grab her wrist and tug her back harder than I mean to. She tumbles into me, grabbing my shoulders with a gasp.
I hold her hips to steady her, ready to apologize, but she’s so close now, and I’m not sorry at all. “What’s going on, Bree?”
Her gaze drops to my lips for a brief moment. “Char’s sick, so you get me instead.”
Silly woman. She still doesn’t realize what she does to me, and for the first time, I’m ready to lay it all out for her. No more holding back.
“You could never be ‘instead’ for me, Bree-bear. More like the only one.”
She gasps. Her eyes search my face as if she wants to believe me. And I intend to make sure she does by the end of this evening.
“Are you sure? Even after…” She looks down as if she’s…ashamed.
I lift her chin with my finger, forcing her to look at me because I want her to know her worth and see everything I’ve held back for so long. “After what, Bree?”
Her eyes turn glassy, and for a moment, I hesitate in pushing her to be honest, but something deep inside says she needs this.
“Tell me.” I keep my tone firm, yet soft so she knows she’s safe with me.
“After dating Chase, after ghosting you—”
“We already dealt with that, Bree-bear. It’s in the past. We’re here, right now.”
She nods, but I still see the doubt clouding her gorgeous eyes.
“Tell me what you’re really afraid of?” I draw her against me.
Hands on my lapels, she swallows, then presses her forehead against my chin. I want her to look at me, but if it’s easier for her to say it this way, then I’ll let her hide for now.
“That you won’t still want me anymore,” she whispers.
“Look at me, please.” I wait until her eyes meet mine. “I’ve always wanted you. I’ve known you were the girl for me since I was ten years old. Nothing can ever change that.”
She tries to turn away, but I catch her chin and gently tug her back to face me.
“I can see you’re struggling to believe me, so let me say it a different way.
Aubrey Marie Sutton, I love you. I’m in love with you and have been for years.
What can I do to convince you that nothing will ever change that? ”
Her eyes are so wide now, I’m worried she’ll bolt like a scared rabbit. But then she lifts onto her toes as she wraps her hands behind my neck, pulling my lips to hers in a crushing kiss. I weave my fingers into her soft hair, tilting her head so I can kiss her. Really kiss her.
No holding back this time.
As I move my mouth over hers, she opens hers, inviting me to explore, which I do.
She responds in a like manner, as eager to know me this way as I’ve wanted to know her.
The ache I’ve felt longer than I can remember seems to grow and swallow us both, almost as if we’re trying to make up for all the lost years.
“You know, I could leave and let you two have my place for the evening.” Char’s voice breaks in, making us smile against each other’s lips.
Suddenly shy, Bree ducks her chin as she lowers herself to the ground.
I plant a gentle kiss on her hairline, inhaling her sweet scent again. “Thanks, but we have plans.”
Then I grab Bree’s hand and lead her to my truck, and for the life of me, I can’t stop smiling.
Knowing we had much to discuss, I drove to the Turtle Tide first to grab takeout so we could find a quiet place on the beach to eat and talk.
Puffy clouds highlighted in bright yellow and orange hover above the darkening ocean that glimmers with the setting sun.
Our food mostly gone now, we’re perched on top of a picnic table nestled under some tall pines with our feet on the bench as a soft breeze wafts through her hair, lifting the loose tendrils framing her face in a delicate dance.
She pulled most of her hair into a large clip to keep it from blowing into her mouth as she ate, which exposed her neck.
I haven’t been able to stop touching her in some way all evening, as if I need to make sure she’s really here and this isn’t a dream.
Soft touches to her hand, her face, and her neck, where my thumb sweeps a path over the sensitive skin there.
Bree leans into my touch while slipping a french fry into her mouth, smiling at me as she chews. I can’t stop watching that freckle move on her lower lip until I finally lean in and kiss her right there—something I’ve always wanted to do. She tastes sweet and salty all at once.
As I lean back, I move my hand so I can brush my thumb over the spot on her lip. “I love that freckle.”
She laughs. “I’ve always hated it.”
“Why?”
Her eyes widen with incredulity as she points to it. “Because it’s right there, in the way of everything.”
“It’s not in my way.” I kiss it again, teasing her lips with mine.
She kisses me back, then, with a sigh, nestles into me as I wrap my arm around her.
We watch the fading sunset, quiet and content. I still can’t believe we’re here, together like this. I’d imagined it so many times, but in my wildest dreams? Never as good as this.
“How did you talk Charlene into letting you have her date with me?”
She tilts her face up. “I paid her.”
I pull my head back. “Seriously?”
She bursts out laughing. “No, you goof. That was the plan all along.”
“What?”
“It was Sophie’s idea. Char is a friend of hers at the paper. Mia, Lily, and Harper were in on it, too.” She leans forward.
I think if I were a rooster, I’d be strutting in the barnyard right about now. Instead, I scrape a hand over my mouth to hide my grin.
“I almost backed out.” She glances over her shoulder in a way that I can only see her eyes. She’s so damn sexy when she does that.
“Why?”
She pushes back, sitting even with me. “I wasn’t sure if what I was feeling was real.”
Her confession gives me pause. I shift, turning to face her with a question I don’t want to ask but have to. “Are they?”
She tilts her head. “Wade, I wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”
My turn to drop my chin. “Guess I needed to ask.”
Her hand cups my cheek, drawing me to face her again. “I think I’ve always loved you, Wade. Just took me a while to realize I was in love with you.”
Her words stun me into silence. She said she loves me, something I never expected to hear from her this soon.
I pull her onto my lap so I can hold her closer. “I’ve had way more time to figure out my feelings for you, Bree, so please don’t feel like you have to say anything before you’re ready.”
She brushes her lips against mine. The kiss is sweet, yet filled with so much promise. She pulls back until our eyes lock. “I meant every word.”
Her voice is breathy, impassioned, and her face tells me without words what I’ve dreamed of for so long.
She’s mine. And I’m hers.
Always have been, even when she didn’t realize it.