Chapter 3
THREE
ANGELA
My jaw hits the table. Well, it might as well, it falls so far open.
“Did you say…” I gulp, “take them off?”
The reserved smirk on his lip spreads wider and he nods.
“There’s no point in you sitting there uncomfortable all night.” He arches an eyebrow. “So, why not take them off?”
I blink. “Here at the table?”
“If you like.” He chuckles low, a sound that seems to echo in my own chest and set my heart racing. “But you could also slip away for a moment and when you come back, we’ll be the only two people in the restaurant who know a little secret.”
I don’t know what it is. The hint of challenge. The forbidden nature of it all. Or, even just the temptation of no longer having lace chafing my bits.
But I stand. Why not? I’m already behaving so out-of-character for myself tonight. I might as well lean in.
I grab my purse and stand. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here waiting.”
I can practically feel his heated stare on me as I slip into the bathroom. I catch Heidi’s eye as I pass the bar. I jerk my head, silently encouraging her to follow me.
In the bathroom, I check to make sure both stalls are empty before I slip in one. I’m shimmying out of the panties when the door to the bathroom opens.
“Angela,” she whispers loudly. “Are you in here?”
“Yes,” I practically hiss back. “What the hell am I doing?”
“Right now? I’m guessing you’re peeing,” Heidi says. “Unless you’ve decided to take a?—”
“I’m not using the toilet.” I take a deep breath. “I mean, what am I doing pretending to be that hunky mountain man’s blind date?”
She chuckles. “I think the better question is how soon are you getting into that hunky mountain man’s pants?”
“I’m lying to him every second I don’t tell him the truth.” I glare at the barrier between us. “How could we possibly build anything real as long as he thinks I’m someone else?”
“Who says you have to make this into something more than it is: a one-night stand?”
I open my mind to object, but clamp it shut. I mean… she raises a reasonable question. This is Wade’s first date since his divorce. This is my first date since breaking up with my… situationship.
Neither of us is exactly looking for a happily ever after here, are we?
“So you’re saying…”
“I’m saying get back out there and live it up tonight,” Heidi says. “It’ll do you both good to have a little fun. Consider it a gift from the universe.”
As much as I’d like to argue, I can’t. Maybe it’s the shot of tequila I took at the bar. Maybe it’s the fact that Wade looks pretty damn hot in that button-up shirt of his.
Maybe it’s that I really want to climb that mountain man like a tree without worrying about the past or the future.
“Okay.” I say as much for myself. “I’m going back out there.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“But first…” I let my panties fall to the floor and step out of them. “That’s better.”
“What? Did you finally pee?”
“No!” I roll my eyes. “But I did something that gave me even more relief.”
“Whatever.” Now, get out there and enjoy your hunky mountain man. Otherwise, the poor guy is going to think you climbed out the bathroom door.”
I will. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?
It's one night. It not like either of us is going to fall in love.
As I walk back across the restaurant, I’m oddly liberated. And it’s not just that I’m now commando under my dress. Though, after the chafing situation I’d gotten myself into with the torture device known as lace panties, the light breeze against my bare skin feels like heaven.
No, now that I’ve decided to keep going with this little charade, I’m going to embrace my inner Tonya. I have no idea who she is, besides being someone who picks up mountain men on dating apps. But in my head, she’s so much more. She’s in charge of her destiny. She’s in control of her sexuality.
She’s going to make out with Wade if she gets the chance.
A giggle bubbles out of me. It’s exhilarating. And a little terrifying.
Wade greets me with a shy grin as he pulls out my chair. “Feeling better?”
The arch of his eyebrow sends a shiver of delight—and anticipation—through me.
“Much better.” Channeling my new-found confidence, I slyly slip my hand into the pocket of his suit coat. “There you go.”
“What’s that?” He settles back in his seat and puts his hand in his pocket. His eyes grow wide. “Is that...?”
“Consider those”—I nod at his hand balled up around my lace panties in his pocket—“a souvenir of the night we both decided to take a little risk.”
He blinks. “You’re one hell of a woman.”
“And you’re one hell of a man.” Leaning forward across the table, I lower my voice. “Now that we’re past the Q&A portion of the evening, and I’m feeling less… restrained, what’s next?”
His gaze focuses on mine. “I don’t want tonight to end.”
“Neither do I. What’s there to do in this town?”
His lips curve up. “I have an idea.”
* * *
The air outside has cooled in the lingering light of the sunset. It might be spring, but spring in Alaska still comes with a bite.
Tugging my jacket around me more tightly, I hug my arms around myself as we walk. I shiver, as much from giddiness of what’s to come as from the chill.
Ever the gentleman, Wade keeps his distance, but he keeps sneaking glances my way. Each time I catch him, I can’t help but grin to myself. There’s no mistaking the heat—the desire—in his stare.
There are no words to describe how good it feels to be the object of this man’s desire. It’s not that I need the validation. But, I’d be lying if I said my ego wasn’t more than a little bruised by having my situationship leave me for another woman.
Even though he keeps a respectful distance, Wade stays close enough for his body heat to wrap around me. It’s almost like hug. Oh, wow, would I love to feel this man’s arms around me.
His beard is nice. It’s not so groomed that he looks like a model. But it’s not so untamed it gives any icks.
I wonder what kind of grooming a mountain man like him goes through any day.
Wade stops suddenly. “We’re here.”
I’m so distracted, I nearly trip over my own feet. But his hand shoots out to catch my by the arm before I can keel over.
Thank God. I don’t need to moon my date. At least not by mistake.
Smoothing down my skirt, I glance up and my breath catches. There, tucked between two large brick buildings, is a small one made of glass. A sign hangs in the front, with “Conservatory” etched into the bronze.
“Oh.” I glance up to him. “It’s a greenhouse.”
“I like to think of it as a little slice of the mountain here in town.” He scratches the back of his neck, looking suddenly nervous. “After the winter we had, and how much you like spring, I thought we might as well get our fill of spring.”
My heart hitches. He really is something. “I like the sound of that.”
He visibly relaxes. “Want to get a look at it too?”
“Absolutely.”
He opens the door and motions for me to step inside first. We’re met by a wave of humidity, and the scent of lilac and lavender and something like fresh cut grass.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the warmth and the botanical essence. It feels as if it’s spreading through my body, radiating sunshine. I feel joy. I feel alive.
I feel completely at peace and present in this moment.
When I open my eyes, I find Wade watching me closely with a hint of a smile on his lips. I wonder how they’d feel pressed against mine.
I swallow hard. “How do you know about this place?”
“My grandparents helped build it.”
I gape at him in astonishment. “Really?”
“Yeah.” He gives a little shrug, but the tips of his ears turn dark pink. This guy is so cute, he’s dangerous. “My dad and I still help take care of it.”
The surprises never seem to stop with this man.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, my throat thick with emotion. “You’ve really created an incredible space.”
“Well… we try.” There he goes blushing again, and threatening to work his way into my heart. “It’s one of my favorite places. I’m glad you like it too.”
“I love it,” I say, staring deeply into his eyes.
“I’m glad.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ve spent a lot of time here since my divorce.”
Divorce.
The single word slices through me, leaving a burst of cold rushing through my veins.
“You’re divorced.”
“Yeah. Is that a problem?” He tilts his head to the side. “It was on my profile.”
“Of course it was.” I flash him an overly bright smile. “I just… forgot for a moment.”
“I wish I could forget.” His shoulders slump. “I’ve never felt like such a failure.”
He moves closer to a small koi pond, water ripping under the surface as the fish swim through the water. “It was… grounding. It reminded me that things keep growing, even when everything feels so… empty.”
I turn toward him, my chest aching for him. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” He shrugs, again, but there’s no mistaking the sadness in his eyes. “I don’t regret it. Not really. We just weren’t meant to be together. She wanted a life bigger than what we could find here. I wanted to stay.”
He clears his throat. “Neither of us was a bad person. But I think if we’d wanted to be together enough, we would have found a way.”
I nod, my throat again tight. “I understand. Some things just don’t work out. But I truly believe that sometimes they don’t work out, because we’re waiting for something else.”
He turns back to me. His expression more studious.
The air shifts between us, turning heavier, thicker. Like the moment before a clap of thunder. Slowly, he steps closer.
I don't back away.
His hand lifts, hovering near my cheek like he's not sure if he’s allowed to touch me.
My breath catches. I lean in without thinking, my eyes fluttering closed as the distance between us shrinks to a whisper.
His breath brushes over my mouth, leaving a hint of whiskey and chocolate.
A loud crash shatters the moment. We turn to find watering can tipping over onto a stone path nearby and a pile of upset soil.
I jerk back, startled. Wade straightens sharply, blinking.
A greenhouse volunteer, who can’t be more than sixteen, frantically scoops up spilled soil, his face burning bright.
“Sorry, sir.”
Wade chuckles. “That’s okay. It happens.”
For a beat, neither of us moves. Wade tilts his head toward the exit.
“You wanna get out of here?” he asks, voice pitched low. “There’s another place I’d like to show you.”