CHAPTER THREE
A date. She was going on a date. Tonight. With the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Who thought she was beautiful. And sexy. And wanted to kiss her and take her to bed.
Lord, have mercy.
She was in over her head. Way over it. For many reasons, but the biggest being that she’d never actually been on a date before. Ever. Then there was the whole stupid stomach ache thing she’d get whenever she was near Wade Evans.
And crippling anxiety.
Oh, yes. How could she forget? Dating required talking. Having actual conversations. Well, it was a good thing she had a few hours to practice. And she was going to practice on Bella, who she was currently waiting to arrive at Molly’s diner.
Riley continued to fiddle with the straw in her soda. She’d arrived early, like always and chosen a booth in the very far corner of the room. She preferred having her back to a wall, she didn’t know why, but she’d put all her money on it being another fun quirk of her anxious mind.
“Hey!” A holler from across the diner had Riley lifting her head. It was Bella, waving enthusiastically at her, totally oblivious to all the other diners staring.
I wish I was that confident.
Bella was stunning, so Riley wasn’t surprised her looks came complete with confidence. It was just hard not to be envious.
“I’m not late, am I?” Bella slid into the red leather booth opposite her.
“No. Um. I was early. I’m always early.”
Riley was treated to an easy smile. “Good. Have you ordered yet?”
“Oh, uh. No, I-I was waiting for you.”
As Bella began to ponder the menu out loud, Riley observed.
Taking notes. Everything about the woman was so effortless.
Her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders wasn’t styled, nor was it messy.
But it looked so good. Like she just woke up with hair like that.
She didn’t have much make up on either, just a touch of mascara and some pink gloss on her lips.
Yet, she could still pass for model material.
And don’t get her started on Bella’s clothes, how could jeans and a shirt look so damn fashionable?
Life was so unfair. It took hours for Riley to just resemble a human.
Once they were done ordering, Riley decided there was no use dwelling on looks. There wasn’t much she could do in a few hours anyway.
And he’s already said that he thinks you’re beautiful...and sexy.
She was still a little dubious about that. He could just be lying. To get her into bed. Men did that. A lot.
Like you care if he’s lying?
Okay, so maybe she didn’t care all that much.
Not after the goosebumps he’d administered yesterday.
She’d already decided she wanted him. Whether he was a liar or not.
She was going to do something for herself for once.
That was the point of coming to a new town in the first place.
She was finally putting herself first. That meant going after what she wanted. And what she wanted was Wade Evans.
Maybe you should learn how to string a sentence together first—before you get ahead of yourself?
Yes. She should do that. It was time to practice the art of conversation.
As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, Riley announced, “I-I have a date tonight. With Wade.”
Bella’s perfectly manicured eyebrows shot up. “Okay. Wow. Getting straight down to it then?”
What does that mean?
It didn’t matter. What mattered was that she practiced. Possibly get some advice. Or at least some useful information she could use to help her.
“How many girlfriends has Wade Evans had?”
For the first time, Bella looked perplexed. “Oh. Well. I’m not entirely sure.”
“Would you say it was a lot? More than five?”
Bella let out a short laugh. “Sorry honey, I’ve no idea. Maybe this is something you should be asking him? Also, really, does it matter? I mean, he’s single now, right? Whoever he was with before, it didn’t work out, so it shouldn’t matter.”
She was right. It shouldn’t matter. But Riley’s grand total of zero was mocking her. She felt like she needed to know what she was up against. Information was power.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” Riley was getting good at this conversation stuff. She was sticking to the same subject. Sharing personal details. Having a back and forth. The authors of the books she’d read would be proud.
“Okay,” Bella said slowly. “I take it that’s why you want to know how many relationships Wade has been in?”
Riley nodded before taking a big sip of her soda.
“Right,” Bella continued. “Well, y’know, technically , before I got with Luke, I’d never had a boyfriend either.”
No. Fucking. Way.
“What?” There was no way in hell that Riley was hiding the shock on her face.
Another giggle escaped her shiny lips. “Yep. It’s true. I’d dated, not much though, definitely less than five guys! But I’d never been anyone’s girlfriend before...not until Luke.”
Oh. Riley slumped back into her squeaky seat. It wasn’t the same. She’d dated. Of course she’d dated before. What kind of freak hasn’t dated anyone by the time they reached thirty years old.
You.
Obviously, apart from her.
Clearly sensing her disappointment, Bella went on to ask what was wrong. Something Riley didn’t want to answer, but she had no choice. She was well aware that conversations didn’t just end abruptly, they had to naturally segue to a new topic. And this wasn’t exactly segue material.
“I’ve not dated either,” she replied.
Bella also wasn’t good at hiding her shock. So at least they had that in common.
“No one? Ever?”
“No.”
“Does that mean...that you’ve never, uh, you’ve never—”
Riley took pity on her and shook her head in reply. Leading to more creases on Bella’s brow.
“What about kissing, you must have kissed someone before?”
She could feel heat rising up her neck. The gravity of what she’d just shared was starting to kick in.
Oh, no. What if she tells Wade?
“Please don’t tell Wade,” she blurted.
To her relief, Bella began shaking her head. “Of course I won’t. That’s not my story to share.” Thank God . “But, y’know, if you guys do get intimate , then it’s probably better to tell him beforehand.”
The idea of getting intimate with Wade really wasn’t helping her flush that had now spread to her cheeks.
It made her think back to yesterday, and the words he’d whispered into her ear.
Take you to bed. She could still feel his warm breath and recall the shiver that went all the way down to her toes.
She’d decided right then and there that was exactly what she wanted too.
For Wade Evans to take her to bed. All she had to do was not fuck up tonight’s date and any others that came after.
Yeah. You need help. Like, you really need help.
“Uh, Bella?”
“Yes, honey?”
“Do you think you could help me, and like, teach me?”
“Teach you what?”
“How to date. What to wear, what to say. Sex. Everything.”
Bella looked like she was about to hurl, which was unfortunate because their food had just arrived and was being placed in front of them. It was only after the waitress left that her new friend spoke again.
“ Everything? ” Bella asked, to which Riley nodded. “Fuck it.” She threw her hands up. “I can try, honey.”
Riley would take it. She’d take all the help she could get.
***
T o say the date hadn’t got off to a great start was an understatement. They hadn’t even got in the car yet.
“I’m so sorry!” Riley repeated. “Are you okay?”
Wade was not okay. He was clutching his crotch and he’d gone a shade of red that Riley hadn’t seen on a human before.
“Yeah,” Wade wheezed. “I’m okay.”
This is why women shouldn’t wear heels. They’re dangerous. You can trip on gravel at any second and accidently injure your date.
“My hands...I thought I was going to...” Facepalm the floor? “Uh, fall and they just, they just...” Smacked you really fucking hard in the balls. “Shot out.”
“It’s okay.” His voice still sounded awfully high. “It’s fine.”
His limp over to the truck told her otherwise. And the facial expressions he made as he gestured her inside didn’t do much to convince her either.
“I’m sorry,” Riley said again as she climbed into the seat.
After a nod and more assurance that he was “fine”, Wade circled the vehicle and joined her inside. Other than apologising for the millionth time, she couldn’t think of a thing to say, so she stayed quiet. It seemed safer at this point.
As she stared out the window, she noticed a sign signalling they were heading toward Goldacre. That was the next town over from Woodvalley Pines, she’d heard great things about the place from Bella, so she was hoping Wade had picked somewhere nice for them to go. And quiet.
“So...” Wade cleared his throat, his voice back to its normal pitch. Thank God. “What made you want to come and work in Woodvalley?”
Riley wasn’t any good at lying, but she really didn’t want to tell Wade the truth. Especially on their first date. The man didn’t need to hear about her childhood.
So, what do I say?
She pondered. Maybe a bit too long because before she knew it, Wade was calling out her name. Likely checking she was still conscious.
“Um. Well. I wanted...” To get away? No. Think. “I wanted a change.” Yes. Perfect.
“I get that.” He nodded as he glanced her way. “Change is good.”
Your turn, ask him a question. One from your book.
Right. “What are your hobbies?” That was a classic.
Looking at Wade, expectantly, she noticed him eye her, an odd look on his face. She had no idea what that meant but it was gone quick as he answered her question.
“Hobbies, huh, well I guess I get to do most of the things I love at work. Like riding, fishing, hiking. So on my days off, I like to just stay in. Watch a movie, read a book, sit out by my firepit with a beer. That kinda thing. How about you?”
This was better. This was how a date was supposed to go. He asks a question, she asks a question, and then repeat. Conversation table tennis at its finest. She was so excited. She was actually doing it. Kicking small talk’s ass.
Go on then, answer the man.
Yes. Right.
“I’m boring, too. I like staying in.”
Wade let out a short, sharp laugh. “Boring? Wow. Okay.” Shit. “I mean, I would’ve preferred maybe ‘a man of simple taste’ but okay, boring it is.”
Great. First, she’d assaulted him, and now she was insulting him.
Good job, Riley. Are you going to steal his wallet next?
She was starting to wonder whether this date could get any worse. Fifteen minutes later, she realized it could.
When they’d pulled up to the restaurant, Riley could see full tables through the floor to ceiling windows. But she got out of the car anyway. There was always a chance they’d be led to another room. Wasn’t there?
Apparently not. The perky teenage waitress led them right to a table in the centre of the crowded room.
She was in literal hell. The place was every anxious person’s worst nightmare.
And she was slap bang in the middle of all the chaos.
So close to the table next to them that within five minutes of being seated, she already knew the name of the woman’s cat, when her mother was visiting next and why her brother-in-law wanted to quit law school.
Riley’s thumb was on her wrist, rubbing ferociously, but the calm she normally got wasn’t coming.
“You okay?” Wade asked, his elbows hitting the table as he leaned forward.
Her head shook and her heart raced. She was fucking this up so badly. She could even see the disappointment on Wade’s handsome face.
I need to get out of here.
If she stayed, things would just get worse.
“Can you take me home?” Riley’s voice was shaking almost as much as her hands.
More disappointment staring back at her. She couldn’t stand it.
“Can I ask why?”
She didn’t want to lie again. She’d already run out on him once with a lame excuse. But she also couldn’t have the honest conversation she needed to have while her ears were pounding, and she was close to throwing up her chips and dip.
“I-I don’t feel comfortable.” It was the truth. A short version of it. And all she could manage.
Luckily, Wade didn’t ask for more, he simply nodded once before rising from his seat.
“I’ll pay for the drinks, do you want to meet me out front?” There was a coldness to his words. If she wasn’t already shivering, she was certain the side of chill she just got served would have hit harder.
Nevertheless, he’d given her an out. One she was taking. Her nod was maybe a bit too enthusiastic as she got up and got out.
The drive back was tense. Riley wanted to apologise, explain, beg for another chance, but the anxiety attack she’d been fending off had found her. So instead of talking, Riley spent the next twenty minutes in Wade’s truck with her eyes closed. Battling for control.
When they finally arrived back at her trailer, her attack had subsided.
Just in time for the mortification to set in.
Talk about the worst date ever. She couldn’t get out of the truck faster.
As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, she was thanking him and saying goodnight before running to her door. Yes. Running.
How the hell she was going to face him tomorrow, she didn’t know.
That’s a problem for future Riley.