CHAPTER FIVE
A re you freaking kidding me?
This was stupid. Riley already knew Wade was going to arrive by horse. I mean, she was standing outside the frigging stables for God’s sake. But holy hell. He was really riding that horse. Like, really riding it.
This is why women fantasise about cowboys.
Now she was one of them. But who could blame her.
What woman could resist thick, muscular thighs wrapped in denim.
Stretched plaid trying it’s hardest to contain the kind of muscles only manual labor could sculpt.
And let’s not forget those damn dimples that even Wade’s tipped Stetson failed to cast a shadow over.
You can do this.
Couldn’t she? As the three horses before her came to a stop, she was beginning to doubt herself again.
She was very much aware that Wade had been avoiding her for a week.
Matt never dealt with guests, then all of a sudden there he was, taking over duties only his older brother usually dealt with. It wasn’t a coincidence.
Wade expertly jumped down. Even that was sexy.
Control yourself.
Thirty years with no sex, and now her libido decides to make an appearance. Really?
Bright blue eyes hit her like a bolt of electricity. “Riley,” he greeted. “Give me a minute to put the horses away and I’ll be right with you, darlin’.”
She nodded. And tried her best to swallow down her fear.
Her nerves didn’t ease as he directed Bill and Sue to the main house, or when he slowly led the horses one by one into the stables. When it was time to take Gypsy inside, Wade’s horse, Riley decided to follow him into the wooden shack. Before she changed her mind.
Once the chocolate beast was safely tucked away, she jumped right into it. “Um, I know I’m probably the last person you want to talk to...but—” she started but was swiftly cut off.
“Why would you say that?” His whole body twisted until she had his full attention.
She managed to push out another “um”. Damnit. She hadn’t prepared for that question in advance.
“Why would you be the last person I want to talk to?” he asked again, this time taking a step closer. Close enough for her tongue to get its first taste of his musky leather scent.
“I know you’ve been avoiding me,” she said meekly.
Wade considered her for a second, his hand slowly going to his hat.
Carefully, he pulled it off, revealing ruffled blond strands as he placed the Stetson on the top of the feed bin.
His gaze never left hers as silence descended.
But the quiet didn’t bring calm. The air was charged with an intensity she’d never experienced before.
Riley couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to say something to break this spell. Or at least break the concentrated eye contact that was starting to make her palms sweat.
“I owe you an explanation,” she announced. When Wade’s stare didn’t falter, she decided to continue. “So, I, uh, I wrote one down for you.” Pulling her crumpled paper from her pocket, she didn’t miss that her hands were shaking.
Wade’s head tilted. “You wrote down an explanation?”
“Yeah. I-I uh, sometimes my words come out wrong or uh, jumbled and I...I don’t want these words to come out wrong.”
More silence. More staring.
Her eyes shot down to the piece of paper she’d managed to uncrumple. Right. Here goes nothing.
The only problem was, nothing came out. She suddenly felt overwhelmed. Did he think she was silly for writing her explanation down? Was this going to be the final nail in the coffin? Should she just not say anything?
Or maybe I should just quit.
“So, do I get to hear what you wrote?” Wade’s question brought her gaze up again. Having his eyes on her was no less intense but his expression had grown softer. It was enough to make her talk. Or at least try.
She looked back at the paper and began to read. “Our date was bad. And I’m so sorry. I take full responsibility. I guess you’ve probably noticed already that I’m a bit awkward...and I say weird things.”
“No,” Wade declared. Shocking her enough that she tore her attention away from her notes.
“No?” she repeated. He lies.
“No, petal. You’re perfect.”
Huh?
“I’m not perfect.” She vehemently shook her head.
Wade took a step closer; his forefinger going to her chin as he nudged her until their gazes were entwined. “Well, I think you are. Why do you think I asked you out?”
“I-I have social anxiety,” she stuttered.
“And?”
“What do you mean and ?” Did he hear her? “I had a panic attack on our date.”
“Okay.”
Okay? Riley needed her notes. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go.
He was supposed to listen to her read everything she’d written.
Accept her apology. Ask her on a pity date, where she would throw herself at him, he’d feel sorry for her, she’d lose her virginity and then she’d avoid him.
It was all planned. But he was distracting her.
“I take it that was why you went quiet on the drive home?” He was taking this so well.
I don’t think he’s blinked once.
Or looked at her like she was a freak.
Shitballs. That makes me like him even more.
“Yeah. Uh. The restaurant...there was just too many people there and, and, it was so loud and we were sat right in the middle of everything. It was...it was just...” she trailed off.
“Too much?” he finished for her, allowing her to nod her agreement. “I get it. Let me try again.”
She was supposed to beg. This was not begging. Is he begging?
“You still want to?” Just say yes, you idiot.
It didn’t escape her notice that he was still touching her. Or that he’d somehow managed to inch even closer. “I still want to.” His fingers skimmed her jaw, making her shiver. “But what about you...is that what you want, Riley?”
There were so many things she wanted right now.
And the way he was saying her name, all deep and rumbly, was making her want them all at once.
Her body was definitely more than ready to take what it wanted too.
That was the only explanation as to why she decided to close the very small distance between them, her head shifting back as his own head dipped.
But as her nose lightly brushed his, even she was surprised by her own blatant want.
Hot breath skimmed her lips, making them tingle. “Tell me what you want, darlin’.”
Everything.
It was starting to become hard to breathe. For a moment, she wondered if she was on the verge of another panic attack.
No. This wasn’t panic. It was something else. She felt restless. Hungry. Her body not quite knowing what it is she wanted but she craved it anyway.
“I—” she whispered, before letting her lips brush over Wade’s angular jaw, the sting of his sharp stubble making her mouth dry and her panties wet.
“Say it,” he demanded, his voice deeper than she’d ever heard it before. “Say it, and I’ll give it to you, Riley.”
That sounded like something she should definitely do.
Don’t fail me now trusted vocal cords.
Unfortunately, the universe had other ideas on how it wanted Riley to spend her day off. That was made loud and clear as Matt abruptly pushed through the stable doors. “There the fuck you are.”
Riley and Wade both launched themselves backward quicker than lightening.
“Oh, shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to...um, interrupt.” Matt failed to hide the humor in his voice.
Talk about awkward.
Time to leave.
Good thing that running away was her special skill. She tried for a smile as she squeezed past Matt on her way out, but she very much doubted it conveyed any sort of cheer.
As she stepped outside, it was hard to tell if she was shivering or cringing.
I’ll worry about that later. Time to get the hell out of here.
But before she could speed walk to the staff trailers, Wade caught her hand, pulling her to a stop and spinning her around.
“Tonight,” he stated. “Tonight, I want a redo.” Her head was nodding before she’d even had time to process his words. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”
She was still nodding. Seven it was. Now it was time to run. Which is exactly what she did next.
***
W ade really wasn’t kidding when he told her they weren’t going far. Driving her to his house though was a bit extra, they so could have walked.
As he led her into the backyard, her smile quickly went from a shaky, nervous wreck to a huge, pearly white grin.
“You like it?” he asked from beside her.
Hell yeah, she liked it. He’d set up a table for two on his patio, complete with candles, wine glasses and a bottle of orange juice on ice.
“I noticed at the wedding that you didn’t drink...so I thought we could stick with juice tonight.” Was that apprehension she heard in his voice?
She turned to him then, the elation she was feeling managing to settle down the butterflies in her stomach. “Thank you. No one’s ever...thank you.”
The dimples were back, making her knees weak and waking up those blasted butterflies again. “I’m glad you like it, petal. Here...” He pulled out a chair and ushered her to sit. “Take a seat and I’ll start bringing the food out.”
Good. A minute to herself. Maybe she could use it to get her shit together. No chance. Yeah. That’s what she thought.
She’d been on edge all day and she was blaming Wade’s jaw. The moment her mouth met stubble; she’d been feeling him on her lips ever since.
Reaching into her jean pocket, she carefully pulled out the paper from earlier and placed it on the table.
Yes, she’d brought her notes. Just in case.
She hadn’t got to read out her whole speech earlier and if the subject came up again, she wanted to be prepared.
Speaking of which, she had time for one last pep talk.
Okay, Riley. Remember to ask questions. Fill silences. Maintain eye contact. Oh, and try not to say anything weird.
She totally had this.
Wade didn’t take long to return, and with him he brought two plates piled high with what looked like lasagna.
Amen.
“I figured you can’t go wrong with pasta, right?” Riley’s gaze was pasted to Wade’s smile as he lowered her plate to the table.