Page 112 of Love in the Wild

Thea was safe and married to Brett. They were living in a cabin on the ranch with Thea’s mom.

Hadley’s mom was doing great and currently in the longest streak of good health since before the stroke.

Emerson was Hadley’s new roommate, and she still hadn’t cracked that nutshell.

Gage had gone to great lengths to break all ties to his family. He was determined and completely changed from the guarded man she’d first met. He never missed a chance to remind her and show her how much he loved her, and she enjoyed reminding him of her own love.

Seriously, someone needed to pinch her.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“I’m not the one going to meet a bunch of new people. I promise they’re all good.”

Gage reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m glad you agreed to come. I don’t know if I’ve said it enough lately, but it means a lot to me.”

Gage glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road. “You’ve mentioned it a few dozen times.”

“I’m serious. I’m proud of you. It’s not easy.”

Amidst all the mess they’d been fielding in the last few weeks, Gage had been adamant to stick to his meetings with Mr. Chambers. She loved hearing Gage get excited over the things he’d learned.

Yet, he still hadn’t agreed to go to church with her. His reluctance was understandable. The news about his family was still running rampant in town. How could she blame him for wanting to hide out? When Gage said he’d go with her to Bible study at a friend’s house tonight, she’d almost jumped for joy.

Almost. She didn’t want to scare him off. He still had the look of a cornered animal sometimes, and she didn’t want to push him into more than he was comfortable with.

With one wrist lazily propped on the wheel, he leaned over closer to Hadley to whisper, “The things I do for you.”

Her stomach did a happy somersault, but she repressed her body’s natural reactions to his charms. “No, this is for you. Let yourself have something good for once.”

Gage nodded and turned back to the road with a grin. “I have you.”

“But you need more.”

Gage’s brows relaxed, and his grin flattened into a serious expression. “I know, sunshine. No one has ever cared about me enough to push me to be better or do better. I like that you want what’s best for me because I want to be the best I can be for you.”

Hadley pressed a hand to her chest, trying and failing to calm the out-of-control thumping of her heart. She’d seen her fair share of bad men, and she’d been made fully aware that people don’t change. Her mom had tried and failed too many times.

But Gage was showing her all the ways he didn’t fit that mold. He was changing, and so was she.

Hadley pointed to the turn up ahead. “That’s the road.”

He slowed as they neared their destination. When Blake and Everly’s mega mansion came into view, Gage looked at her with his brows raised.

“Care to share the story behind this?” he said, pointing to her friends’ gorgeous home with a view of the mountains.

“You know Cheyenne’s fiancé, Ridge? Well, he used to be a pro football player, and Blake was his agent.”

“Wait a minute. Your sister is marrying Ridge Cooper? The guy who used to play for the Colts?”

“Yeah. You’ve met him.”

“I know, but I guess I didn’t put two and two together. It’s been a while since his face was plastered all over TV.” Gage turned into the drive and shook his head at the beautiful house. “I’m guessing Ridge is loaded too.”

“Yep. I think his house might be even bigger. The houses are way too big for just two people, but I think both couples plan on starting families soon.”

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