Page 20 of Crossroads of Innocence
“I haven’t done anything besides spend an enjoyable morning with a new friend.” Mia slid the list of things Jude still needed off the table and tucked it into the front pocket of her jeans. “You can’t head into town and shop for yourself, so I’ll do it for you. I’ll be back soon. I’ll leave Wrigley here, if that’s okay. He can probably protect you more than Macey.”
“Hey, she bites harder than you’d think,” Wade said.
His attempt at humor made Jude smile despite her churning stomach. “Remember when she was a puppy and always chomped on your fingers? I swear she thought they were hot dogs.”
The side of Wade’s mouth hitched up. He held up his hand and wiggled his fingers. “I’m still offended by that.”
An awkward silence fell over the room. Mia cleared her throat and ran a palm over Wrigley’s head. “Well, anyway. You be a good boy, and I’ll be back soon. Call if you need anything.”
Wade stepped aside and let Mia leave then locked up behind her. “So, about where I’m staying tonight. Do you really want me to stay here? With you?”
She swallowed hard and ignored the deafening beat of her heart. She didn’t need to expand upon her request. Didn’t need to tell him that being near him made her feel safe, made her feel whole. She didn’t need to confess he wiped away bits of longing and sadness she could never outrun. All she had to do was give a simple answer.
“Yes.”
He dipped his chin and a flicker of the boy she used to know flashed along with his dimples. “Okay then. I’ll go out and grab my bag and my rifle real quick.”
“Your rifle?”
Scrunching his face, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I grabbed it from behind the bar. I can leave it in the truck if it makes you uncomfortable.”
The idea of having a loaded gun so close made her nervous, but she was probably being silly. Wade wanted to protect her, which was sweet, but…
“I can tell you don’t like the thought of me bringing the gun inside. I’ll leave it in the truck. Be right back.”
She watched him go and a shiver of excitement ripped through her. Another night spent with Wade might lead to more trouble than she was already in.
9
Jude stared out the sliding back door at the small pond that lay beyond the deck. A thin layer of ice coated the water, beams of sunlight sparkling off the surface. Naked branches of the surrounding trees swayed with the breeze.
The sound of the door closing behind her set her nerves on edge and calmed her anxiety at the same time. How the hell was that even possible? She missed the days when being alone with Wade was as natural as breathing.
Those days were long gone, and now she was looking at hours of uninterrupted time with the man she should be staying far away from. Because as much as she understood she was the one who’d walked away, he was the one who’d refused to come with her.
She winced at the familiar bite of pain from the memory of his rejection before turning away from the serene picture outside.
Wade dropped his duffel and let it land at his feet. “How you holdin’ up?”
She shrugged, trying to pinpoint the cascade of emotions flowing through her. “Scared. Confused. Overwhelmed. I’m antsy as hell and feel like I need to do something, but I can’t. I can’t leave, can’t ride my bike to unwind, can’t wrap my freaking mind around this crazy plot twist that’s derailed my life.”
“Who says you can’t leave?”
“Where am I supposed to go?” she asked. “It’s not safe to go anywhere. As nice as it is that Chet and Mia are letting me stay here, I can’t help but feel a little trapped.”
Hooking a thumb in the front pocket of his jeans, he shifted his weight. “We could go for a walk.”
“Really?”
“Why not? I mean, no one knows you’re here, and this is private property. We won’t venture far. Maybe head out back and make a lap around the pond? The dogs will like it.”
“Well, if the dogs will like it, who am I to say no?”
Chuckling, he dug Macey’s leash and a tiny red puffer vest from his bag and put them both on the dog.
She snorted out a laugh. “Seriously?”
“Don’t make her feel self-conscious,” he said, shooting her a smirk. “She doesn’t like the cold. If I don’t put this stupid thing on, she’s got five minutes in her, tops.”
