Page 8 of Crossroads of Innocence
“Cruz Sawyer,” Wade said. “A good, solid cop. He moved here from Nashville a while ago and we both have gotten to know him pretty well. You can trust him. I promise.”
The earnestness in his voice curled her toes. “Okay.”
“It’s pretty late,” Chet said, standing. “We should call him first thing in the morning.”
Panic had any semblance of relief she’d experienced since stepping into Wade’s apartment vanishing. “Morning? What do I do until then?”
Wade worked his jaw back and forth, red staining his cheeks. “You’ll stay here. With me.”
4
The sound of the shower sputtering to life in the bathroom cracked open Wade’s eyes. The morning sun streamed through the living room window. He groaned and threw his forearm over his face to block out the intrusion. After years of closing the bar, he hated mornings. Especially ones where he woke up on the couch with every muscle in his body screaming at his poor decision.
Once Chet left the night before, an awkward tension simmered in the apartment. So much needed to be said between him and Jude, yet both had bumbled around as if they were strangers until he’d declared they should try to get some sleep. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to relax no matter where he rested his head, he’d insisted Jude take his bed while he slept on the couch.
A decision he regretted after realizing her scent would be imprinted on his covers, continuing to torment him long after she left. Whatever. He’d buy all new bedding if he had to, but he had no clue how he’d get the image of her wet and naked in his shower to ever leave his overactive imagination.
Not like he had to be too imaginative. He’d seen her naked body on numerous occasions, memorized every inch of her delicate skin down to the heart-shaped mole on her right butt cheek.
No. He couldn’t do this. Couldn’t lay here and think about the good times they’d shared. He sat, stretching his arms above his head, then scooped up his phone from the end table. A text from Cruz confirmed he’d be by in twenty minutes. That gave Wade plenty of time to throw on some clothes and get a strong cup of coffee in his system.
With his next moves laid out, he clamored to his feet and crossed over to the dresser shoved against the far wall by the bed. Cold shot up his legs. He really needed to buy a few rugs to place on the wooden floors. This space hadn’t been meant for a long-term home, so he’d skimped on the furnishings. But with the cost of his mother’s care reaching an all-time high, he needed to face the music. This would be his home for the unforeseeable future, so he better suck it up and get used to it.
As if the mere thought of his mom roused her dog, Macey lifted her head from her spot on the fluffy white pillow and stared at him with her huge, brown eyes.
He snorted. “Traitor. Slept with Jude all night, didn’t you?”
Macey cocked her head to the side as if understanding every word. A trait he found as humorous as he did annoying.
He ran his palm between the dog’s ears. “Let me get dressed then I’ll take you outside.”
Rummaging through his dresser, he pulled out a pair of joggers and a hoodie. The way the wind rattled the window told him it’d be a quick trip. Winters in Tennessee might be mild, but the cooler weather was hard on Macey. He quickly traded his gym shorts for warm pants then yanked his T-shirt over his head.
He’d felt ridiculous sleeping with so many clothes on, but any unnecessary exposed skin with Jude so close wasn’t a good idea.
“Oh, I’m…I’m sorry.”
Jude’s stammering pivoted him toward the bathroom with his sweatshirt still in his hand. Jude stood barefoot in the hall, a pair of tight black yoga pants molded to toned legs and a fitted long-sleeved shirt showing off an area he shouldn’t be looking at. Her long strands of pink hair were wet and tousled around the delicate lines of her face, her cheeks rosy and lips parted in a sexy O as she dropped her gaze to his chest.
His mouth went dry and the only thought in his head centered around throwing her ass in the bed they’d shared on more than one occasion.
“I didn’t mean to intrude,” she said, finally dropping her gaze to the floor. “Where should I put the wet towel?”
He shoved into his sweatshirt and snatched the damp towel from her outstretched hand. “I’ll take it. I was just about to take Macey out.”
“How about I start the coffee while you do that?”
“Perfect. You’ll find what you need in the cabinet above the pot.” He spared her a quick glance, lips pressed together, then scooped Macey off the bed. He slipped on his sneakers and hurried out the door.
Coward.
That’s what he was. One sight of Jude this morning was enough to have him running for the damn hills. Or at least running for a chance to escape her presence for the first time since she’d blindsided him at the bar the night before. He just needed a little space to get his head on straight.
At the base of the steps, he jogged through the dark bar. A quick survey of the room told him he needed to give his staff a freaking raise. Last night had been hell, the place packed and understaffed. But the kitchen had run smoothly, and the servers had stepped up, even scrubbing the place clean when he hadn’t been around to supervise. Choosing to stay in Pine Valley to run the Chill N’ Grill may have cost him a lot—may have cost him the love of his life—but this place was in his blood.
Staying would always be the right decision.
Once outside, he sat Macey on the grassy patch of land beside the log-cabin styled bar and grill. She pranced on the frost-tipped grass, searching for the best place to do her business.
