Page 61 of Giddy-Up
Spinning around, she took her time perusing him.Trying to work out how late they’d be if she surrendered to the heat in Wade’s eyes.
“We don’t have time.”She smiled.
As much as she wanted him, she wasn’t about to let her friend down.She may be new to having friends, but even she knew being late to a wedding is rude.And being late when you’re in the wedding party is unforgivable.
“I can be quick.”He winked.
That was a lie.“You can’t and you know it.”
His hand went to hers as he hauled her into him.“Okay, petal.You win.The dress will stay intact until we’re home.Then...all bets are off.”
She resisted the urge to kiss him, knowing full well that would be too much of a test to her willpower.How she got like this she still didn’t know.She was pretty sure Wade had turned her into a sex-crazed beast.It was as if she couldn’t get enough of him.
“Come on,” she tugged at his hand, “let’s go.”
During the drive over to the church, her mom called again.Riley didn’t answer.Her mother’s calls had gone from twice a day to all day ever since she’d found out about Wade.Naively, she thought they’d eventually calm down.But two months and two weeks of having a boyfriend and her parents were still freaked out.
“You’re not gonna get that?”Wade took his eyes off the road for a second to throw a concerned frown her way.
“It’s my mom again.”Riley sighed.“I told her I’d be busy all day with the wedding, so I don’t know why she’s calling.”
“Maybe we should pay them another visit next week?”
Riley grimaced.Since the introduction from hell, they’d had two more painful lunches with her parents.The first to celebrate her new job, where she spent most of the time trying to convince them she was up to the task of being a chef at the Evans ranch.The second was two weeks ago.Again, it went downhill quickly when her father began inquiring about the turnover of the ranch.He then deemed it appropriate to start listing all the local ranches that had recently gone bankrupt.
“You really want to brave Silver Valley again?I think I’ve still got heartburn from our last visit.”
Wade’s dimples were paired with a short, sharp laugh.“Trust me, I’m not in a hurry to go over my latest bank statements...but they’re your parents.They’re important to you, which makes them important to me.”
Riley didn’t reply.She simply stared.He was perfect.Sweet.Kind.Funny.Not to mention the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.But beyond all that, he made her comfortable enough to just be.He didn’t care that she had a habit of blurting out whatever came into her head.Or get annoyed when she didn’t understand a joke and she asked him to explain.Which happened a lot.
“Why are you looking at me like that, petal?”He side-eyed her just as he pulled up into a parking space.
“I love you.”She was unusually calm as she declared her love.Maybe because she’d waited so long to say it, she’d already come to terms with the fact it was likely too soon for Wade to feel the same.But that didn’t matter.She just wanted him to know.
“What did you say?”His gaze swung to her, an unreadable expression hardening his face.
“I love you,” she repeated, swallowing down the sudden lump in her throat.
His eyes lit.Blue fire hot enough to melt the snow covered parking lot.“You love me?”he asked again.Making her question if she’d even said the words out loud.
This time, she decided to nod in reply.Her heart hammering against pink silk as she tried her best to search him for clues.
In true Wade fashion, his reply came in the form of his mouth slamming down onto hers.He treated her to one of the claiming kisses she loved so much.Pure possession sending tingles all the way down to the tips of her toes.
The intensity didn’t subside as he released her, he stayed close enough for his stubble to graze against her jaw.
“I love you too, Riley.”
All the air in her lungs whooshed right on out of her.
He loves me?
She was in an alternate universe.No.She was dreaming.That was it.Any minute now, her high school math teacher was going to turn up with a surprise pop quiz she’d not studied for.
“Riley?”Wade brushed his lips against hers.“Did you hear me, baby?”
Don’t worry, Mr Thomson’s on his way and he’s going to want you to factor quadratic equations.
