Hooked By Sundown (Canyon Junction: Hearts In Love Book 3)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “Bambi better keep her hands off you.” Sophie nodded against his chest. “At least when you’re drunk you’re good in the sack. Too bad you don’t remember.”

  “I remember something pink and cuddly on top of me stripping off my clothes.”

  “Are you sure it was me?”

  He pushed her an arm’s length away.

  Sophie smiled. “Did that hurt you, Wade?”

  Wade laid his hand over his heart and nodded. “A lot if you think I’d cheat on you.”

  “I trust you. I’ve always trusted you. But I’m laying into Bambi tomorrow.”

  “Don’t get yourself in trouble at work. Let’s forget about her. She’s low on the totem pole in seniority and will be the first to go if they do cutbacks again this year. Brenna said she’ll let you know if they have any openings so you can apply for a teaching position.”

  “That’s right. If Bambi got laid off there would be no guarantee she’d get back into the same school next year.” Sophie wrung her hands. “Oh, but other teachers have seniority over me. I’m nothing more than a teacher’s assistant.”

  “A teacher assistant with a master’s degree.” Wade embraced her again. “Now there’s a positive thought.” Sophie drew him close and Wade blew out a breath. “Are we all right?”

  She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “We’re good. Well, I’ll be better after an ass-kicking tomorrow.”

  “Don’t do it. The district is a zero-tolerance from what I hear from Jake. He outta know. His son had issues back in the days of going there.”

  “My philosophy is to drive her mad with kindness. She won’t know what hit her because she’s expecting me to come back with a rebuttal.”

  “I’ll be proud if you can pull it off.”

  Sophie laid her head against his chest. “Yeah, so will I.”

  “A knee, huh?”

  “You’re damn right.”

  Wade leaned in and laid his cheek against her head. “A favor?” he asked cuddling her into his chest. “Can we get married now?”

  Sophie patted his back. “Funny that you asked. When I went home Sunday night, I had a talk with my dad and Emmett. Are you busy Thanksgiving weekend, Cowboy?”

  Wade made eye contact with her and smiled. “Nothing that can’t be broken. I meant to ask you. Judy Carlson invited us to have dinner with their family. She said bring your dad.”

  Sophie broke free and sat on the picnic table top. “My dad, Emmett, and I might have other plans.”

  His heart hit the ground, but he moved in and stood between her legs. It was damn sexy when she squeezed them against his thighs—the simple act aroused him. “I didn’t know.”

  “Well, you’re invited, that is…if you’ll marry me the Friday after Thanksgiving.” Sophie’s face lit up with a smile. The amber glow in her eyes sparkled.

  Thanksgiving? Noah would be with them then. Her face beamed as the golden rays of the setting sun spread across her face. “I love you, woman. Tell me where the wedding takes place and what I need to do. I’ll be there.”

  “The Pacific at sunset? The beach where we spent our first evening?”

  Wade raised his hands to his head, smoothed his hair back, his heart overwhelmed and full.

  “It was Emmett’s idea. I guess watching romcoms with me did pay off.” She chuckled.

  Wade laughed then lifted her off the table. Sophie wrapped her legs around him and laughed into his shoulder. “I love you, Wade. Will you marry me on the beach? Say yes? I want to become Mrs. Emory under the sunset.”

  “Yeah! Holy frigging hell yeah.” He spun around and around until a few teenagers walked by saying, “Eww,” to see a couple thirty-something year-olds acting this way.

  “You’ll see what it’s like one day, punks.”

  “Hush.” Sophie buried her face into the crook of his neck and laughed. “Now I have to pack and plan a wedding. What have I done to myself?”

  Wade sat her on the table end and drew her legs around him so he pressed up against all he loved. “What are the plans. I like to know what’s going on in advance. Who’ll be there? Clay?”

  “Family only on my side.”

  “Then I have no one.”

  “Yes, you do. All these guys who took you out to celebrate are your family, honey. Judy Carlson, all of them, and Noah. Anyone who wants to come, can come. Not Bambi.”

  “They’re all your family now, Soph.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re naughty, but right, not Bambi. I fear I’d drown her. Will you do me on our wedding night like you did Friday?”

  “You do remember. You’re a sly one, Emory. You’re damn right I will. Omigod, I have so much to do.” She softly pushed him back, stood, and bounced on her toes. “I’m excited. I can’t wait!” She threw her arms around his neck. Wade lifted her again then sat on the table with her sitting on his thighs. “Oh, honey. I knew when I looked into your sad eyes outside of my room in California, that you were something special. I don’t know what it was, but I knew. It scared the hell out of me, and I didn’t want it to happen, but it did. It did.” She screamed out, “It did!”

  It came to Wade what she had said a few minutes ago. “Wait, you said Mrs. Emory. Not Price-Daniels-Emory?”

  “Goodness no. I’m still debating on keeping Daniels-Emory for Emmett’s sake, but I will go by Mrs. Emory.”

  “I can deal with Mrs. Emory.”

  Sophie got off his lap and picked up the carryout container and napkins to throw away. “We should go.”

  Wade clasped her hand as they ambled to his truck. Outside the door, he spread his legs on each side of hers and leaned against her. “Do you know what a happy man you’ve made me?”

  “The feeling is mutual. I’ll be proud to call such a handsome and kindhearted man my husband, and if you get drunk again, I’ll know to expect you’ll blab something.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. “But I’m good in the sack.” Her lips met his in a soft and tender return. Sophie’s fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck. Her touch was all he’d ever need. It finally happened. He’d found love when he thought he never would. Their lips separated, but he whispered against her mouth, “I love you, Sophie Price-Daniels. Move in this weekend. I can’t wait any longer to have you in my arms all night, every night. I’ll be back with Noah early Friday to lend a hand with whatever I can that evening and the rest of the weekend to get you settled in with a new address. We’ll get my, ahem, family together and get you moved in.”

  Sophie nodded with a smiling approval. “I’m there. Emmett and I will forever be where you are. Mmm, I’m so happily in love with you!”

  “Me too, darlin’.” Wade closed his eyes and smiled. Me too.

  Chapter 21

  After helping Sophie and Emmett move in this past weekend, Wade got busy preparing for a special night with his bride to be. Judy Carlson had been lined up to babysit Noah until Wade needed him back at the house. His fingers flew over the keys: I need you to come right home from work.

  Wade waited for a reply to his text. He paced in the barn at work, checked his watch and phone, willing a reply notification. Maybe she’d worked in detention during lunch. He took a new horse out of the barn on a lunge line to work off some energy, for him and the horse. A tap to the stallion’s rear with a training stick got him moving. Today he was out here to train him to keep his distance and not to invade Wade’s space which is what this guy aimed on doing. “Yaaaa, go on, get out there.” The horse had other ideas and liked being in his space.

  Wade’s head wasn’t in the game though, so he didn’t much care today what the horse did as long as he didn’t bite or kick him to the ground. Instead, he let the horse loose to run in the round pen at his will, but he wouldn’t allow him to invade his space. He sat on the rail fencing and typed out a text to Brenna with hands so sweaty, he kept messing up. Did you give it to her yet?

  At least she had sent a timely reply: No. Give me time. It’s too early. She’ll go bonkers if I give her
the dress this soon. Another text from Brenna immediately followed: Chill, Wade. He rushed into the barn for a bottle of water.

  All his plans had been set in place. All but Sophie that is. She better like surprises. Thirty minutes later, she replied: I have a couple stops to make.

  First, Wade slammed his fist down on a rack in the supply barn. Supplies fell off the shelves with a thud. He set his water bottle down to pick up the mess. Next, he tried not to sound demanding, typing: Forget that. Come straight home. Okay?

  She replied: Did something happen to Noah?

  He whacked his hat against his leg on the way back to the round pen. Wade called her. “Noah’s fine. Can you talk?”

  “For a few minutes. What’s going on with you?”

  He took a couple deep breaths to calm down. “Nothing. I’m fixing dinner. It has to be eaten as soon as it’s finished.”

  Sophie sighed. “How lame. What’s really going on?”

  His big-ass mouth stayed shut.

  “Wade?”

  “Do me a favor and don’t ask questions. It’s nothing bad. Can you?”

  Sophie hesitated.

  He pleaded, “Honey? Do this for me?”

  “Whatever you’re up to better be worth not getting my teeth cleaned, buddy.”

  Wade grinned. He’d seen it on the calendar this morning. Oh, well. It wasn’t the first time he’d screwed up. It wouldn’t be his last screw up, either.

  “Listen, I have to go before the kids come in from recess. Oh, Brenna just walked in.”

  Wade hung on the line but picked up Sophie’s gasp. Oh oh.

  “Wade?”

  He set his hat on his head, positioning it where he liked it. “Yeah, beautiful?”

  “Why did Brenna bring in my best little black dress and heels and then rush out the door? How’d she get it?”

  Wade shrugged though there was no one to see it. “I dunno.”

  She laughed. “I assume I must have this on when I come in the door after work?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “What are you up to, Wade Emory?”

  Wade spoke intimately, “Do you really want to know?”

  “Oh, when you speak low and sexy like that, your voice gets all raspy. I like. It sends shivers up my back. You’re up to something.”

  He gave a low chuckle. “Might be.”

  “I’ll play along. Now I can’t wait for school to be over. I want to kiss you this minute, but it’ll have to wait. Wade, honey?”

  “Huh?”

  Sophie whispered into the phone, “A kiss with a lot of tongue. See you soon, big guy. I love you.” She hung up.

  I’ll show her big guy, all right. Wade smiled as he slipped his phone into his pocket. He chased the unruly horse around until his senses came back to him, then he roped him in. “There ya go. Let’s go hose you off before I leave. Your name should be Mule. You have an uncooperative attitude.” Wade patted his neck on the way to the hose. “The next time out here I will mean business.” The horse snorted and stepped in against Wade and got hosed in the muzzle.

  When finished, he gathered a couple small orders so he didn’t have to do it in the morning. He washed up before going to see Noah at the Double Dutch Ranch on the way home.

  At the ranch, he headed toward the porch where Judy sat with Noah and Will. Judy let him loose, and he came running toward Wade. “Hey, Noah. How’s it going, son?”

  Judy grinned from the top step. “I still can’t believe this is true. Every time I see you with that boy and Sophie, I think I’m dreaming.”

  “At times I have to pinch myself, Judy. You babysitting Will too?”

  “No, Dane’s in the barn. Noah called me “gramma” after Will did. It’s fine with me.” She gave a big laugh he’d recognize anywhere.

  “Oh, wow. I’ll go say hi. Come on, Will, I’ll take ya to see your dad.” Wade let Noah down. The two boys ran ahead. His kid acted like he lived here. “Come here, Noah.”

  Noah came to a halt so fast, he nearly fell to his face. Wade picked him up and brushed him off. “Listen, buddy, I have to go back home in a couple minutes. I’ll come get you later.”

  Noah frowned. “Where’s Sophie and Emmett?”

  He explained she was still at work and Emmett was at school. Dane came out of the barn. “Hey, I need to talk to you, Wade.”

  “Howdy. I’m about to take off.”

  “Good luck.” Dane laughed heartily. “I didn’t think you had romance in your blood. By the way, I wanted to tell you Gracelyn and I will be coming to California on the same flight as you guys.”

  “Is your mom watching Will?”

  Dane chuckled and they stopped half way to the house. “Yep. In California. They’ll be with us on the flight. She wants to come if she’s invited.”

  “Of course, she is. Cool.” The two of them headed back to the porch—the little ones running ahead of them. Wade nudged Dane and nodded forward. “You know when they’re in high school, we’ll have to pull in their reins or lock them in the barn.”

  “Roger that. It worked so well with us.”

  They laughed. At the porch, he scooped Noah up into his arms and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “I gotta go, kiddo. You be a good boy for Judy.”

  Noah hugged him tight. “I’m a good boy,” he mocked. “Bye, Daddy.”

  Wade squeezed him closer and paid attention to the scent of him. Peanut butter. “Judy, of course you’re invited to our little wedding ceremony. I’m honored you want to be there.” His whole world fell into place with those little arms around his neck. Later, he’d have a desirous woman’s arms, and legs, around there. He bid the Carlsons farewell. “I’ll see you later, Noah.” Whether it was the fact of sharing his DNA with this boy, or instinct, a chunk of his heart clenched when he drove away from his child. Then his fist clenched to know what Cynthia had done. The past was the past. He had him now.

  ***

  At home after showering, he pulled on his black dress pants and a white shirt. He paced, checked his watch, paced some more, checked the wall clock then buttoned his shirt. He’d done a lot of pacing over this woman. Wade stood in front of the mirror to adjust his tie and run a brush through his hair one more time. He ran his hand over his clean-shaven face except for the mustache he tried to grow. She won’t know what hit her. Finally, he pulled on his best boots.

  In the dining room, he observed the perfectly set table—perfect right down to the two-dozen red roses in a clear vase surrounded by short clear votive cups with red candles. Perfect according to a website on the internet that is. He loosened his tie, and checked the time again, even glanced to the tall candles sitting inside the fireplace. Wade donned the jacket to his suit and headed out to his sparkling clean truck.

  At the school, he took a big breath in and out, but it was too late for that to calm down. Then Brenna’s text came in. It’s time.

  Picking up the bouquet of red roses on the seat beside him, he strutted to the door. Kid after kid streamed out, but then no one came out. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he removed his hat and swept perspiration away with his fingertips, wiping fingers on his pants. Come on. Come on.

  Bambi came out. Oh, shit. Not freaking now. They made eye contact, but she kept walking. He smirked. Ha, he was glad she came out first. The door opened again. A foxy woman wearing a smoking black dress stepped out. Holy hell she looked good—her deep cleavage about made his tongue touch the ground. He’d never seen her brown eyes so wide before, other than on the mountain in fear. Wade smiled.

  “Omigod!” She dropped her purse and her schoolbag. Her hands shot to her head. “What have you done?” Her gaze drifted over every inch of him, and his smile grew bigger. He held out the flowers. “Your four-wheel chariot awaits, ma’am.” He bowed then opened his arm to her.

  Instead of taking his arm, Sophie ran into his. She cupped his face, still smiling. “You’re so damn handsome. My dear man, how I love you. What are you doing? Babe, you smell good.”

  She ki
ssed him, giving a sample of the tongue she’d mentioned earlier, and man oh man, did he take advantage, pulling her up tight against him, absorbing every second of having her lips against his in a fiery kiss…until the door opened again.

  “Eww, Ms. Daniels.” A little boy about Emmett’s age rushed past them.

  “Soon to be Mrs. Emory, Roger! We’re getting married.” Sophie gave Wade an innocent smile. “That kiss will come back to haunt—”

  When her words stopped, he followed her gaze to the parking lot where Bambi sat behind the wheel of her car, staring. Wade took her arm. “Come on, darlin’. Our evening is beginning.”

  They strolled to his truck without another peek toward Bambi. He opened the door, but he glanced around to make sure there were no kids. He lowered his eyes to her cleavage. “You’re gorgeous in this dress.”

  She caressed his face. “Let’s get out of here. I’m excited, but I don’t know what you’re doing or where we’re going.”

  Wade got in on the other side. “That’s what makes it fun?”

  “I knew adventures with you would be a thrill, baby! Where are we going? Where’s Noah?”

  “For as long as I can plan adventures, you’ll have them. Noah’s at Dane’s. Your dad’s keeping Emmett.”

  “No wonder Emmett begged to go home with Grandpa.”

  Wade turned up a station on satellite radio to smooth jazz. “Hope you like this.” She kept smiling which made him continue to do the same. So far, so good.

  ***

  At home, he came around to open her door and swept his hand toward the house. “After you, my beautiful fiancée.”

  “I don’t know what brought all this on, but I’ll never forget this moment.” She clutched his arm.

  Inside, Wade turned to lock the door then observed Sophie. He loved this woman. He lifted hair from the back of her neck, planting a few kisses along her smooth skin and over the center of her back following the “V” of her dress. Her fragrance intoxicated him. “Wait here.”

  Turning away, he went into the living room, closed blinds and pulled curtains to darken the room. He did the same thing in the kitchen and nook area. Sophie moved closer to the table. A quick glance at her made him smile. Before the night was over, he’d grow smile lines if this kept up. Wade lit the candles in the fireplace before meeting her near the table.