“Thank you for picking me up and bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome. And it’s great to have you home. Night, Soph.”
“Goodnight, Wade.”
****
Her old bedroom didn’t have any windows that looked out on the private parking lot, which in a way was a good thing. If it had, she’d be standing at it watching Wade walk back to his SUV.
Sophie sat on the bed. The kiss had been better than the one at the airport. She ran her fingers over his lips. She hadn’t wanted to stop him. She’d searched her mind and soul for every excuse in the book as to why they should continue. However, she knew if she hadn’t pulled away from him, they’d get to a point of no return, and have regrets later. She had too many of those. Wade probably did, too.
She didn’t want to be the reason he messed things up with his latest girlfriend. Cathy could be his chance at finding happiness, a wife, a family, and she wouldn’t take that from him by doing something stupid and spur of the moment.
Sophie flopped back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. The very ceiling she’d been staring at as Travis had been making love to her. She turned her head to the side, mimicking the action she’d done that morning when she’d heard the door open. At first she’d thought it was her grandmother bursting in on them not realizing Travis had spent the night with her, but she’d spotted Wade in the doorway. Every bit of color had quickly drained from his face.
And then Travis had noticed him, too.
“Hey, buddy, you mind giving me and my fiancée some privacy,” he’d shouted at Wade.
With that Wade had rushed out of the room. She’d tried running after him, but by the time she got some clothes on, gotten outside, all she’d been able to see was the back of him running down the road.
It wasn’t the way she ever intended for him to find out that she was going to marry Travis, or that she’d broken another promise and given her virginity to another man.
She sat up and threw a pillow across the room. Travis had swept her off her feet when he’d come to stay at Mountainview, taken her from Wyoming to Seattle, and now they were divorced.
A tear ran down her face. She and Wade, had life gone according to the plans they’d made, would have been celebrating wedding anniversary number seven. They’d be the proud parents of two children, and be working diligently on making number three of the four children they always said they’d wanted.
Tomorrow she’d tell him she was sorry because she’d never had the courage to do that before. No, that wasn’t true. She’d tried too soon after the incident that morning. She’d gone to his dad’s house later that day, but Bob had told her Wade wasn’t feeling good and didn’t want to see anyone. She’d been persistent and gone back every day, minus her engagement ring of course, to beg his forgiveness, but every time his father had told her Wade didn’t want to see her.
Finally she’d given up and left for Seattle to start a new life as Mrs. Travis Benson. And under the circumstances it had been just a small wedding at City Hall with her grandmother and Travis’s family in attendance. It had been followed by a meal in the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle. Nothing like the wedding and reception Wade and she had talked about since they were teenagers. She’d arrive at the church on horseback, and they’d leave the church riding in an old stage coach. The reception would include everyone in Greenville, and the honeymoon would be at none other than one of Wyoming’s famous landmarks, Yellowstone Park.
Sophie unzipped her suitcase with gusto.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
When she’d finally gotten the courage to ask her grandmother about Wade and how he was doing, she’d told Sophie he hadn’t been eating, and Bob had eventually rushed him to the ER where the doctor had ordered an IV be placed in his arm because of his severe dehydration. Next time she’d asked Grans for her update on him, she’d been told he was doing better but that he’d decided to move to Cheyenne.
Wade, can you ever, ever forgive me?
****
Wade knew after last night’s kiss in Sophie’s room that he was treading on dangerous waters if he spent too much time with her. However, he’d promised to buy her breakfast and then take her to see her grandmother. He was a man of his word.
She’s your childhood buddy and nothing more became his mantra as he drove over to Mountainview to collect her. He didn’t need to go inside to see if she was ready because she was outside petting one of the horses in the paddock next to the inn.
As he got out of the SUV she was bending over getting the horse some hay. Wade wasn’t sure what was the more spectacular view – the sun peeking over the mountain range or Sophie’s cute little butt in the tight jeans she was wearing this morning. Since she’d turned eighteen she’d certainly filled out very nicely in that area.
He knew he shouldn’t, but buddies did it, so no problem. He crept up behind her and gave her butt a slap.
“What the…”
She turned around and grinned when she saw it was Wade.
“Morning,” he said.
“Good morning to you. Looks like it’s going to be a nice one.”
“Sure does. So you get to feed any horses in Seattle?”
“No, and it’s one of the things I miss about being here at Mountainview. Julie said the vet’s assistant is coming out to look at this mare today. Grans took her in because the owner couldn’t afford to keep her, and she’s been off her food for a week.”
Wade stepped forward and stroked the horse’s nose. “Let’s take a look and see if I can figure it out.”
“Why didn’t you ever become a vet? You always loved animals.”
“I guess law enforcement was in my genes.” Wade rubbed his hand along the outer part of the horse’s belly and then underneath it. “I think I know what the problem is. She’s expecting a foal.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, here give me your hand.”
Sophie offered it to him and together they ran their fingers along the horse’s belly.
“Yep, you’re right. I guess I should cancel the vet’s visit.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t hurt for him to check her out. So you ready for breakfast?”
“I’m starving. I almost ate from the breakfast buffet but remembered you were buying.”
“So does Brown’s Café sound good to you?”
“Just lead the way.”
****
Sophie realized she’d been away far too long when she and Wade were stopped every few minutes by people wanting to welcome her home and ask about her grandmother. It had taken them twenty minutes just to get inside the café.
They slid into one of the booths by the window, and Sophie grabbed a menu from the stand.
“Okay, honey… hey, Sophie, I heard you were back. And so sorry to hear about Emily being arrested,” said the waitress.
“It will all be sorted out, so don’t worry,” said Wade.
“Can I get you two cute kids coffee while you look over the menu?”
“Sounds like heaven because I need some caffeine,” said Sophie.
“Me, too,” said Wade.
She walked away, and Sophie waved to an older man who was walking on the sidewalk outside the cafe window.
“Miss Popularity,” said Wade.
“And you’re Mr. Popularity, so don’t you ever forget it. Now what shall we order?”
“I think we should go for the grand slam.”
“You can eat that much food?” asked Sophie.
“I know you can.”
Sophie gave him a playful kick under the table, catching his shin with her boot.
“Hey, hey, no roughhousing in public,” said Wade, squeezing her knee under the table.
They both looked at one another, Sophie sensing an uncomfortable sexual tension brewing between them. She was about to say something when the waitress returned with the coffee and put two mugs down in front of them.
“There you go, honey, and I’m guessing our coffee
’s better than Starbucks,” she said.
“I bet you’re right,” said Sophie.
“So have you decided what you’d like this morning?”
“Yep, two grand slams,” said Wade.
“Okey, dokey, I’ll get that order in.”
Sophie took a sip of coffee and looked over the rim at Wade. She put the mug down.
“Wade, there’s something I want to say to you.”
He squinted at her.
She hoped this wasn’t going to ruin their meal with her bringing up the delicate subject again.
“I never apologized to you for what I did with Travis.”
Wade swiftly looked out of window. Sophie saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down where he’d obviously taken a huge swallow.
“I won’t say I wasn’t hurt, that it didn’t hurt for a long time, but apology accepted. Let’s make this the first day that we move on from all that and never mention it again, okay?”
He looked back at her and slid his hand across the table to hers. They locked fingers just as their breakfast arrived and waitress put the oversized plates in front of them.
“I’m gaining weight just looking at this,” said Sophie seeing the pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and toast overflowing on the oval platter.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” said the waitress turning to leave.
Wade picked up one of the sausage links and began eating.
“Did you manage to get things sorted out with your business before you left Seattle?” he asked.
Sophie reached for the ketchup and squeezed a large dollop beside the potatoes. “Yes, luckily I’ve kept in contact with another designer who I went to school with, and she’s offered to help finish the two places I was working on.”
“So you any good with your designs?”
“One of the best,” said Sophie smiling.
“Yeah, I can believe that. You outfitted our tree house pretty good.”
Sophie laughed remembering she’d used two of her grandmother’s dresses for their drapes. Of course, she hadn’t asked permission first, so she had been in hot water with Grans for several days.
“I’ve got a wonderful idea. How about I come over to your place and check it out, and while I’m here I’ll do some work for free for you?”
“Soph, it’s a tiny house, a small bachelor’s pad really, and I don’t want any girlie stuff.”
“I do guys’ stuff, too.”
He laughed, almost choking on the coffee he was drinking. “Then I say lucky guys.”
Sophie smiled at him and without saying anything they inched their hands across the table until the very tops of their fingertips were touching. Wade stroked the back of her hand with his index finger. Sophie closed her eyes. What with the wonderful food, and now Wade, it was a perfect day.
She jumped when she heard someone banging on the window where they sat. She glanced outside thinking it might be someone she knew, but instead a woman in her mid- thirties with olive skin and short dark brown hair glared in at her.
“Cathy,” said Wade.
It was Sophie’s turn to swallow hard several times.
He signaled for Cathy to step inside, which she did, and marched over to the table.
“This all looks very cozy. I take it this is Sophie?”
“Yes, Sophie, Cathy Moran, Cathy, Sophie Richardson.”
Sophie put her hand out to shake, but Cathy opted for a curt nod instead.
“You want to join us?” asked Wade.
“I shouldn’t because I’ve got the salon to open, but I’ll just visit for a few minutes.”
Wade slid across the bench and Cathy squeezed in beside him. Sophie saw Cathy’s hand immediately go to Wade’s thigh and squeeze it.
Sophie suddenly lost her great appetite.
“That’s a pretty hair color you have,” said Cathy. “What brand and color is it? Because I should order some for the salon.”
Sophie was about to tell her she didn’t color, that she’d been born with the golden blonde locks, just like her mother had, but Wade stepped in.
“Soph’s had that color since she was a little girl. First thing I noticed about her when we first met.”
Cathy nodded. Already Sophie didn’t like her but guessed she was being hard on the woman because she was Wade’s girlfriend.
“So you bought the beauty salon?” asked Sophie.
“Yes, it’s doing really well. I offer a full range of services, if you want to stop by while you’re visiting.”
“I might do that.”
Over my dead body.
“Did Wade tell you he and I went to this wonderful hotel in Jackson Hole about a month ago?”
Sophie looked at Wade, and he looked back at her; judging by the way he was coloring up he was finding this whole thing just as uncomfortable as she was.
“Which reminds me you’re still coming to dinner tonight, right?” Cathy asked Wade.
“Sure, yes, I hadn’t forgotten.”
“And staying overnight?”
Sophie saw Cathy’s hand move toward Wade’s crotch.
Wade didn’t answer but simply nodded.
“Well, I have to get to the saloon. Nice meeting you. I do hope your grandmother gets her legal problems sorted out. I’m sure you do, too, so you can get back to Portland.”
“Thank you, and actually it’s Seattle,” said Sophie.
Cathy stood, and the next thing Sophie knew her coffee mug had been tipped over and the brown liquid was penetrating her jeans and burning her thighs. Sophie jumped up.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you okay? I hope you didn’t get burned.”
“No, no, problem,” said Sophie grabbing a handful of napkins.
Cathy left promptly, and Wade ran after her. They were talking outside. Sophie couldn’t hear anything but by the way Wade was waving his hands and arms around as he spoke, he looked like he was suddenly in a foul mood. In fact, she’d guess he was raising his voice, which wasn’t like Wade at all.
****
“What’s gotten into you, Cathy?”
“It was an accident.”
“Like hell it was.”
“Okay, you really want to know? I walk by the café, glance inside and see my boyfriend stroking the back of a woman’s hand. A girl who everyone in this town knows was his childhood sweetheart, and that she dumped him for some city boy and broke his heart into a million pieces.”
Wade ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath.
“We’re friends, and that’s all.”
Cathy turned to leave. Wade grabbed her arm.
“Cathy, don’t walk away when we’re having a discussion.”
“Look I’m sorry, maybe I overacted. I mean, Wade, you know you’re drop-dead gorgeous, and I should have realized when we started dating that women are going to throw themselves at you. I have to learn to live with it.”
“Sophie doesn’t need to throw herself at me.”
“Oh, you mean you threw yourself at her?”
“I can assure you we’re just old buddies. Her grandmother’s hired me, so it probably means we’ll be spending lots of time together. You have a problem with that?”
Cathy didn’t answer. Wade raised his eyebrows, hoping to get an answer, an honest one if possible. Cathy finally shook her head.
“I trust you,” she said.
Cathy pulled him close and kissed him while putting both her hands on his butt. He shouldn’t have, but his only thought was Sophie. He slyly glanced toward the café window hoping Cathy didn’t catch him.
Sophie was looking straight at them.
“See you tonight, cowboy.” She smacked his butt hard.
He didn’t wait to see her cross the street but instead headed back to Sophie as quickly as he could.
When he got inside, Sophie was gone. Their half-eaten meals sat on the table, and the waitress was mopping up the last of the spilled coffee.
“Did Sophie leave? If she did
, I didn’t see her walk out.”
“Don’t worry, honey. She just went to the ladies room to clean up her jeans. She’ll be out in a minute.”
Wade found some relief in that news. He slid back into the booth and continued to eat his now cold bacon but had suddenly lost the edge off his appetite. Sophie headed his way. He smiled and pretended to be tucking into the food, but everything was stuck half way down his throat. Just like it had in the days and weeks following her departure from Greenville.
“Did the coffee stain your jeans?” he asked when Sophie sat down.
“Just a little. I probably should take them off so I can soak them.”
“Guess you can’t do that here. I’m sorry, Soph.”
“For what? It was an accident.”
“You really are a sweet girl. You know, and I know, that it wasn’t.”
“I can’t blame her. I mean walking by and seeing us together, holding hands like that.”
“She’s not usually bitchy like she was this morning.”
“Maybe she’s close to her time of the month.”
Wade leaned back and smiled.
“Wade, I know she must be really nice because I can’t imagine you’d give a bitch the time of day, let alone date one.”
“She’ll be better behaved next time the two of you meet.”
“I’m sure she will. I think I should buy myself a new pair of jeans before I see Grans, or she’ll think I don’t have any clean clothing since I moved out of her place.”
Wade laughed. “Just an excuse to go into the clothing store.”
Sophie gave him another playful kick to his shin.
“Okay, let me pay for this breakfast, and we’ll be on our way.”
****
One thing Wade hated was being seen in a woman’s clothing store. Sophie had been somewhat of a tom-boy when she’d been a kid, but as soon as she’d become a teenager, she’d gotten into dresses, skirts and pumps. He guessed it was Emily’s influence on her because she was always impeccably dressed. And come to think of it he’d only known her grandmother wear jeans on a couple of occasions.
Sophie had grabbed a handful of them from a display on the back wall of the store and was now in the fitting room while Wade waited by the rail of t-shirts. He pushed his hat back on his head wondering just how long she was going to be. How hard was it to decide if a pair of basic jeans were okay? They all looked the same to him, and usually he was in and out of the store with his new pair in less than ten minutes.
Last First Kiss Page 4