Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Chloe faced Paxton, then me. “But he’s my best friend. If he falls in love with Aunt Meli, he won’t be my best friend anymore.”
My heart was slowly breaking. Chloe actually had tears in her eyes. Here I was worried about Trevor, when the person I really needed to be worried about was Chloe.
“Oh, no, Chloe,” I said as I rushed to her. “Wade will always be your best friend. I know there is nothing he enjoys more than your morning feed time.”
Chloe’s little lip trembled. “Did he tell you that?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“But…what if he forgets about me? And you forget about me, and we don’t have our dates together?”
Cupping her face in my hands, I said, “Chloe, that could never happen. You’re such a special little girl, and you always will be. And Wade is an amazing friend. He will always make time for you.”
“Hey, y’all,” Trevor said as he cleared his throat. Chloe and I both realized Wade had walked in with him at the same moment. Chloe wiped at her eyes and looked down.
When I glanced to Wade, he was smiling. He winked and lifted a bouquet of flowers. He pointed to me, then walked to Chloe.
“Hey, Chloe. Your Uncle Trevor told me you were here for dinner.”
Her blue eyes turned big and bright as she stared at Wade.
“What a lucky coincidence for me. Since I had to pick Amelia up and all. But now I can give you your flowers.”
Her mouth dropped open. “My…flowers?”
Oh, Lord. Could this man be any more perfect?
I had to place my hand over my chest. Wade’s gesture was one of the sweetest things I’d ever seen. My grin spread from ear to ear, more evidence that I was enamored with this man.
“Yeah. It’s ‘give your best friend flowers’ day today.”
The way her little hands covered her mouth made my heart melt. I was pretty sure Paxton was on the verge of tears. My mother, too.
“Really?” Chloe asked as she jumped up and down. One peek at my parents proved they were both smiling. “I didn’t know or I’d have gotten you some!”
Wade chuckled. “It’s okay. It snuck up on me today. Good thing Trevor here told me.”
I glanced at my brother. He walked over to Chloe and kissed her on the cheek. “How’s it going, squirt?”
“It’s goin’, Uncle Trevor!”
My mother reached out to Chloe. “Let’s put your beautiful flowers in some water. Shall we, Chloe?”
“Okay!” Chloe said as she hugged Wade and skipped off behind my mother to the sink.
Paxton kissed Wade on the cheek. “That was so sweet of you, Wade,” she said in a soft voice. “Thank you for thinking of her feelings.”
Wade flashed that handsome smile, his dimples on full display. “It was nothing, Paxton.”
Steed reached out a hand. “It was everything, Wade. Trust me. We appreciate it.”
Wade’s cheeks turned pink. He turned my way and let his heated gaze move slowly over my body. I had on a long, flowing dress that hit above the floor and hugged my curves nicely. It was casual, yet still dressy enough if Wade was taking me out to dinner.
“You look beautiful,” Wade said softly. He looked at me like everyone else in the room had vanished, and it was only the two of us.
“She always looks beautiful,” my father added. “I take it you’re the date, son?”
Wade nodded and reached across the island to shake my father’s hand. “Yes, sir.”
With a look that tried to scream I’m scary, my father crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t F-U-C-K this up, Wade.”
Wade took a step back and swallowed hard.
“What did you spell, Granddaddy?” Chloe asked, bouncing back to Wade.
“Grown-up words, pumpkin,” Steed said with a smile.
I took Wade’s hand. “I think we should head out before another one of the Parker men threatens you.”
Wade chuckled and laced his hand in mine, which caused my body to launch into a flurry of sensations. My pulse raced, my stomach fluttered, and my knees went weak.
Jesus. Get a hold of yourself, Amelia.
My chest rose and fell as I tried to act normal. If Wade holding my hand did this to me, I couldn’t imagine what making love would feel like.
I peeked at Wade as he said goodbye to everyone, and found myself lost in him.
Oh, yes. Wade Adams held a power over me that left me both excited and scared to death.
I wasn’t surprised to see Wade was a gentleman through and through. He led me out to his truck, held the door open, and helped lift me in. When he pulled the seat belt out and handed it to me, I playfully teased him.
“What? You’re not going to buckle it for me?”
Wade’s eyes turned dark as he took the belt and leaned over me in the truck. The feel of him pressed against my body instantly sent a throbbing pulse between my legs.