Half Empty (First Wives, #2)(35)

Trina swiveled around just in time to take in what had to be the grand finale.

“Wow.”

It was sprawling, it was ranch, it was two stories . . . and it was huge!

“Being cooped up in hotels all the time makes me want to spread out when I’m home.”

“This is monstrous, Wade.”

Instead of pulling into a garage, he parked close to the steps leading to the front door and jumped out of the truck.

She was already halfway out the door when he reached for her hand. “Let me show you around the outside before we go in.”

A deep breath of country air felt energizing. “Did you have it built?”

“Rebuilt. The bones of the original house were here, along with the small barn and grazing land. The land is what sold me, that and the lake and creek that feeds it.”

“You have a lake?” Most of the places she’d been to had ponds or a man-made lake, not the real thing.

They walked around the east end of the home to take in the back of the property. Trina gasped. The home actually sat on a small knoll, and the land behind the house went on for miles. There were stables that looked like something belonging to prize Thoroughbreds that won big purses at the races. The corral could play home to a rodeo, except that the viewing area was a covered brick and wood structure instead of metal stands. Before the land sloped into acres, Wade had a swimming pool with waterfalls and hot tubs, as in two. Why one needed two hot tubs in a pool was beyond her. A massive covered freestanding patio for entertaining hosted an outdoor kitchen. And people. The place was brimming with workers setting up for the party the following day.

“You might not believe it, but this is a working cattle ranch.”

“Seriously?”

“Just under a hundred head of cattle beyond the lake.” He pointed in the distance.

Trina couldn’t see the lake.

“I’ll show you later.”

“Why cattle?” she asked.

He put his arm over her shoulders and winked. “Because this is Texas.”

“Ohhhkay,” she laughed.

“Well, hello, and who do we have here?”

A man close to Wade’s height and weight and swagger made his way to their side.

“Ike, this is Trina, the woman I told you about.”

“You mean the woman you said you were picking up from the airport but otherwise I know nothing about?”

Wade looked pleased with himself. “Yup, this would be her.”

Ike put out his hand and Trina took it. “If it makes you feel any better, he hasn’t told me a thing about you either.”

Ike laughed. “I do feel better.”

Another man approached from the other side.

Big guy, half a head taller than Wade, and eyes that looked through you even when he had a half smile on his face. “You must be a bodyguard.”

That half a smile fell.

Ike slapped the man’s arm. “She has your number already, Jeb.”

“What do you know about bodyguards?” Wade asked.

“I’ve had my share,” she said, glossing over his question. “I’m Trina.” She stuck out her hand for Mr. Muscle to shake.

“Jeb. Wade’s personal bodyguard.”

With a strong handshake. “I knew it.”

“Incoming,” Ike said under his breath.

Wade turned, his gaze falling on a blonde bombshell in blue jeans. The ex-girlfriend? She looked a little older than Wade, but who knew. Trina braced herself for confrontation and felt some relief when Wade placed his arm over her shoulders again.

Jeb and Ike stood aside, and Wade led her forward.

“Don’t be nervous,” he whispered in her ear.

“Too late,” she whispered back.

The blonde eyed her with a cautious grin.

“Mama, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.”

Mama? This is Wade’s mother?

Trina was certain she showed the shock on her face.

“Trina, this is Vicki, my mother.”

“This is certainly a surprise,” Vicki said. Her eyes kept shifting between Trina’s and Wade’s.

“It’s a pleasure.” Trina extended her hand.

Vicki moved forward a little too quickly. “Trina, did you say?”

“Yup. Trina and I met in Florida at the end of the tour.”

“You’re the reason Wade took his time coming home.” There was a bit of ice lacing Vicki’s words.

“I am.”

“Let me guess, you met Wade after one of his concerts?”

“No, actually. I’ve never heard your son sing. Except for on the radio, but that would be hard to miss.”

Vicki offered an unbelieving laugh.

Trina glanced at Wade, whose face sat stoic.

Vicki slowly stopped laughing. “You’re not kidding.”

“No, Mama, she’s not.”

Awkward silence filled the space around them.

Trina attempted to fill it. “This looks like quite the party you have planned.”

“Yes, it is. I should get back to it. Will you be staying with us?” Vicki asked.

Trina almost said no.

Wade cut her off. “Yes.”

Vicki lifted her chin, smiled. “I see. Welcome, then. If you need anything . . .”