Half Empty (First Wives, #2)(40)

She found Wade in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in his hands.

“I thought I slept late,” he said when he saw her.

“I was up at five,” she teased. “I’m still not sleeping right since Italy.”

“I tossed and turned a lot myself.” His eyes traveled her frame and he grinned. “Good morning.”

She stepped closer.

With a sly smile, she reached for his cup and tilted it to her lips. “Mmm.”

He chuckled. “I can get you your own.”

Trina shook her head. “Yours tastes better.” It felt good to flirt.

Wade reached for his cup and moved it aside. He stepped even closer and lifted her chin with one finger. “Good morning, little lady.”

She licked her lips. “Good morning.”

He kissed her, just like the night before . . . slowly, sweetly. The taste of coffee on his lips and the scent of the soap he used was a lethal combination.

“Goooood morning,” she said again, slowly.

“I could get used to that,” he said, only inches from her face.

That made two of them.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“Please.”

He crossed the kitchen and poured her a cup. “Anything in it?”

“Black is fine.” She took a sip. “When does this party get started?”

“The caterers will be here in an hour, food goes on the grill by noon, and people will start showing up anytime.”

“Am I dressed okay?” She opened her arms and invited his comments.

“You show those curves off any more and I might have to fight off a few of my friends.”

She took that as a yes. “You’ll have to point out the people I should know but probably don’t.”

“The only one you should know is me. I’ll introduce you to the rest. Ike and Jeb, you’ve already met, and they are the men to go to if you can’t find me and feel overwhelmed. Not that I plan on leaving your side.”

“It’s a party. I do know how to mingle.”

“I have no doubt you’ll hold your own, but people can be a bit possessive and downright nosy. Possessive about me and my time and nosy about you.”

“You mean us,” she said.

“Probably,” he agreed. “I don’t expect anyone to step out of line, but if they do, come right to me, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Like the ex?”

He frowned. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes one look at us and leaves.”

Trina could hope. “I’ve been warned.”

He set his empty cup aside and slid a little closer. “How do you feel about public displays of affection?”

She blushed. Damn if he didn’t notice and brush the back of his hand against her cheek. “As long as the people displaying their affection don’t look like they need a room . . .”

He slid the hand from her cheek to her shoulder. “Darlin’, every time I look at you, I feel the need for a room.”

Okay, yeah . . . the heat factor leveled up with the sparkle in his blue eyes.

They stared, Trina with heat tingling up her spine and Wade emitting some kind of pheromone, willing her to step closer.

“There you are!” Vicki’s words broke the spell.

Trina stepped back.

Wade chuckled.

“Mornin’, Mama.”

Vicki bounced in, wearing a black midcalf western skirt, a tank top that barely covered her breasts, and a fringed light jacket. She ended the ensemble with blinged out cowboy boots. Trina was fairly certain a hat would adorn the woman’s head by the time the guests arrived.

Wade greeted his mother with a kiss to the cheek.

“So good to have you home.” Vicki turned to Trina. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did, thank you.”

Vicki’s smile matched Wade’s. “I don’t think we got off to the right start, and I wanted to apologize if I came off as standoffish. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting Wade to bring a friend.”

An apology with a but was never sincere. I’m sorry, but I have a reason.

“I didn’t take offense.”

“Any friend of Wade’s is a friend of mine.”

That sounded a little better.

“Thank you, Vicki.”

“I would love to know how you two met.”

“Hotel bar, actually.” The minute the words came out of her mouth, Trina knew they sounded seedy. “Which isn’t as bad as that sounds.”

Vicki held her smile.

Wade stepped closer, placed his hand on the counter behind Trina’s back. “It was midnight and we had both missed dinner. Trina had ordered a meal fit for a small village, and the kitchen had closed before I could order a beer.”

“It wasn’t that much food,” Trina defended herself.

“Yes, it was.”

Trina pushed against his chest to shut him up. “It wasn’t. Okay, it was more than I was going to eat, which turned out well for your son.”

Vicki’s gaze bounced between the two of them.

“Then after I told her who I was she said the craziest thing I ever heard,” Wade told his mom while looking at Trina.

“What’s that?” Vicki asked.