Half Empty (First Wives, #2)(93)

“He’s lookin’ for sympathy. If he wasn’t employed, he’d be gone.”

Jeb twisted in his seat, the smile from his face gone. “Take that back, Cowboy, or I’ll break your other ribs.”

Trina actually thought Jeb was serious.

Wade hesitated.

The car was silent for several seconds before Wade cracked a slight smile and nodded once. “All right, then.”

The man code of unspoken agreements had unfolded right in front of her. It was handshakes and I got your back all wrapped up in a single look.

“But since you want to rehire me, I think I’ll be asking for a raise. Hazard pay.”

Wade laughed, held his side. “Stop. It hurts.”

They pulled up to Wade’s ranch to the fanfare of a homecoming. Trina didn’t recognize all the faces, but she did single Vicki out of the mix before the car was put in park.

Her eyes skimmed over Trina before falling on her son.

Wade pushed through the crowd and hugged his mother. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been thrown from horses. I’m fine.”

Wade kissed her forehead and stood back.

“I’m so sorry,” Trina told her.

Vicki blinked, looked at her son. “So am I.”

“I know what you’re thinking, Ms. Thomas.” Trina used her last name to create distance. “If Wade hadn’t met me, none of this would have ever happened. And you’d be right about that. If something had happened to you or him, I would have never forgiven myself. But apparently someone, somewhere, has other plans for us. I’m sorry you don’t like me, I truly am. But I’m not going anywhere. Not unless Wade wants me gone. If men with guns and big fists can’t drive us apart, I don’t think you’re going to manage. So I suggest we find some common ground, like the fact that we both love your son, and figure out a way to get along.”

Vicki looked around at the faces that were trying not to listen.

Wade shuffled his feet. “Trina just tossed you an olive branch, Mama. I really think you should pick it up.”

Vicki’s eyes lost their hard edge and started to mist. “He’s my only son. He’s all I got.”

“He’s a pretty tough guy. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

“He is standing right here, and wouldn’t mind a cold beer and a couch.”

His words snapped Vicki out of her I’m going to put my energy into hating Trina trance.

They bumped around each other in an effort to help Wade get comfortable.

Vicki brought him a beer and held up her bandaged hand. “You’re going to have to wait on that pie until this hand is better.”

“I think I’ll be waiting longer than that.”

Vicki smiled.

“I can bake a pie,” Trina offered.

Vicki and Wade both turned to stare.

“What? I can cook. I just don’t do it very often.”

Vicki shook her head. “It’s all over now.”

Wade chuckled as his mother left the room.

Trina helped him remove his boots.

He slapped her ass when she straddled his leg to find the leverage she needed to wiggle a boot free.

“Hey!” She tossed one boot aside and moved to work on the other.

“I do like this view.”

She left his other boot on the floor, and then turned to straddle his hips.

He pushed her hair over her shoulders before resting his hands on her waist.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

She blushed. “Wade.”

“You’re a flower unfolding in spring, the last rays of a sunset before the light is gone, stars in a clear Texas sky, you’re breathtaking.”

Trina looked up and tilted her head. “Go on . . .”

Wade chuckled. “I heard what you said back there.”

“When I said what?”

He squeezed her hips. “That you loved me.”

“Oh, that . . . well . . .”

“There are a lot of women that tell me they love me.”

Trina pushed her thoughts about all those women aside and looked Wade in the eye. “But I’m the one that means it.”

He ran his hands up her sides and pulled her down to his lips. He was slow and easy, and he filled every ounce of her.

“I’m a traditional man,” he whispered between his kisses. “I wanted that fancy dinner and walk in the moonlight when I told you I loved you.”

She smiled and looked him in the eye. “You don’t always get what you want. Besides, I don’t need fancy anything. I just need you. I was a walking shell when we met, half empty in every way. Now I’m so full I’m spilling over.”

“Oh, darlin’, you sure you’ve never written a sweet song before?”

She giggled. “If you think my words are sweet . . .” She wiggled her hips over his lap, and the edge of his jeans tightened. “Just wait until those ribs of yours are well enough for me to show you how full I am.”

He cupped her butt and crushed her closer. “Honey, the doctor said my ribs were broken, the rest of me is workin’ just fine.”

Her eyes widened.

They both looked toward the stairs that led to the bedrooms.

Trina hopped off his lap and reached out her hand.