Page 115 of Wild Blades

“It’s a shame your grandfather isn’t still alive. He might have been able to help you.”

“He was a quiet man. Private. Gretchen told me he never discussed my mother with her. He was a banker. Modest. He inherited his house from his brother, who I never met. According to Gretchen, he was very well respected, and I liked him because he was always nice to me. Then he died. Had my mom not kept Gretchen on as her housekeeper, and had it not been for her stepping up to parent me, I would have been completely lost.”

“Oh, Wade.” Chest heaving, I sob.

“Hey, don’t cry.” Using his thumb to wipe away the tears rolling down my cheeks, he leans in and kisses my lips softly.

“I’m sorry for what you went through. Please know you’ve got me now, Wade. You’re not alone, I’m not going anywhere.” I’venever felt like this before. I had boyfriends before I met Michael, then I married him, but the way I feel about Wade is new to me and it’s all happening so fast, and this is how I know it’s right. It feels perfect.

“I’m sorry for what I said.” Threading his fingers into my hair at the back of my neck, he presses his lips against mine, more firmly this time, and holds them there before peppering kisses across my cheek, then my temple. If I wasn’t feeling so fragile, I might tear his clothes off and fuck him right here out in the open.

“I’m sorry I walked away.” I lay my head on his shoulder.

“You had every right to.”

“I’m tired.” Exhausted would be a better word for it.

“I had the property management company make the bed up in my bedroom.”

I mumble against his shoulder. “You might have to carry me.”

And he does, all the way back to the house and up the stairs to the bedroom.

Laying me down on the bed, he places the comforter over me and tells me to take a nap.

“What are you going to do?” I ask.

“I’m going to look through Gretchen’s scrap books and choose some photos to take for my new house. There’s a couple of things in here I’d like to take also. And I’ll find her recipe book to take back too.”

“That’s a great idea.” I want to look at that, but I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.

Wade kisses my forehead. “Sleep, baby.”

Baby.

Babies.

The way he looks after me, there’s no doubt in my mind he’d be a great dad.

If only he could see that for himself.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Wade

“It’s me, Wade,” the man says again, his eyes changing from the same color as mine to black as he dissipates into a plume of blue smoke.

I’m screaming underwater, begging for him to come back, but I’m falling.

Deeper and deeper…

“Wade.”

My body shakes as if there’s an earthquake rocking my body.

“Wade, wake up. You’re dreaming.” The voice sounds far off in the distance. “Wade.” Much louder now, startled, it makes me snap my eyes open where I discover Kali hovering above me.

Flinging my hand to my chest, I suck in a breath, let it go, and dart my eyes around the room.

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