Page 21 of Spring Fling

Heidi’s face softens. “You didn’t set out to hurt him.”

“But I did. I know he probably hates me. And it’s fair if he does, but—” A sob pops out of me. I clamp my mouth against a second one and take a few breaths through my nose.

Heidi reaches across the bar and covers my hand. The silent show of strength helps me pull myself together enough to finish what I started to say.

“I just… I wish I could tell him the truth. The whole truth. I wish I could tell him I’m sorry. Most of all, I wish I could tell him he’s the best man I’ve ever met. And that he deserves to fall in love and be completely loved in return.” I release a shaky breath. “Even if that’s not with me.”

Heidi blows out a breath. “That’s a lot for sure. That said, I may have some good news for you.”

“I find that hard to believe.” I sniffle and blink to keep another tear from falling. “What is it?”

“Well, for one, I’m pretty positive your mountain man had an equally good time.”

“You mean, before I blew it.”

“That goes without saying.” Her eyebrow twitches. “I’m also pretty sure he felt the same way about you.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“The same way I know about how it all went down.” She, jerks a thumb over her shoulder. “He told me.”

“He told…” I trail off as I follow the direction of Heidi’s thumb. There, standing at the other end of the bar, is the man himself. Wade. Looking even better than he did an hour ago. “Oh.”

My heart doesn’t seem to know whether to drop or leap. It settles on a skip.

“Wade, I…” I take a step toward him but stop.

As much as I want to run to him, throw my arms around his broad shoulders and beg for him to give me a second chance, I need to give him the choice. Does he want to give me a chance to explain?

Or, would he—understandably—want me to turn around, walk back out of that door, and never bother him again?

The dull ache in my chest spreads.

Moistening my lips, I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Wade turns to Heidi. “Could we have a moment?”

Heidi darts a glance between us and nods. “I’ll grab some wine from the cellar.”

Once she’s gone, Wade and I face one another again. Unlike me, he didn’t have a change of clothes. He’s wearing the suit from yesterday, though he’s left the tie off and his collar undone. His white shirt is no longer crisp, and is rumpled after spending a night on the floor.

He looks good enough to nibble on. Especially that exposed skin at his neck.

“Did you mean what you said?” he asks slowly moving closer to me. With every step, my senses come more to life, completely aware of everything about him. His musky scent. The heat radiating from his body.

His piercing gaze.

I nod, and a fresh wave of tears threaten to wash over me. “Every word of it.”

“And the guy?”

“Done. Over.” I shake my head. “It was stupid to even feel hurt for one second after that jerk ditched me.”

He gives a slow nod, but says nothing.

That’s okay. I still have more I need to get out. “I… I really didn’t meant to hurt you. I just… I just saw you and I stopped thinking.”

“I suppose I understand that.” His lips twitch. “I couldn’t think when I saw you either.”

“I just… I wish I would have told you the truth from the start. I wish…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Do you think there’s any chance we could start over?”

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