Tori was absentmindedly drawing the design for the front of her home across her plate with her fork and leftover ketchup when Wade’s voice startled her. It seemed he wasn’t the only one distracted this evening.
“Would you like to come back to the bunkhouse for some dessert? Molly baked a really nice chocolate cream cheese Bundt cake this morning.”
His words were asking her if she’d like to join him for dessert, but the intensity of his gaze promised more than that. He wanted to have her in his arms one last time before they parted ways.
Tori knew she should say no. It would be so much easier if she just walked away now. She could take her land, her dignity and what was left of her heart back to her Airstream.
Instead, she found herself meeting his gaze and nodding yes. She wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Wade.
Yet.
* * *
They’d spent another incredible night together. He hated to wake her up that morning but knew she had a schedule to keep. He would rather have lain in bed all day with her ear pressed to his heart and her hair strewed across his chest. He had to admit he’d gotten used to having her there when he woke up—grumpy face, wild hair and all.
But he had to.
After they’d reluctantly gotten out of bed, Wade made his way downstairs. Molly hadn’t sneaked in with breakfast today, so Wade made coffee and toasted bagels while Tori showered.
They ate quietly together. There was an awkwardness in the air. For all intents and purposes, their relationship was over. They’d had their last date, their last chance to make love and this was their final breakfast.
Unlike other relationships that ended in angry fireworks or bitter barbs, their relationship would die quietly, because it was the practical thing to do. Neither of them really wanted to say goodbye, but neither was willing to say or do anything to change it. This needed to be the end.
When they were finished, he walked her out to her truck. They loitered at the door, so many unspoken things lingering between them. But Wade wouldn’t say what he wanted to. Not until he’d finished what he came here for. And to do that, Tori needed to go to Philadelphia. If he was successful, maybe he’d call her. Or maybe he’d be smart and just let this whole thing go. If she ever found out the truth about his past, it would be over anyway.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t want one last embrace. He wrapped his arms around Tori, hugging her tight to his chest. She clung just as fiercely to him, letting go only when he pulled away for their last kiss. He pressed his lips to hers, losing himself in the soft feel of her. There was no heat in the kiss. Just…goodbye.
When he stepped back, Tori quickly slipped on her sunglasses and climbed into the truck. He thought he saw the glint of tears in her eyes for a moment, but it could’ve been the morning sun blinding her.
“Goodbye, Wade,” she said, slamming the truck door closed before he could respond. The engine roared to life, and he watched the truck disappear down the road to the highway.
It was over. And he didn’t like it at all. But now it was time to put his plan into action.
If there was one thing Wade knew for certain, it was that he could call Heath at any hour, with any number of crazy requests, and his younger brother would be up for it. Brody second-guessed everything. Xander worried about how things might look. But Heath… He was the impulsive brother, and that was exactly what Wade needed. He headed back inside the bunkhouse to get his phone.
“Hey there, big brother,” Heath answered. “What’s happening?”
“You busy tomorrow?” Wade cut to the chase. His brother knew him well enough not to take offense. Neither of them usually had the time to waste on pleasantries.
“I don’t have to be. What do you need?”
“You, a high-quality metal detector and a large plastic tarp.”
“What, no shovels?” Heath joked.
“Dad has those. And the backhoe if we need it.”
He’d been using the backhoe that day fifteen years ago as part of his chores on the farm. When he needed to bury the body, it seemed like the quickest and easiest thing to use, since he was working alone. No one would think twice about him driving it around the property. But the grave wasn’t really that deep. He hadn’t taken the time to bury the body seven or eight feet as he should have.
With Heath’s help they could probably skip it this time. “We’ll definitely need the metal detector. The snow has mostly melted, so it should be easier, but I still have fifteen years working against me on this. You up for an unorthodox treasure hunt?”