Free Concealed by Victoria Michaels

gave it back to her, his hand lingering as his fingertips brushed against the inside of her wrist. “Call me later.”
    “O-Okay,” Sydney stammered as she extended the pie to him. With one hand he grabbed the handle of the basket, while the other brushed against her cheek before it cupped the back of her head and pulled her toward him for a gentle kiss.
    The idea of kissing Wade had consumed her every thought since this afternoon, but all her fantasizing didn’t come close to doing it justice. Everything stopped in that moment and Sydney knew that she was forever lost where this man was considered.
    It was a light feathering of his lips across hers, but it might as well have been full body contact with the way her heart responded. Wade did nothing to hide his desire. It was written plainly on his face. But when he pulled back, he didn’t kiss her again. He simply smiled and held her close, promising there was much more to come between them without uttering a single word. Her hands fell against his chest to keep from melting into a puddle at his feet. Everyone in the room could have been staring at them, but Sydney didn’t notice. When she looked up into his eyes, there was only Wade. Everything else faded away. And she didn’t think that was going to change anytime soon.

 

    EXHAUSTION WAS AN AWFUL thing which Wade had lived through plenty of times in the past, but this was one of the worst. Not only was his body stretching itself beyond its limits, so was his mind. They had upped their patrols in the area since the woman, Samantha, had been found in Greenville to give the residents of Elton some peace of mind. It had been almost a week and there were still no leads he knew of in the case.
    Wade sipped his coffee and forced himself to look out the window into the bright sunlight. If he didn’t, he was going to search for her face in the kitchen again.
    “You look serious,” Melissa said with a nudge to his shoulder before sliding into the seat across from him, refilling his coffee.
    “Morning.”
    They’d been friends forever. No matter how bad things got, Wade could always count on Melissa for a smile and a laugh. She had more spirit than anyone he had ever met, even as a kid. She’d follow Wade and her older brother Matt around everywhere they went. If he and Matt had the hair-brained idea of jumping off a tree branch into the river, she was right behind them. When they stole the tires off Johnny’s truck one night, she was the first one caught but she never ratted them out. More than anything, it was her carefree smile and warmth that made her impossible to resist. There was never anything romantic between them—she was too much like a sister to him. When Matt moved away, she would come to Wade with problems or questions, and she helped him more than he could say when he came back from the service. He didn’t know where he’d be without the hyper little blonde in his life, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
    Her absence over the next few months was going to be difficult, but he was so happy she was following this dream of hers to travel the world. She had set a goal, and now she was making it happen. That’s the kind of woman Melissa was. And currently, she looked like she was gearing up for the inquisition.
    “So, what’s new? You look tired. Been up late dreaming of pie again? Or maybe pretty blondes?”
    Wade rubbed his hand against his jaw and smiled. “You’re like a dog with a bone, Mel.”
    “Oh, come on, Wade. This is good for you and for her. She’s so sweet. Don’t smirk at me, mister. I see the way you look at her and I saw that kiss you laid on her at the auction. So did everyone else in town, in case you were wondering. You might think you’re being subtle, but believe me, everyone around here sees it.” She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “She’ll be good for you. It’s time you start living again, Wade. You’ve shut yourself off for too long. If anyone can put a smile