Sneak Peek! Brielle and Wade’s Story…

She was thrilled for them, really.

Why wouldn’t she be? It wasn’t like she was available anyway. She had so much baggage, and it wasn’t about to be resolved any time soon.

Brielle let out a sigh and then weaved through the crowd of people, bumping into those who were visiting in larger groups. It had been a long time since she’d been out dancing by herself, and tonight wouldn’t be the end of her streak.

At last, the window for her escape had opened. She’d get out of here and let Eloise tell her what had happened.

A cowboy and his date stepped in front of her, seemingly oblivious to her desire for a reprieve, and she came up short. The cowboy glanced in her direction and then returned to his conversation with his date.

She groaned, stepping around them like it was the most annoying thing she had to do today. Finally arriving at the door, she glanced over her shoulder once more to find that Shane and Eloise had disappeared. Good for them. They deserved their happiness.

Brielle faced the door, then gasped and stumbled back a few steps, her heel catching. A strong and calloused hand shot out and grasped her wrist, yanking her upright and saving her from falling on her behind.

She blinked, heart twittering like it wanted its own escape from the ribs that kept it caged. “Wade,” she said, breathless. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight.” If she had, she might have changed her mind about helping Shane with his little project. Brielle pulled away from him, hating how even his touch could elicit a response deep within her bones. She rubbed where he’d touched her, but it didn’t rid her of the tingling sensation.

Wade’s eyes dipped to where her hand rubbed at her wrist. She could already imagine what he might be thinking. They’d been on a few dates, but recently she’d focused on avoiding him altogether. He’d been persistent.

And now he’d finally caught up with her.

“It’s nice to run into you.” Wade shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. Of course he didn’t dress up. If there was a family in Copper Creek who represented the most backwoods of cowboys, it was the Keagans. A smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “And here I thought you were avoiding me.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of avoiding you.”

“Good. Then you wouldn’t mind dancing with me.”

Brielle’s knees went weak almost immediately.

Nope.

That was a very bad idea. She’d figured that out when she’d dated Shane. Attachments were getting harder to avoid. It didn’t matter how many dates she went on; she found herself longing for more—to find something like her sisters had.

She swallowed hard, her focus shifting to the door. If only she hadn’t looked back, then she would have made it outside. “I don’t think—”

“It’s the least you could do after all we’ve been through.”

One of her brows lifted. “All that we’ve been through? You can’t be referring to what happened with Shane and his cousins, are you? Because I’d hardly say that happened to either one of us.” Her eyes darted once more to the door. Maybe she could dodge him and finally get out of there.

Wade inched closer. “One dance, Bri. That’s all I’m asking.”

A voice from behind her called out, “Hey, Wade! You made it.”

Momentarily distracted, Wade’s attention shifted to whoever said his name.

Brielle took advantage of this opportunity and hurried around him, freeing herself. This time she didn’t look back as she headed straight for her truck. She’d hit a new low. There used to be a time when she’d happily flirt with a guy like Wade. She could spend all night in his arms making out and not feel a lick of guilt.

What had happened to her?

She wasn’t dumb enough to think she’d grown up. Evidence was everywhere, beginning with the way she’d just left him in the dust.

Brielle climbed behind the wheel, started her truck and put it into gear. By the time she pulled in front of her home, she felt even worse. Pressing her forehead against the steering wheel, she let out a shuddering breath.

Perhaps it was time to come to terms with the drunken decisions she’d made right out of high school. She still couldn’t believe that she’d kept her secret for so long or that she’d been so immature that she’d disappeared from that Vegas hotel room without even figuring out what Tad’s last name was.

Her stomach flipped on its side just thinking about waking up in an empty bed wearing a wedding ring. She couldn’t remember anything beyond flirting with the guy after meeting him at a party her friend had dragged her to. At least she’d still been wearing the same clothes as the night before.

That was the last time she allowed herself to get drunk. She hadn’t touched anything more than a glass of champagne since.

Rather than dwell on what had happened, she jumped back into dating, trying to forget the mistakes of her past.

There was only one problem.

If she fell for someone, she couldn’t do anything about it. What was she supposed to tell the guy? Sorry, I can’t marry you because I’m already married to a guy who I barely know? I’ve got his first name, but maybe we could spend a couple hundred dollars to track him down so I can get a divorce?

Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen.