His Dakota Bride (Book 5 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello Page B

into the house before he could reach for her again. She knew that Wade would. And when he did, he’d win her over. At least for tonight.
    # # #
     

Chapter Eight
     
    They’d spent the week trying to be “normal”. But it quickly became apparent to Skylar that normal was never going to be a part of her life again. At least not while she was in Rudolph.
    She’d finally gotten up the nerve to call her college roommate, Cara, and to her surprise, she learned that Cara had gotten married over Labor Day weekend. Although happy for her friend, Skylar couldn’t deny the twinge of jealousy she’d felt when she’d learned that the man Cara had married was an old friend who’d reappeared in her life after seventeen years apart. She listened to her friend talk about their romantic and “odd” reunion that Cara’s mother had orchestrated. But in the end, Cara realized her mother had been right and Devin Michaels was the only man that Cara had ever loved.
    Skylar understood exactly what Cara was saying.
    She was happy for her friend. But now the idea of staying in Boston for a while would need to be revisited. At least for a little while.
    She and Wade had fallen into a routine of seeing each other at the diner when Wade would eat meals there and then on the days when Skylar would pick up Alex and Keith from school. Skylar found that she looked forward to seeing Wade, even though she didn’t like feeling that way. She tried to keep their time together all about Alex. But she couldn’t deny that Wade, in his charming way, was getting under her skin.
    And when she was alone at night in her bed. She’d think of him again until memories of her time living there with Jay would intrude on her mind and she’d force thoughts of Wade into the past.
    The next Friday, Wade wasn’t at the school when she picked the boys up. She tried to squash her disappointment as she looked around the parking lot. But when Alex and Keith got out of school and it was clear Wade wasn’t coming, she piled the boys into her car and drove over to Logan’s ranch. She was surprised to see Wade’s car sitting in the driveway.
    After parking the car, she climbed out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door so the boys could get out. Logan came out of the house with an armful of camping supplies in his arms. Wade suddenly appeared from Logan’s barn carrying several fishing poles and a tackle box.
    “What’s going on?” she asked.
    “We’re going on an overnight fishing trip,” Wade said.
    “Where?”
    “We’re going camping?” Keith asked, running over to Logan.
    “Sure are. Right here in the back of the ranch. There’s a nice level spot near the river. I finally had a chance to clean out all the debris from the storm. We’ll have ourselves a nice campfire and roast marshmallows.”
    “And make S’mores?” Alex asked.
    “He’s got your sweet tooth,” Wade commented. “Is it okay with you if he camps out with us?”
    Alex glanced up at her with pleading eyes.
    “Of course. It sounds like fun. But I don’t have any of your clothes.”
    Logan dropped the camping gear he’d been carrying into the back of his truck. “He’s the same size as Keith so he can wear his clothes. I have extra sleeping bags. He’ll be fine.”
    Feeling a little disappointed that she wasn’t going to share in the fun activities planned, she said, “I guess I’ll spend the night packing and cleaning.”
    “He’s going to be fine,” Wade said.
    “Oh, I know.” She looked at Wade for a long moment and then added, “Well, have fun.”
    The boys were already climbing onto the back of the truck with excitement. She gave Alex a quick kiss and then waved to the boys as she climbed into her car and drove home. Alone.
    * * *
    The only thing to make this overnight complete would be to have Skylar and Poppy join them. But Wade wasn’t about to complain. He had some real time with his son and he’d hoped that their time together would be the start of a