Page 45 of Wilde Ride

“Levi?”

When I finally looked up, it was to see Caden standing there. Glancing around the kitchen, I didn’t see any signs of Emeline. “I thought you were riding with Rhett?”

“Emeline called me to come back. Gatlin’s with Rhett, and Emeline left to catch up with them. What happened?”

My head dropped back against the counter. “Caroline cheated on me right before she got pregnant with Brooke.”

Caden sat down next to me. “Oh damn. Were you Brooke’s father?”

I nodded. “She said she broke it off a few months before she found out she was pregnant. She got pregnant in Italy, on the trip we took to try to mend our marriage.” Glancing at Caden, I said, “She wanted to leave the marriage, but when she found out she was pregnant, she stayed because she knew she couldn’t make it on her own,” I said with a bitter laugh. “She only stayed because she couldn’t afford to raise two kids.”

Caden sighed. “We really know how to pick ’em, don’t we?”

“At least you didn’t get married to Rachel and have kids with her. Consider yourself lucky in that area.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I asked. More than once.”

“Should have been a clear red flag, my friend.”

His smile grew wider, but I could see the pain in his eyes.

My head fell back again. “I don’t love her, Caden. I did, a very long time ago. She used me to get out of River Falls, and I knew that, but I thought what we had was the real deal.”

“You know what we need to do?”

“What?”

“Go out this Friday night. Get drunk and let off some steam.”

I was about to agree when I closed my eyes. “Shit. Friday night, I’m going to this perfume-making thing with Emeline. I doubt it will take that long, so maybe we can go out afterward.”

His brows rose. “I’m sorry, did you say you’re going to make perfume?”

“Her friend, Lilibeth, owns that shop on Main, and you can make perfume and candles. She’s going to be teaching the kids at summer camp.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You should come with us.”

He gave me a puzzled look. “You want me to go to a perfume-making class?”

I laughed. “They make cologne, too. Just think, you can mix up your own scent and test it out when we go drinking.”

“So you do want to go out?”

With a half-shrug, I replied, “I don’t think we’ll be at Wonderland Whimsy long.”

Caden let out a groan. “Christ, we need to find your man card again.”

I stood, and Caden followed. “My man card is fully intact.”

“Says the guy going to make perfume at a place called Wonderland Whimsy.”

“When was the last time you were out? Better yet, have you even been with anyone since Rachel?”

Caden grimaced. “I’ve had a few hookups. Nothing serious.”

“I tell you what, you come with me and Emeline this Friday, and I’ll go out afterward.”