Page 39

Evie

I wake up to something brushing against my leg. Then I'm floating in a way that makes me wonder if I've become a character in Wild's favorite scene. Then I land, panic rocks me for a bit, and has my hand searching for any anchor. I find it in a shirt and a chest. Wild.

Forcing my eyes open feels like the most extraordinary achievement. I'm in a fantasy land with my head pillowed against a muscled chest and Wild's woodsy smell breezing through my lungs. The covers come over me, and Wild starts to straighten.

He's leaving. The realization leaves me bereft, which is silly because I will see him tomorrow. My fingers curl around his shirt, stopping him.

Wild leans closer, and I feel like I'm drowning in his essence. All my senses seem to come alive. I lose my drowsiness and stare up at him mutely. Wide-eyed.

"Maybe Jackie should stay with the Izaacs tonight? I will call you."

I nod, but I don't let go. Instead, holding his stare, I lay my hand flat on his chest. Wild draws in a sharp breath. And he pushes me away.

Smarting from his rejection, I'm tongue-tied. When he doesn't immediately leave, I gather courage, "You're angry."

"And you're sleepy,"he says gruffly. "Sleep."

His eyes are closed, his jaw clenched, and I've never seen a more handsome sight.

He's not Parker, always inching for an invitation to the Langford mansion. At the time, I saw it as a sign Parker was family-oriented, wanting to meet my family, and would want to start a family with me in the future. Learning my half-sister and the Langford wealth was the main attraction had dealt my self-esteem a big blow.

And here is Wild, a constant.

Or maybe that's an overused description. He loves me.

I reach for him, wanting to respect his wishes but needing to feel him for reasons I don't even understand myself. My hand goes around his neck and into the soft bristles of hair at his neck. He closes his eyes and shudders, muscles tightening along my arm.

"I'm two breaths away from kissing you,"he warns.

Only after that do I retreat and look him in the eye."Good night."

"Night, Sweetheart."

◆◆◆

I wake up to a one-sided conversation. Mrs. Izaacs and Jackie.

"You're a good girl, aren't you? But I want you to be the best girl. And how do you become the best girl? By doing your girly business in the appropriate places."

She goes quiet, and I strain my ears to hear more. "I might have to spell that big word for you, don't I?"

"Oh," Mrs. Izaacs sputters when I push open the front door. "Here's your mistress all—oh, okay then," she mutters as Jackie climbs all over her to get to me.

As she licks and whines and barks her welcome, I laugh. It's a bright, beautiful morning, and I love a wonderful man who loves me back. I laugh harder, and Mrs. Izaacs smiles softly, watching us.

"Somebody had a great night."

"Yes, and yours?"

"Can't complain, but my Tommy needs to see his doctor this morning—"

"I will drive you."

"You don't—"

"Please. Let me drive you."

"Thank you."