Page 10 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

TALON

Willow

I’m home

Glad to know

Willow

You asked me to let you know… so this is me, letting you know.

How were the Margaritas?

Willow

World Class. Grandpa knows his tequila.

Did you have a good time?

Willow

It was mostly good. Until it wasn’t.

What happened?

Willow

Family

Do you want to talk about it?

Willow

Not really. I’m going to bed. Tomorrow is a big day of studying.

Sleep tight beautiful. Lock up.

Willow

Locked, double-locked, and cozied up with Wolf. Good night, Talon.

I read through the text chain from last night again, locking in on the exact minute the mood changed.

It could be the fact her parents are getting a divorce, but she didn’t strike me as hung up on the issue. My gut says it has nothing to do with her parents.

Morning gorgeous, you awake?

After a minute, she replies with one word. Yes

Open your door.

The blinds in the front window shift, and there’s a muffled squeal before Wolf’s excited barking begins.

Willow cracks the door, her expression an adorable mix of confusion and disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

“Did you get to the store?”

“The store?”

“Yes, the store. Overheard you mention it yesterday.”

“Overheard or eavesdropped?”

“I have excellent hearing, but it’s hard to miss Bex’s conversations.”

“She’s a drama queen and has a tendency to exaggerate. She thinks an empty fridge is a travesty.”

“You don’t hate the grocery store?”

“No one hates the grocery store. It’s just one chore that kinda slips my mind… often.”

“Good then, glad I can help.” I lift the bags in my hands.

Her eyes bulge, her mouth popping open. “You bought groceries?”

“I bought us lunch and threw in a few things you may want.”

“Why?”

“Because you have a lot going on. With school, work, and your family situation, thought you deserved a break.”

Her face softens, and like yesterday, her eyes melt in a way I like a hell of a lot.

Wolf decides he’s tired of waiting, skimming around her legs and stuffing his nose through the slit.

“Hey, boy.”

At my voice, he goes crazy, whining and squirming to get free. “Babe, he’ll hurt himself if you don’t open the door.”

She blows out a breath and steps back, opening the door wider. Wolf greets me by nudging my legs for attention, but my focus is drawn to the woman standing before me.

Fuck me.

The tiny black shorts mold to her body, showcasing long lean legs. The bright pink tank hugs her chest, stopping right above her hips, giving me a glimpse of her trim waist. Her hair is pulled up on her head in a messy knot, face free of make-up.

She’s fucking gorgeous all the time, but right now, she’s exquisite.

My cock goes hard thinking about ripping those shorts apart.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting company.” Her arms wrap across her stomach nervously.

“You look beautiful, Willow.”

“I’m a mess.”

“Not to me.”

A trace of shock passes her face before she drops her arms. “How’d you know where I live?”

“I have my ways.”

“In your line of work, I’m sure you know stalking is illegal. First my office, then the park, and now my house.” It’s small, but I don’t miss the twitch of her lips.

“You work in my assigned rehab facility and the park is a public place. But say the word and I’ll leave.”

She tips her eyes to the ceiling, pursing her lips and pretending to think about it. “I don’t get the serial killer vibe from you. And you do have good taste in lunch.”

“And they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?”

“Studying is excruciating work.”

I tear my eyes away and notice the wreck of her living room. Papers, notebooks, textbooks, and folders all cover the sofa, spilling onto the floor. In the middle of the room is an ottoman where a laptop sits next to a—a mobile?

“Is that a baby mobile?”

“Yeah, I discovered a trick in high school. I took the toys off and clipped on notecards with different subjects. It’s a game I play, close my eyes and pull a card. Shakes up the monotony of endless studies.”

“Inventive and impressive. Although not sure how you can find anything in the rest of the piles.”

“Like I said, I wasn’t expecting company.”

“No judgment from me.”

“I have my system and know where everything is.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“It’s my dirty little secret.”

“How you study is a dirty secret?”

“Most people would break into hives. Your face makes me wonder if you’re about to do the same.”

“Never studied to get my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. What do I know?”

This earns me a shy smile. “This way.”

She leads me to the small kitchen which is opposite of the other room. The space is gleaming, everything in a place, and not a stray item anywhere.

“I can see this is more your style. A clean freak.”

“I’m a Marine. Order runs in my blood.”

Her face falls and I drop the bags on the counter, closing in on her. I consider it a win that she doesn’t pull away when my hands curl around her hips. “Do you have something against the Marines?”

“No,” her answer comes out pitchy. “I love the military.”

“Did you lose someone who served?”

“No.”

“I can’t change my past or who I am.”

Her face pales and eyes well with shame. “Talon, I didn’t mean?—”

It’s obvious she’s about to close down and raise her shields.

I cup her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes.

“Willow, one of these days we’ll get to the bottom of your hang-ups.

But that is not today. It’s evident you have a lot going on and I’m not interested fucking that up.

Right now, we’re having lunch and you’ll explain to me what you’re studying. ”

The color in her face slowly returns, adding a pink hue to her cheeks. “You want to know what I’m studying?”

“Yeah, fair warning. I’m not a dumbass, but that shit may go right over my head.”

“I’d never think you were a dumbass.”

“Good, now before we eat, that dog’s about to lose his mind. Do you need me to take him for a walk?”

She shifts her gaze to Wolf who is whining for attention.

“He’s a big baby. He can go out back and bask in the sun while we eat. He’s been cooped up with me all morning.”

“You want me to get the food or the dog?”

“If you let him out, I’ll get lunch ready.”

“Right.” Without hesitating, I drop a kiss on her forehead and let her go, meeting the dog at the back door.

When I look back, she’s unloading the bags with a smile.

Thank fuck we may be finally getting somewhere.

Sandpits, locker rooms… the thought of our last barrack almost does it until Willow’s arm slips, her hand grazing my hip.

My cock lurches, fully fucking hard—again.

I stare down at her, noting the way her petite form fits against mine. The scent of coconut and feel of her draped over me does nothing to help my situation.

Jesus, get it together.

I force my mind to earlier, recalling the sound of her laughter as she detailed Wyatt’s vivid reenactment of the birthday party.

The way she spoke about her family with affection and humor.

I also learned my little Willow is quite the overachiever.

Not many people can say they knew what they wanted to be early in life.

Apparently, Willow set her sights on Physical Therapy in elementary school and never wavered off the path.

Her reservations about us seemed to float away, and conversation flowed easily.

She stirs again, blowing out a little huff, her body curving closer.

I tug the band out of her hair and gently stroke through the tangles.

After a minute, she stills for a split second before bolting up. I catch her before she tumbles to the floor. Her eyes dart around, locking with mine in confusion.

“Talon?”

“Yeah, babe.”

“What happened?”

“You fell asleep.”

“I fell asleep?”

“More like zonked out cold. One minute you were explaining tendonitis, the next you were snoring.”

“I snored?!?” she shrieks in horror.

“Lightly.”

“I can’t believe I fell asleep.”

“In your defense, tendonitis is dull.”

This gets me a small grin as she sits up and moves out of my hold. “Sorry about that.”

“Not a hardship, Willow. I found the game.”

She glances over at the television. “How can you hear it?”

“Don’t need sound to understand what’s happening in hockey.”

“Did I… the last thing I remember is your phone ringing. How did I… sleep on you?”

“I took the call, came back, and you were out at an awkward angle. I made you comfortable.”

“Sleeping on you made me comfortable?”

“You tell me. How was your nap?”

She doesn’t answer, still looking around dazed. “How long was I out?”

“Does it matter?”

“I missed hours of studying. Not very responsible.”

I sit up, tossing the remote to the other end of her sofa, and twist her to me. “Willow, I don’t know jack about your field. But the hour listening to you recite scenarios without even consulting your notes—and working through it, you know this shit.”

“The boards are no joke. I have to be ready.”

“And you will be.”

She stretches, the tiny tank rising high on her midriff. My gaze zones in on the exposed skin, my dick twitching again. She notices me moving to adjust myself and drops her arms, trying to cover her stomach. I catch her wrist, turning so her hand is linked with mine. “Don’t.”

“I think we may have passed the line of inappropriate.”

“What has been inappropriate?”

“I slept on you.”

“Who’s gonna know?”

“You and me.”

“I certainly don’t give a damn since I put you there.”

“We can’t do this.”

“Have lunch, take naps, watch games? What’s so off-limits?”

“You’re my patient.”

Here we go again…

At least she didn’t bring up my job. “As far as I know, we have crossed no ethical line here, Willow.”

Yet—but I keep this to myself.

“We can’t?—”

“Come on, get up.” I haul her off the sofa and steady her on her feet. “We’re going for a walk.”

Wolf’s head perks up and his tail wags.

“A walk?”

“Yeah, babe. I can see you’re psyching yourself up to some bullshit excuse about us. Today has been good. Let’s not fucking ruin it.”

“It’s not a bullshit excuse. It’s where I stand on the issue.” She stomps her foot.

The heat in her eyes sends a blaze scoring through me.