Page 28 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

WILLOW

This is not my life.

A bout of food poisoning, my mom’s unannounced visit, and Rylee’s deranged outburst, all equal a one-way ticket on the crazy train.

Instead, I’m floating on cloud nine in another orbit.

In the span of a week, I apparently have a serious boyfriend who my family loves, a new set of friends, and I’m at a party with one of the world’s largest rock stars.

Yeah, this can’t be my life.

My eyes roam the large backyard where people are scattered everywhere. Children of all ages alternate between swimming and the games set up on the lawn. An intense battle of cornhole is happening with Talon and Ford versus Robbie Hayes and Finn Black.

When I met the two men earlier, I almost swallowed my tongue. There was barely enough time to recover when an insanely hot man walked in carrying a toddler on one hip and holding the hand of one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.

Declan and Raven Collins.

Rock Star Royalty… strolling casually into a backyard barbeque with their children in tow.

It took everything I had to remain standing. If it wasn’t for Talon at my back, who knows what would have happened?

Next came Harley’s cousin, Mike Jacobs. The man created his boutique label, signing small artists with who he saw potential. Now he’s a multi-millionaire who manages some of the hottest bands in the world. The founder and CEO of MJ Labels is nothing like I’d expect.

He’s as down-to-earth as they come and extremely charming.

Harley and Ace…

Jewls and Major…

Rowan and Ford…

Finn and Presley…

Robbie and Ember…

Declan and Raven…

Collin and Shayla…

Mike Jacobs…

Talon…

It’s hotness and beauty overload.

Even Bex was speechless.

“You need another drink.” Shayla slides a glass my way.

“Love, the woman has barely finished her last cocktail.” Collin, Shalya’s boyfriend, tucks her hair behind her ear and places a sweet kiss on her cheek.

I hold back my sigh at his alluring British accent.

“She’s tense.” Shayla keeps her eyes on me.

I shake my head. “I’m not tense, just soaking it all in.”

“This is tame, wait until the whole band is around. We typically have to send the kids with grandparents after dinner. It gets wild.” Ember, Robbie’s wife, sits next to me, holding her newest baby boy, Dylan. “Wait until you meet Max.”

“Who’s Max?”

“Max Roberts completes the Robbie, Finn, Max brotherhood. Grew up best friends, joined the Marines, and went to combat together. Max is still enlisted but he works some jobs with Hayes Security.”

“Max is in the wedding,” Rowan chirps. “You’ll meet him soon.”

“He’s a staple in this crew even when he’s thousands of miles away.” Raven slides in beside Bex, who seems starstruck.

“He’s also smokin’ hot. Five alarm fire hot.” Shalya waves her face while Collin rolls his eyes.

Another hot guy in this group may tilt the world’s axis.

I peer over the blanket to see Dylan fast asleep. “He’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She beams. “He’s been my easiest baby.”

“Maybe it’s because he’s number three,” Shayla points out. “Finnley and Clyde broke you in. The next one will be a breeze.”

“Shut your mouth and do not let Robbie hear you!” Ember hisses. “He’s lobbying for one more.”

“Why not? You make beautiful kids.”

“Shayla, come back and talk to me after you have your first. Then you’ll understand.”

“She’s got a point.” Collin’s hand slides across Shayla’s stomach and he whispers something in her ear that has her melting into him.

“Oh, good, the trio of terror has arrived.” Jewls brushes past us to the three older women on the back patio.

“Trio of terror?” I question no one in particular.

“Jewls’ old neighbors. Ronnie, Janice, and Bea are appointed grandmothers to the twins,” Harley updates me on the newcomers.

“Jewls likes her nicknames,” I note, remembering the names for her brothers and cousins. “But that reminds me a little of my grandma.”

“Sorry they couldn’t make it tonight.” Harley seems genuinely disappointed.

“They were up early to babysit me since no one thinks I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“Stop falling down and getting hurt and you won’t need babysitters,” Bex mocks.

A muster of kids runs by and I reach out in time to grasp Wyatt’s head. “Where’re you going?”

“We’re roasting hotdogs. Grandpa said it was time. Then we can do s’mores!”

My dad, Chase, Ace, Declan, and Major have set up a buffet on the other side of the patio by the firepit.

I’m about to tell him to get a towel because of the chill in the air, but notice none of the other parents seem worried about it.

“Have fun, be careful.”

“Dad and Uncle Talon are going to teach me.” He takes off, swarming in with the rest of the children.

Jewls join us, introducing Ronnie, Janice, and Bea to Bex and me.

“I always knew Talon was a smart one,” Ronnie comments.

“Told you,” Jewls replies knowingly. “Even if he did hide her from us.”

“He had his reasons. Sometimes it’s best to keep it close to the vest, especially when there’s resistance.”

An unease settles low in my stomach, and I take a large sip to avoid eye contact. I don’t know these women, but it’s clear Ronnie is referring to me.

“Resistance isn’t a bad thing, especially with her position. It’s challenging to navigate dating your patient.”

Bex snorts and I kick her foot to shut up.

The hairs on my arms stand right before a warm hand caresses my neck. “You doing okay, Princess?”

I tilt my head, my breath catching at the beauty of Talon’s blue-gray eyes. “I’m great.”

He studies me, assessing if I’m overwhelmed or uncomfortable. It’s amazing how I can feel every beat of his concern. When he warned me that the ‘casual and low-key cook-out’ would most likely include local celebrities, I may have freaked a little while fretting over what to pack for the night.

“Honey, I’m really great. Who won the game?”

The concern on his face turns triumphant. “Who do you think?”

“Oh, shit, this means Robbie and Finn are out for redemption. Why can’t any game just be fun?” Ember asks.

“Because they’re big, bad Marines, and competition is in their blood.” Presley plops down on one of the barstools with an exasperated expression. “Finn is sullen and demanding a rematch. Good thing I brought pajamas for the kids because we may be here all night.”

“It won’t take all night for us to whip their asses again,” Talon boasts proudly.

“That’s enough, it’s girl time!” Shayla claps her hands and throws one arm toward the firepit and the other to the grill. “Time for you cavemen to fix our dinners. We slaved all day over the rest. The least you can do is handle the meat.”

“Shayla, you didn’t do anything,” Harley calls her out.

“Excuse me, preggo, I have been concocting masterpieces and serving drinks.”

Another thing I learned is Shayla is a jack of all trades. She works two part-time jobs between Rowan and Ember’s businesses. She also works some nights at Tom’s.

“Damn good drinks, too.” Presley toasts her glass in the air. “I needed this.”

“This is why we need girl time. We need to know why Presley is sucking down martinis and get to know Willow and Bex.”

“Shayla—”

I press a finger to his lips. “Go. I am fine .”

Collin closes back in on Shayla. “Play nice, my love.”

I swoon in my chair and Talon’s lips purse under my touch.

“Suck it up, we all swoon when he talks.” Jewls bats her eyelashes.

Talon bites the end of my fingertip and gives me a heated gaze.

I may have swooned over Collin’s accent, but everything in my body liquifies at the hunger in Talon’s eyes.

He winks, knowing what he’s done before kissing my head and leaving with Collin.

“Finally, who needs a drink?”

“Three tequila sunrises.” Ronnie steps into Ember’s space and plucks Dylan out of her hold.

“I’ll have what Willow’s having.”

All heads swing Ember’s way.

“What? I pumped oodles before leaving today. It’s a special occasion tonight, and I’m celebrating in style.” She flashes me her gorgeous smile.

Warmth coasts through me as Bex squeezes my hand.

When Shayla’s done doling out drinks, all side conversations come to a halt, and she leans on the bar top, scrutinizing me.

“It’s been bothering me since yesterday and I’ve racked my brain. You look familiar. Have we seen each other before?”

“I don’t think so.”

She studies the drink in my hand with great interest, her eyes popping as she snaps. “Peach-infused vodka! You ever been to Tom’s?”

Her question takes me off-guard and I squeak under my breath.

Bex coughs uncomfortably.

I recover enough to nod slightly.

“Did you come to my bar?”

“No, we sat at a table.”

“That’s the night she met Talon. I introduced them.” Bex perks up.

“Really?” Harley’s eyes are wide and curious. “When?”

“The night of the softball game. I finally convinced Wills to come out. Since she doesn’t know how to deflect, she was being hit on by some total goofball. I took matters into my hands…” She goes on to tell the story of how Talon came to my rescue.

By the time she gets to the part about him kissing me before I ran off, my face is burning with awkwardness.

“You had your first kiss at Tom’s? And then you ran away?” Rowan’s interest is alarming. I know how close she and Talon are, so the last thing I need is for her to think my running away is regular.

“It’s like history repeating itself.” Jewls has a wisp to her tone.

Confusion crowds my brain. Did Talon make a habit of kissing women in Tom’s?

“It was a little odd and I’m not in the habit of making out with strangers.”

“Ford and I had our first kiss in Tom’s. Then I ran away.” Rowan clears my confusion.

“I didn’t exactly run. I excused myself to go home.”

“Rowan ran, ditched us all with a stupid excuse,” Shayla pipes in.

“Well, I was mortified and didn’t exactly want to say I’d made the first move and got shot down!”

It’s my turn to be shocked. “You made the first move and were shot down?”

“It’s a long story, but Ford had some hang-up about my mental state after the first kidnapping.”