Page 65 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

“I don’t know. It’s all very new. I took the tests a few days ago.”

“We need to get you to the doctor.” He stands, ready to take charge. “Then we need to visit Robbie and tell him to get Talon’s ass back here.”

I clasp his wrist as he digs for his cell. “No. I’ll agree to the doctor, but no one can know. Not yet. This is my secret, and hopefully soon, Talon will be home. Once he knows, we’ll decide when to tell people. This is a lot to dump on him, and he needs to process without outside influence.”

“It’s not dumping anything, Willow. You’re having a baby. My guess is he will want to shout it from the rooftops and hire a skywriter to announce it.”

I smile at Mom. ”I think he’ll be happy, but it’s definitely not something we planned on this early.”

“Is that why you came by today? To talk to me about the pregnancy?”

Dad’s question has me squirming and guilt swallows me. “Not exactly.”

But now that one secret is revealed, might as well let the other cat out of the bag.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

“I was planning to surprise you when you got home from work. But there’s more, I also needed a distraction from my overactive and endless thoughts. My pregnancy isn’t the only thing on my mind.”

They wait patiently, hanging on my every word. What could be more serious than your unwed daughter popping up pregnant without a job?

“I took my board exams this morning. It seemed like a good idea to speed up the process.”

Mom inhales sharply, her grip tightening.

Dad’s eyebrows shoot up. “Does anyone know?”

“Nope, another locked away gem in Willow Richards’ vault of secrets.”

“This is huge, honey. We have to celebrate,” Mom gushes.

For a split second, an excited thrill glides through me, then reality crashes in. “We can’t celebrate without family and friends. Grandma and Grandpa will be devastated.”

Mom chews on her lip, reminding me of many times growing up, her plotting to get around something.

“But I could do dinner. No one will think oddly of having a nice dinner with my parents, who are reconciling,” I add, watching them close. “You are reconciling, right?”

“We’re working through some issues.” Dad’s blasé response has me swinging my eyes between them.

“Do not tell me I’m headed to therapy for years for you to work through some issues.”

Mom watches my dad with so much love, it pours out of her. “Willow, your dad and I want to make sure all three of our children are okay with it. I messed up and know my complacency toward Rylee was a huge reason for our split. Going forward, we will be a team.”

“I’m totally okay with it,” I rush to say. “Chase will be, too.”

“Your brother still holds resentment; I need to make amends.”

“Love changes everything, and he’s totally in love. Believe me. And on the off chance he’s stuck on holding a grudge, I’ll handle it.”

She smiles gratefully. “We will see how things play out. But for now, it’s about you. What can I make you for dinner? Do you have any cravings?”

“Before the incident, I was craving Thai.”

“Thai sounds good.” There’s a flicker of disappointment in her gaze, and I realize she wanted to cook something special.

Mom always was a great cook. Unlike me, she had no aversion to grocery shopping, The house was always stocked with our favorites. Our schedules may have taken us in different directions every night, but she often had home-cooked meals ready.

“How about you surprise me? Anything but barbeque.”

Her face lights up. “I need to get to the store.”

The sudden urge to yawn hits, and I can’t cover my mouth fast enough. Both exchange a knowing grin. “Someone needs a nap.”

Taking the biggest exam of your academic career, putting on an act for your grandma, and witnessing your separated parents having sex will take a toll on anyone.

The epinephrine of the day is wearing off for sure.

She urges me backward, lifting my feet and slipping off my sandals. Her eyes rake over my ankle. “We need to ice this.”

“Stupid shopping cart.” I don’t dare tell them about the encounter with Joseph.

My body sinks into the plush leather and my eyelids get heavy. “Maybe a little snooze will reenergize me.”

A minute later, a cold compress is pressed across my ankle and a blanket falls over me.

I drift off to sleep cradling my lower abdomen.

The last thought that crosses my mind is almost comical. Here my parents are babying me while I baby the peanut.

Funny how things work out.

What is that delicious smell?

I think my stomach growls, but sleep wins over and I slink back into darkness.

Floating… Flying… suspended in animation… Is this what an astronaut feels like? My body is weightless, bouncing on clouds. Oops , must have missed the cloud because whatever I’ve landed on is hard.

Hard, but so warm.

Sleep brings me back under.

Ick, my neck itches… ha, Wolf licks my cheek… such a sweet dog…

He’ll be the best canine brother. I’ll be one of those moms who dresses my dog and child up for holidays in matching outfits.

Super cheesy, but adorable.

Talon will hate it, but he’ll deal.

Won’t he?

I mean, this baby may shock the shit out of him, but he’ll be happy. Right?

He mentioned wanting kids. Did he say that because he thought I had baby fever?

Does he want to be a dad?

Oh God, what if he freaks? Like super freaks.

All unpleasant thoughts disappear and my dream goes back on track.

Well, back on track to the tune and lyrics of Super Freak playing in my head.

She’s a super freak, super freak

She’s super-freaky, yow…

The montage rhythm has me thrusting my hips and singing like a rockstar.

Declan would be proud.

The cloud-rock under me agrees. Thrusting along.

This sofa must be made of one of those spring-like cushions.

Hmm, yummy… the aroma of sandalwood, eucalyptus, and amber waifs in the air.

Is it weird that I use my boyfriend’s body wash?

No one’s mentioned my smell as overwhelming.

Because that would be embarrassing.

Except my shower was hours ago, early morning to get in the groove and mindset for my exam.

And Dad’s couch is lush, buttery soft, inviting. Not hard.

My brain computes at a rapid speed, lighting up like a neon sign.

Please don’t let me be delusional.

I scramble to twist, losing the comforting safety of my position, and falling to the floor with a painful thud.

“Jesus, fuck, Princess,”

Bands of steel yank me back up, and I’m no longer able to move, paralyzed at the sight.

His hair is longer than ever, his beard fully grown and not the stubble I’m used to, his sensational blue-gray eyes clear and alert, rimmed with flawless, thick, dark eyelashes.

Gorgeous, rugged, handsome… and holding me tight.

Talon is here.

Talon is alive, in my dad’s apartment, holding me tight.

My already fragile emotional state is overwhelmed and my precious vision of him blurs.

His hands cup my cheeks, wiping the track of tears until I can’t take it anymore, slamming my mouth to his.

My tongue battles with his, needing to sweep everywhere, and to taste—just him.

It’s sloppy and loaded with desperation.

Weeks of missing him, the anxiety, worry, and fear all trickle away. I claw at his neck, angling for more. Each stroke is frenzied, chasing a reassurance of his presence.

I’ve craved his touch, the feel of his hard body pressed close, the wisp of his breath against my skin.

His hand fists my hair to keep me still as his control snaps.

His mouth moves urgently, kissing, licking, nipping everywhere, equally as frantic.

Outside of the night we met at Tom’s, this is the best kiss of my life.

“Mine,” he rumbles down my throat.

My heart expands, loving that word more than ever.

“Yes,” I rasp out, needing him more than I need my next breath.

I move my hand between us to his rock-hard length, now feverish for more. He bucks into my touch, growling his approval.

The sound does something to me, lighting my body on fire.

As if he senses the raw and uncontrolled desire surging, he tears away, his warm breath panting with mine.

“Fuck, baby, you have to stop.”

NO!! “I can’t.”

“Give you anything in the goddamned world, but don’t make me fuck you on your dad’s couch when he could be back anytime.”

Reality washes over me like a cold blanket, remembering where we are.

My hand goes to his jaw, my eyes roaming.

“You’re really here.”

“And so are you.”

“How’d you find me?”

“I’ll always find you.”

His voice is gruff and tender at the same time. It’s then I notice the exhaustion in his eyes and fear reappears.

“How are… Did you find…” I’m too scared to finish, noticing the fading bruises and healing cuts. My fingers go to his cheek, skimming over a wound. “Talon?” my voice cracks.

“We got to them.”

“Max?”

“Everyone is okay. They’ll be home soon. We’ll talk about them later.”

I want to press further, but the finality of his statement hangs in the air.

He swings his legs to the floor, sitting with me tucked into his lap. The movement jostles my grip and my hand goes to his chest.

It’s then I catch the radiance of my ring sparkling on my finger.

All the oxygen leaves my lungs.

The thought of his mission, Max, his friends—all fade.

He lifts the ring to his lips and kisses along the knuckles.

“How’d you?” The question dies as I remember the itch on my neck, dreaming it was Wolf.

“Big or small, it’s your call.”

“Big or small?” I tilt my head in confusion.

“The wedding. You want big, have at it. I won’t take that away from you. But considering the timeline, small may be easier.”

Wedding pings around in my head. “What?”

“Our wedding. You have six weeks.”

“Six weeks?” Maybe my brain is still asleep?

“That too long? I’m game for sooner.”

It’s then everything catches up in a rush and I realize what he’s saying. “Too long? To plan a wedding? Are you insane? There’s no way! You didn’t ask me to marry you.”

His lips twitch and eyes light with amusement. “Your dad have a guest room?”

“That’s a strange question right now.”

“Seems like I need to have this conversation inside you. Seeing as I can’t fuck you on his couch…”