Page 40 of Wild Card
“Thank God you showed. Another lap around that trail was boring as fuck,” Ford throws out as he passes.
“How many laps did you do?”
Talon shrugs. “Three or four.”
“That’s like… five miles.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Those poor dogs.”
“They’re used to it. Well, Mack is used to it. We’re working on Pepper and Rowdy.”
“Wolf would make it about halfway and plop down.”
He drops his chin, smiling down at me. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
Next time…The words sink in.
My stomach does a topsy-turvy move. He’s so close, the woodsy aroma of his body wash mixed with a scent that is all him surrounds me. My gaze moves over his face, noting his stubble is thicker than Thursday. An unfamiliar need to run my fingers through the scruff rushes through me, remembering the way it felt against my skin the night we kissed. I pull my bottom lip through my teeth, his eyes heating at the motion.
“Honey, you keep looking at me like that, in about thirty seconds, your ass will be in my truck.”
“Your truck?”
“The closest we can get away from these prying eyes.”
I snap back to the moment, shaking out of my stupor. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.
His arm hooks around my waist, tugging me close. His voice is husky and low when he says, “Have dinner with me tonight.”
Yes! Yes! Yes!My brain screams until the little reminder rears up.
“I can’t.”
“Willow, this hang-up you have?—”
“No.” I place my hand on his chest. “I have plans already.”
His heated eyes grow stormy and my heart races. “I’m having dinner with my dad. We’ve been having some, umm… family issues. Well, the issues aren’t new, but Dad and I haven’t seen each other in a while. He’s worried about me.”
His stormy orbs deepen to a scary shade. “Does he have a reason to worry about you?”
“No!” I squeak, slamming my mouth shut.
“Willow?”
“No,” I repeat a lot quieter. “He’s my dad and worrying is in his job description. I’m actually worried about him, too. He’s made some major changes, leaving my mom and moving out. This is the first time I’ll see him since. My grandparents planned a family dinner. Well, family including Bex, who is like family. Itwill be good for Dad. He’ll be in a safe space to talk if he wants, or not. Who knows? Wyatt always provides a lot of entertainment and…. ”
I’m so caught up in my babbling, I miss the storm subsiding and his eyes taking on concern. “Your parents are splitting?”
“Seems like it.”
“It tearing you up?”
“Not at all,” I answer honestly and catch the flicker of surprise.
“You close with your mom?”
