Nitro raises his drink.“To the adventures that never make the headlines.”
“Cheers to that,” Scar says, lifting his glass and clicking it against mine.
Several other guys go on to tell equally embarrassing stories that have me clutching my belly. Their adventures are hilarious and occasionally terrifying, but they clearly enjoy their lives.
The warm aroma of a home-cooked meal lingers in the air as I help clear the plates from the table. My fingers brush against Talon’s as we both reach for the same plate, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. I look up to find his eyes fixed on mine, and I quickly pull my hand away.
“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling my cheeks heat.
He just grins at me before gathering the rest of the dishes. The other guys in the club help clean up. In no time, we’re done.
“Hey, Jess,” he says casually,“want to join me on the back porch? The view of the stream is amazing.”
“Sure,” I reply, more than happy to be alone with him again.
As we walk through the bustling kitchen, our arms brush against each other occasionally. Every time we touch, a fresh wave of desire rolls through me. It’s impossible to ignore the electricity between us.
Outside, a wooden deck overlooks a gently babbling stream. As the sun dips below the mountain top, soft shadows flicker across the water. The peace and serenity of this place is unbelievable.
We sit side by side in Adirondack chairs. The gentle sound of the stream fills the silence between us. I could get used to visiting a place like this. It reminds me of when I was a child, and my parents would take me on fishing trips. I always loved playing along the riverbank.
I glance over at Talon, who seems lost in thought. The faint glow of the rising moon illuminates his strong profile. Everything about him screams power, but there’s no control to it. There’s a wild side of him simmering underneath the surface, and it makes me want to understand what that’s about.
“Tell me more about your family,” he finally says, turning his dark gaze to meet mine.
“Well,” I start hesitantly, unsure of where to begin.“My mom … She passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. She was a well-known philanthropist, always giving her time and energy to help others. After doing so much good in the world, it wasn’t enough to save her life. And believe me, we tried everything. But eventually, we lost her.”
“She sounds like she was an incredible woman.” He slides his hand into mine and holds it gently.
“She was,” I whisper, touched by his empathy.“My dad is all I have left now. He recently remarried, but … I don’t really get along with his new wife, Allison. I can’t put my finger on why, but she’s never warmed up to me.”
Talon’s thumb gently rubs circles on the back of my hand as he considers this.“No one likes being reminded of previous relationships.”
“Maybe,” I concede, my heart aching at the thought of my mom being replaced so easily.“I just wish things were different. I wish Mom was still here.”
“Hey,” he says softly. He tilts my chin up with his other hand, forcing me to look into his eyes.“Something like cancer is completely out of your control. It sounds like your mom did everything possible to fight it. I know how hard it is to move forward, but that doesn’t mean you have to forget her. You and your dad aren’t replacing her. Your mom’s memory will always be with you, but this new woman in your dad’s life, she deserves a chance, too.”
“I suppose. It would be helpful if Allison would make the slightest effort to get to know me.”
“It does go both ways. Maybe you can extend an olive branch and see how she reacts. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she’s family now. You may not like the fact that your dad remarried, but you can’t expect him to mourn forever. How long has it been since your mom passed?”
“Almost a year.”
“Hum. I can see why you’d be upset, but maybe your dad doesn’t like being alone. Some guys can’t deal with it, especially if they were married for a long time.”
“Twenty-five years.”
His low whistle fills the air.“Lucky guy.”
“Do you want to get married?”
“Maybe. I’d have to find someone who could put up with me.” He chuckles.
“You never know who you’ll meet.”
“I met you.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. Somehow, despite only knowing him for such a short time, I feel a connection with him that I can’t quite explain. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I decide to ask about his past.“What about your family? Can you tell me about them?”
