Wilder’s big hand squeezes my thigh, and a shot of electricity runs straight to my clit.
Maybe I’m a big, dumb fool and Wilder was always too good to be true.
Chapter Eight
Wilder
“You look familiar.” Bree’s mother stares me up and down, studying my face as though she’s trying to place me in a lineup. “Handsome, though. What are you doing with my daughter?” The woman laughs and tips back another shot of whiskey.
I’m not sure what she means by the comment, and she’s obviously drunk, but I come to Bree’s defense, regardless. I want her to know I’ve got everything handled. I want her to know I’ll lead in every situation and look out for her beyond what she’s ever experienced. “I’m with your daughter because she’s gorgeous, smart, and thinks outside the box. I’d appreciate it if you spoke to her as such.” I grip Bree’s hand tighter and glance toward her, but she avoids eye contact. She’s been acting funny since the wedding ended. I’m not sure what’s up. Maybe it’s the drama of things with her mom. Mother-daughter relationships can get terribly strained at times.
“Congratulations, Mom.” Bree leans into her and forces a smile. Something has happened. “The girls are exhausted. I’m going to take them home, but I wanted you to know how happy I am for you. You look beautiful.”
“Wait. Why didn’t you tell me about your divorce?”
Bree’s brows raise. “You want to do this right now? I think it can wait for another day.”
Her mom sets her shot glass on the bar and turns back toward Bree. “You show up to my wedding, you bring a stranger, who everyone is talking about by the way, and you fail to tell me you’re divorced. You made this a problem, Bree.”
My shoulders widen. “I’m sorry, but I think you’ve overstepped.” I wrap my arm around the back of Bree and guide her away, but her mother follows, and grips my arms as though she wants to fight me.
“I know who you are. My friend told me what you did, so I Googled you.” She glares at Bree. “Do you know who he is?”
Bree’s face turns white before a dark shade of red takes its place. This is what she’s been worrying about, and I should have come to her with this sooner.
This is why I don’t leave the mountain. I can’t change the way people see me.
I look toward Bree. “We need to talk.”
“No!” Her mother is hell bent on causing a scene and her groom doesn’t seem to be stopping her. “Tell her right here who you are. Not in private where you can lie to her. She’s never been a good judge of character. Look at the first asshole she was with.”
I draw in a heavy breath and lock eyes with Bree, who’s fighting back tears.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.This isn’t how I wanted her to find out. I figured I’d tell her slowly over a picnic at the river or up at my cabin where we had the privacy to discuss the nuance of everything. Not in the middle of a wedding with fifty of her closest family members listening on.
I step toward Bree, but she steps backward, tears rolling down her face. “I should probably go.” She glances toward her mother. “Just so you know, the girls and I will be away for a while. Don’t bother calling.”
Her mother rolls her eyes and orders another drink at the bar. I didn’t realize how toxic she is. Had I known, I may have insisted we all stay locked up in the cabin. At least then, we’d still have a chance at being happy and Bree’s life wouldn’t be in turmoil again.
“Don’t go, please.” I grip Bree’s arm. “This is getting blown out of proportion.”
She glances back at me with a tired pale look on her face. “Look, the last couple of days have been great. And up until that lady next to me started telling me you were a criminal, I was ready to see where this would go. You’re sweet, funny, big, and Lord knows I’m attracted to you, but I have to think about the girls. I’m disappointed in myself for not getting to know you better before I introduced you to them. I—”
“I sell guns.Usedto sell guns. Illegal ones.” I blow out a heavy breath of air. “I did a short span of time in jail about ten years ago. Since then, I’ve stayed out of trouble and lived a quiet life up here.”
She remains stoic and I’m starting to believe she’s not as traumatized by my past as I thought she’d be. Then, her jaw drops. “Wow.” She spins in a circle. “Wow!How could you keep this from me? You did jail time? Wilder… you were in anactualjail? I have small kids. What do I tell them about that?”
I narrow my brows. “I guess if they need to know, you tell them I made a mistake. I was young and dumb. I did something for a quick buck, and I regret the hell out of it.” I reach out to comfort her.
“Don’t.” She raises her hand. “Please don’t. You don’t know me… and I obviously don’t know you.” She glares toward her sister who has seemingly heard the entire conversation.
Can this get any worse?
“You should go home and clear your head,” Portia says to Bree. “You’ve got a lot on your mind. Hawk and I will take the girls again tonight.”
“No. You’ve had them long enough. It’s time they come home.”
Portia leans in and hugs her sister. Holding her close, she whispers something in her ear until Bree nods and wipes away more tears.
