Page 28 of This Wild Heart

“Like what?”

“Umm, I don’t know. I don’t have any specific examples.”

“Bullshit. I can read your face better than that.”

I cut him a quick, annoyed look, but all he did was grin. My disgruntled sigh made him laugh. “Things before were always … safe. Steady. Until they weren’t, and everything went down in a giant shitstorm of terrible.” It felt like someone wrapped a giant chain around my throat and yanked it tight. “There was nothing between, and I never got one of those big movie moments, you know? The hero’s eager to make a fool of himself because he loves the heroine so much that there’s no risk he’s not willing to take so she can know it.” I rolled my lips together for a moment. “Instead, I was the fool.”

My eyes cut over to him, and he sat quietly in the passenger seat, face thoughtful as he processed what I’d said. “Your turn,” I told him.

“For what?”

“Oh no, I’m not going to be the only one doing scary share time. You better tell me something that makes you feel all twitchy too. Otherwise, I’m kicking your ass out of this Jeep.”

Parker grinned, a dimple flashing in his cheek. “Like what?”

“Anything. Come on, Mr. Love Hater, I know you’ve had at least one thing you’ve pictured for yourself.”

“I’m not a love hater,” he said with a slight roll of his eyes. “I believe it exists. I’ve seen it firsthand. I just don’t want it.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Parker groaned. “You won’t let me get away with anything, will you?”

“Highly unlikely.”

He slicked his tongue over his teeth before speaking again. “I suppose I always watched my teammates and wondered what it was like … the first day of training camp. First game.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Someone in their corner who can’t imagine anything better than being there for them. Having a partner show up for you when it matters most. But I haven’t thought about that for a long time.”

“Why not?”

The question was out before I could stop it.

His eyes darkened slightly, and there was a pinch in my heart when he didn’t answer. But I decided to drop it because it was likely as big of an admission I’d get from him. The playing field evened a little with what he said, and it made our arrival to his house feel just a bit less terrifying.

Your destination is on the right,the GPS said, interrupting the conversation momentarily. The trees were taller here, surrounding a split-level home with black siding. To my surprise, it wasn’t huge. Private though, which was nice. A tall fence surrounded what looked like a large front patio space with three garage stalls just at the end of a short driveway. The windows above the fence line were lit up, warm light spilling out, and I blinked at that too.

“Is someone home?”

“Louise is, I’m sure.”

I tilted my head. “Who’s Louise?”

“The love of my life and the woman who keeps me sane.”

“I—” My throat was so dry. Simply by turning into his driveway, the spark had returned to the man’s eyes, and let me tell you, it was devastating. “Your what?”

Spike let out a ferocious hissing noise.

“Tell your pussy not to be so angry all the time.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I will thank you not to speak about mycatlike that ever again.”

Parker grinned, dangerous and boyish, and I felt a stupid, stupid flip in my stomach at the sight of it.

He slipped out of the car before I could say a fucking word, and I sank my head onto the steering wheel while he went around to the back of the Jeep to get my bags.

“He’s so confusing, Spike,” I whispered.

Meow.

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