Page 69 of This Wild Heart

That was when I locked things up and threw away the fucking key.

My throat was tight as I nodded. “Okay. I can handle that. As long as you don’t lash out if I accidentally set one off.”

His eyes searched mine. “I won’t.”

My chest felt lighter than it had since I found the baby, and I let out a slow exhale. “Okay. Let’s see how this goes, huh?”

Parker’s hand tightened on my thigh, and I could see the apprehension in his expression as he pulled the truck past the two mailboxes and down a long, winding driveway.

Emmett had told me about this place, a ton of land tucked back off the road, a main log cabin home where Sheila Wilder lived, and two others set apart on their acreage. One small home for guests, and another where Parker’s brother Cameron lived with his fiancée Ivy.

The drive in was magical—rows and rows of fir trees lined the property on either side of the long road, and I stared up at them through the truck window as we reached a clearing that opened up to a two-story log home with a rock fireplace in the middle. A big, welcoming front porch wrapped around, and tall windows flanked a large front door, warm light spilling from every single one. Behind the house a ways was a barn, painted bright red with crisp white trim. Two cats lay on the ground in front of the open doors, and some chickens pecked at the ground by the side of the house.

On the front porch were two stout planters, white and red and pink flowers spilling over the sides. Two sets of rocking chairs were on either side of the front door, and in one sat Sheila Wilder, just as I remembered her from Emmett and Adaline’s wedding. She had short, no-nonsense hair—a graying color that probably used to be brown, and a kind face that absolutely lit up at the sight of Parker’s truck.

Now Iwasstaring at him because his face transformed into something heart-wrenching.

He loved this woman so much, and he was terrified to get out of the car because of the sleeping little angel in the back seat.

“She will adore him,” I said quietly.

Parker pinched his eyes shut. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he whispered. When he opened his eyes, he slid his hand on my thigh.

Tap, tap, tap.

At the movement of his fingers on my leg, my heart squeezed in my chest, and I wove my fingers through his. Parker probably didn’t even realize it, but he’d just verbalized his own fears, framed as Sheila’s and the truth of it sat heavy in the base of my throat, a knot of emotion so thick that I couldn't swallow it down.

What had I gotten myself into?

Sheila came down the stairs, then paused to call over her shoulder. A very pregnant young woman appeared in the doorway with long, dark hair and a wide smile. Parker let out a slow breath. “Oh goodie, we have witnesses.”

“That’s Poppy, right?” I asked.

He nodded. “God, she’s gonna cry. And then she’s gonna call all my sisters and my brothers, and make us do a family meeting, and they’ll all cry, and I’m gonna lose my shit.”

I exhaled a laugh. “We can do this,” I assured him. “Come on. This one will be the hardest.”

“Wanna bet?” he muttered but pulled the handle to exit the truck anyway.

Sheila walked forward, wrapping Parker in a massive hug, even though he completely dwarfed her smaller frame. He set his chin on the top of her head, and oh, it was horrible what the sight of that hug did to me.

“Goodness,” she said, pulling back with shining eyes. “I’m so happy you’re here, I can’t even tell you.” She turned to me and clasped her hands to her chest. “Oh honey, aren’t you beautiful? Parker, she’s so beautiful.”

“Yeah, I’d like an explanation of how you managed that,” Poppy said.

Parker rolled his eyes.

“Anya, if you’re not a hugger, you might want to let it be known now,” Poppy said with a smile. “This family has zero concept of personal space.”

I laughed. “I love hugs, so I should be okay.”

The words hardly left my mouth, and I too was wrapped up in the arms of Sheila Wilder. For a small woman, she hugged with her entire being. She smelled soft and warm, and I felt the love pouring off that woman like she was drenched in it. When she pulled back, she didn’t even attempt to hide the tears. Her hands cupped my face. “How on earth did he get you to agree to marry him?”

“I’m right here,” Parker said.

Poppy elbowed him.

Instead of answering, I gave Parker a pointed look. “I’m sure we can talk about that over lunch. But, umm, Parker? Do you want to get him, or should I?”

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