Page 153 of Wildest Dreams

Before I can say anything to him about it we’re crossing the threshold of the large cream and white ranch-style kitchen, and the room is erupting into deep male laughter as Tanner slaps his palm roughly against his dad’s back.

The two are laughing and grinning as they share a gruff father-son embrace, and when his dad pulls back he flicks his eyes over to me.

He has dark hair and the beginnings of a beard that I presume he doesn’t have when he’s on base. He’s at least two-hundred-and-sixty pounds of pure muscle, standing at around the same height as his son but with a number of battle scars on his neck and arms, as well as deeper marks over his large tan hands.

“Dad, this is Aisling,” Tanner says, his voice deep and proud. He drops his forearm heavily over my shoulders, hauling me in firmly against his side. He lowers his voice and murmurs, “Ash, baby, this is my dad, Linc.”

The volume of testosterone radiating from the large male bodies around me has my breathing turning shaky as I tentatively offer him my hand.

“Hi,” I say, a little breathlessly. “Thank you both for, um… letting me come inside your home.”

Tanner’s dad takes my hand and gives it a hard warm squeeze, which is surprisingly more comforting than I would have been expecting.

Also, I’m not going to deny it. Tanner’s dad is freakinghot.

“Welcome,” he grunts, before looking behind me through the doorway. His mouth lifts into a smirk and, confused, Tanner glances behind us.

“No fuckin’ way!” Tanner suddenly shouts, clutching me tighter as another guy steps into the room. He grabs him with his free arm and chuckles in disbelief.

The other guy pounds his palm down on his back, still dressed in army fatigues.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” Tanner laughs, shoving his hand through his hair. He turns to face his mom and grins, “You hid this from me on purpose, huh? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that Wyatt was back.”

“I thought it would be a lovely surprise,” she rasps, smiling all cute and smug. Her husband grunts in agreement as he pulls her into his side.

Tanner looks down at me, eyes alight, and says, “Baby, this is my brother Wyatt.”

I glance up at Wyatt as he runs both palms over his dark buzz-cut, smirking down at me before hitting me with a wink.

I think I wheeze a little. “Hey,” I whisper, as Tanner rubs his palm lovingly down my arm.

Wyatt gives me a once-over that has his brother clearing his throat. Then Wyatt smirks at his dad and says, “Well that explains why Cobe’s pissing all over the furniture.”

“Alright, enough swearing for one afternoon, don’t you think, boys?” Tanner’s mom says lightly, with a pointed look at her middle son. Then she gives me a happy smile and asks, “Aisling, will you be staying for lunch? Dinner? Mason’s room is obviously available if you would both like to stay over tonight?”

“Jeez, Mom,” Wyatt laughs. “You tryna scare her away or something? Although,” he adds, flashing me a grin, “my room is right next door to Mason’s.”

“Wyatt!” their mom exclaims.

Linc leans back against the kitchen counter and tugs her more tightly into his side.

Tanner smirks at his brother. “Man, I would love to punch you in that mouth you’re always running, but my hands are too preoccupied loving on my beautiful girlfriend right now.”

“Mason!” their mom shouts again, this time shooting me a flushedI am sosorry about my boyskind of look.

I’m too stunned to react, completely hung up on one detail in particular.

The fact that Tanner just referred to me in front of his family as hisgirlfriend.

Tanner grins at her over his shoulder and rumbles, “Sorry, Mom.”

Then he presses a kiss to my temple and murmurs, “Sorry, baby.”

Wyatt grins, leaning a large shoulder against the archway. “And what about a ‘sorry, Wyatt’?”

Tanner smirks, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind. “In your dreams, man.”

Chapter 36

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