Page 47 of Wild As Her

The kitchen is too bright, my head is too heavy, and the sound of a truck rumbles in the distance, signaling that my partners-in-crime are about to escape.

We watch out the window as Walker and Ollie climb out of Walker’s truck, looking like they find this funny. They come in the house, looking around in amusement at the scene. Walker strolls over to Violet and pulls her in for a kiss and hug.

“Ladies,” Walker drawls, grinning like the smug pain in the ass he is.

Ollie stands grinning with his hands in his pockets. “Need a ride, Poppy?”

Violet mutters something unintelligible as she smiles at him, only causing Walker to grin even more.

Poppy, still looking like she just survived a natural disaster ignores Ollie raises a hand. “Hey, Jack! I’m really sorry again about disturbing you and your abs!”

Jack lifts an amused brow.

Poppy grins sleepily, still wobbling on her feet. “Hey, at least I didn’t weld your truck door shut.”

Jack snorts, shaking his head. “Thanks for that.” He grins, which tells me that this ridiculous man is actually enjoying this chaos.

Ollie holds Poppy’s shoulder, steering her outside and toward the truck and grinning. “Let’s get you home before you cause any more property damage.”

Violet shakes her head. “You know, it’s really unfair that Jack, Walker, and Ollie look this good while we look like feral raccoons right now.”

Poppy sighs dramatically, a piece of grass falling from her hair. “Right?”

I huff out a laugh, trying not to acknowledge the fact that I’m still standing here, feeling entirely too aware of Jack shirtless.

Ollie has a quiet conversation with Jack, and they both look at me, and Jack waves him off. Ollie grins and heads to the truck. I’m too tired to do anything.

The truck rumbles away, kicking up dust, leaving the ranch quiet again.

And just like that, it’s just me and Jack. Alone.

I brace myself, turning toward him, fully prepared for whatever smart-ass comment he’s got lined up.

But Jack doesn’t say anything. He just watches me, his green eyes steady, too knowing.

And suddenly, my entire body feels heavy.

I exhale, rubbing my face, blinking slowly against the wave of exhaustion that hits me all at once. “I should probably?—”

Jack cuts me off by stepping forward and, before I can argue, scoops me up effortlessly into his arms.

I squeak, immediately trying to wiggle free. “Jack, put me down.”

“Nope.”

“I can walk!”

Jack grunts, entirely unbothered. “Yeah, sure. Baby, you couldn’t even make it up the porch.”

Baby.He called me baby. And…I like it.

I want to fight him, want to tell him that I am perfectly capable of functioning on my own, but my body has betrayed me. It’s too much, the warmth of his chest, the steady rhythm of his breath, the way he carries me like I don’t weigh a damn thing.

“Say it again…” I mumble.

“Say what?” he asks.

“Baby…”

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