Page 176 of Wild Card

“Fuck, you’re killing me.”

She straightens, striding to me with a new sheen in her gaze, taking my hand. “I’m not nervous anymore.”

I lead her down the hall where Rowan and Ford are greeting my parents. Mom takes one glance at Willow and our joined hands, her smile beaming bright. She rushes over, pulling her into an embrace, and gushes, “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Willow releases my hand and returns the gesture.

Dad saunters over, holding my gaze.

Mark Simms is a keen man. His perception and observation skills set me up for the success I’ve had in my career. He’s regarding me with the wheels of his mind spinning.

His lip curls and he yanks me into a one-armed hug. “Glad to see it with my own eyes, son.”

“Bingo!”Addison and Ronnie shout at the same time, high-fiving.

Willow hands over gift bags to each of them while Jewls gives Harley the next present.

“I thought only Harley got presents today?” Drake, one of Major’s brothers, watches the large group of women who are circled around Harley and her pile of gifts.

Ace, Major, Sam, Drake, Ford, Chase, and I are up on the patio, drinking while Harley’s being showered with attention by over thirty women.

“Brother, you have a lot to learn. Apparently, there are hostess gifts, party gifts, game gifts, gag gifts, basically a fucking gift for every occasion,” Major informs him. “Get a woman and you’ll understand.”

“You want me to get a woman so I can spend all my money on others?”

“No, I want you to get a woman so you quit drooling over mine.”

“Same,” Ace grumbles.

Major’s twin brothers, Drake and Sam, take immense joy in flirting with the women. Hell, I enjoyed it, too, until Willow. There’s something about watching my friends turn into green-eyed monsters that was enjoyable.

Now I get it.

“You guys make it easy. Not our fault we’re irresistible. Last night, I caught the new hottie eying me.” Sam tips his glass of whiskey my way.

I’ve been waiting for this. “It’s because I told her you both were being treated for syphilis.”

Both men’s faces go hard. “Not fucking cool.”

I shrug, taking a sip of my own whiskey.

“Seriously, what gives? Ace had the whole best-friend-in-love going for him. Our brother locked in Jewls early, knocking her up. Ford played the hero card. Willow seems like a smart girl.” Drake shakes his head in disbelief.

“I’m sticking with brainwashing.” Sam echoes a theory he’s mentioned before.

“It’s up to us to save her. Call it our civic duty,” Drake responds.

“Joke all you want. Either of you make a move on my woman, I’ll end you.” Their razzing is all in fun, but my own possessive monster stirs.

“It’s amazing you guys can still call this the Casanova Club. I’m moving to rename it the Barbarian Barn.”

Major cracks a smile. “Like I said to Drake, find a woman and you’ll understand.”

“Any one of you boys want to explain to me how last night we were livin’ it up like redneck royalty and today we’re at a hen party watching a game of Baby Bingo?” Hotch, Rowan’s dad, rambles over to our group.

He’s not wrong. It was the moms’ idea to have Rowan and Harley’s showers on the same weekend.

Last night, we celebrated in style for Ford and Rowan. Ford’s mom, Celia, insisted on having the party catered with a full staff.

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