Page 191 of Wild Card

“Depends on how you look at it.”

“What about the crazies?”

“There are crazies in every part of my job.”

She nods, handing me back the folder with trembling hands. “I’m happy for you.”

My chest constricts at her indifference. She spears me with an expression that she’s not only hurt, she’s scared.

“Princess, I’ll be okay.”

“I know. You’re indestructible, right?”

I flinch inwardly, knowing she’s putting up a protective wall.

Fuck, this is going downhill fast.

“Talk to me.”

“Nothing to say. But why did you bring me all the way out here to share the news?”

She spreads her arms and turns in a circle. “It’s beautiful but unnecessary.”

“Review the rest.”

She hesitates, taking the paperwork, her eyes zipping left to right, and her lips moving as she quietly reads.

When she flips to the last page, she inhales deeply.

“Talon, what am I seeing?”

Her question hangs in the air until she raises her face to mine. “Is this… is this yours?”

“It’s ours.”

“Ours?”

“You don’t like it, we’ll start over.”

She jerks back. “This isn’t a recipe gone wrong. This is a house. A huge house. You don’t just start over.”

“I meant the plans. You want something different, say the word.”

She thumbs back to the first page, this time reading with a shaky whisper.

“This is everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s my dream house. How did you know all this?”

“It’s my job to know.”

She squints, studying me with disbelief.

“Baby, you told me. Every time you visit Ford and Rowan’s construction, you come back animated with the details. The weekend you helped Jewls, you gushed over everything from her closets to her fucking trim work.”

“She has a wine room!”

“Her in-laws are also invested in a winery. And Harley’s kitchen is the shit, but babe, you describe it like it’s a damn magical realm.”

“She has a pot filler!”

---