Page 36 of Wild Card

My brain processes in slow motion as the guy on the end hands off his leash and steps to the side, crouching to catch my baby before he barrels into the pack of animals.

“Whoa, Buddy, where ya going?” His smooth, velvety voice instantly registers.

“Oh my God,” I whimper, realization washing over me.

Talon props his glasses on his head, his breathtaking eyes glimmering in the sunlight. Wolf laps at his hands, trying to get to the other dogs who are all now sitting obediently.

Wolf wiggles to get free, his whine snapping me out of my stupor. “Wolf, behave.”

Talon stands, lifting him easily. “You named your dog Wolf?”

“Yes, why?”

“Babe, he’s a poodle.”

It’s then I feel all eyes on us. The girls from earlier have moved to the side, pretending to stretch but gawking openly.

His friends are watching with amusement.

“He’s a Goldendoodle,” I correct Talon.

“Not exactly a beast.”

“He’s perfectly capable of being a beast when needed.”

Wolf chooses that moment to lick up the side of Talon’s throat and pant.

“Yeah, a real terror.”

“Give me my dog.” My cheeks heat when one guy chuckles.

“He good with others?”

“Of course, as you can see, he’s very friendly.”

Talon jerks his chin, his friends go away from the trail and let their leashes go. Wolf goes berserk, begging to get free until Talon lets him down. The four dogs immediately do the dog sniff meet-and-greet before chasing in circles.

“Heya, Talon,” Bex chirps.

“Bex.”

“Funny seeing you here.”

“Heard it was the place to be on Saturday mornings.” He grins at me. “First beautiful day in forever. Didn’t want to miss it.”

Those are my words. He overheard me telling Wyatt about my plans to come to the park with Wolf.

Two things hit me with a force so strong, my eyes sting.

Talon was sitting across the table. Side conversations were all around us, but Wyatt demanded my attention. He had no idea who Talon was, why he was there, or what he had done to arrange the lunch. To a five-year-old, the most exciting thing was his friend’s birthday party today.

It was a simple conversation, one that wouldn’t compute with most. But Talon listened.

I was with Joe for a long time and he rarely listened.

“Willow?”

I swing my eyes to Talon, noting he’s observing me closely.

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