Page 41 of Wild Card

“Not at all,” I repeat.

“You want to talk about it?”

Instead of sounding like a parrot, I shake my head.

Normally, I’d shut this down. Sharing my personal business isn’t my style. But something inside me pushes on. Being in his hold, his heartbeat steady against my palm, the concern in his eyes mixed with the warmth of his expression—all of it combines to create a place that seems safe. “My mom and I haven’t been close in a while,” I share quietly. “She made some critical decisions that hurt me and never looked back.”

“Critical decisions that hurt her daughter?”

“Something like that.”

“When’s the last time you spoke?”

“Almost a year ago.”

He blows out a soft breath. “Her loss, angel.”

“Not sure she sees it that way.” My mind goes to the fancy announcement and perfect penmanship on the envelopes. Then the picture of her with Bex yesterday replaces the image. “It’s very complicated.”

“You want me to come over when you get home?”

“No, one bonus of tonight is my brother has been slotted with DD. Bex, Grandma, and I will drink Grandpa’s award-winning margaritas.”

“Award-winning?”

“Grandpa doesn’t skimp on anything. They are lush.”

“Lush?”

“Lush,” I confirm.

“Peach-infused Vodka and a strong margarita, good to know.”

“You remembered.”

“I remember everything.”

The gravel in his voice tells me he isn’t just referring to my drink choice that night.

“You get home, things don’t go well, and you aren’t settled, call me. I can come over, or listen.”

I’m about to mention that I don’t have his number when his hand slides down my waist to my hip where he retrieves my phone from the pocket. A few seconds later, his phone rings. “Now you have my number and I have yours.”

“How did you get past my code?”

His lips curve on one side and he leans in, brushing his lips past my ear. “I have my ways.”

This time my stomach does an all-out plunge, free-falling until I’m sure he’s holding me up.

A million butterflies surge through my system at the thought of this man, crushing my reservations.

One thing is for sure—I’m in so much trouble.

6

TALON

Willow

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