Page 80 of Wild Card

“Okay, enough inner reflection. You’ve only kissed the man. Outside of the one comment about being under him, he hasn’t tried anything else. Let’s not jump ahead of ourselves,” I chastise myself, rolling out of bed and gathering some clean clothes.

I may not be able to go to work, but there are plenty of things to do. Lying in bed all day isn’t an option.

While I go through my morning routine and get dressed, my nerves pick up.

Ford and his fiancée, Rowan, live here as well. Talon said they were out last night, but they are sure to be here this morning.

Ford and Ace were super nice and funny the day in the park, but meeting the fiancée is a big deal. The little Talon has said about her has been in fondness. He’s close to her. And this is practically her house, considering she’s a soon-to-be Whitman.

Which means I want her to like me.

On second thought, maybe getting back in bed is a good idea. Traipsing through another woman’s home first thing in the morning could give the wrong impression.

“Quit being a big baby,” I tell my reflection and conjure up the courage to leave the room.

Take a left, right at the mouth of the hall….

Voices get louder around the corner, indicating I’m getting closer to the main rooms.

“What do you mean she’s here? She spent the night and you didn’t tell me?” The bitterness in the woman’s tone stops me in my tracks.

“She’s had a shitty few days. She needs her rest.”

“I know all about it, Talon Simms,” she snaps.

Why the full name?

“Want to know how I know? Because Ford shows up here with another animal explaining your girlfriend was in the hospital. Girlfriend! How could you keep this from me?”

“Did he tell you everything?”

“I think so. You’ve been sneaking around for weeks keeping this a secret.”

“I’m thirty-one years old. I don’t sneak around. And she’s not a secret; it’s been a delicate situation.”

“And that’s why you didn’t tell me. You don’t think I can handle it? After all we’ve been through? What we are to each other?”

Is she crying? My stomach lurches and the hair on the back of my neck prickles.

An uneasy sensation comes over me and before I can stop myself, I creep around the corner.

My heart stops.

A gorgeous blonde woman is in Talon’s face, her cheeks wet and arms crossed defensively. Talon’s eyes are loaded with concern and his expression etched with emotion.

I’ve seen this look before. When I woke up in the hospital.

At the time, it was beautiful and heartbreaking. His strength, his energy, and bold presence was missing because he was worried about me.

I treasured that. Feeling something deep inside.

Now seeing him, I notice a difference.

My soul aches.

He loves her.

LikeLOVESher.

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