Page 63 of Wilde About You

I felt my face turn a dark shade of pink as everyone turned back to me. I picked up my bags and shuffled out with an apologetic smile. I went from embarrassment straight to a case of trembling nerves when I stepped off the bus and turned toward the red dirt bike. Colin was straddling it. His face was red from riding like a madman through town. As always, he stole my breath.

"I might not have thought this out. I think that big guy is calling the police."

We both looked up, and the driver was pointing down at Colin and holding his two-way in his beefy fist.

"Then maybe you should move," I suggested.

He waved at the bus driver and pushed his bike over to the curb. A few of the sidewalk pedestrians had also stopped to see what the commotion was about. They moved on now, along with the bus.

"Let's go over there to that park," Colin said. He pushed the bike without waiting for me to agree. I followed without a second thought.

"I'm going to miss my flight," I said.

He stopped the bike, leaning it under a sprawling oak tree. The shade was a nice reprieve from the hot sidewalk and the stuffy bus.

"Colin, I'm one of those people who causes trouble wherever I go. I'm the last thing you need in your life."

"Do you want to be with me?" he asked, plainly.

"Did you not just hear my declaration about being the cause of trouble?"

"Did you forget that my last name is Wilde? I'd say Trouble is our middle name if it wasn't so corny. But really … it is. Now answer the question. Do you want to be with me? I can't offer you much at the moment, but I will get my shit together soon. I always do."

"See, I can't promise that. The part about getting my shit together. Not very good at that."

"You're not answering my question. Do you want to be with me?"

I smiled at him. "You are very persistent, Mr. Wilde."

"Well?"

I dropped my backpack on the ground and threw my arms around his neck. "What the hell do you think? Of course I want to be with you." I pressed my mouth against his.

thirty

. . .

Colin

Six weeks later

I'd ridden to work with Zander. After some heavy thought, I decided to put my snowboarding career on hold, possibly even for good. The knee injury had set me back physically and mentally. It was so easy for once-eager sponsors to just yank their support, it was like a slap back to reality. I needed income I could count on. And while my oldest brother was a taskmaster and, occasionally, an asshole, I still preferred to work under him than anyone else. And I got to hang out more with both him and Jameson. It was a cool gig. Jameson was training me on some of the smaller equipment for now until I learned the ropes.

Zander turned his truck up the gravel drive to the ranch. "How's it going living with the crotchety old man?"

"When you look past the crotchety part and past some of the shitty memories growing up, it's not too bad. Free rent isn't bad either. And he hasn't asked me to wipe his ass once."

Zander laughed. "Nice to know. Nev is making some burgers tonight, so why don't you and Sadie come over. But bring beer. Nev told me I drink too much, so she bought one lousy six pack this week." He parked his truck. "Looks like Sadie is already here."

Sadie had taken a job at a camera shop where the manager asked her to conduct photography lessons. She was loving it. She kept her apartment, but she spent so much time at the ranch, it seemed a waste of money. She planned to move out when the lease was up.

"We'll be over around six," I said as we both walked in different directions across the yard.

"Don't forget the beer, and don't forget it's your night to feed the horses," Zander called as he walked toward his cabin.

As I stepped inside, I heard Sadie say "and that, my old friend, is checkmate." Dad and Sadie were heavy duty into their chess tournaments. They'd bonded instantly. Bonding with Finnegan Wilde was an amazing feat for any ordinary mortal. But Sadie was anything but ordinary. Her brother and her family were still far on the outskirts of her life. They had no idea how much they were missing.

Sadie hopped up and met me at the door. "Thought I heard my very hunky, very dust-covered man come in. Do you know how much those steel-toed boots turn me on?" she said the last part in a whisper.

I set down my lunch cooler. "Hope you don't mind a little dust." I pulled her into my arms.

Sadie reached up and wiped dirt off my forehead with her fingertips. "I've been imagining you sitting on top of one of those big, manly earthmovers all day, and the fantasies that came with those images—well—let's just say I was very anxious for those heavy boots to walk through the door."

I took her hand. "Well, let's go upstairs and get these boots off," I said. I led her up the stairs and stopped at the top for a long kiss.

She purred in appreciation, then smiled. "Actually, I want you to leave the boots on."

I laughed and led her down the hallway to the bedroom.

"Hey, what's going on for dinner?" Dad yelled from the living room.

I slammed shut the door.