Page 21 of Sweet Escape
Wilder
After parking across the street from the bank, I stare at the closed glove box like something might jump out at me. It’s the same song and dance I’ve been doing for days.She’s not for you, Wilder. Leave her alone.
A car door slams, jolting me out of my thoughts. When I look up, Olivia Sullivan’s unmistakable figure strides down the sidewalk. Every dip and curve calls to me like a goddamn siren song, threatening to drown me in her ocean eyes, and fuck do I want to let it.
Resisting the urge to go to her, claim her, and fuck her senseless right here in my truck, I pull away from the curb. I’m headed back to the ranch with the horse trailer attached to the hitch and a brand new gelding to add to our herd.
He was found at a farm about an hour away, malnourished and mistreated by his previous owner. We’re not known for taking in charity cases, but Griffin is friends with the owner of the rescue out that way, and they’re at capacity. I think this is also his way of getting Pops to see the benefits of opening up a rescue on the ranch. Only time will tell. My brother has always had a soft spot for broken things.
I drop the gelding off to get settled with Griffin, then make my way back to the big house. I expect to hear Emmy when I step through the door, but it’s quiet—tooquiet.
I kick off my boots in the entry and pad into the kitchen,then peek through the back door to the deck; there’s no sign of them anywhere. As I head back through the house toward the living room, a misshapen figure pops out from behind the massive grey sectional.
“Boo!”
My heart leaps out of my chest, and I fold in half, clutching my knees for support.
“Got you, Daddy!” Emmy squeals as my baby brother’s laughter fills the space.
“We got you good, Wild Man,” Jax says, using the nickname he gave me when he used to force me to play superheroes with him as a kid. He’s wearing a set of Emmy’s fairy wings, and she has a blanket tied around her neck like a cape. It seems I’m not the only one she’s got wrapped around her little finger.
I smile. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Emmy girl?”
“No,” she says through a giggle.
Jax sets her down at his feet, and she toddles over to her toy basket in the corner of the room, pulling out a wooden farm puzzle.
“How’s the gelding?”Jax asks.
“Not looking great, but I think Griff will do well with him.” I sink into the plush sectional and scrub a hand over my beard.
He nods, sliding his tattooed hands into his pockets. “You think about what you wanna do for Em’s birthday next month?”
The swift change in topic catches me off guard.
“I—fuck—I hadn’t really thought much about it, to be honest.” I’m so used to it just being the two of us, I didn’t consider that my family might want to be involved.
I’m an ass.
“Might wanna talk to Mama. I’m surprised she hasn’tbrought it up already. She’ll be wanting to spoil her rotten, you know that.”
I nod. “Alright. I’ll figure something out. You gonna wear those wings all day?”
He gives me a lopsided smile and shrugs. “I’d get them permanently tattooed on my back if Em asked me to.” Jax plops down on the floor with Emmy, helping her find the matching slot for the cow shape as I contemplate what to do about her birthday. Her third one without her mom.
Grief has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it. There’s no predictable pattern, no obvious triggers to avoid. One minute you could be folding the laundry, then a memory flashes, bringing you to your knees. Emmy’s birthday is a reminder of what I took from her, what I could’ve prevented, but I don’t want to reduce her special day to regrets and what-might-have-beens. Emmy deserves better. She deserves balloons, cake, and a table piled high with gifts.
Cake.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I go to my truck and wrench open the glove box. I pluck out the recipe card that’s been taunting me for days and text two simple words.
Wilder: Hey Cupcake.
Chapter 6
Get fucked, Jake
?I bet you think about me - Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton
