Wild With You

by J. H. Croix

  She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “Oh, don’t cry. I don’t handle tears well,” I muttered as I brushed the tears off her cheeks with my thumb.

  Her lips curled in a wobbly smile. “You have a teenage daughter,” she pointed out. “Those hormones can make for some emotional times.” I laughed and dipped my head to kiss her. When I drew back, I said, “It’s okay if you’re not there with me yet.”

  “I’m there. If you mean love, that is,” she added quickly.

  I heard myself repeating her question. “Are you sure?”

  She pursed her lips, and I saw a glimpse of that prissy girl I’d met on the side of the highway. “Of course I’m sure. I don’t say things like that lightly.”

  “I wasn’t implying that.” Pausing, I took in a deep breath. “I missed you like crazy.”

  “I thought I’d really upset you with that whole thing with Allie.”

  “It wasn’t even that.”

  Madison’s eyes searched mine. “What was it?”

  She’d been honest with me, and now I had to be honest with her. Fuck. I took a breath. She reached for one of my hands, lacing her fingers through mine and resting it on her knee. That little point of contact was a touchstone for me.

  “Allie got upset with me and said I was using her as an excuse.”

  “She did?”

  I chuckled. “Yeah. My mom basically accused me of the same thing.”

  “Oh, I didn’t even think your mom liked me.”

  “My mom can be protective. After what happened with Allie’s mom, she’s always been like that. But she liked you from the start. She was just trying to give me space to figure it out.”

  “What happened with Allie’s mom?”

  “I was young, and she was pretty.”

  “Did you think I was like her?”

  I shook my head quickly. “Let me explain. She got pregnant. We didn’t plan on it, obviously. A month after Allie was born, she took off. Since then, it’s been Allie and me. Honestly, I did not have time for romance when Allie was younger. I don’t know how anybody does. I also wasn’t looking for it. Maybe I was skeptical about most women. Then you came along.”

  My heart thudded hard, and I felt exposed in a way I never had before as I looked into Madison’s eyes. I took a steadying breath and forged ahead. “At first, I told myself it was just chemistry.”

  “We do have some pretty good chemistry,” Madison offered, so earnestly I couldn’t help but chuckle. Her cheeks went pink, and she shrugged. “Since we’re being honest.”

  I sifted my fingers through her hair. “Sweetheart, it’s more than pretty good. It’s so good it freaked me out. When that thing happened with Allie, I really wasn’t all that upset with you. I was upset with myself and not ready to face the fact that you had started to mean a lot to me. I also didn’t know what you wanted.”

  Madison took a shaky breath before squaring her shoulders. Her lashes lifted, and her big green eyes met mine. “I didn’t know what I wanted at first. I was kind of out of my element, so to speak. But now, I like it here. I’m even making friends.”

  “Of course you are. You’re a good friend.”

  “You think?”

  I nodded, my lips tugging into a grin. “You think you’re gonna stay in Willow Brook?”

  Madison stared at me for just long enough until uncertainty tightened inside me. Even if I was coming to terms with my feelings about her, Allie was my first priority. If Madison wasn’t staying in Willow Brook. I couldn’t even consider more with her. My life was way too busy to manage any kind of long-distance relationship.

  Just when I was about to prompt again, she said, “Of course I am. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m figuring out who I am, without all the props.”

  “Props?” I pressed.

  She gave me a sheepish smile. “My family’s business. My parents’ money parlaying those connections into friendships that turned out to mean nothing when it mattered. Here in Willow Brook, it’s just me.”

  We stared at each other for a moment, and it felt as if sparks filled the air around us. “I suppose, if we’re not going to keep us a secret, I should ask about how you want to handle Allie.”

  “Let’s talk about that later,” I murmured. “Seeing as she’s been on my case to date you, I don’t think we need to worry.”

  “I know, but—”

  I shook my head. “Enough talking. I missed you.”

  I dipped my head and blazed a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses along the side of her neck and nipped at her earlobe. She shivered in my arms and let out a breathy whimper. Palming her cheek when I lifted my head, I stared into her eyes. I took a moment to simply absorb this woman. She was so strong and vulnerable at once.

  “Mine,” I whispered, my lips hovering above hers when I spoke.

  Madison blinked, her lips moving against mine as she shifted incrementally closer. “No, you’re mine.”

  We dived into a kiss, and I lost myself in her.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Madison

  Almost a month had passed since Graham and I came to an agreement of sorts. We’d finally given in to the shimmer of passion and the emotion twined within it. As tempting as it was to spend every night together, we didn’t. It was important to both of us that we move slowly for Allie’s sake. She didn’t need to feel as if we were rushing into things.

  She knew we were dating, and I suspected she knew we stayed over together when she spent the night with friends. Graham teased that he thought she was going out of her way to give us time together.

  My belly felt all fluttery when I rode home with him one evening. I was going to stay at his place, and Allie would be there. She knew I’d be there, but it didn’t change how nervous I was. I smoothed my hands on my jeans.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” I glanced over at him.

  Graham was driving and kept his eyes on the road. It was snowing, my first big snowstorm. There had been a few dustings of snow so far, but apparently, we were predicted to get over a foot tonight. Wilbur was in the back seat of Graham’s truck, his nose pressed to the window as he looked out into the swirling white flakes.

  “Of course it’s okay. I think it’s time,” Graham replied easily without even a hint of anxiety in his tone.

  I took a breath, willing my nerves to settle. They were dancing along with uncertain anticipation. This felt monumental because committing to Graham meant committing to Allie. While I had no doubts about how I felt, I still didn’t know how she really felt about her dad getting serious with someone.

  A few minutes later, we came to a stop in his driveway, and I looked over at him. He turned the engine off, his eyes catching mine when he glanced sideways. “You don’t need to be nervous.”

  My nerves weren’t listening as I took an anxious breath. “Are you sure?”

  He unbuckled his seat belt, angling to face me. He caught both of my hands in his when I turned toward him. “I’m absolutely sure. I love you.”

  It didn’t seem to matter how often he said that. It was still a surprise. “I love you too, but what if—”

  He shook his head. Releasing one of my hands, he placed his finger over my lips. “Allie will be fine. She really likes you. It’s not like she doesn’t know what’s going on.”

  “What about her mother, though?”

  Sadness chased through his eyes briefly. “She never did schedule that other trip she called about. It’ll be okay. If Allie’s going to be mad at anybody about her mother, it’ll be me. Now, come on.”

  Moments later, we were in the kitchen. I had brought Wilbur’s supplies, including one of his dog beds and some toys with us. I filled his water bowl and set it on the floor by the counter. Allie had been in her bedroom when we arrived, but she came down the hall, stopping in the entrance to the kitchen.

  She held up a small box. “Will you help?”

  I looked over. “With what?”

  “Dyeing my hair. Dad failed
.”

  Graham chuckled. “Oh yeah, you missed that. I tried, and it didn’t go very well.”

  I laughed softly as I crossed over to Allie. “Do you want to do this before or after dinner?”

  “What are we having for dinner?” she asked.

  “I’m making spaghetti.”

  Allie grinned. “Ooh, that’s his only specialty. You know that, right?”

  A fizzy sense of joy rose inside with my laugh. “So I’ve heard.”

  After we had dinner, I helped Allie dye her hair. While we were waiting in the bathroom for the color to set, she looked over at me. I was perched on the edge of the tub, and she was sitting on the closed toilet.

  “Dad really loves you,” she said.

  I felt a fluttery anxiety inside, but I tried to project a sense of calm. “How do you feel about that?”

  “I like you, and I think it’ll be okay.” She held my gaze for a long moment, her lips curling into a slow smile. “This isn’t why I like you, but it’s really great to have somebody help me dye my hair without screwing it up.”

  I laughed, and she leaned over and gave me a quick hug. A little later, I asked, “What exactly happened when your dad tried to help? It’s not that complicated.”

  Allie rolled her eyes. “He ended up panicking and only let me do, like, two pieces. He also wouldn’t let me keep it on long enough, so it just didn’t work.”

  Our eyes met in the mirror, and we burst out laughing together.

  Epilogue

  Madison

  Arms akimbo with my fists planted on my hips, I tilted my head back, looking up. “Are you sure this is okay?”

  Graham called down. “Of course it’s okay.”

  Graham—“my firefighter” as I’d come to call him—was high in a tree fetching the kitten we’d gotten for Allie. She was at school, and the kitten had escaped. I had to call him to come home.

  Another voice reached me. “He’ll be fine,” Beck offered.

  I glanced over at him. “Easy for you to say when you’re not the one up in the tree.”

  Beck flashed an easy grin. I’d learned he’d once been known as the town’s most shameless flirt. He was such a dedicated family man that it was hard to imagine, but I saw flashes of it.

  He shook the rope in his hand. “I’ve got him.”

  “How does that even work?” I asked, dropping my arms and walking closer to Beck.

  He quickly explained how rappelling worked to me. “I promise, if he falls, I’ll just catch him on the rope. It won’t break.”

  “When I called you all, I thought you were going to bring the truck with the bucket and everything.”

  Beck shrugged. “Sometimes we do, but I thought this would be more fun.”

  I rolled my eyes just as another truck appeared in the driveway, this one with a bucket. “It’s right there,” I said, gesturing over Beck’s shoulders.

  “Too late,” Graham called out. “I’ve got her.”

  I watched as Graham came down slowly, bouncing his feet on the tree and appearing completely comfortable with the situation. Beck expertly handled the rope as he came down. Meanwhile, Paisley climbed out of the truck and crossed over to me. “I guess they didn’t need this.”

  “That’s what I thought was happening.”

  Paisley shrugged. “Sorry. I was on the other side of town when Maisie called.”

  Graham landed on the ground, calling over, “Here she is!”

  “Is she okay?” I asked as I approached him.

  He had Allie’s kitten, Patches, nestled in the crook of his elbow. “Right as rain,” he offered.

  Patches was purring up a storm. I stroked my fingers down her back. She looked all too satisfied with her situation. I held her while Graham worked with Beck to unhook himself from the ropes and get the gear put away. “Isn’t she cute?” I asked as I looked over at Paisley.

  She grinned. “Of course. I don’t think there’s ever been a kitten that wasn’t cute.” She cooed over Patches before stepping back. “I’ll head back to town.”

  “Thanks for coming.”

  I kept a good hold on Patches, waving while Paisley drove away with Beck following a few minutes later. After they left, Graham glanced down at me, a slow smile stretching across his face.

  “She likes trees,” he commented.

  “I noticed,” I replied dryly.

  He slipped his arm around my waist, tucking his hand in the back pocket of my jeans, a habit I adored. It was a small gesture, but it made me feel like we belonged together.

  It had been a full year since I moved to Alaska, and so much had happened. I couldn’t even believe it had only been a year. My job was going well. My father’s court case was finished, which was kind of a miracle. My father had decided to take a plea agreement rather than take his chances with going to trial. My mother was speaking to me, but that was about it. I was at peace with that for now.

  I had a life here with friends, with Graham and with Allie. He startled me again and again and again. For a man who had plenty of reasons to avoid commitment, once he made his decision, he was all in.

  A teeny, tiny corner of my heart wanted a ring, a formal commitment. I craved it in a strange way. Maybe because my life had blown up so spectacularly before I got here. I told myself I could be patient and wait for the right moment because we shouldn’t hurry. There was Allie to consider. After I set Patches on the floor, she danced across the room, immediately aiming for this little toy that she loved bouncing around. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms as I slipped out of my shoes.

  When I looked up, Graham startled me. He was waiting for me right there. “Hey,” he murmured, placing his palms on the wall behind me and caging me between his arms.

  “Hey.”

  His lips curled in that slow, sexy grin that never failed to send my belly into a swoop and a spin. Fire slid through my veins. As he looked at me, his gaze sobered.

  “What?” I pressed, getting unaccountably nervous.

  He lifted a hand, smoothing my hair away from my face. “I remember the first time I saw you.” His voice was low and gravelly.

  I was feeling all breathless as I replied, “Hard to forget. Silly girl on the highway letting her dog loose when there was a moose.” I snorted. “I accidentally rhymed.”

  Graham chuckled and dipped his head, giving me a lingering kiss. By the time he drew away, I was near to melting like hot butter. “Thanks for rescuing Patches.”

  He pressed away from the wall, catching my hand in his and tugging me into the living room. We were at his house today or their house. Although we spent every night together, I technically still lived in my grandfather’s old place. We hadn’t had that conversation yet.

  He stopped by the windows, looking into the trees toward the path that led to my house. “I had a whole plan,” he said thoughtfully as he turned back to face me and reached for my other hand.

  “Plan for what?” I prompted.

  “I was going to take you out to dinner in Anchorage and ask you to marry me.”

  I was so startled my eyes must have practically bugged out of my head. I gasped loudly enough that Wilbur was roused from his sleep. He lifted his head from his bed, letting out a soft woof.

  “Is that so surprising?” Graham teased.

  “Well, um, yes,” I sputtered.

  He released one of my hands and reached over my shoulder to the bookshelf behind me. In another moment, he opened a small box between us. “I even got a ring.”

  When I looked into his eyes, I realized he was nervous. This man—this strong, tough, alpha man—looked so vulnerable, my heart felt pierced with joy and protectiveness.

  “I didn’t really know what to get you. I’m guessing when you were engaged before, you had something really fancy and expensive. I’m just a firefighter.”

  I looked up at him. “You’re my firefighter, and I don’t need something fancy and expensive.” My throat was thick with emotion, and I didn’t even realize I was cr
ying until I felt his thumb brushing away a tear.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  I finally looked at the ring. It was a platinum band. “It’s perfect,” I whispered.

  It had a lovely pattern carved along its edge. When I looked closer, I saw that it was an infinity symbol.

  “Allie helped me pick it out.” His voice was gruff. “She said no diamonds because—”

  I finished his sentence. “Conflict diamonds. I love that.”

  “I asked them to carve the infinity symbol because you’re stuck with me forever.”

  When I looked up at him, I knew my eyes were shining with tears. “Well, that makes two of us then. I’m not going anywhere, and I love you.”

  Graham folded me into his arms just as the front door burst open and Allie came flying through. “Is Patches okay?”

  Her words came to a stuttering stop, and then she gasped. We both looked toward her as she slapped her hand over her mouth. She started to turn away, but she spun back quickly. “What did she say?” she asked, her eyes on her father.

  “I’m right here, you know,” I said, laughing through my tears. “I said yes.”

  Allie dashed across the room, squealing as she threw her arms around us together. I was exactly where I belonged.

  * * *

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  * * *

  Up next in the Light My Fire Series is Hold Me Now. Russell can’t stand Paisley. And, she’s his roommate, so it’s impossible to ignore her. She also works with him, and a few little spats at work only leads to more sparks flying.

  * * *

  They discover there’s one way to get rid of all that pesky tension between them and make a deal. Of course, there will be no complications, right? It’s just a little lust between not-really-friends.