Love So Wild

by Valentine, Marquita

  If she didn’t know better, she would swear she was—

  “How would you feel about going to church service this morning?” he asked as his hand made another pass.

  She’d rather stab herself in the eye with a cactus. “Is it important to you?”

  “Yeah, it’s important to me, but I remember you saying the people in your town weren’t all that kind to you or your family. However, you’re an adult now, and you’re in Jessamine. We’re completely different from those small-minded jerks in Holland Springs. Plus, you have me on your side.”

  “How can I refuse?” And how could she continue to hold a grudge against an entire population when she’d only had interactions with such a small percentage of them? Worse, how could she continue to hold him at a distance when he declared to be on her side, or when he made her feel so loved with each and every touch?

  He smiled, making her heart pinch. “Thank you. The dress code, if you can call it that, is rather relaxed. Most people still dress up, but no one cares if you want to be casual.”

  “A progressive church, huh?”

  He shrugged and turned her over, kissing her bare nipples until they were tight little peaks. “More like they don’t want that to be a barrier to anyone.”

  “Then let’s go.” What was the worst that could happen?

  “First, I have some worshipping of you to do.”

  “That sounds a little—”

  “You’re the mother of my child and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He looked so serious that a hot flush of guilt filled her body.

  She kissed him, just so he wouldn’t say anything more.

  The only problem was he’d already said it all.

  *

  Grace Church looked nothing like any church she’d ever seen in the South. There wasn’t a traditional entrance or spire with a cross. No bells were ringing to welcome people in, rather, the church was housed in what looked like a fancy gymnasium and people waited outside to say hello.

  The differences didn’t stop there, either. People were smiling and talking quietly in groups. Men hugged one another, and acted like they genuinely cared what the other person was saying.

  And all the dads—there was so many dads with kids that she could hardly believe her eyes.

  “They say the average number of kids in a family here is four.”

  “Wow. Just so you know, I’m super cool with one kid.” Wait. She made it sound like they had a future together, one that involved more than him being a dad to Miles.

  Elijah laughed, set Miles on his feet, and grabbed the little boy’s hand so he could walk. “It’s not a matter of status. In fact, the number is due to adoption. Adam says the church should practice what it preaches.”

  “Can’t argue with that.” She kept one eye on her son and another on the reactions of the people around her.

  “But you want to.”

  “Hard to do when something is finally making sense and helping people.”

  Elijah knew her all too well, and he knew how she and her sisters were treated like pariahs because of their mother.

  Miles almost tripped over his feet, but Elijah swooped in at the last second. “Gotcha, buddy.”

  Miles looked at his daddy like he’d hung the moon. He grabbed Eli around his leg, leaning his little head against him. “Dadada.”

  “Love you, too,” Elijah whispered before slicing his gaze to Skye. “Did you hear that?”

  “Yes, I did.” Skye decided then and there she’d go to whatever religious service he wanted, even if it took place in Holland Springs.

  As they walked inside the sanctuary, a plump woman with red hair greeted them. “You must be Skye, and this must be Miles. I’m Joy, Adam’s wife.” She blushed. “Sorry, I should have let you introduce your family, Elijah, but I got distracted by these dimples.”

  “Joy doesn’t require an introduction, because she always announces herself.”

  Joy narrowed her eyes playfully. “Don’t make me put you on the prayer list.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Elijah replied.

  Joy led them to a row of chairs near the front, indicating they should sit down. Just behind them, the rest of Elijah’s family filled the row.

  “Mind if I hold Miles during the service?” Joy asked. “That way, you can pay attention without too much distraction.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And if you need to feed him, we have a private room in the children’s section of the building, or you can do it here. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

  Was she serious? Skye turned to Elijah, but he was busy talking with his brothers. She started to fidget, and then started to itch. She was this close to asking for Miles under the guise of wanting to feed him in private.

  “Do you have questions, Skye?” Joy asked as she played patty-cake with Miles.

  “Aren’t women like me banned from church?” she asked, then wanted to slam her hand over her mouth for saying something so ugly to a woman who’d been nothing but kind so far.

  “Gingers? I have it on good authority that we do, in fact, have souls, so it’s okay,” Joy said without missing a beat.

  “Touché.”

  Joy winked. “Redheads have to stick together. In this family, there are a lot of us. Never realized how many of the brothers like women with a little extra fire in them.”

  “Are preacher’s wives supposed to talk that way?”

  “Gee, Skye, it would be real odd if I started talking out my butt.” A juvenile reply to a rather offensive question, but that didn’t stop Skye from laughing so hard her eyes watered and her sides started hurting.

  “I’m pretty sure I was talking out of mine earlier. For that, I’m sorry.”

  “You’re forgiven—as long as you let me babysit this sweet, strong little man one night so you and Eli can have some fun.” She kissed Miles’ cheek, and he grinned.

  Did everyone assume they were together? Did it matter? “Deal.”

  Joy beamed. “Adam and I are in the process of adopting, but it’s been so long that I’m afraid we’ll never get our kids.”

  “Do you know who they are?” she asked.

  Joy nodded. “They know us, too. At first, we thought we wanted a baby, but when we learned how many older kids there were in the system, we changed our minds.”

  “Must be hard.”

  “Very.” Joy smiled sadly. “One day, though. God’s timing is perfect. We just have to learn to be patient.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “Ain’t that the truth, sister.”

  The band began to play, and Adam walked to the lectern.

  Joy grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’m so glad you decided to come today.”

  Skye squeezed back. “Me, too.”

  After church service was over, Elijah took Miles from Joy. “Thanks for letting him sit with you.”

  “You know I love babies and toddlers… kids, teens, basically anyone under the age of eighteen who needs looking after. Anywho, care to stay for lunch?” she asked. “Our treat.”

  “We’d love to, but I got a text. We’ve been summoned,” Elijah said, grimacing.

  Skye gave him an odd look. “By the great and powerful Oz?”

  “No, but you’re pretty close.” Elijah showed his sister-in-law the screen of his phone.

  “Good luck with Mason.” Joy clutched her Bible to her chest. “You’re going to need it—bless his heart.”

  *

  Elijah had only visited with his brother twice since he’d been back, and both of those times were under the guise of needing help with a retaining wall.

  Mason had been working on that wall for years now, using it as an excuse to get one of his brothers to come see him. Only, Elijah was pretty sure he was the only one to have figured it out.

  Or maybe Mason had other projects for his brothers to do while they were there, just to make things interesting and keep anyone from suspecting. But Elijah was older and wiser, and he kn
ew how a man in his brother’s position thought.

  Mason had to have an excuse for company; otherwise, he’d have to admit he needed them. For a former SEAL suffering from physical injuries as well as PTSD, that wasn’t going to happen.

  “I want to warn you about my brother.”

  “He likes redheads?”

  Elijah frowned, confused by her question. “His wife has brown hair.”

  “His loss,” Skye muttered.

  He wasn’t about to ask what that was about, and since he was a confident man, he wasn’t jealous. But he held her hand on the drive there just the same.

  “Mason isn’t the kindest guy out there. He’s grumpy and a pain in the as—er, tail. Loud noises spook him, and don’t mention his limp. Also, he doesn’t like a lot of questions either.”

  “Oh, and I had my interview questions ready to go. Bummer.”

  He laughed a little, but grew somber. “I’m serious, Skye. I don’t want you taken by surprise or have your feelings hurt by that insensitive jerk.”

  “Makes you wonder how he ever got married.”

  “Skylar doesn’t put up with his bull.”

  He glanced in the rearview to check on Miles. The toddler had sleepy eyes, but he looked determined to stay awake.

  “Will he be ugly to Miles?”

  “Not in any way Miles can understand.” Elijah put his attention back on the road. “He relies heavily on sarcasm.”

  “I’m fluent in that.”

  “Good Lord.”

  Skye leaned across the console in the middle of Elijah’s truck and kissed his cheek. “Stop worrying so much. I got this. If I don’t, I’ll use Miles as an excuse to leave.”

  “You can do that?”

  She grinned shamelessly. “We can do that.”

  “Kids are awesome.”

  “Was that sarcasm?”

  “Not when it comes to our kid,” he said.

  *

  When they knocked on his brother’s door, Elijah fully expected Mason to complain about the length of the knock, how loud it was, or how he wasn’t man enough to knock loudly enough for anyone to hear it.

  Instead, his brother answered the door with a smile on his face. Sure, it was a little scary-looking with the scar that pulled at his lip, but it was friendly at least.

  “Welcome to our home, Skye and Miles,” he said.

  Elijah gave him a look. “But not me?”

  “You can put your shit in the kitchen,” Mason grumbled before focusing on Skye and Miles again. “Skylar is waiting for y’all on the porch. We made sure to baby-proof it before you guys got here.”

  “Aw, thank you.” Skye stepped inside, holding Miles on her hip.

  Mason stepped in front of him. “Where’s the beer?”

  “What beer?”

  “The beer you were supposed to bring,” Mason said slowly.

  “You didn’t tell me to bring any beer.”

  Mason tipped his head to one side. “I shouldn’t have to tell the brother who owns a bar that he should bring beer.”

  “Sorry about that. Preston owns the half that has all the beer,” Elijah said, straight-faced.

  “Just get inside.”

  Mason slammed the door behind him. “Follow me.”

  The three of them moved as one, but Mason stopped Elijah with a hand. “Not you. You go to the kitchen like I said. Have a beer. Eat some queso.”

  “I thought you didn’t have any?”

  “Why would I tell you to drink something I didn’t have?”

  “Because you asked why I didn’t bring any.”

  “And?”

  Son of a gun. This was going to be a long, long afternoon. Wait. They had Miles. “Skye, is Miles feeling okay? I saw his—”

  “No using your kid as an excuse to leave early,” Mason said, and Skye covered her mouth to hide her smile. Turning with Miles, she wiggled her fingers in a wave and headed for the back porch.

  “How do know about that?” Eli asked his brother suspiciously.

  “The dad group I’m in on Facebook discussed that very topic last week.”

  “Why are you in a dad group? You’re not a dad.”

  “I will be eventually.”

  Elijah couldn’t argue with that. More importantly, he didn’t want to argue with that because it would lead down another bunny trail that made him want to shoot the damned bunny, aka his brother.

  “I’m getting a beer.” Elijah marched to the kitchen and opened the fridge, finding nothing but sweet tea, milk, and water. “Where’s the beer?”

  “It’s Sunday, you lush. Drink some water.” Mason pushed a bowl of chips with salsa in a smaller bowl in the center toward Elijah. “Eat.”

  Elijah dug in.

  “I like her. The boy, too.”

  “Thanks, but you’ve only been around them for a couple of minutes.”

  Bomber, his brother’s service dog, walked into the room, sidling up to Mason. “Good boy. I’m okay. It’s all good.”

  Shit. This was bothering his brother. “We don’t have to stay long.”

  “It’s important to Skylar.” Mason’s blue eyes bored into his. “She’s been wanting to meet her family.”

  “Uh, I’m not quite getting what you’re saying.” Was this some dig at him about not marrying Skye, like a Lawson should have already done? It wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Okay, so maybe he hadn’t tried hard enough.

  He would fix that.

  “Skylar and Skye are cousins or half-sisters or some shit like that.”

  Elijah froze. “The hell you say.”

  “Yeah, Skylar’s mom left her as a kid, and she wanted to know if Skye knew her.”

  Oh, shit. That was a very sore subject with Skye, so sore he didn’t dare touch it, not even with the gentlest of words. “You should have warned me, prepared her…”

  “What Skylar wants, she gets.”

  “I respect that, I really do, but this time, what Skylar wants could hurt the woman I love.”

  His brother smiled, but it looked more like a grimace. “Love, huh?”

  He couldn’t take it back… and it was true. Had to be or why in the hell would he have said that to Mason, of all people? “Yeah, I love her. What of it?”

  “Not a damn thing. Happy for you, Eli.”

  “Eli,” Skye called out, her voice sharp… and scared. “Elijah…”

  “What the hell happened?” He ran from the kitchen and onto the porch.

  Unreasonable—maybe.

  Necessary—absolutely.

  “Everything okay?” he asked as he looked between the two women.

  Skye’s face was pale.

  Skylar’s cheeks were flushed.

  Neither looked happy, but they did look completely related, right down to their eye color.

  Son of a gun.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Skylar said as Mason came limping into the room to stand by her side. “Tell them, Mason. I didn’t know this was something that—that… I’m so sorry.”

  Thankfully, his brother kept his mouth shut, but he did slide his hand into his wife’s.

  Skye’s gaze dropped to the floor to where Miles was playing with his toy plane. “I think we need to go because Miles’ stuffy nose came back. I think he’s allergic to dogs; he’s never been around any before.”

  Skylar rushed to her side, taking her by the hand. “Please don’t leave. I promise not to ask any questions about our family. Just about you and Miles… and your plans. That’s it.”

  Elijah knew he had to take a stand for Skye. “We appreciate the offer, but if Miles is sick, then we need to get home.”

  Tearfully, Skylar nodded. “Okay. Maybe another time.”

  Elijah picked up his son and took Skye gently by the elbow, leading her through the house to the front door, Skylar and Mason quietly following. “Thanks for having us over.”

  As soon as they got on the road again, Eli attempted to talk to Skye. “What did she say to you?”


  “It’s not so much what she said, but who she looks like.” Skye licked her lips and turned away, wiping the tears that had fallen from her cheeks.

  “You mean the resemblance? Yeah, I saw it, too.”

  Skye rounded on him. “You knew?”

  “No,” he said. “I didn’t know until Mason told me in the kitchen.”

  “Then how did you see the resemblance to my mother?”

  “Your mother? I thought you meant…” Oh, fuck him sideways.

  She nodded, tears falling like rain now. “She looks exactly like my mother—dark hair and all. I, uh, I panicked when I saw her. When she started speaking, I freaked out. I tried to be polite, but I couldn’t keep it up.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. That was their fault. She should have been honest with you, contacted you ahead of time so you could be prepared. My brother sure as hell could have messaged me a warning or two.”

  “You’re not mad at me?” she asked with a sniff.

  “Hell no, I’m not mad at you. You’ve done nothing wrong, sweetheart.”

  “When we get home, can you, uh, hang out with Miles? Maybe feed him and put him down for a nap?”

  “Whatever you need. I got this for you.” While he didn’t think this was the time to tell her he loved her, he could show it. He could prove it with his actions.

  Elijah was certain his reaction would bring her around to his way of thinking. She had to see what a great team they made, and she’d realize the only logical conclusion was to get married.

  Chapter Ten

  ‡

  Skye did all she could to go back to the way things were with Elijah before they’d made love, but he wouldn’t allow it.

  Eli spent all his time with her and Miles. He included her in almost every part of his life, even the parts, like his business partnership with Preston, that she felt she had no right to know about. He shared everything with her, too, and asked her opinions on whether the bar should have ladies’ night every Thursday night instead of twice a month.

  Plus, every time he and Miles were together, she felt a little tug, as if they were all connected by a thread that kept winding tighter and tighter, binding them to one another. While she hadn’t expected him to be a horrible parent, she hadn’t expected him to throw himself wholeheartedly into his role as a father, either.