Wild Card (Alaska Wild Nights Book 4)

by Tiffinie Helmer

  Speechless, she stared at him, her mouth hanging open.

  “You look stunning tonight. That dress—it’s enough to drive a man crazy wondering how he’s going to get you out of it.” His eyes heated as he took his time drinking her in.

  Her heart started to pound loud enough to pulse in her ears. What was he doing? Why was he saying these things? She could take him being ornery with her, since that pretty much summed up their relationship. But nice? What the hell did she do with that?

  His mouth quirked into a smile that had laugh lines appearing around his eyes. “I think I’ve found a way to shut you up. I just need to compliment you.”

  She felt the heat of a blush rush from her neck up to her cheeks. She glanced down and fingered the hem of her dress.

  “What we did—how I was with you—rough and reckless, well, it threw me. You threw me. I’ve always tried to think of you as Ryder’s and Dare’s bratty little sister.”

  “Bratty?” That had her looking up and meeting his eyes again.

  He smiled. “You were the most annoying, frustrating kid I knew.”

  “And now?”

  “Still annoying and frustrating, but for different reasons. I can’t stop thinking about you, and I’ve tried. Seeing you up there on that stage, there was no denying how badly I wanted you. And then you kissed me. My world imploded with that kiss.”

  “It did?” she whispered.

  “I’ve never lost control with a woman before. You make me feel out of control. I don’t like it.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I’m being honest here. I don’t like it, this sudden need for you. It’s chewing me up inside.”

  “Sounds like you have a problem. What are you going to do about it?”

  “This.” He fisted his hand in her hair and brought her mouth up to meet his.

  Chapter 9

  At the touch of her lips, Trip groaned. He hadn’t imagined the taste of her, or the desire that flamed between them.

  Zoe melted into him, letting out a breathy little whimper that made him want to spread her out onto the meadow and have his way with her. He could too. She put up no resistance, parting her lips to his probing tongue, welcoming him as if she’d been starving for him too.

  It was heady, this power he had over her. Knowing that helped him temper his need, dialing it back. He gentled the kiss, softly exploring and paying attention to what she liked.

  He hadn’t treated her right the first time, going at her like a wild man possessed. Threading his fingers into her hair, he angled her head to allow him to take the kiss deeper. She let out another one of those delicious little sounds. He wanted to pull more sounds like that from her. Their first time had been so fast, so staggering, he hadn’t paid attention to anything. Just acted on his caveman urges.

  Closing his arms around her, he dragged her onto his lap and cradled her on his thighs. What he really wanted was to be cradled between hers again. Her hand fluttered against his heart and tenderness mixed with the incessant hunger he had for her, softening his desire to lay her down, strip her bare, and have at her again. He couldn’t do that. Not like the last time. He owed her more respect than that.

  It wasn’t fair to treat her that way, and it wasn’t fair to him either. He suddenly wanted to know everything about her. He’d grown up around her all his life, but he didn’t know her hopes and dreams, how she liked her coffee, what she ordered on her pizza. Before they had each other again—and it would happen sooner rather than later—he needed more than just a physical connection with her.

  That was a first for him. He’d had women, enjoyed them—and they him—but it had always been lighthearted and fun. Now he wanted more, and the biggest surprise that he was still coming to grips with was that, he really wanted it with Zoe.

  He tore his mouth from hers, breathing hard, and held her tight against his chest for a moment, trying to calm this pervasive need. It wasn’t working. He picked her up and unceremoniously dumped her back on his jacket, got to his feet, and strode to the rock outcropping, running a hand over the back of his neck.

  “Trip?” Zoe blinked up at him, confused by his sudden reaction. “What’s wrong?”

  “Give me a minute,” he ground out, his body tense, his tone reflecting his struggle. He dragged in deep breaths, thinking of anything but Zoe spread naked in a field of wildflowers under the midnight sun, giving herself over to him.

  It took him more than a minute to get himself under control. When he turned back to face her, she was on her feet, balancing on those ridiculous high heels that did amazing things for her long, graceful legs. Her bottom lip clenched between her teeth. She looked young, innocent, and fragile, and he wanted to protect and cherish her in a way that he’d never wanted to with another woman.

  But Zoe wasn’t just another woman.

  If he went forward with this, it would mean something. It had to. He not only had his heart to worry about, but his life-long friends, his brothers by another mother, would be affected by what happened between them. Did he want to risk it? But then if he didn’t, would she be the one who’d gotten away, the woman that he would compare all others against, and find them lacking?

  “Date me,” he said, striding back to her and taking her hands in his.

  “Excuse me?” Her green eyes went wide.

  “There’s something here between us. I can’t deny it, but I don’t want to hurt you, Zoe. I should walk away before we hurt each other, but I can’t seem to. So, date me, get to know me. Let me know you.”

  “You want more than just sex with me, is that what you’re saying?” A teasing glint entered her eyes, and it made him feel more grounded. This Zoe he knew. The one that taunted him, drove him crazy.

  “God, I want to have sex with you again in the worst way,” he admitted.

  She glanced down at the tent in his pants, a knowing smile brightening her face. “I kind of got that point.”

  He surprised himself with a chuckle. “Hard not to miss. So, what do you say? Will you have dinner with me?”

  “What the heck.”

  Yeah, what the heck.

  It was only their hearts on the line. Even knowing that, he felt more alive. The wildflowers surrounding them smelled more potent, the sky bluer, the trees greener. When he was with Zoe everything seemed more. It had been like that when they were children too. She added something even when she bugged the hell out of him.

  Chapter 10

  The clock was ticking toward midnight when Trip drove her home. He gave her a sweet kiss at the door, and they made plans to go out to dinner the next week.

  Zoe quietly entered the house hoping to sneak by the interrogation she knew awaited somewhere in the depths of the large log home. That wasn’t to be, since all four Wilde men waited for her in the living room.

  “Wild Card.” Her dad boomed her name in a tone that let her know she had some serious explaining to do. “What have you been up to?”

  She straightened her shoulders and entered the room. Ryder and Dare sat on the couch, mirror images of each other, Dare’s black and white husky Eska at his feet. She gave them a dirty look for running home and tattling to their dad. Brey took up the chair next to Jack’s recliner, his guitar in his lap.

  “What did they tell you?” She pointed to Ryder and Dare. She wasn’t about to reveal information they might not be aware of, like her moonlighting at Ticker Tavern.

  “What’s this I hear about you and Trip Hunter? Has he hurt you?”

  “No, he hasn’t hurt me, and I don’t really want to talk about my sex life with you and my brothers.”

  Jack winced when she said sex life, and her brothers looked equally uncomfortable. Ryder and Dare glanced away from her, and Brey squirmed in his chair.

  “Believe me, I don’t want to know that you have a sex life,” Jack said. “But if you need to talk, we’re here for you. Do you have feelings for Trip? What about Derek? Are you dating him too?”

&nb
sp; “Listen, I know your hearts are in the right place, but I’m good.”

  “We’re just looking out for you,” Ryder said. “That’s what brothers do, so deal with it,” he continued when Zoe went to object. “Trip gets out of line—”

  “Stop right there. If Trip gets out of line, I’ll deal with it. Just like you dealt with Leia.”

  Ryder’s face darkened at the mention of Leia Atwood, whom he’d dated for a time, regardless of Sorene’s objections. Leia had bullied and teased Sorene all through school, and she hated that Ryder was seeing her.

  “You guys don’t want me up in your business, and you need to stay out of mine.”

  “Zoe,” Dare said. “It’s different with guys.”

  “You did not just say that.” Zoe planted her hands on her hips, ready for battle.

  “Whether you like it or not, it is different,” her dad said. “What kind of men would we be if we didn’t watch out for the women in our lives?”

  “Not men at all,” Brey said. “We love you, and we don’t want to see you hurt.”

  Having all their eyes on her, the love they felt for her, and the worry, diminished some of her steam. “I love you guys, too, and I appreciate you having my back, but it’s my love life. Don’t worry about me. You’ve taught me well. I’m a smart girl with a strong head on my shoulders. I’m a Wilde, after all.”

  “That you are, which is one of the reasons we’re worried,” Dare said.

  “You are known to be unpredictable,” Ryder said.

  Zoe fired back, “And you’re known for being impulsive.”

  Dare chuckled. “She’s got you there, bro.”

  “All right, we’ve ganged up on her enough.” Brey stood, his guitar in his hand, and walked to Zoe, giving her a one-arm hug. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”

  “I know that.”

  “I’m off to bed,” Brey said to the room. “This midnight sun has taken my jet lag to new levels. Night.”

  Dare got to his feet and Ryder followed. “I need to ice my hand. Trip’s got a jaw made of concrete.”

  “Serves you right for taking a swing at him,” Zoe muttered. “And what is or isn’t going on between Trip and me has nothing to do with your friendship.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Dare said. Eska leaped to her feet when Dare did. She came up and nuzzled Zoe, who scratched her ears. “If he doesn’t treat you right…” Dare let that hang.

  “What if I don’t treat him right?”

  “We have to love you. We’re kind of stuck with you.” Ryder mussed up her hair.

  Chapter 11

  Zoe rushed to get ready for her date with Trip. It was the only thing she’d thought about all week, even though her week had been swamped. The fabric she’d designed and ordered from the lower forty-eight had arrived, and Derek was busy cutting it for his designs and using her as the model. It had been tricky because they needed to work in the rooms she’d commandeered at home, and with Brey in the house, they had to be extra sneaky. Luckily, he’d decided to help out in the family business between writing his next song.

  She still had to put in an appearance at Wilde Log Homes a few hours every day, and she’d picked up a waitressing gig at Pulse Café in the evenings to help supplement the income she’d lost when Trip had gotten her fired.

  She hadn’t heard from Trip other than he was picking her up at six. He’d given her no idea of where they were going or what she should wear. She hoped they were having dinner in Fairbanks or the Malamute Saloon in Ester. She didn’t want the citizens of Heartbreak to be witnesses to their date. Lord knew, they had enough of an eyeful at the Pump House last Friday night.

  As a result, rumors had circulated through the town which had calls from Sorene and Cat blowing up her phone demanding to know what was going on. Good thing Kennadee was still out of town, or she’d have to answer to her too. Zoe basically reiterated the same speech she’d given to her dad and brothers. It was tough being the youngest, with everyone keeping an eye on her. She knew Sorene hadn’t had it easy, stepping in and raising most of them when their mother had died, but at least no one treated her like a kid.

  She picked out a sundress in peacock colors that set her hair to flame. She left it to flow down her back and added large hoops in her ears and a crystal necklace she’d picked up at Cat’s Mystic Heart. Adding a spray of perfume, she was ready with a few minutes to spare.

  Luckily, no one was home. Brey had started working with Ryder on the rebuilding of the log home that had caught fire, and they were taking advantage of the long summer days to get caught up. Her dad had headed over to the job site, too, leaving her blessedly alone in the house for a change.

  She opened the door when Trip knocked, right on time. She liked a man who didn’t leave her waiting.

  He was dressed in a tank top and board shorts with sandals. Guess they weren’t having dinner in Fairbanks.

  “Well, it looks like I need to change,” she said, her voice husky as she drank in the muscles of his arms. Damn, he was built. Their one time together hadn’t given her time to explore all that sinewy flesh.

  His eyes traveled down her outfit, heating as they took in the thin straps and sweetheart neckline. “Wow, you look nice.” He cleared his throat. “I should’ve told you what I had in store.”

  “That would’ve been helpful.”

  “I thought we’d go kayaking.” He gestured to his truck that had two kayaks loaded in the bed. “I remembered how much you enjoyed it.”

  Her heart fluttered. “I love that idea, and I could use some time on the water. I haven’t been out yet this summer.” Summers in Alaska didn’t last long, and today was one of those rare days when the temperature had reached into the nineties. The interior of Alaska held the record for the greatest extremes in temperature. A true subarctic climate. It could get as cold as eighty below in winter and as hot as hundred in summer. “Come in. It’ll only take me a few minutes to change.”

  He entered, putting his hands in his pockets as though he wanted to touch her. It was on the tip of her tongue that he could help her change, but she bit it back before the words were out there getting her into more trouble.

  “Be right back.” She rushed upstairs into her bedroom, tore open her drawers for a bikini, which she covered with shorts and a yellow tank top with a mystical sun and moon printed on the front. At the last minute, she remembered to remove the earrings but left the crystal necklace in place. Grabbing a hair tie, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and fished her sandals out from the bottom of her closet.

  She skipped down the stairs less than five minutes later.

  “How do you do that?” Trip asked, his expression clearly baffled.

  “Do what?”

  “Change outfits and look like a completely different woman?”

  “Different good or different bad?”

  “Before you looked sweet and sexy, now you look athletic and, while still sexy as hell, more like the girl next door than the mysterious siren.”

  She warmed at both descriptions, rewarding him with a huge smile. “I could say the same about you. In your uniform, you’re all business, armed and dangerous, and right now you look like a beach bum, promising an evening of fun antics.”

  “Shall we get to the antics then?” He held the front door open for her and she preceded him through, and then he placed his hand at her back, guiding her toward his truck. Goose bumps erupted on her skin at the romantic gesture. She’d never known that he could be such a gentleman. She reveled in how it made her feel special and cherished.

  They climbed into the truck and were headed down the road, before Zoe found her voice. “Where are we going?” She hoped he wasn’t taking them to Mistress Lake where most of the Heartbreakers would be enjoying the water.

  “Lake Amore. I wanted to be alone with you. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, I don’t mind at all.” Lake Amore was a more intimate lake located roughly ten miles out of town.

  �
�I thought we could kayak and then have a picnic dinner on the shore. Unless you’re hungry now. We could eat first.”

  She was hungry all right, just not for food. Kayaking was a good choice for an activity as it would force them to talk and not go at each other like a pair of horny teenagers. She bet that was why he’d chosen it. But did that mean he didn’t want her anymore? Had their week apart given him time to think and he was now gently letting her down?

  Suddenly unsure, she replied, “I’m fine with whatever.”

  He glanced at her and then turned his attention back to the road. “How was your week? I heard you are working at Pulse Café.”

  “A few nights a week, yes. My week’s been busy. What about yours, put away any criminals?”

  “A few. Mostly traffic-related incidents.”

  Silence stretched between them, becoming uncomfortable. This didn’t bode well for their first date. They’d never had trouble talking to each other. Now there seemed to be tension between them, not just sexual, but like neither knew what to say to each other.

  They arrived at the lake to find it deserted. Good. No motor boats were allowed on the small body of water, and there was no dock or ramp, so it was perfect for kayaking. Trip refused to allow her to carry her own kayak, hiking them both up himself under each arm. She carried the life jackets and paddles, falling a few steps behind him, enjoying the view. He was an amazing specimen. The board shorts showed off his defined calf muscles, and carrying the kayaks had the muscles in his arms and upper back bunching and flexing in a way that made her mouth water.

  Trip set the kayaks down at the water’s edge and turned to find her gazing at him. His eyes narrowed. “What? Do I have something on my clothes?”

  “It’s what’s under them that has my attention,” she divulged before thinking it through. “Do you have any body fat?”