Swept Away in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1)

Keeping hold of her, he stared into her gorgeous eyes. “I don’t think it’s crazy one bit. In fact, I like the idea.”

“Craig, I just ended a relationship with my fiancé. I’m not ready to start anything serious.” She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. “To be honest, I ran away from Paul.”

“Ran away?” He didn’t like the sound of that.

She opened her eyes, which were now welling with tears. She held up both her arms, pulling the sleeves of his robe up, revealing bruises on the back of her arm.

“Where is the son of a bitch, Mary?” A protective anger grew inside him. The handprints were easily seen in her darkened flesh. He hadn’t seen them when they were making love.

“Craig, I’m not telling you this to get you to do anything.” She lowered her hands and folded her arms in front of her. “I’ve already handled it. I left. I left my home, my sister, everything I’ve ever known. I want to start a new life. One day, I might be ready to date again, but I think it may be a while. I’m just going to concentrate on my career for now.”

She just got out of an abusive relationship. I need to go slow. But she says she’s leaving. “I think that’s a very good idea, Mary. But if you’re freelancing, couldn’t you just stay in Wilde? You’ve already met people who consider you their friend.”

“Craig, I’m not sure what I’m going to do or where I’m going to end up. All I can do right now is take things one day at a time. I want to write my article about your family. That’s my focus.”

“I believe I understand how you feel, although I’ve never been in an abusive relationship before. Just know I am here for you.”

“Thank you so much.”

Hoping to ease her worry, he asked, “Shall we get back to your interview questions for me?”

“I’d like that.”

I need to talk to my brothers.

Chapter Eleven

The next morning, Dillon leaned against one of his parents’ house’s four columns. He and Dan were waiting for Craig, who had left them an urgent message on their answering machines to meet.

“What do you think is so urgent?” Dan asked.

“No idea, but my interview with Mary begins after breakfast. So whatever it is, he better get here quick and let us know.” He planned on taking her to the old Wilde Mine for a picnic. Afterward, back to his house for dinner. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. There was no longer any doubt in him that she was the one.

Craig drove up in his truck. “Hey, guys.”

He stepped up to his brother. “How was the interview with Mary?”

“That’s what I want to talk about.” Craig’s entire demeanor was serious. “Mary hasn’t had an easy life. Her relationship with her parents isn’t close. She told me things about her childhood that broke my heart.”

Dan’s eyes narrowed. “Were they abusive?”

“Not physically, but definitely emotionally.” Craig shook his head. “But her fiancé did abuse her. She has bruises on her arms.”

“Fuck. I saw one of them that first day,” Dan said. “She obviously didn’t want to go into it at the time with me.”

Dillon curled his fingers into fists by his side. “Is the asshole still in the picture?”

“She’s here in Wilde because she left her old life behind. She’s looking to start fresh, but that doesn’t mean she’s not skittish. I’m not sure what to do, guys. She says she’s only staying for a few more days.”

“Mom told me that you brought her back late,” Dan said.

“When she told me about her parents, I was holding her, trying to comfort her. One thing led to another. And we made love. She is definitely the woman we should spend our lives with. I’ve never cared for anyone more in my life.”

Dillon had never heard Craig speak like this about anyone before. It was crystal clear that his brother was head over heels in love with Mary. Even with the little time he’d spent with her, he understood why. His own feelings for her were growing like wild flowers.

“She also told me she’s not ready to start dating,” Craig said.

“We can’t lose her, but how can we fix this?” Dan said, obviously falling for Mary as quickly as he and Craig. “Dillon, you always know how to make things work even when it looks impossible. What do you think we need to do?”