Swept Away in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1)

Carrying a couple of plates of food, Carol came out of the kitchen and turned her gaze to Mary and Maude. “My goodness, don’t you two look stunning. Maude, I’d like to introduce you to my husbands. This is Jack.”

Maude held out her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m more of a hugger, young lady.” Pappy Jack gave her a sweet hug. “Welcome to Wilde.”

“I’m Will, but you can call me ‘Pop’ if you’d like. And we’re all huggers here.” Pop Will put his arm around her, and Mary saw her sister start to smile.

“Don’t leave me out,” Dad Tom said with a smile. “Come here, young lady.”

Maude’s grin grew. “I guess you’re a hugger, too.”

“You bet I am,” he said, giving her a hug. “The more of these you have in a day, the longer you live. It’s a scientific fact.”

“But more importantly, it’s fun,” Pappy Jack said.

Maude smiled. “I really appreciate you opening your home up to me and Mary.”

“Didn’t your sister tell you?” Carol asked. “The pleasure is mine. I love having two women help me keep these men in line. You can see I’m outnumbered.”

Dad Tom laughed. “You agreed to marry the three of us, honey. You’re part to blame.”

“Oh I am, am I?”

“Oh no, brother,” Pappy Jack said in a mischievous tone. “Sounds like you’re in trouble.”

Carol giggled as if she were a teenager. “You three all stay in trouble. I don’t know why I love you so much.”

“I do,” Pop Will said. “Because we Wilde men are irresistible. You’ve always told us we looked like movie stars, sweetheart. Jack like Gary Cooper. Tom like Tyrone Power. And me, the most handsome of the three of us, like Cary Grant’s twin.”

“You’re hardly the most handsome,” Pappy Jack said.

“I agree with you, Jack.” Dad Tom stepped back and folded his arms as if posing for a picture. “Clearly, I’m the best-looking brother.”

“Just keep telling yourself that, Tom.” Pappy Jack grinned. “Our wife knows the truth.”

Smiling, Carol shook her head. “Forgive my adolescent husbands. This argument has been going on for years.”

“I can see why,” Maude said. “They certainly are handsome.”

Mary liked seeing her sister start to open up.

“It’s time to eat before the food gets cold,” Carol said.

Craig pulled out a chair. “Mary, you’re next to me.”

“Wait a second, bro,” Dan said. “I’m sitting next to Mary.”

“You can sit on the other side of her, but I’m sitting here. The other night I sat across from her and you and Dillon got to sit next to her.”

“I say we draw straws,” Dillon said.

“No. It’s your turn to sit across from her,” Craig said. “Tomorrow night, Dan will have to.”

Maude laughed. “Looks like you do need a couple of women in your house to manage these Wilde men.”

“You can say that again.”

Dad Tom pulled out a chair for Maude, which was directly across from hers.