A Match Made in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 2)

Mary opened the door and walked next to her. “You look beautiful. You’re going to blow Grant away.”

“I shouldn’t even be going on this date. There’s so little time to get your bachelorette party put together, let alone finish up the plans for your wedding.”

“There’s plenty of time. Both are small affairs. And Mom is helping, too. I want you to make the most of this date with Grant. Go with him, have fun, and don’t worry about anything.”

“Please don’t get your hopes up about a relationship. This isn’t serious, Mary. Can’t be.”

Mary’s eyes narrowed. “Why can’t it be?”

“Because I will be leaving Wilde after your wedding.”

“I know you have a lot to think about, and I don’t mean to put pressure on you. But I don’t want you to leave, no matter what happens between you and the Strong brothers.”

“I only have so many days left for my leave, sis.”

“You never liked that job in the first place. Quit. You can find something here.”

“Maybe so, but that would take too much time. I can’t miss a paycheck. It’s not just my bills. I have a payment I have to make to the new private investigator I hired last month. He’s expensive, but his success rate for cases like mine is higher than any other I’ve ever employed before. If I’m late, he will drop my case entirely.”

“I can help with that until you get something here. I have money. Besides, I need your help, and not just with the wedding. With everything. You’re not just my sister, Maude. You’re my closest friend. I need you here. Won’t you stay?”

Carol appeared in the doorway. “Your date is here, sweetheart. Are you ready?”

Thankful for the interruption so she didn’t have to answer her sister, Maude nodded. “Thanks, Mom. Gotta go, sis. Love you.”

She walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs. She could hear Mary and Carol talking about her.

“Mom, do you have any idea how we can get her to stay in Wilde?” Mary asked.

Being at the bottom step, she wasn’t able to hear Carol’s answer to her sister. She walked into the foyer. Seeing Grant standing by the front door took her breath away. He wore a blue knit shirt, white shorts, and had exchanged his cowboy boots for black leather sandals. He could’ve graced the cover of any magazine with his good looks.

“Here is your date, nephew,” Pop Will said. It seemed natural to think of him as her pop. The three men had been kinder to her in the week she’d known them than her own father had ever been.

Grant turned to her. His perfect smile made her weak in the knees.

“Come here, daughter.” Pappy Jack held out his hand. “We need to get a closer look at you. You’re just about the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.”

Pop Will nodded. “Totally adorable.”

“Grant, you’re a very lucky guy to be going on a date with our girl,” Dad Tom said.

In the short time she’d been in Wilde, she’d grown to love these three wonderful men. When they’d first called her “daughter,” she’d almost cried. She wished her father had half the warmth for her and Mary as Carol’s husbands.

“Are you ready, Maude?” Grant asked her, his sexy eyes never leaving hers.

She stepped next to him. “Yes, I’m ready.”

He turned to Carol’s three husbands. “I’ll have her back at a decent hour.”

“Have fun, you two,” Pop Will said, heading into the kitchen.

Dad Tom smiled. “Enjoy yourselves.” Then he also left them.

Pappy Jack put his arm around Grant. “Be good to our girl, son. Show her a good time.”

“I will, Uncle Jack. I promise.”

The dear man nodded and joined his two brothers in the kitchen.