Wilder (The Wild Ones 3)

Her smile returns, and she sighs as she relaxes in the seat, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

“But Hale was so worried that he hurried me to their town doctor—”

“Town doctor?” I ask because I can’t help myself.

“Consider this the modern middle ages,” she inserts, not missing a beat. “Anyway, after I got my cast, he introduced me to all of the Wild Ones, getting them all to sign my cast as they shared their first broken bone stories. Apparently, I’m the oldest person they’ve ever known to break a bone for the first time.”

“Why are they called the Wild Ones?” I ask her, lifting the book back up from the ground.

“Because out of this town full of crazies, they’re supposedly the most recklessly crazy,” she answers, her smile growing like this is a good thing. “That Kylie chick is constantly boasting about being a Wild One. Hale told me it only gets worse when she’s drunk. All the Malones seem to be obsessed with Wild Ones pride.”

She talks like she’s known these people for a while.

“Don’t get me started on the Nickels. They have Native American heritage, and their very Caucasian, non-Native American mother is over-the-top with representing that. As cool as it was to learn a lot of things about their culture…they’re sort of scary, to be honest, because they’re very in-your-face. Still, though, I liked meeting them.”

“On your second date, he introduced you to all his friends?” I ask in slight disbelief.

Nickel…

Like that Lenny guy?

Her smile stays fixed, and she crosses her legs as she stares out at the town.

“I’m gonna stay a while longer. This is surprisingly the most fun I’ve had in a really, really long time. I can work remotely. Hale showed me the best spot in the house to sit in order to use the wifi, and he taught me all the tricks to using it. I don’t think I’ve ever met a guy so desperate to keep me around and make me happy. I’m almost positive I’m the closest thing he’s had to a girlfriend in his life. It’s too adorable not to enjoy,” she confesses quietly.

My sister has hearts in her eyes.

Reese Kline, the ball-busting bitch from hell who will steamroll over someone for cutting line at her favorite coffee house, destroy a guy for being five minutes late for her date, and can’t stand puppies, is smitten after two dates, even though she ended up in a cast and had to eat Bambi with a drug dealer.

The water supply is undeniably tainted.

“What are you doing, Reese?” I ask with a sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What if this guy falls in love with you? Are you really going to stick around or drag him back to the blue blood, cutthroat world we live in?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He may call what we’re doing dating, but it’s only because he doesn’t seem to know better. However, I like having a friend who doesn’t want to use me. He hasn’t even put any moves on me, and he sticks to respectable boundaries he thinks I have. I’d have sexed him up on night one, but he’s too sweet for all that.”

I peer over at her, wondering just how much she actually does like this guy. It’s starting to worry me, because Reese doesn’t usually like people at all. Two dates and this guy has her looking into sticking around indefinitely.

Something’s not right.

“I’m not used to being surrounded by so many genuine people. They all like talking about themselves, and they love one-upping each other’s stories, and they get loud, laugh hard, and act ridiculous when they feel like it,” she goes on, stating all this like it’s a good thing as her smile grows more. “It’s a nice change of pace is all I’m saying.”

She stands abruptly, waving at someone, and I glance over. My eyes widen in horror when I see Kai and Hale crossing the street, both smiling in our direction.

“What the hell?” I hiss, grabbing Reese’s unbroken arm.

“That’s why I wanted to meet here. We’re going to Lilah and Benson’s place, since they’re cooking for everyone. Apparently they like showing off their married life or something,” she tells me, sounding less and less like herself.

“Damn it, Reese! You should have warned me,” I whisper yell. “I’m still wearing his sweatshirt,” I add.

She glances down at me, eyeing the sweatshirt, and smirks. “Sounds like someone has a crush she doesn’t really want to admit aloud. I don’t blame you. He’s hot, and he did save your life and all.”

I don’t get to respond, because Kai leaps over the gazebo’s railing, and he comes to drop down on my other side, letting his arm fall around my shoulders as he continues to smile.

“You making sure the town knows you’re mine?” he asks, tugging at the sleeve of the sweatshirt I really wish I wasn’t wearing.