Wilder (The Wild Ones 3)

I would know…I’ve studied every single picture’s details. This is her best smile yet.

“Taking a break from traveling. Reese has you covered, though! I’ll be fielding all the submissions for sales promotions, so keep them coming,” is all the caption says.

But I know that quilt.

Maybe that’s an old picture…

My eyes flick to the motherfuckers who are flocking in droves down the road that leads to my land. If men are flocking this hardcore, it’s because there’s a girl they want. Girls like Piper don’t swing through Tomahawk too often. They draw a crowd.

There’s only one person who could be out that way…

I’m out the door and in my Jeep in the very next instant, flooring it as I pass several vehicles. I commit a few faces to memory, because if they really are going after Piper, someone’s going to get severely punished.

I get stuck behind the convoy half way up the mountain, and I lay on the horn. That has people darting out of my way, and some even turn around and head back toward town. Regardless, I make it through the fray and finally pull up in front of her cabin.

It’s still boarded up, but it is loaded down with guys who look like they’re going to wait on her to magically appear.

Everyone gets wide-eyed when I stalk closer. Most screech and scatter when I pick up the axe I have stuck in the trunk of the dead tree I cut down last week to keep it from collapsing on the cabin.

Everyone scrams when I loudly howl into the air to call Cougar, who is probably spitting mad that I left her behind. All the Wild Ones howl, but only mine summons a big cat.

I never have to say a word to send people on their way.

I dig my keys out of my pocket and unlock the front door, heading inside…

Nothing.

Her cabin still smells like all her frills, but there’s dust collecting on every surface, untouched. Why did these fuckers think she was in town too?

Sagging against the wall, I let my head thump back against the wood. There are vehicles abandoned all over the yard.

My hand comes up over my chest that feels like a fucking blade is being stabbed in it. This is why it’s a dangerous thing to get your hopes up.

I remember Ma doing this every time Dad left and someone hinted that he might be back. She’d get excited and then crushed if they were wrong.

It makes me pity my mother a little now that I’m getting a taste of that.

Eventually she stopped doing it. Hopefully I’ll stop as well, because this sucks worse than anything has sucked since she left.

Shutting my eyes and counting to ten, I take a few breaths so I don’t unleash my fury on anyone who is pulling up with food or desserts in their hands. I’ll deal with them when I’m a little less angry.

When I open the door, axe in hand, the newest arrivals shriek and sprint into the woods like this is the start of a horror movie.

Swinging the axe in my hand, I wind up and throw it, stabbing it into the nearest tree.

It sends several who are in hiding running into the woods as well.

“Even if she did come back, she’d still be mine. Stay the fuck off my side of the lake!” I shout.

Angry, I stalk down the stairs, go to my Jeep, and…punch the steering wheel while having a fucking fit for a minute. After the tantrum is finally over, I let my head drop back to the seat and close my eyes while clutching the steering wheel.

That’s the first morsel of hope I’ve allowed myself to have.

I feel another de-stressing camping trip is now in order.

Wild Ones Tip #217

Where there’s a flag, there’s a Wild One.

Chapter 23

PIPER

*******

Tying my robe a little tighter, I hurriedly try to decorate the shit-tastic cake I’ve made.

No amount of amateur icing is going to cover this warped disaster. How does a cake even bake this unevenly? The outsides look a little dry and almost burned, but I’m not so sure the inside is finished. It shouldn’t wiggle like that.

I have icing on my face, hands, and eyebrows. How does it keep getting on my eyebrows?

At this rate, I’m going to epically fail at seduction all over again.

Shit. It’s on my neck too. I look like a disaster, and I have no idea what time I’ll finally get to see Kai.

I had to leave my car at my cabin when it started getting blocked in by the guys, who weirdly find it appropriate to shower a girl with food. Fortunately, Krysta and Nila showed up to save me.

It’s sweet that guys want to shower women with a gift before asking them out, but it’s also a little unnerving how many of them seem to want a girlfriend.