Wilder (The Wild Ones 3)

She sighs dramatically, slumping in her seat.

“Maybe you should play it more cool and aloof instead of so…aggressive and…desperate,” Reese states with a notable amount of hesitation.

When Krysta bounces out of her chair, Reese squeaks out a worried sound, but the Wild One just walks by us without saying a word.

“Five minute warning. Finish warming up!” Vick, the lone town cop, says as he checks his watch. “This time, everyone behaves,” he warns, pointing a finger at Kai like he’s singling him out.

“He’s got his girl back. He won’t be so bad this time,” Greta calls out. “Cut my boy some slack!”

“You stay out of this. Wilders break more rules than any other Wild One family,” Vick tells her, moving that pointed finger toward her, as Kai grins like he’s been complimented. “How many times have I told you to leave that cat at home?”

Cougar rolls over on her back, staring over at the scene like she’s a docile kitty playing a part. She even gives an almost adorably playful swat, acting all innocent and stuff.

She’s terrifyingly intelligent, if I’m honest.

I get why cats are called cunning now.

Fortunately, she seems to have warmed toward me this past month. I still don’t even try to pet her. I’m too scared, and supposedly animals can smell fear and like the scent.

No thank you.

Eaten by my boyfriend’s pet isn’t the way I want to go out.

“Cougar has her own mind. You can’t control a wild animal, you know?” Greta argues.

Vick groans, massaging his temple as he paces back and forth.

I’ve noticed that he’s scared of Cougar too, but he tries to pretend he’s not.

“Lumberjack physiques, pretty faces, adorably inexperienced, giving and thoughtful, and able to tame wild, lethal cats into sweet kittens,” Sally says. “I’m still not seeing why they’re all so single.”

“Just wait for it,” Benson quips without missing a beat.

“One minute!” Vick shouts.

Suddenly, a shirt slaps my sister in the face, and she just sits there with it on her head, not moving. I glance over, watching Hale smirk as she pulls it off, still refusing to look at him.

She drops the shirt to her lap, pretending it never happened, and stares down at her nails.

“What is wrong with you?!” Sally gripes, shaking Reese from behind. “That drop dead gorgeous one just threw his shirt at you! Stop playing so hard to get, or he’s going to lose interest! Please, for Pete’s sake, do this for me!”

She doesn’t know about Hale…

Reese hasn’t told her…

Why hasn’t Reese told her?

“Sally, will you please get me something to drink?” she asks her, her tone flat and emotionless, as though she needs a break, now that Hale is preoccupied.

Sally groans, stomps her feet, and hops up.

She’s three months pregnant, so you can’t really tell it yet. Still, just telling Greta and Penny about the pregnancy has really upped the baby chatter. My womb had never been the topic of so much conversation before I came to Tomahawk.

“Why are you being so cold?” I decide to ask Reese.

“Because it’s better not to lead him on in any way when I come to visit you. It’s best to set boundaries starting now. He’ll grow to hate me, and then he’ll move on instead of hoping I’ll be as romantic and carefree as you. He doesn’t understand what jaded girls are like, and he doesn’t know what’s best for him,” she answers a little too honestly, staying really quiet.

“Reese, don’t say—”

“Go!” Vick shouts.

We both startle when the immediate sound of crunching and splitting starts, and my eyes go so wide that I’m worried they’ll pop out. I also worry that I’m going to need a cold shower or a lot of time alone with Kai before this competition even ends.

Kai slams down one axe, splitting the one on the right side with just one strike. He quickly repeats the action with his left hand, taking out that chunk of wood just as easily and efficiently.

“Pace yourself, boys!” Greta shouts to her sons.

“Get em, boys!” Penny shouts to the Vincents.

“Don’t you dare let Hale Vincent get that far ahead of you!” Kylie shouts to one of her cousins.

“Hoooooooorayyyy! Let’s chop some wood today! Hooooooooorayyyy! Let’s make Mother Nature’s blessing fruitful and meaningful on this blessed day!”

Reese and I both arch an eyebrow at the Nickel mother, who is all smiles and a little…spacey. I can’t think of a gentler way to put it.

She stands and starts dancing, singing the cheer over and over again.

This is the first time I’ve met her, so I’m just as confused as Reese.

I snap out of the distraction, my eyes back to hungrily raking over Kai as he gets pretty far ahead of the others. Yep, I’m going to have to drag him out of here.

“Sorry, Reese. We’ll have to eat later than planned,” I tell her.