The Dangerous Jacob Wilde

“I know we have to work out the details. I mean, I know you love New York and your job, but Dallas is a great city and there are lots of big law firms—”

“I want to live in Wilde’s Crossing.”

Jake’s mouth dropped open. She closed it with a gentle touch of her finger.

“And practice law there. There must be a firm that needs—what?”

“Caleb’s been talking about opening a branch office in town. He has a lot of clients in Wilde’s Crossing—ranchers, businesspeople—but he’s determined to find just the right attorney. So, what do you think? Wilde and Wilde, instead of Kalich, Kalich and Kalich?”

Addison laughed. Jake did, too. And then his laughter faded and he slipped the silk throw from her shoulders.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, cupping her breast. “Missed you so much …”

The doorbell rang. Addison groaned.

“I ordered pizza,” she whispered.

Jake stood up, got his wallet out of his jeans, took out a hundred-dollar bill.

“Just leave it,” he called out, and slid the bill under the door. Then he scooped Addison into his arms. “Where’s the bedroom?”

“Through there.” She kissed him, her lips curving against his. “Pizza’ll be cold by the time we get to it.”.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” he said, as he lowered her to the bed, “but I’m a cold-pizza man, myself.”

“How about that?” Addison said. “So am I.”

Then she smiled and opened her arms to her lover.

And Jake knew that he was, at long last, home.

*****