Chapter 35
True – Spandau Ballet
Tally
Stretching lazily in my old childhood bed a warmth settled in the pit of my stomach.
It settled and spread like the beam of sunlight creeping through the crack in the shades.
Thinking of Wilder in my bed made me smile.
A smile so big that it made my cheeks ache.
I wished I was with him, but I still loved the idea that he was missing me so much that he needed to sleep there.
I picked my phone up and flicked through the messages we’d exchanged the night before. They were sweet and sexy and made my heart flip like an acrobat. We’d messaged for almost an hour until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Wilder
Your pillow smells of you. It’s distracting and annoying.
Me
Annoying??
Wilder
Yeah. I’m pissed that I can smell you but you’re not here. Why did no one ever tell me it would be this bad being apart?
Me
Wilder Miller the playboy cowboy getting all sweet on me. I like it xxx
Wilder
Good because from now on Brownie you’re going to be getting ALL the sweet xxx
Sighing I ran my finger over the final one he sent, late into the night.
Wilder
Go to sleep baby, if your Thanksgiving is anything like ours it’ll be full on. Sweet dreams and can’t wait until you get home xx
I wasn’t a girl who liked nicknames from guys. Declan used to call me darling, and I hated it. Brownie, though, I loved because it came from Wilder and he was the only person who used it. ‘Baby’ was new and I had to admit I loved it.
“Knock, knock.” Cole was standing in my doorway, holding a steaming mug. “Brought you coffee.”
My brother’s smile was tentative as he walked toward the bed.
He was still wearing his pajamas, gray fleecy ones with pumpkins on them.
They were the same as mine and Liam’s and Mom had sent them from Florida.
It was our first apart from her and Dad, but she wanted to continue the tradition of matching Thanksgiving pjs.
“Why do you look nervous?” I asked, watching as he placed the mug on my nightstand.
“We tried to start the turkey, but we have no clue what we’re doing.” At that very moment I heard a yell and cursing coming from downstairs.
“And you want me to get you both out of the shit? Despite the fact that you both insisted I should come home so you could both wait on me and give me in Liam’s words, ‘the best fucking dinner you’ve ever had.’. “
Cole chuckled. “That was a pretty good impression of him to be fair.”
Liam was not exactly sunshine, as his family we got the best of him, but some days even then his mood was grayer than freshly mixed concrete.
“I’ll cook your damn food for you.” I pushed into a sitting position and reached for my coffee. “I’ll get a quick shower.”
Cole shook his head. “No changing out of the pjs, though.”
“I can’t spend all day wearing them. I slept in them.”
Cole shook his head. “Mom made us promise.”
“Fine. I’ll wear them, but I’m still showering before I come down.” I needed to sort myself out in the shower, too. Thinking of Wilder in my bed, no doubt naked, had got me all hot under the collar.
Cole pulled me into a hug, almost spilling my coffee, but I managed to save it at the last minute.
“Thanks, sis. Appreciate you.” He messed up hair and my heart dropped because it was something Wilder did. It just made me miss him even more.
“That was great, Talls.” Liam sat back in his seat and rubbed his belly. “Thanks for making a plate for Nate.”
“No doubt he’ll get to eat it at midnight,” Cole grumbled.
Nate had given his family a holiday in Greece but couldn’t go with them because of his business, so as he was alone my brothers had invited him for dinner. As usual with Nate, he’d been caught up in a meeting.
“Have you told your bosses yet about him?” Liam asked, rubbing a hand over his dark stubble. Green eyes, the same shade as mine, watched me with quiet contemplation.
“Nope. And how do you always manage to do that?” I picked up my bottle of beer and took a long pull.
“Do what?”
“Manage to look like Dad after I cut Cole’s hair with Mom’s garden scissors.”
Cole laughed, deep and loud. “I had to wear a wool hat for weeks.”
“Well, have you?” Liam as usual didn’t stray from his path. Always determined. Always grumpy to Cole’s sunshine.
“No.” Two sets of eyes peered at me. “It’s not been the right time.” I stood up and started to clear away the dishes.
“The longer you leave it, the harder they’ll take it when you do.” Liam ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed. “It’s hard for Nate, too. Seeing you there and not being able to speak to you.” He took my hand and pulled on it. “Sit down. We’ll do the dishes.”
“You might as well, Talls,” Cole said, cutting a piece of cheese from the array on the board in the middle of the table. “He’s not going to let it go.”
With a sigh I took my seat again. “They’ll think that I knew all along and went to work there to help Nate.”
“No, they won’t. It’s not like Nate got any information that helped him,” Liam said, his tone more than a little irritated. “You started at The Last Creek after the development started.”
“Liam’s right, Talls. You know he is and so you should just tell them. Tell Wilder at least.” Cole grinned. “I’m just surprised it hasn’t come out in pillow talk.”
Liam cleared his throat, unsettled by any hint of sex where I was concerned. I was his baby sister, and I was pretty sure he thought I still wore braces and glow up sneakers.
“If he finds out from someone else, he won’t be happy, Talls.”
“Liam, please stop going on about it. I know I have to tell him, and I will. Just let me decide when the best time is.” My stomach and chest clenched in sync at the idea of telling Wilder and what it might mean. Whether he would hate me. If he’d end things between us.
“Okay.” I sighed heavily. “I’ll speak to him when I get back to the ranch.” The thought made me feel nauseous. The enormity of what it might result in.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Cole said quietly. “I promise you.”
I nodded wanting to believe him but not sure I did. Especially when the door opened and Nate wandered in. Dressed in a suit, looking and smelling expensive.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite little ginger ninja.” He calmly walked toward me before leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I take it we’re cleared to talk here.” He smirked like he was the funniest man alive.
“Don’t you give me shit as well, Nate. My brothers have done nothing but badger me about it all day.”
“Not all day,” Cole interjected. “Only through dinner.” He pointed to the refrigerator. “There’s a plate in there for you. You just need to warm it.”
“Thanks. I’m starved.” Nate’s long limbs moved lazily as he shrugged off his jacket and hung it off the back of a dining chair.
When he opened the refrigerator door, he peered inside before taking out the plate and a can of pop.
We all watched as he put the plate into the microwave and turned it on.
“So, what’ve I missed?” he asked, turning to lean against the sink, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Not much,” Cole said with a grin. “Oh, except Talls is going to tell her boyfriend that you’re part of the family.”
Nate raised an eyebrow. “Well, there’s a surprise. And boyfriend? I thought it wasn’t serious.”
“It wasn’t.” My mouth went dry, even when I took another swig of cold beer. “Things change.”
Things might change again when I told Wilder. There was a chance he would hate me for lying to him, especially after keeping Declan a secret. There was also a chance I would lose him because of it. The thought of it petrified me.
“Where’s the cranberry sauce?” Nate asked, his eyes scouring the table.
“I'll get it,” I said, standing up. As I did, my phone beeped in my pocket and my heart skipped, hoping it was Wilder.
I pulled out my phone and froze.
Unknown Number
You think you're so clever, fucking the boss, don't you. Make the most of it because soon I'll make sure you lose everything.
The words hit me like a physical blow. My hands started shaking so badly I fumbled the phone, watching it clatter to the floor.
“Talls?” Liam's chair screeched against the tiles as he shot to his feet. “What's wrong?”
I stared down at the phone, my heart hammering. Declan. It had to be Declan.
“I'm fine,” I managed, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears. “Just... just dropped my phone.”
But as I bent to pick it up, my knees felt weak. Another secret to add to my growing list.