Page 40 of Wilde About You

Sadie came out of the bedroom dressed and carrying her things. "I guess we've said goodbye to the place enough. I'm ready when you are."

"Yep. Glad to see the end of this lease, if for no other reason, I won't have to talk to that fart-huffing imbecile anymore."

I picked up my bags, and we walked down to the truck. I glanced around the parking lot a few times. "Guess I was feeling paranoid. I was sure it was Gregor or Buck at the door. And I love a good fight, but even I don't want to take on either of those guys."

"Buck's not all that bad," Sadie said casually as she climbed into the passenger seat. "He followed me to the bus stop earlier⁠—"

"What the fuck? Why didn't you tell me? Did he hurt you? Did he threaten you?"

"Whoa there, Wilde, it was fine. Did you not catch the part when I said Buck's not all that bad?" She leaned over and pinched my cheek. "But it really makes me hot in the pussy when you act all super protective like that."

I started the truck and was feeling pretty stupid and at the same time mad. "Not a laughing matter, Sadie, or did you forget the four men trying to kidnap you from this very same parking lot?"

"Believe it or not, that regrettable incident is etched into my psyche. But if you'd let me tell you what happened, this will all sound less alarming."

"Less alarming?" I pulled onto the road.

"Certainly not scary like the earlier incidents. I was sitting on the bench looking out for the bus, and someone sat next to me. It was Buck Finch."

I instinctively tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Was this it? Was this that ready-to-kill-anyone-that-comes-near-her mode that Jameson, Zander and Ronan felt about their girlfriends?

I'd seen Zander practically break a man in half with just his glare after the guy accidentally hit Nev with his shopping cart.

"What did Finch do?" I asked.

"Nothing. He was a complete gentleman."

"Except for the stalking you to the bus stop part." Someone pulled out in front of me from the curb, and I laid on the horn.

"Ok, buddy, let's dial back the adrenaline."

"Look, Sadie—" I said angrily.

"No, you look." She turned slightly in the seat. "I've been on my own since I was eighteen. I've traveled all the continents and been in some of the scariest fucking situations you could possibly imagine, and I came out alive. I've got Ace suddenly pretending that he gives a damn about a little sister he all but ignored until, well, until right now. My dad's pretend protection shit is strictly because he doesn't want me doing something scandalous to ruin the family name."

"Do you think my instinct to protect you is bullshit? That I don't really give a damn?"

"Shit. No, I didn't mean that at all. I like that it's genuine. I like that someone cares enough to worry, but I was fine in that moment. All my adventures have taught me how to be an excellent judge of people … and animals. Never trust a Tasmanian devil. They're even crazier than the cartoon. Buck was there to be the good cop, so to speak. He knew Gregor had been threatening me and following me, but Buck was just there to remind me that if I did release the photo, it would have a very big impact on their lives and on their family's lives. He didn't tell me not to release it. He just wanted me to know that it would hurt all of them a lot. And I appreciated that. I've also been considering that since the moment I took that photo. My dream has always been to take an amazing picture that shows the joy or excitement or drama of a significant event. This was about passion and love, but the only reason the photo will go viral is because of the shocking irony of it all. Two fierce, powerful opponents who are also madly or at least sexually in love with each other. I'm kind of getting just how deep an attraction like that can be," she said quietly.

I looked over at her. "Sorry I was acting like a dick. I'm just worried about you. I could say I wish you'd never taken that photo but then you wouldn't have stolen my sweatshirt and⁠—

"I was just borrowing it."

I laughed. "Right. But that picture brought us together, so even if you never publish the damn thing, it'll be important to me."

We reached the road leading to the ranch. "Remember, my dad is not your regular sweater, loafers and newspaper kind of dad. He'll very likely, in fact, he'll definitely say totally inappropriate shit."

Sadie looked at me, her blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I can't wait to meet him."

twenty-one

. . .

Sadie

Isat forward as we drove up the long gravel road. A large log cabin came into view, then a red barn and pastures with horses. "I already love this place," I said.

"Yeah, I've got mixed feelings about it. There were some awesome times here. Some really bad times, too. We ran wild out here on the ranch. We probably racked up thirty trips to the ER, twelve broken bones and a thousand stitches through the years, but it was all worth it. I know you ride horses, but how about dirt bikes?"