Page 57 of Wilde About You

She chuckled softly. "Magic pussy, apparently. Comes with being a wood sprite. What will you do next? Are you going to try and find a new team? Or go independent? I guess the winter season will take you out of town a lot. My drudge-filled life of shooting photos of crying babies and corny couples will keep me in one place, unfortunately."

"Not sure what I'm doing next, but even if I compete again, I'll be home a lot. I have a very solid reason to stick around town. One thing is for sure—Dad's going to be fucking stoked to have you in the family."

"I'm happy to be part of the Wilde clan. Even if they are rather infamous and dissolute and uh, that's all the adjectives I can think of right now because your fabulous cock seems to be coming around again."

I smoothed my hands over her ass and pushed her against my erection. "I was hoping you'd notice."

Sadie laughed. "Are you kidding? A girl would have to be dead not to feel that giant penis pushing against her."

"You are such a character. Something tells me life is never going to be dull with you by my side."

twenty-seven

. . .

Sadie

"How do these look? Cooked enough?" I lifted the frying pan so Finn could see them from his stool at the kitchen island.

"Those are perfect. Hate my eggs runny. Don't know how anyone can eat them like that."

The toast popped up. I buttered two slices and set them on the plate next to the eggs and two slices of bacon. Finn and I had gotten into the habit of getting up early to hang out over breakfast. I knew I was going to have to enter the real world soon and this short stint of fun would end, so I was making the most of it.

I sat with my plate of runny eggs. Finn scrunched up his nose. "Daring woman. What are you up to today?"

"I think we're going to take a trail ride this morning. Then I have an interview at Family Portraits at eleven today. I've got to get back to work."

"Family Portraits," Finn said it as if there was a sour lemon in his mouth. "Doesn't sound like your kind of job." He already knew me so well. Sometimes it was hard to line up the man sitting next to me, with his marshmallow mound of white hair and the crinkly lines on his face, with the hard-ass dad who'd raised five boys with an iron fist and, at the same time, with few guardrails.

"It's not but it'll pay the bills. I need tires for my car. It's safe now, so I'll have to get back to my apartment, get my life back in order." I reached over and patted his hand. It was a hand covered with scars and age spots. I was sure there were countless stories involving those big, thick hands. I also got the feeling not many people had ever reached over to pat Finnegan Wilde's hand, but I felt entirely comfortable with the man. "I want to thank you so much for letting me stay here. My own family—well, I've never felt like I belonged with them. Do you know what I mean?"

His chuckle was aged and raggedy and genuine. "I know the feeling, sweetheart. I never felt like I fit into this community, or state or planet, for that matter. When I was a young man, I never pictured myself a parent to five boys." His chin moved back and forth in thought. "I know I made a lot of mistakes with them. My only model was a man who thought every answer should include a fist or a belt strap. I just had to look grumpy at the dinner table, and I'd end up with a raw hide and no dinner."

I squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry you went through that, but I'm also sorry your boys had to go through that."

Finn's mouth turned down. For a second, it seemed he'd gone back in time. Layers of regret and remorse streaked through his expression. "Can't take back what's already done. But I fought to keep all my boys. I wasn't going to give any of 'em up. I might not have shown it in traditional ways, but I love every one of them."

My chest tightened as I imagined what it was like for the boys growing up with this man. It must have been so confusing and unstable. Yet they all managed to make it to adulthood. Two were even fathers themselves now and good ones, according to Colin. They'd learned from their dad, too, but unlike Finn, they'd learned not to follow his lead.

"Why not give up the apartment and live here at the ranch?" Finn asked.

"Wow, you just received the golden ticket to the chocolate factory," Nate said as he walked into the kitchen. He really was stunning to look at, even with morning hair and stubble. The stubble might have even enhanced his appearance, if that was possible. "Even his own kids don't get that kind of invite."

"What do ya mean?" Finn asked gruffly over a bite of bacon. "You're here, aren't ya? Don't see ya out on the street living like a homeless person."

"Wow, someone is getting very sensitive in his old age." Nate looked at me. "And I'm his favorite or so I've been told."

"You're all on my old man shit list. Sadie's my new favorite."

I peered up at Nate over the rim of my coffee cup. "Sorry bout that, buddy. It is what it is."

Finn laughed. "And that's why she's my new favorite."

"Who's your new favorite?" Colin asked. He kissed me and walked straight to the cupboard for a cup.

Nate dropped two slices of bread in the toaster. "Sadie. Dad has decided his actual children are not worthy of the title."

Colin poured a cup. "No big deal. You were always the favorite, so now you know what it feels like to be down the list."