Wilde For You (The Wilde Sisters Book 3)

by Marianne Rice

  “He’s lonely and I don’t think he wants to accept reality. The man’s a miracle worker on the web. He’s drummed up a lot of business for me over the years.”

  “Hmm.”

  Luke picked up her briefcase and ushered her out of the lounge, his hand on her lower back causing chills to race down her arms. Before she had time to register where they were going, Luke was talking with the hostess who led them to a table in the back of the restaurant.

  “Wait. What are you doing?”

  “Eating dinner.” He pulled out a chair and gently pushed her down in it.

  “I didn’t say I’d have dinner with you.”

  “Well, it’s nearly six and you have to eat sometime.”

  The hostess asked for their beverage order and before Sage could reply, Luke cut her off again. “I’ll have an iced tea. And the lady will have…wine?”

  “Tonic water with lime, please.” After the hostess left, she hammered into Luke. “Don’t be so presumptuous. I’m working. I don’t drink when I work.”

  “When are you done working?”

  “Never.”

  “So you don’t drink?”

  Sage thought about her favorite nights. When she and her sisters got together for margaritas and nachos, which happened less frequently now that Rayne and Trent had two kids and Thyme and Grayson were married and raising his six-year-old daughter. “Occasionally. But I don’t have much time for socializing.”

  “Well then, it’s a good thing I came around when I did.”

  “Has anyone ever told you how exasperating you are?”

  Luke laughed, picking up his menu. “My brothers and sisters tell me all the time.”

  “I can only imagine what your house was like growing up. You probably bullied everyone to see things your way.”

  “Far from it. My mother ran a tight ship. We had our moments when we wanted to kill each other, but we’ve stuck by each other’s sides.”

  Sage found herself wanting to learn more about this beautiful man and his family, which was completely out of character for her. “How many siblings do you have?”

  “That’s a loaded question. Over the years I’ve had over twenty.”

  “Twenty?” Sage nearly shouted.

  “But really there’s just six of us. Mom is a foster mom. She took in lots of kids over the years but didn’t adopt them all, even though she wanted to.”

  “Were you a foster child?” Oh, foot. Mouth. “I’m sorry. That was rude and none of my business. Forget I asked.”

  “I don’t mind.” Luke shrugged and waited as the waitress delivered their drinks and took their order. When she left, he continued. “I’m adopted. All six of us are. Mom and Dad found out early on they couldn’t have children and started taking kids in when they were in their twenties.”

  “Are you the oldest?”

  “Yes. I’m thirty-two and Lucy, the baby, is twenty-two. Graham, Blake, Jack, Colton, and Rachael all fall in between.”

  “That must have been crazy during high school. A lot of raging hormones.”

  “And fights. The guys and I are fiercely competitive. Too bad they’re all ugly-looking skinny boys. I try to take it easy on them.” Luke laughed. “My mom is amazing. The patience of a Sunday school teacher, which she was, yet you never want to cross her path. You’ve never seen the evil eye until you’ve been on Doreen Riley’s bad side.”

  She liked the genuine smile on his face when he talked about his family. Especially his mom. It was obvious Luke held a torch for her. He glossed over his father’s passing away a few years ago and said his brothers and sisters had alternated taking care of their mom.

  “Lucy and I are the only ones who stayed in Maine, the rest of the herd is spread across the country. They try to come home during the holidays when they can, all except Colton, who’s in Afghanistan and has no control over his schedule.” He tore off a piece of roll, buttered it, and offered it to Sage. She typically didn’t eat carbs after lunch unless it was margarita and nacho night with her sisters, but she caved in and accepted the bread.

  “Family meals at your house must be crazy.”

  “We’ll all be at my mom’s for Thanksgiving next week. She’s getting older but still holds her own. We each bring something, so that helps a little.”

  “And what do you bring? A case of beer?”

  “So now who’s presumptuous? For your information, I bring the pies.”

  “Store bought?”

  “Hell no. I make kick-ass pies. I bring the traditional pumpkin, but chocolate coconut and lemon meringue are my specialties.”

  “My brother-in-law owns a bakery. I doubt your pies are better than his desserts.”

  “I accept that challenge, Miss Wilde. Tell me more about your family. I’d have pegged you for an only child if you hadn’t mentioned a brother-in-law.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Well, you’re punctual. That’s hard to do with a house full of siblings. You’re career-driven, stylish, and have no interest in drinking with men. I’m guessing you didn’t go out much as a teen. Parents put too much pressure on you as a kid.” He sipped his tea and studied her. She tried not to take insult at his comments. He didn’t know better.

  “You suck at this.” She snorted and drank her water. Thankfully the waitress came, delivering her grilled haddock and his steak.

  They ate for a while before Luke broke the silence. “So tell me about your brothers and sisters.”

  Sage swallowed her asparagus and washed it down with her remaining water. “Sisters. Two of them. I’m the oldest. Rayne, the middle one, is married and has a baby and a toddler to chase after. She’s the perfect child. Really. And Thyme is the brat, I mean the baby of the family. She married her Prince Charming this fall and adopted his little girl.”

  “So you’ve got perfect Rayne and bratty Thyme. What do they call you?”

  “Bitch.”

  Luke smiled and stabbed the last bite of his steak with his fork. “You were the rebel in high school who morphed into the responsible one, right?”

  “Rayne is the most responsible, but yeah, that’s me.”

  “And you’re the serious one. Thyme, the brat, is the party child. Or was, before Prince Charming.”

  “Right again.”

  “So what’s a bitchy, serious, responsible woman doing wearing sexy as hell red high-heeled boots?”

  Forgetting for a moment what she was wearing, Sage resisted the urge to look under the table. This morning seemed so long ago when she picked out her black pencil skirt, white fitted blouse, and boots. Her red earrings and bracelets and footwear were a way to make her outfit seem a little less boring. And Luke had seen her in the boots and nothing else except the hospital johnny. “Responsible women can wear red boots. Bitchy women too.”

  “Your parents must be proud.”

  “Yeah, real proud.” She rolled her eyes and looked around for the waitress.

  Thankfully he took the hint and didn’t pursue that topic any further. Her parents were nonexistent in her world. Or rather, her parents wished their three girls were nonexistent. They never wanted children and always acted inconvenienced when they had to “adult,” which wasn’t often. Too much in love and too wrapped up in each other to ever pay any of them any attention, they finally took off for parts unknown a few years ago, only checking in with their daughters occasionally to brag about their latest adventure.

  After taking responsibility for her two younger sisters since she was a young teen, Sage was grateful not to have to worry about them anymore; she could now focus on her career.

  “Do you have a business card?”

  “Is that the latest way to ask for a woman’s phone number?”

  Luke’s eyes lit up the entire restaurant. “Sexy and smart. I think I’m in love.”

  Sage rolled her eyes again as she reached for her purse. What the hell. The man was hot. And fun. They could have a good time playing on her mattress. She slid her card acros
s the table and he covered her hand in his. They stared at each other, the sexual tension thick in the air. Her girly parts begged to go home with him, but the sensible side of Sage knew she couldn’t let Luke have the upper hand on their first date.

  Hell, she hadn’t even agreed to a first date. She couldn’t let him control her so easily. Pulling her hand free, she motioned for the waitress and reached for her credit card. “We’re all done. Can you put the bill on my Visa?”

  Luke plucked the card away and dug in his pocket for his wallet, handing the waitress a few bills. “It’s on me.” The waitress looked back and forth between them and finally relented when Luke wouldn’t give up.

  “Presumptuous again, are we?” She snagged her card from his hand and slid it back into its slot in her purse. “I’m quite capable of paying my own way.”

  “Call me old-fashioned, then.” When the waitress returned with his change, he tossed a tip on the table and stood, offering his hand to her. She allowed him to help her up—not that she wasn’t perfectly capable of getting out of a chair on her own—and he even helped her put on her coat.

  “I’m not a toddler. I can get dressed by myself, you know.”

  “I’ve undressed you and dressed you today. All that’s left now is…” He didn’t fill in the blank. No need to.

  She knew what would happen next, but not tonight. Sage needed to call the shots. She needed to plan the date, time, and location.

  Luke escorted them out into the cold, dark night. “Which car?” She clicked the button on her key fob and her black SUV lit up.

  Linking their hands together, Luke led them over to her car. Holding her gaze prisoner, he brushed his lips across hers, his hands sliding up her arms until they cupped her face, his thumbs outlining her mouth. He barely touched her, yet the light kiss turned her panties in a twist, her toes curling in her boots.

  “Until next time,” he whispered in her ear and drew away, opening the car door for her. She slid into the front seat and pulled the door shut before she could register what just happened. Luke winked at her and strolled toward the other end of the parking lot, where she watched as he climbed into a full-size truck.

  Obviously. No other vehicle could fit the man. Or his ego. Now that she wasn’t entranced by his soapy, manly smell, Sage could see things clearer. “The pompous ass.” How dare he show up at her business meeting. And invite himself to dinner. And kiss her senseless. Well, the kiss wasn’t that passionate. No tongue. No groping. He barely touched his lips against hers. Still, he left his mark. She’d have to spend twenty minutes in the shower washing it off.

  But when she got home she didn’t shower. Instead, Sage snuggled into her pillow and pretended not to dream about her sexy firefighter.

  Chapter Two

  Sage

  Three years ago Thanksgiving was a low-key event. Now with her sisters married and her brothers-in-law having super cool families, it had turned into a fifteen-person event. Rayne’s house in Rocky Harbor had already turned into a family home and Thyme and Grayson had Maddie and were hoping to fill their spare bedrooms as well. If things went according to Sage’s plan, which they always did, her baby sister would soon be swamped in dirty diapers and baby drool just like Rayne.

  After dinner, when the men went in the living room to watch football and Grayson’s parents took all the little ones outside for a walk, the women worked on dish duty.

  Sage hated sentimental crap and knew Rayne was going to make a bigger deal about the situation than necessary, so timing was everything. People would be leaving within the hour. Now was her chance to break the news and bolt.

  “So, Thyme. You can’t carry a baby, right?”

  Rayne gasped and dropped the glass she was drying. Miraculously it didn’t shatter, but the dramatic tension started, nonetheless. Exactly what Sage didn’t want. She didn’t have a way with words like her sister did.

  A few months ago, right before Thyme got married, she’d gotten the surprise of her life when her doctor told her she couldn’t have kids. That her uterus was junk. Her ovaries worked just fine, but she couldn’t carry a baby to term. There had been a lot of margaritas drunk since that night.

  So, being the responsible sister she was, Sage figured she’d help out any way she could. Blunt, to the point. What other way was there?

  “But I can.” Another gasp from Rayne. Thyme stood frozen, her bottom lip quivering. “That didn’t come out right.” Sage tossed the dishtowel on the counter and started putting the silverware away. “I went to see Dr. Whitmore the other day.” Another gasp. Another scowl. Shit. “What I mean is…we know your eggs are fine, but your oven is shot. My uterus is fine and isn’t being used for anything. I’m not having kids. Ever. I’m not the mom type. So, Dr. Whitmore said she can put your eggs and…uh…Grayson’s sperm in me and I can carry your baby. I won’t have to have sex with Grayson or anything kinky like that. It’s all very scientific.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” This from Grayson, who crossed the kitchen in two strides and drew Thyme in to his side.

  “A surrogate. You can rent space for your kid in my uterus. Only I won’t charge you rent. It’s no big deal. I carry your kid, pop it out, and hand it over to you.” Finished with the silverware, she turned to face a packed kitchen full of shocked faces.

  “When did you…you’d seriously do this?” Thyme’s lip did that quivering thing again. She was the ugliest crier ever. Thankfully she wasn’t the emotional type and didn’t cry much. Only when Grayson broke her heart the first three times and when she found out her uterus didn’t work.

  “Sure. We’re sisters. You’d do the same.”

  “I don’t think I would.”

  Sage laughed. “Yeah, you’re too selfish. But Rayne definitely would if her uterus wasn’t already taken.”

  “I…I don’t know what to say.” Thyme sniffed and Grayson handed her a paper towel. “You thought of this all on your own?” Sage shrugged. “And you’d give up your body for nine months for me?” Sage shrugged again, uncomfortable with the attention on her. “No drinking. No partying. No sex for nine months.”

  “Woah. I can still have sex. I already asked about that.”

  “True story. Sex while pregnant is totally fine,” Trent said as he slid behind Rayne and nuzzled her neck. “Totally, perfectly fine. The best, actually.”

  “God. Get a room. See? I’ll be fine. I made an appointment for us for Monday morning at eight.”

  “But…how does it work? Do we start the process on Monday?” Thyme wiped her eyes as Grayson’s parents and Maddie squeezed in the kitchen to join in the discussion, as did Trent’s brother-in-law Brian and his mom.

  Sage looked nervously around the room. It wasn’t like she was leaking top secret information. The family all knew of Thyme’s news. She had been devastated when she found out a few months ago and cried to anyone who would listen. “Well, from what you’ve told us, Grayson has already been checked and his sperm count is high.”

  “A little awkward, here,” Grayson mumbled.

  “He’ll need to do his business in a cup, and Dr. Whitmore will hook his guys up with your eggs and then she’ll implant them in me. The timing has to be right, though. That’s what we’ll figure out on Monday.”

  “I don’t know what to say. You’re acting like this is no big deal. Like we’re getting our car worked on or something.” Thyme blew her nose one more time and wrapped Sage in a bear hug. “I love you. You’re a pain in my ass most days, but I knew deep down inside you loved me. Thank you, Sage. I don’t think I can ever repay you.” Thyme sobbed in Sage’s neck as they held on to each other.

  The room was quiet except for Thyme’s muffled sobs. Grayson soon came over and enveloped them in an embrace as well. Then came Rayne, Grayson’s parents, and the rest of the family until Sage and Thyme were in the middle of the biggest group hug Sage had ever witnessed.

  This. This is what Luke was talking about. Family. Belonging. Craziness. For the first
time in forever, Sage didn’t feel alone.

  ***

  Luke

  The damn woman wouldn’t return his calls. It had been nearly two weeks and she hadn’t even sent a text response. Most men would take the hint and abandon ship, but Luke knew Sage was interested. She just didn’t know it yet. During his Thanksgiving meal with his family a plan had slowly developed. He only hoped his sister would play along.

  Late as usual, Lucy finally showed up to his house, with not an excuse or an apology for coming two hours after their dinner plans.

  “Thanks for coming.” Luke scowled.

  “Sure,” Lucy said, as if she was doing him a favor. Well, she would be soon enough. Her hair was bright pink today and she may have added an extra piercing to her right ear; it was hard to tell with so much silver already in it. “What’s up?”

  “I need you to call and make an appointment with a party planner to help with Mom’s sixtieth birthday party.”

  “Why can’t you call?”

  “Because I need you to. Don’t worry. You won’t have to lift a finger. I just need you to make the appointment.” He handed her Sage’s business card.

  “Can I use your phone?” Lucy dragged her feet, clad in heavy black combat boots, down the hall to his kitchen. She opened the fridge and helped herself to a beer.

  “Uh, no. You need to call from your phone. Leave your name and number.”

  Lucy opened her beer and studied Luke. “What kind of trouble are you in?”

  “Just make the damn call or I’m taking back my beer.” The smart-ass handed the beer back to him and turned toward the door. “Wait. Luce. Come on. This will take thirty seconds out of your day, which I’m assuming was filled with doing nothing anyway.”

  “Smooth move, ex-lax.” She was halfway to the door before he pulled her back.

  “Damn it, Lucy! The woman’s name is Sage. I’ve been trying to ask her out but she won’t answer my calls or reply to any texts. She’s an event planner and would respond to you if she thought you were a potential client.”