Wilde Side

by Jannine Gallant

  She drew in a ragged breath and pressed her face against his neck. “I might want to, but we’re not going to.”

  He stroked up and down her back with one big hand. “Okay, I respect that. Maybe we can find someplace more private tomorrow.”

  “Out in the forest on the hard ground while Tiny stands guard?”

  A chuckle rumbled through him. “Works for me.”

  “Me, too. Thanks for understanding.” She put her hand up to touch the side of his face.

  “You make it easy.”

  She smiled as her hand slipped away. Long after his breathing evened out in sleep, Devin lay awake. With each day they spent together, she cared more and more for Sawyer. Her parents liked him, too, which said something about his character. Though they hadn’t mentioned anything specific, she’d known they weren’t crazy about Porter on the one occasion she’d brought him home to Vermont. Why had she been so obsessed with that idiot? Tucked against Sawyer’s side, she couldn’t remember what the attraction had been. And she feared once she parted ways with this man holding tight to her heart, no one else would live up to the standard he’d set. Hot tears pressed against her lids. She didn’t want to lose him. But following him from one river adventure to another like a homeless nomad each summer and spending winters on an isolated ranch with no life of her own would suck her soul dry. There was no good answer.

  “How come you aren’t asleep?” His voice rumbled low in her ear.

  She blinked back tears and tried to ease the emotion from her voice. “Sorry, did I wake you?”

  He propped up on one elbow to peer at her in the moonlight shining through the uncovered window. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.”

  One thumb touched her damp cheek. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I’m being stupid, worrying about the future.” She swallowed. “Wanting something that won’t make me happy in the long run.”

  “Not stupid.” He brushed wisps of hair from her face. “We’ll work on this. I’m not stressing about where our relationship is going because I have a positive outlook on life. When you want something badly enough, you work out the kinks.”

  Maybe if I press a little closer to him, his glass half-full attitude will rub off. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on.

  “Uh, Devin…”

  She glanced over his shoulder to the nightstand where the alarm clock’s face glowed. “It’s one in the morning. My parents aren’t going to take a stroll through the house at this hour.”

  His response was instantaneous. “You’re sure?”

  “I need you.”

  “You’ve got me.”

  Fingers threaded through her hair as he tilted her chin for a long, drugging kiss. A second and a third followed before he raised her silky nightgown over her head and tossed it aside.

  On the floor, Tiny moaned.

  Warm hands covered her breasts. An even warmer mouth continued the attention until she tensed with unbearable need. Skin slid against skin as he moved up to lie full length on top of her, resting his weight on his arms. Devin caught her breath. Snuggled together, she pressed her lips to his neck, tasting him, loving the way they melded into one. When he slipped inside her, he filled her soul, leaving no room for worry about anything but the moment. There was only the two of them, rocking together in the moonlight, building the intensity harder and faster until she lost herself completely. With a muffled cry against his shoulder, her body shook.

  Minutes later, stretched out flat on his back, his chest rose and fell, glistening with moisture. Once his breathing steadied, he drew her close and kissed her forehead before settling her tight against his side. “Epic.”

  She couldn’t work up the energy to respond. Her lids slid closed. Whatever words he mumbled into her hair in a tone that soothed her troubled heart were lost as she drifted into sleep.

  * * * *

  “You’re where?”

  “Vermont.” Sawyer stuffed his free hand into the pocket of his shorts, leaned back against the towering maple tree and pressed the cell closer to his ear.

  “That’s what I thought you said.” His older brother’s voice came through loud and clear. “Why? I thought you were on a rafting trip with Walton and his entourage.”

  “I was, but we pulled off the river a couple of days ago. Do you remember Ainslee mentioning her friend works for the congressman?”

  “Sure. Devin. Did she raft with you?”

  A few yards away, the woman in question turned around, stick in hand, while Tiny barked and bounded in circles around her. Both brows rose into her bangs. “Are you talking to Griff?”

  Sawyer nodded. “Yeah, she was on the trip.”

  “Ainslee considers her a sister. How’d you two hit it off?”

  Devin heaved the stick then closed the distance between them. “Is Ainslee with him? I was going to call her. We haven’t talked since before the rafting trip.”

  “I can’t answer you both at the same time.”

  “Huh?” Griff’s confused voice echoed in his ear.

  “Never mind. I’ll call her cell.” Devin picked up the stick Tiny dropped at her feet then threw it again as she walked toward the creek winding through the woods behind the cabin.

  As she fished her phone from her pocket, Sawyer tore his gaze away from one extremely fine ass covered by a pair of short shorts and focused on his conversation with his brother. “Sorry. Devin was talking to me.”

  “You’re with her?”

  “Yep, at her parents’ place in Vermont. I guess you could say we hit it off pretty well.”

  “Do tell. Not that I blame you. I’ve seen pictures, and the woman is hot.”

  Sawyer grinned. “Yes, she is. She’s also nice.”

  “That’s the best word you can come up with?”

  “Without embarrassing myself, yes.”

  Griff snorted and choked on a laugh. “What’re you doing there? Not that I want specific details, mind you.”

  “Ha ha. Funny.” Leaving the shade of the tree, Sawyer hitched his hip onto a nearby stump and sat. “We’re just spending a few days together before she goes back to DC and I head to Oregon for my next rafting trip.”

  “So, you like her?”

  “Yeah, I do. We’re trying to figure out if we can make any kind of relationship work. I hope so.”

  “That’s great.” Griff cleared his throat. “Umm, I actually called for a reason.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I popped the question.”

  Sawyer straightened, a smile spreading. “Did she say yes?”

  “Of course she said yes! Would I have mentioned it if she hadn’t?”

  “Probably not. Congratulations. When do I get to meet Ainslee? I can’t believe you’re getting married, and I’ve never even laid eyes on the woman.”

  “That’s the other reason I’m calling. We just signed papers on a house in Carmel. We both love this area of California and wanted a place to call home when we’re not on my salvage boat.”

  “Wow. You’re becoming a responsible adult with a vengeance. Next, I’m going to hear you’re making me an uncle.”

  “Not yet. Maybe in a year or two.”

  Sawyer let out a breath. “Hell, man, congrats. I’m a little jealous. Your life sounds settled, something I wouldn’t mind having.”

  “No one’s forcing you to live in a tent all summer.”

  “True. When do I get to meet your future wife?”

  “Mid-October. We’re planning a combination engagement and housewarming party once escrow closes and we move into our new home.”

  “That’s only a few weeks away. I’ll be there. When’s the wedding?”

  “We haven’t set a date yet. Probably not until May or June. We’ll let you know before you start scheduling rafting trips for next year.”

  “Whoo-hoo!” Devin’s excited voice echoed through the trees.

  “I just h
eard a shout. Ainslee must have told Devin the news. She sounds thrilled. Hell, so am I.”

  “I can’t believe how happy I am. Ainslee’s the best.” His voice faded. “Damn, work call coming in. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Okay. See you, Griff.”

  He stuck his cell in his pocket and pushed off the stump to head toward the creek. Devin stood with her back to him, waving one arm and talking non-stop. Something about bridesmaids. Tiny lay in a patch of sun with his nose resting on his paws.

  “Come on, boy. Let’s take a walk.”

  Devin turned. “I may be on the phone for a while. Ainslee and I have important decisions to make.” She grinned. “We’re talking dresses.”

  He shuddered. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Tiny and I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  She returned to her conversation. “Yeah, totally hot.”

  A grin slipped out. Was Devin referring to him—or the weather? The day had definitely heated up. Maple trees blazing with fall color surrounded him as he hiked deeper into the forest. He passed a shack, probably constructed to hold the equipment the Lockharts used in their sugaring operation, and turned north. Sweat dampened his T-shirt until it clung to his back as he hiked straight uphill. He and the monster dog had gone about a mile when his phone rang again. A glance at the display made him pause. Walton?

  Sawyer pressed the connect button. “Back on the job two days, and you have nothing more important to do than talk to me?”

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that little piss-ant, Kennedy, tried to kill me?” His godfather’s shout nearly deafened him. “What the hell am I, some stupid old man to be kept in the dark?”

  “Jesus, Walton, calm down. Who told you about my suspicions?”

  “Who told me? Syd, my campaign manager, that’s who. Sure as hell not you or Devin, who’s been ignoring my calls, I might add. I’d fire her, but I’m afraid she’d just say thank you.”

  Sawyer ran a hand through his hair. “She’s on the phone with a friend right now.”

  “Doesn’t excuse your silence. Why didn’t you say something about what you suspected when we were on the river?”

  “Because it was just that, speculation.” He kicked a stick in the path. “It wasn’t until after you plunged off that cliff to what could have been your death that I began to believe your accidents were actually planned.”

  “Shit, Devin could have died, too.”

  “You think I don’t know that? If I’d had any definitive proof Kennedy was responsible, I’d have killed the bastard myself.” He let out a calming breath. “Why’d your manager tell you? We didn’t want you to worry needlessly when a Secret Service detail would solve the problem.”

  “Because when two agents started dogging my every step, I told them to find some other candidate to shadow. I like my privacy. They politely refused, and I got a little heated. At that point, Syd told me the whole story. I felt like an idiot for being kept in the dark.”

  “Sorry about that, but you do tend to speak your mind when you have strong feelings about something. I didn’t want you to go off on the journalist if I was wrong about him.”

  “But you don’t think you’re wrong.” His tone didn’t make it a question.

  Sawyer let out a long breath. “Someone threw those rocks. Kennedy had the opportunity. We’re looking for a motive.”

  “Have you found one?”

  “Devin uncovered a possible tie to Cunningham’s daughter. She called Syd this morning to have him dig into it.”

  “You think one of my opponents engineered the attacks?” Walton’s voice rose again. “Bastards. I’ve run a clean campaign with no backstabbing—”

  Sawyer interrupted. “We aren’t sure yet. If there is a connection, and that’s still a big question mark, Kennedy could have acted on his own when he was given an opportunity. Or, maybe someone in Cunningham’s camp approached him. The senator might not know anything about it. The other option is we’re wrong, and there isn’t any tie at all.”

  “Sounds like you don’t know squat.”

  “Exactly why we didn’t want you to get all worked up over this until we have a few facts. The Secret Service detail will watch your back—as a precautionary measure only. That’s what their job is, so be smart and use them.”

  “Oh, I will. I don’t have a death wish. And I’m not going to confront Kennedy. Not yet, anyway. His piece actually portrays me in a pretty good light.” Enthusiasm rumbled in his voice. “We approved it after we saw the finished project this morning. The editing is superb. The story will air tomorrow night at eight.”

  “Devin’s parents don’t have a TV, but maybe we can go somewhere to watch it.”

  “You do that, and next time, keep me in the loop.”

  Sawyer grinned. “Who am I to argue with the future president of the United States?”

  A bark of laughter assaulted his ear. “Keep saying that. Maybe it’ll happen. Damn, Syd is waving at me. Some new crisis, no doubt. Tell Devin to call me.”

  The connection went dead. Sawyer pocketed his phone then glanced over at the dog, patiently waiting in the shade of an elm, tongue hanging. “Come on, Tiny. Let’s go find Devin.”

  Chapter 12

  “I don’t want to turn the channel. I’m watching the game.”

  Devin eyed the bartender and frowned. “The Red Sox are getting killed by the Yankees. Do you really want to see that?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck then turned to stare up at the TV. “Score’s only ten to one. They could come back.”

  “Seriously?” Sawyer swallowed the last of his beer and plunked the glass down on the shiny mahogany surface of the bar. “Their pitching sucks tonight.”

  “Oh, all right. Lucky for you it’s dead in here, or I’d have a revolt on my hands.”

  Devin smiled at him. “Thank you. The show’s going to start in a couple of minutes.”

  There were very few paying customers in Mickey’s Tavern, the only bar in the small town near her parents’ home. A couple sat at a table by the front window, arguing quietly, though the woman’s voice had risen on a couple of occasions. At the other end of the bar, an old-timer nursed a highball and worked on a crossword puzzle. Apparently, the good folks of Linden didn’t do their serious drinking on Sunday nights.

  The bartender picked up the remote to change the channel. “Personally, I try to stay away from politics. Nothing but a bunch of crooks in Washington.”

  “Not all politicians are thieves. Congressman Hinsdale is a good guy.” Sawyer tapped his empty glass. “I’ll have a refill.”

  “If you say so. What’s the man to you?”

  “My godfather.” He glanced over at Devin. “Do you want another glass of wine?”

  She shook her head. “I wouldn’t mind a few more pretzels, though.”

  The bartender pulled a bag from under the counter and shook a fresh supply into the bowl. “Your godfather, huh?” He poured a draft beer and slid it across the shiny surface to Sawyer.”

  “Yep. Like I said, he’s a good guy.”

  Devin nudged him as the host of the show introduced the segment. “The story’s coming on now. Check it out. There you are with Walton, looking hot in your Wilde Waters T-shirt. Business will be booming after this.”

  The door opened on a whoosh of chilly air, and her parents hurried across the wooden floor. Her mom pulled out the bar stool to her right, while her dad stood behind her and dropped a hand on her shoulder.

  “Did we make it in time?”

  She glanced back and nodded. “The show just started.”

  “Hey, you didn’t say you’d be on TV.” The bartender’s gaze swiveled back to the flat screen above him where the camera focused on Devin, paddling hard, before panning to the congressman. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I wouldn’t have hassled you about the game.”

  Sawyer smiled at Devin’s mom as she leaned forward to reach for a pretzel, then shrugg
ed and sipped his beer. “Nothing I need to brag about. I just wanted to see how the piece turned out.”

  The footage from on the water was replaced by Liam Kennedy interviewing Walton at the campfire, followed my more rafting highlights. Quick clips of Dwight with his father followed. The background music changed, and a panoramic shot showed both Walton and Devin hanging from the cliff.

  “Oh, my heavens. Devin!” Her mom’s voice rose in a squeak.

  The hand on her shoulder tightened. “You warned us, but…” Her dad let out a harsh breath.

  Devin gripped the edge of the bar as remembered fear flooded through her, fresh and jarring. With an effort, she offered reassurance. “Everything turned out fine. I’m still here.”

  Sawyer reached for her hand and gently squeezed it. “Wow, that was a damn long drop to the canyon below. Good thing I was only focused on you at the time.”

  “Holy shit!” The bartender’s eyes widened. “This is better than the Red Sox.”

  The couple by the window left their table to stand behind them. The woman gasped. “Oh, wow, scary.”

  Devin clenched Sawyer’s hand a little harder as the footage covered first her rescue and then Walton’s with a running narrative by the anchorman for the show. A hard knot tightened in her stomach.

  “You okay?” Sawyer’s voice was filled with concern.

  She nodded. “God, I look petrified.”

  The camera panned to the rescuers on the cliff above.

  “So do I. Oh, good Christ, listen to that drivel from the show’s host.”

  “Sawyer Wilde and his team sprang into action and saved Congressman Hinsdale and his aide from certain death. They are true heroes.”

  His female counterpart chimed in. “Mr. Wilde is easy on the eyes, too. I wouldn’t mind having him save me.” She waved a hand in front of her face. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”

  Sawyer rolled his eyes. “Let’s hope my brothers didn’t see this, or they’ll be riding me about that comment for months.”

  Devin’s mom slipped an arm around her. “Honey, why didn’t you call us at the time?”

  “The phone reception on the river was horrible, and Walton and I escaped with only scrapes and bruises.” She worked up a shaky smile. “No reason to worry you.”