Jenson (Wild Men Book 4)

by Melissa Belle

  I go silent as flashbacks of my own brief marriage hit me unexpectedly.

  Meghan’s eyes filled with doubt and fear as we exchanged vows.

  My own churning stomach sent me a clear message to trust my gut and call the whole thing off. Of course, I didn’t listen.

  And Olivia was sitting in the very back pew by herself. I saw her when I was standing at the altar while I was supposed to be watching Meghan walk down the aisle, but my gaze got caught up in the blue dress Olivia was wearing, and my eyes traveled up her body to her face, which was etched in pain. To someone other than me, she probably just looked preoccupied, but the haunting emptiness in her eyes and the set line of her mouth are two things I wish I could wipe from my memory.

  When the short ceremony ended, I looked for her again, but she was gone.

  The empty space at the back of the church felt like a match to my heart.

  I’d lost Olivia Graham. Once and for all, I’d lost her for good.

  “Hey.” Dylan waves a hand in front of my face. “You okay?”

  I give one quick nod and turn the attention back to him. “That’s awesome, man. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. We’re having a renewal ceremony and reception in Montana in the fall, during the Cougars’ bye week. You, Bray, Cam, Ayden, and Colt will be groomsmen. Jasalie and I are going all in on the public renewal. And you should bring someone.”

  I blink. “Who?”

  “A date. I told Bray the same thing.”

  Brayden shakes his head, his overgrown blond hair falling into his eyes. “Dylan wants those of us who are still single to find our soul mates. I’m not getting into a relationship again for a long time. If ever.”

  “You’re a damn liar,” Dylan says to Brayden. “Cam may want to stay single right now, and I get it. I hope he and Amy are still done. But you don’t have an excuse.”

  “I don’t need a damn excuse,” Brayden mutters. “Relationships are hard, exhausting, and with little pay-off. I’m happily single and not looking to change that.”

  Dylan and I chuckle.

  “Good luck with that,” Dylan says to him. “That’s usually when you get punched in the gut by love.”

  “No way,” Brayden says. “I’m going solo to your wedding renewal, dude. Like it or not.”

  Undaunted, Dylan turns his attention back to me. “J, what about the mystery woman Colton was telling us about when we were in Maine, the supposed reason you moved back to Liberty Falls—can you bring her?”

  I clench my jaw.

  Colton was a dead man that night.

  He’s never come so close to spilling about Olivia. Later, he told me he was extra emotional because the memorial for Ayden’s dad brought up memories of his late father, who passed away when Colton was a teenager. Colton was feeling off, and he was drinking, not a good combination.

  He apologized because he knows I don’t talk about Olivia with anyone but him.

  Not because I don’t trust the other Wilds, but I wanted to protect Olivia from any judgment or awkwardness, and I knew that the more people I told, the greater the chance of the story getting back to our families. She and I always had an “it’s us against the world” mentality, and we rarely talked to anyone but each other about our relationship.

  But life is short, and I’m beyond sick of pretending I’m single and looking when my heart has been with the same girl since I was a kid.

  Dyl and Brayden are watching me.

  “Are things going okay in that department?” Brayden asks me quietly.

  “Yes.”

  Silence.

  Then, “You know, you’ve never mentioned a specific woman from here before,” Dylan says. “Meghan’s from college, and I know it isn’t her, anyway.”

  “Right.” I pause, wanting to give them something other than a closed door. So I share a piece of the truth. “The mystery woman I came back for—she’s someone I’ve wanted for a long time, but it’s always been an off-limits sort of situation.”

  Brayden whistles. “That sounds rough.”

  “Understatement,” I say. “But I’m fighting for her. For us.”

  Dylan nods in approval. “Good.”

  After lunch, we stop by Mom and Dee’s house so Dylan and Brayden can visit with the boys.

  “Uncle Dylan!”

  “Uncle Bray!”

  Kyle leaps into Dylan’s arms at the same time that Connor hurls his little body against Brayden’s legs.

  Brayden picks him up and swings him around. “How you doing, buddy?”

  “We want to play football with you!” Connor shouts.

  Dylan rubs Connor’s blond head. “I think that can be arranged. Your dad probably knows of a good place to play.”

  I don’t want to take them to Randolph’s football field and put Dylan in the spotlight where he’ll have to take a bunch of photos with the multitude of athletes milling around campus. So we end up driving to the park in town. Dylan and Brayden each pair up with one of the boys, and I play coach for a two-on-two game of flag football.

  Once Connor and Kyle start tackling each other and forgetting that a football even exists, I call the game a tie.

  We pile back into my truck, and I turn onto Main Street.

  “Livia!” Connor screams out.

  I whip my head right and then left. “Where?” I say.

  “There.”

  I slow down nearly to a stop and glance in the rearview mirror.

  “Con.” He’s pointing at Union Bank. “Yes, that’s where Olivia works. But she’s busy.”

  “I want to say hi to her!”

  “Me too!” Kyle chimes in.

  “I haven’t seen your cousin since you moved away from Liberty Falls,” Dylan says. “I don’t think she was at your wedding. Are you two still close then?”

  At first I pretend not to hear his question. I focus on turning the truck into a parking space right outside the bank.

  But when I glance over at Dylan, he’s looking at me, waiting for an answer.

  “Yes,” I say finally. “We are.”

  “She was a sweet girl,” Brayden says as I turn off the truck. “It will be fun to see her again.”

  Olivia

  “Oh. My. God. Hot guy alert. Three hot guy alert.” Cassandra freezes in place across from my desk where she’d popped by to drop off some papers for me.

  Her shaky finger points toward the door, and I turn in that direction.

  Jenson and his two sons, followed by Dylan and Brayden Wild.

  Yes, they make quite the group. Dark-haired Dylan, who could just as easily pass for a model as a football star, is the tallest. Brayden and Jenson are both a few inches shorter, blond, muscular, and fit. And Jenson’s two sons are like miniature versions of him.

  “You should see when the other three are with them,” I murmur. “The hotness meter just goes up.” And I haven’t seen them all together in years. They’ve grown up, and from the looks of it, only in good ways.

  “Is that…” Cassandra keeps staring as the entourage heads in our direction. “Dylan Wild?!!”

  I jerk my chin at her. “Yes, but don’t you have a customer up at the teller window?”

  She reluctantly turns toward the window. “Gosh, you have all the fun around here,” she grumbles as she leaves.

  I hung out with the Wilds numerous times when Jenson lived in Liberty Falls, but once he moved to Pittsburgh, he would see them out there or at one of their places. I haven’t seen any of them since the night Jenson’s sons were born. I also saw them at Jenson’s wedding, but they didn’t see me either time. At the wedding, I was hiding in the back pew of the church, hoping to hide the tears I knew would come when I heard Jenson officially become another woman’s husband. Another woman’s forever.

  The night I drove to Pittsburgh to meet Jenson’s sons at the hospital, Colton was there too. All five Wilds were there, actually, but only Colton saw me.

  After Jenson and I said good-bye to each other, I’d returned to
the hospital nursery to take one last look at Kyle and Connor. The Wilds were at the other end of the hallway. They were leaving and had their backs to me, but Colton looked over his shoulder, and we caught eyes.

  He waved his cousins on and walked back to me. His blond hair was so similar to Jenson’s, but where Jenson leans toward the serious side, Colton’s more of a jokester.

  He wasn’t joking that day, though. He was solemn as we stood silently, side by side, staring through the glass at Jenson’s sons.

  “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, Olive,” Colton said, his attention still focused straight ahead. His hands were in his pockets, and his profile was etched with sympathy.

  I couldn’t speak. My throat was too raw.

  Colton turned to face me then. “This is a detour for you two. Don’t think of it as the final chapter.”

  I managed a nod.

  “Your story with Jenson isn’t over,” he said, his tone fierce and certain.

  My thoughts of the past disappear, and I return to the present as Kyle and Connor rush me.

  “Livia!” they scream in unison.

  Kyle grabs onto one of my legs and Connor the other. Kyle’s got a smudge of dirt across one cheek, and Connor’s entire shirt is covered in grass stains.

  I laugh. “You two look like you’ve been playing outside.”

  “We played football with Uncle Dylan and Uncle Brayden. Daddy was the coach.”

  I lock eyes with Jenson whose attention is focused on me. “That sounds fun.”

  Dylan steps forward and manages to one-arm hug me, despite Kyle and Connor not letting go of my legs. “God, it’s been ages, Olivia,” he says, his smile as warm and genuine as I remember. “You’re all grown up.”

  Brayden kisses my cheek. “It’s great to see you again,” he says, his blue eyes bright.

  “It’s so good to see you both,” I say. I didn’t realize just how much I’ve missed seeing them all until just now. “You both look as handsome as ever. Dylan, I’ve seen you on television a bunch—congratulations on winning the championship. And the MVP, of course.”

  Dylan flushes, clearly not wanting any extra attention. “Thank you. It was an amazing season.”

  “You should be really proud of yourself,” I say.

  Jenson, who’s been holding back, steps closer. “Boys, give Olive a little room, okay?” He takes each of his sons by a shoulder and gently urges them to unpeel themselves from my thighs.

  Once that’s accomplished, he leans in close so he can speak only to me. “My mom told me about the last-minute speech your dad’s giving tonight.”

  “Yes. Will you be joining us on stage?”

  “Of course. Save me a seat,” he says with a wink.

  As I nod, I can’t help the blush that I know stains my cheeks. Not wanting to see if Dylan or Brayden have noticed, I keep my gaze trained on Jenson’s.

  His green eyes study me. “I like your suit.”

  I smile. I’m in my favorite business suit, the one I bought with my Christmas bonus. It may be conservative blue in color, but it flatters my figure, and the pink top I’m wearing underneath the fitted blazer brightens the whole ensemble.

  “Thank you.”

  “How’s your day going?” he asks me softly.

  “Good. Not as eventful as yesterday; that is until you all walked in.”

  Kyle and Connor are still standing in between us with Kyle now hugging Jenson’s leg and Connor leaning into my side. I rub his head as I joke with Jenson.

  Then I glance past him.

  Dylan and Brayden are staring—I mean staring—at me.

  Dylan blinks first.

  “I was just…realizing something,” he says with an embarrassed grin. “I wasn’t leering or anything. Not that you’re not beautiful, Olivia.”

  Jenson whips around. “What the hell—”

  Chapter Nine

  Jenson

  Fuck. They know.

  As soon as I turn toward Dylan and Brayden, I see their faces as the truth starts to crystallize: Olivia Graham is my mystery woman.

  I tell Olivia I’ll call her later, take Kyle and Connor by the hands, and practically run out of the bank.

  “Jenson.” Dylan’s voice behind me is one of stunned awareness.

  “Let me put the boys in the truck.” I situate Kyle and Connor in their car seats and turn on the A/C.

  Once I make sure both boys are preoccupied, singing to their favorite music and can’t hear me, I close the truck door and turn to face Dylan and Brayden.

  Arms crossed over my chest—okay, my heart—I say, “I couldn’t tell you.”

  “But Colton knows.” Dylan’s question isn’t judgmental or accusing in any way—it’s simply stating a fact.

  My expression must confirm this to be true because Dylan and Brayden both cross their arms over their chests, mimicking my pose.

  “You looked at her the way I look at Jasalie.” Dylan’s tone is so certain I blink.

  I give a slow nod. “The way I feel about her is forever.”

  “Talk to us.” Dylan leans against the side of my truck.

  “Not here.” I open the driver’s door. “Let’s drop the boys off at my mom’s so they won’t be late for Meghan picking them up. I’ll drive you to your plane, and we’ll talk on the way.”

  On the way to the small airport where Dylan’s private plane is waiting for him and Brayden, I give them an overview of my relationship with Olivia.

  “So it’s always been her.” Dylan glances over at me from the passenger seat.

  “Always. Always will be.”

  “I knew you and Meghan were young and felt forced into marriage,” he says. “But this adds a whole new layer of pain.”

  “Olivia was at my wedding,” I say, remembering how he’d said he didn’t see her there. “She left early.”

  “I don’t blame her,” Dylan murmurs. “Must have been pure hell.”

  “We’re figuring this out one step at a time right now,” I say. “It’s been a lot of years and a lot of time apart. We’re getting to know each other all over again this summer, and to bring in our families too soon—I’m afraid it would kill whatever momentum we have going for us. Plus, Olivia’s dad’s the town mayor; she’s under a constant microscope. Most people here truly think we’re actual cousins.”

  “I feel like an asshole that I’ve been calling her your cousin,” Dylan says as he runs his hand through his hair.

  “You shouldn’t feel badly in the least,” I say. “My mom introduced her to you that way. And I never corrected that with you.”

  “You were kids,” Brayden says. “What were you supposed to do—fight two families at once over something that probably confused the hell out of you? Forbidden relationships are hard for a reason, J.”

  “I know.” I grip the steering wheel so hard my hands hurt. “Plus, Olivia was underage. She’s almost three years younger than me, and when you’re teenagers, that’s a big fucking deal.”

  “I didn’t realize the age difference…” Dylan counts silently. “So when you were already eighteen, she was just fifteen?”

  I nod. “Too young. She was only sixteen when I left for school, and I wanted her to have a normal high school experience. I didn’t want her waiting around for me and not get to enjoy being a teenager. So we broke things off, as much as we could, and agreed to see where we ended up. But life takes hairpin turns sometimes.”

  “Kyle and Connor,” Brayden says. “Wow.”

  “Olive was one month from turning eighteen when Meghan got pregnant.”

  “Shit, J.” Dylan’s eyes fill with sympathy. “I wish I’d known…”

  “She and I never talk about it to other people. I only told Colt, and she’s told only one person ever as well. If that.” Olivia never told me that she shared our story with Hayley, but from the way Hayley was eyeing the two of us, I’d bet a lot of money that she knows.

  “You can trust us,” Dylan says. “Nothing said in here will ever l
eave this truck.”

  Brayden adds, “Not to Cam or Ayden, either, in case you’re worried. It’s your story to tell, J—you’ll tell it when you’re ready.”

  My grip on the wheel relaxes a touch, and I nod my thanks. But I need a subject change—fast. “So anyone else got news?”

  Brayden lets out a long breath. “The ranch owners want to sell.”

  I catch his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Whoa.”

  Brayden’s been living on the same Montana ranch for years. Along with coaching high school football, it’s what he loves most.

  Dylan jerks his head around to face Brayden. “What? You never said anything about it.”

  “I know. I didn’t want to worry you.”

  I get it. “So what are you going to do now?”

  “Wait a minute.” Dylan’s now twisted completely around in his seat. “Does that mean you have to move?”

  “Hopefully there’s another solution,” he says simply.

  Brayden’s always been more private than the other Wilds. He’s someone you would trust with your life, and he’s always been able to see multiple angles of a situation. But he doesn’t share like the others do.

  “Can I help?” Dylan presses. “I’m not asking to piss you off, Bray. I’m asking because I want to make sure you’re okay. You know I can help if you need some time to figure things out.”

  “I know.” Brayden’s voice is quiet. “But I’m okay. I have some ideas I’m running over in my head but nothing I want to discuss yet. I just know it’s time I finally jump off the deep end and force myself to learn to swim.”

  Olivia

  I sit in a row with my family behind the looming podium where Dad will be speaking in a few minutes. I came straight from work and am still in my business suit.

  The crowded town hall is buzzing with conversation between the residents chatting amongst each other as they sit in their metal chairs and wait for Dad to take the microphone.

  Right now, he’s standing just out of view with Cindy and his assistant while they go over tonight’s agenda, which is really him making the official announcement that he’s not retiring from his mayoral post. Not this election.