Wicked & Wildflower (Pacific Shores, #2)

by Sarah A. Bailey

“I thought you were going to tell me it’s because you’ve fucked a bunch of them.” “I wouldn’t say a bunch.”

“Does that make you jealous, Wildflower?”

“Of course not. I mean…” She looks down at her hands. “I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess.”

“Dah...

“What I did with you at Emilio’s was not something I’ve ever done with anyone el...

“I k...

“Plus, if it makes you feel better, since I know you’re d...

“Most people only go after me because they think it’ll get t...

“Yeah…There isn’t always logic in their actions, but honestly, it happens a lot more often with the men I date. They think if they get with me, they can befriend Leo, that Leo will offer them some kind of connection to his world.”

“You didn’t know I was bisexual, did you?” She gives a slight shake of her head. “Is that an issue for you?”

Of course not,”

“I just didn’t know.”

“So, are you telling me I’m going to be running into not only other women you’ve fucked, but potentially some daddies too?”

“It shouldn’t matter, right? Because you’re not jealous.” I smirk behind my coffee. “Exactly.”

I want her to be jealous. I know it’s messed up, and I don’t know what it is about her that makes me feel this way, but I want to know she’s bothered by the thought of me with anyone else.

“California gas prices are a crime.” “Exactly. So, if anything, I owe you.” She smiles. “I can’t argue with that.” “So what made you into cars?”

“Serving your community and preserving your family’s legacy was the least you could do? Seems like a lot to me,” she says thoughtfully. “Something to be proud of.” My chest takes flight at that.

“My father came home that night in a rage, telling me I was an embarrassment. He grabbed me so hard, it left bruises on my arms.”

My vision goes red at the thought. “From then on, I just…I rejected the idea of all of it. I wanted to cause as much noise as I could. I wanted to scream until they noticed I was the one hurting. I needed attention— needed support and love, and I needed to mean more to them than their reputations. I needed to mean more than status and success.”

“And I never did. It’s like… I went to one end of the spectrum and Darby went to the other. She tried to make up for all the noise I caused by being quiet and timid and perfect until both o...

Me too. I knew…I knew after I got pregnant—which was not a cry for help, just a genuine misuse of birth control—that they’d never be the parents I needed. That, even if I didn’t, my child sure as hell would deserve more than they could ever give.”

“You both deserve better, and you’re already giving her that.”

“Alright, bug. You’re gonna have to let me carry that thing up the stairs.”

“I hope so, bug,” I whisper against the top of her head, planting a kiss in her hair.

I love seeing the look on her face when she discovers something new for the first time.

Her eyes are wide with wonder as she wanders behind a stack of surfboards, sliding her hands along the smooth surfaces and yelling out to me which colors she likes most.

“Hey, Wildflower.”

“Shit. You scared me.” “Mom!” Lou calls from the other side of the shop. “That’s a dollar!”

“What’re you two doing here?” “I bought a monstera,” I say. I bought a monstera? Idiot.

“I mean, for my office. I bought a plant for my office. Lou wanted to see it, and then she wanted to see the store.”

“What do you think of it, Luce?”

“It’s so cool!” She tugs at my shirt. “You have to come look at this one ...

“What are you gonna do with a sur...

“Surf?” “You don’t know how to surf.” “Leo...

“I can do it,” Everett says.

mean, I’m no record-setting prodigy, but I’ve spent pretty much my whole life on a board.” He

“I always say that the only reason Leo is as good as he is is because he spent so much time trying to be better than me when we were kids.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that. You’re just as busy as he is.” “You’re not...

“I could easily carve ...

“An hour a week? Would that work f...

“The auto-shop is closed on Sundays, so how about Sundays at….ten ...

“Girlfriend. I am not buying you a new surfboard when there is a strong possibility you will get out there and after ten minutes

decide you hate it. We’ll rent one until we know it’s something you actually want to pursue, then I’ll take a look at getting you a new one for yourself.” She lets out a frustrated huff. “Fine.”

“Dahlia. Do you not want me giving your daughter surf lessons?”

want to respect your boundaries. If it makes you uncomfortable, then we don’t have to do it, of course.”

“It’s not that. I just…I don’t understand why you’d want to. Wh...

“Something has to be in i...

“She looks excited. It’s the same excitement Leo and I used to have in our eyes when we were two poor, good-for-nothing kids running amok around town and wish...

“That kind of reaction is exactly the reason we opened this place, the joy we want to spread to anyone willing to accept it. So…that’s what I get out of it. The smile on the face of a kid who just discovered how great it feels to be out there on the water.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly, looking away. “I can pay you.” “Don’t you fucking dare.”