Wild Card

by Elsie Silver

I had to use one word to describe him, it would be masculine. From head to toe.

Her face breaks into the most heartrending smile. And all it does is make me want to pay her more compliments.

Bash shakes his head. “Found out I have a kid I never knew about. Met him for the first time yesterday.”

So here I am. Committed to what has become a dad’s night out bowling team ever since I told the guys about my surprise son—Tripp Coleman.

“Did you say ex-girlfriend?” Now the older man laughs and shakes his head, like I amuse him greatly.

“Caught that, did ya? You little pervert.”

He grins. “That you’d miss me if I died and that you desperately want to save your best friend’s life.”

My eyes roll. Best friend. “No kidney for you. I take it back.” “I’ll talk to Doris. She can arrange to have it harvested against your will.” “You would too,” I grumble.

“And I allow myself to acknowledge that I am not every person’s cup of tea. Maybe I am more than they can handle.

And that’s okay because I’m quite fond of myself and no one can take that away from me. I’m at peace with who I am, so what you think of me doesn’t matter.”

All I know is that the first thing that comes to mind is, If I live, I’m coming after you.

“Count me in.” He brightens exponentially. “Do you promise?” Does he brighten just a little too much?

“You want me to promise?” “Yeah.” He nods solemnly, grumbling as he shifts in the bed.

“Yeah, of course. I promise. I’ll be there.” “Great.”

I suspected before, but the truth of it dawns on me at once. At best, he’s stirring the pot. And at worst, he’s trying to play matchmaker. “You’re being a little shit-disturber, aren’t you?”

Perplexing—that’s what Sebastian Rousseau is. Inconsistent too. His moods shift like the tides.

“No, that’s fine. You should keep it up for when you do have babies.” He snorts at that.

“I think that ship has probably sailed.” “Why?”

“I’m forty and a bachelor. And I’m not sure if you noticed, but I’m not exactly great company thes...

back into the dating world is exhausting and daunting. The clock is ticking, and m...

enjoy your company.” “Gwen.” He sighs my name like I exhaust him, his palm scrubbing over his stubbled jaw.

can’t decide if I want to keep winning or lose a few hands just to watch you work for it.”

“Careful what you wish for, Gwen. I’ve got a laundry list of ways I’d like to watch you work for it, and none of them involve poker.”

“The thing is, Gwen, next time you want to watch me, you should just ask.”

“Or what? You might man up and take something for yourself for once?” I snap.

take something for myself for once. My hands dart out and grip Gwen’s waist.

“You know what?” I snarl, yanking her toward me, staring at her plush mo...

part—no doubt to say something infuriating. But I don’t let her get a word in edgewise. “Fuck it,...

“That he was a fool to let you get away. But that it was just as well because I could fuck you better.”

It won’t be easy. But nothing worth having ever comes easy.”

“You’re a fucking wild card. Unpredictable and never what I expect. You scare the hell out

me every damn day. But today more than any of them. Because I thought I lost you.”

His voice cracks. So does my heart. “And I love you, and I hadn’t even gotten ...

My wild card. My tequila. My everything.