Page 13 of Another Man’s Treasure

I push the first luggage over the threshold toward him with a cheeky grin. “That one’s toiletries and my skincare. Obviously, I can’t skimp out on that because it’s gotta be done morning and night. I’m opening a spa downtown once this check clears.” I wave at the second and third pieces of luggage. “Those are clothes. Oh, and sex toys.”

Lies, but I might as well tease him a little bit while I take his money. He needs to lighten up anyhow.

He grimaces but wheels the first piece all the way inside. “Come on in.”

I swan through the doorway, careful to keep my wings tucked tight so I don’t hit him. “Thank you…errr, I don’t know your name, hubby.”

His low growl is probably meant as a warning, but if I’m going to be stuck in a literal situationship with this male for several weeks, we’d better get started with the info dump.

“Wilder,” he says with an unhappy look that tells me he’s likely regretting all of his life choices right now.

“Wilder what?” I bat my lashes. “I should probably know your whole name if you’re my boyfriend.”

“Wilder Orpheus Lane of the haven of Laporte, in southern Louisiana.”

Orpheus?

He gestures to the room behind him. “Let’s set some ground rules and maybe go over some basic information. It’ll be awkward if we run across Saint, and you don’t know anything about my family or me.”

“Sounds good, boo boo,” I say with a big smile. Oh yeah, I’m gonna have fun with this.

Wilder’s green eyes flash with what can only be irritation.

“No nicknames,” he says with an angry-sounding grunt. “That’s rule number one. Call me Wild or Wilder.”

“Sounds like a good time,” I say with a little laugh.

He snarls again. “There’s only one bedroom, but I’ll give up the bed and take the sofa. And we can’t tell anyone what we’re doing. Saint Ashbourne can’t find out what we’re up to, or I’ll lose the ranch and… Hey, are you listening?”

“Yeah,” I murmur as I stare around the room. The dining table’s covered with documents and photos of bulls and what, at quick glance, looks like a photo of a big log ranch house.

“I need you to take this seriously,” the male says. “Please.”

I spin and lean against the table, crossing my legs at the ankle. “I can be serious.”

Wilder snorts. “Says the male who flipped about his table at a coffee shop.”

Whipping my tail out, I slap him on the back of the head with it. Wilder moves faster than expected, though, grabbing my tail in his fist and wrapping it up tight. Yanking me away from the table, he hauls me until I hit his chest, pressing his body to mine.

“Don’t manhandle me unless you wanna get manhandled right back, gargoyle.”

I swoop both arms around his neck, brushing my nose against his. “Is Saint looking through the window or something?” Nuzzling him, I press closer, but he just shoves away from me and puts the kitchen table between us.

A knock on the door surprises me, and I spin to face it. It swings open without Wilder doing anything, and a beautiful troll female steps through with a black bag over her shoulder. She wears a bright purple baseball hat, grinning at me from beneath the brim.

“Are you Oz, our sweetie little Oz, beloved of Wilder’s entire family?”

Confused, I reach a hand out to shake hers. She takes it, wrapping green-nailed fingers around mine. The she shakes fucking hard.

“I’m Willa,” she says with a bright smile, tiny tusks poking up from her lower jaw. “Wilder’s favorite sister.”

“Only sister,” he grumbles from somewhere to my right, but I’m busy being lost in her gorgeous green eyes. I like her immediately—unlike him. She looks sassy with those bright eyes and dark brows. Sassy is my favorite. It reminds me of Lemon and Bluebell, who have a whole townful of sass between them.

Willa drops my hand and tosses her bag to Wilder, who catches it with another grunt, then disappears toward the bedroom.

I lift my chin, shooting her a little smirk. “I thought I was getting the bed.”

She chuckles. “You can sleep on the opposite side from me or on the sofa. Wilder’ll do the floor or sofa depending on what you pick. Or if you two need privacy, I’m happy to head to town and check out the Welcome Inn. I’ve heard it’s absolutely darling.”