Page 30 of Another Man’s Treasure

Saint growls and spins, flaring his shadow wings wide. When he takes off into the air, wind buffets us, knocking Wilder’s hair out of place.

He doesn’t look away from me, though.

And he doesn’t let go of my hand even when Saint disappears over the hills.

Oz

The morning after the survey trip, I drop into a seat at his kitchen table, leaning onto my forearms while Wilder scarfs an omelet.

“So…the Sweetheart Dance is tonight, as you might remember from my vision board.”

Wilder stops chewing long enough to stare at me with that same suspicious look he often wears. “I remember it.”

“Good,” I say brightly. “Before I got mated and all, I signed up to be auctioned off for a date. The proceeds go toward buying medical supplies for the mustang herd and any other animals that need help. My bestie Bluebell is a black witch, so she can heal animals, but we like to do regular dewormer and stuff like that. It’s a good cause.”

He takes another bite. “Sounds like it.”

“It’s the most romantic event of the year,” I say, raising my brows. “So we’ve really got to do it up, ya know? There are games and snacks and ice skating in the gulch pond. The auctioning is at the end.” When Wilder says nothing, I waggle my brows at him. “It’s a lotta monstering which I’ve come to realize isn’t your happy place.”

He swallows and wipes his mouth with a napkin. “I like monsters just fine.”

I fall silent, just smiling, and he stares back at me.

After a moment, he chuckles. “Okay you’re right. I’m more of a quiet life on the ranch kinda male, but I do enjoy the odd event. I promise I’ll behave.” He grumbles a little bit. “Anyhow, after I quit the circuit, I just didn’t spend as much time on the social scene. I miss a little bit of peopling.”

I snatch his fork and grab a bite of his omelet, shoving it in my mouth. “I…mmph…think the point is for you not to behave. So just…act like you like me.”

He grabs the fork back. “I like you just fine, Oz, for a male who let me grab his ass and dry hump him while I was half asleep.” He lets out a displeased groan. “I’m still sorry about that; it’s not my way to do something a partner hasn’t consented to.” His frown grows deeper. “I mean consented for real.”

Heat flares across my cheeks, and I lift a brow. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

He leans forward. “And yet I’m still apologizing. Plus, I’m pretty sure you were awake for a bit, so you had to deal.”

“Was not,” I lie, but I rise and turn for the door to grab my coat. “Anyways, I’m headed to work. I’ve got to do inventory at Whiskey Business, but I’ll catch up with you later, alright?”

“Alright,” he says quietly, staring at me in that same intense way he looked at me the day we met. When he looks at me like that, it’s like he can see through to every uncomfortable place inside me, like he can see all of me. I shrug my shoulders at the uncomfortableness of that.

After pulling my coat on, I button it and grab my bag. Ginger appears from the direction of the bedroom and waits for me to put her coat and booties on.

As she steps into the booties, I wait for Wilder to say something about how I coddle her. But he doesn’t, just watches silently as I buckle her in. She licks my face with a thankful little snort.

When I risk a glance at Wilder, he’s grinning as he spears the fork into the omelet.

“What?” I slap a hand to my hip.

“Didn’t say a word.” He wears a big grin. “See you both later…oh, wait,” he says as I turn toward the door.

My mouth drops open when I look back to find him down on a knee, messing around with one of her straps.

He looks up with a laugh when I make a surprised sound. “Couldn’t have that booty falling off your very dangerous pit hell.”

Men being cute with animals is a panty dropper for me, and I cannot immediately fall in love, so I nod and thank him, then blow him a kiss as we head out the door. It’s easy to fake it, knowing he doesn’t take anything I do seriously. On the way from his cottage into downtown, Ginger and I pass the Keeper’s mansion, and Lemon meets us at the gate with a bright smile.

“Fancy seeing you two gorgeous things out this early. Surely you’re not headed to Whiskey Business at this hour?”

I stop and give her a quick hug. She leans in and wraps both arms around me, sniffing at my chest.

When I pull back, I chuckle. “What are you doing, Lem?”