Page 88 of Another Man’s Treasure

It’s like downtown is blossoming even more, and maybe that’s how it was always meant to be…

Oz

Three Weeks Later

I hop onto the barstool at the ranch house, slapping a giant piece of cardboard down on the beautiful burled-wood countertop. Wilder spins from the stove where he was ostensibly attempting to teach me to cook green beans. He says, “Cookin’ ain’t hard, Oz,” but it’s my preference to watch my big, handsome mate do it.

I’m there for dickstractions, and I am so very good at that particular skill.

Ginger hops up next to me, tongue lolling as she, too, watches him cook.

“We’re useless,” I say to her with a little smile.

Stroking her soft elbow, I smile at how handsome my big mate is. “So, I’ve been thinking.”

Wild groans and runs both hands through his hair as he looks over the cardboard. He glances up at me with a wry expression. “Another vision board. Oh goodie.”

I lean across the island and slap his beefy chest. “The last one turned out so fun; what are you even grumping about?”

He shifts onto his forearms as he looks at the collage I made. “That nest is gorgeous. You sure you don’t want to bring the one from your apartment?”

I shake my head. “It was great for just me and Ginger, but you don’t fit, honey bun. Your legs hang over the edge, and Ginger has no space, which is why she sleeps on your head.”

On cue, our pretty little pit hell shimmies on the stool next to mine, panting as she stares at a plate of bacon next to the stove.

Wild turns and grabs a piece, then tosses it to her. “You’re a menace,” he says when she snaps it out of the air, gulps it down, then stands on the island top to ask for another.

Rubbing her leg, I admire how much confidence she’s gained since we met Wilder. Most of the time, she doesn’t slink around with a tucked tail anymore. She’s blossoming, just like Pine Gulch.

Wild waves at a stack of books on the end of the island. “Got those for you. Nest catalogs from a couple places back home in Laporte and a few other havens. My credit card’s sitting on top there. Get whatever you want, okay?”

I snort out a laugh. “Don’t you want to cut out stuff for the vision board?”

“Nope.” Wild tosses another piece of bacon to Ginger. “If you like it, we like it.” He waves his spatula at me. “My only demand is that you learn to cook at least a few things so you don’t starve if I have to travel or somethin’.”

I frown. “Wouldn’t I be going with you?”

“Of course,” he says.

“So why do I need to cook?”

“It’s a useful life skill, Oz.”

“But watching you cook is so damn sexy.” I curl my wing over the island and snake the spiked tip through his belt loops. After dragging him away from the stove, I crawl onto the countertop and rise until his back hits my chest. “I got you a present, something your mama suggested.”

Wild and Willa’s mama came to town a couple of days ago. She’s staying with Willa at my place until the Keeper’s mansion is a little more renovated. Marcy’s totally amazing. Kind, generous, absolutely hilarious. Wilder must get the stoicness from his father, not that I’ll ever know for sure.

He glances over his shoulder at me, growling softly as I trail hard kisses down his neck.

Reaching into my back pocket, I withdraw a maroon velvet box. When I hand it to him, he freezes against me.

“Open it,” I encourage, starting back up with the kissing.

His fingers tremble slightly as he opens the box. Inside sits a simple gold band.

“Your mama told me it was the human tradition to exchange rings, so I got a matching one,” I whisper. “Put it on, cowboy.”

His body quivers slightly against mine as he takes the ring from the box. When he slips it on his finger, a sense of victory rampages through me. It’s such an obvious sign that he’s taken, and I fucking love that. If anything, since the dramatics with the Sandovals, I’ve gotten just about as possessive as Wild is. I love introducing him as my mate. I’ve told everyone in town, I think.