She’s not stupid.”
Phoenix nodded. “Boy, do I know that.”
60
Chloe Lang
“I can’t keep this up. Plus, she’s pushing for answers. She’s too
smart. She’ll figure out the whole story all by herself in time.”
“That’s very true, but we need to wait a bit longer before we come
completely clean.” It was hard for Phoenix to keep anything from
Jessie, but he knew it was for the best. “There’s more to her story than we know. Someone hurt her really bad. If we unload the whole thing
about our family on her, she’ll bolt.”
“And if we keep the truth from her, she’ll also bolt,” Jackson
argued.
“Listen, if the plan is going to work, we have to make sure she’s
ready to hear us out. Jessie is amazing, but even she needs to warm up to the idea of marrying five brothers. Plus, we have to get her ready for Austin. Dallas and I plan on taking her up to his tree.”
“I wish I could be there. Go easy on her, Phoenix. I’m not sure
she’ll be up for that.”
“Dallas thinks she will. So does Denver. You and I have only
dabbled that way.”
“More than dabbled, bro. I’ve been to The Masters’ Chamber.”
Phoenix laughed. “Only once or twice. We stuck out like sore
thumbs.”
“Dallas knows his way around the club, but he’s pretty new to the
scene, too.”
“Yes, but he’s into it. He was even thinking about trying to pass
the test to be one of the club Doms before he met Jessie. I think he’s reconsidering that now with her in the picture.”
“I sure hope so. Well, I really wish Denver were going to be there
at Austin’s tree with you guys. He isn’t as serious about it as our big bro, but he knows his stuff.”
“Well, the dads want him up there with you to take a look at the
site.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So, we’re good about waiting to tell Jessie?”
“Okay, but keep me up to date. I should be home in the next few
Wilde Fire
61
days.”
“Will do.”
* * * *
Jessie stood up from the hotel’s only sofa in the lobby when
Phoenix walked in the door. He’d brought her back to the hotel over an hour ago with the promise of a nice dinner. She’d agreed, under a little protest, wondering if being seen in town with him might stir up trouble. But she was hungry and really wanted to clear her head,
believing a nice meal might do the trick. He’d promised to take her somewhere away from the prying eyes of the citizens of Wilde.
As he walked over to her, he waved at Maude, who sat behind the
counter. She wore a green muumuu and typed frantically on a laptop.
“You working all night again, Aunt Maude?” Jackson asked.
The woman nodded. “Where are you taking Ms. Greene?”
“I’m not telling. You’d have it posted on Facebook before we
were out the door. Besides, we don’t want people knowing our
business.”
“You mean all the time you’re spending together?”
Jessie felt a chill cover her body. “Maude, it’s not what you
think,” she lied. But it was exactly what the woman thought, and
Jessie knew it, too.
“Hun, it’s none of my business. You’re my guest. That’s all I
know.” Maude winked. “Besides, you two look great together.”
Jessie felt her shoulders relax. “Thank you.”
“Go have fun, kids.”
“We will.” Phoenix turned to her and grabbed her hand. Warmth
shot up her arm and through her body. “You ready to go?” Every
word that came out of his sexy mouth warmed Jessie up. His strength and vigor was evident in every syllable.
“Yes, I am.” She looked back at Maude, who was staring intently
at the laptop screen. Then she turned to face Phoenix. “Do you mind 62
Chloe Lang
if we don’t hold hands outside?”
He released her hand, and she instantly missed his touch. “I mind,
but if that’s what you want, I’ll consent until we’re in my truck.”
She nodded, knowing how foolish it was to agree to his demand
but wanting to submit to him with all her heart.
Phoenix nodded. “Boy, do I know that.”
60
Chloe Lang
“I can’t keep this up. Plus, she’s pushing for answers. She’s too
smart. She’ll figure out the whole story all by herself in time.”
“That’s very true, but we need to wait a bit longer before we come
completely clean.” It was hard for Phoenix to keep anything from
Jessie, but he knew it was for the best. “There’s more to her story than we know. Someone hurt her really bad. If we unload the whole thing
about our family on her, she’ll bolt.”
“And if we keep the truth from her, she’ll also bolt,” Jackson
argued.
“Listen, if the plan is going to work, we have to make sure she’s
ready to hear us out. Jessie is amazing, but even she needs to warm up to the idea of marrying five brothers. Plus, we have to get her ready for Austin. Dallas and I plan on taking her up to his tree.”
“I wish I could be there. Go easy on her, Phoenix. I’m not sure
she’ll be up for that.”
“Dallas thinks she will. So does Denver. You and I have only
dabbled that way.”
“More than dabbled, bro. I’ve been to The Masters’ Chamber.”
Phoenix laughed. “Only once or twice. We stuck out like sore
thumbs.”
“Dallas knows his way around the club, but he’s pretty new to the
scene, too.”
“Yes, but he’s into it. He was even thinking about trying to pass
the test to be one of the club Doms before he met Jessie. I think he’s reconsidering that now with her in the picture.”
“I sure hope so. Well, I really wish Denver were going to be there
at Austin’s tree with you guys. He isn’t as serious about it as our big bro, but he knows his stuff.”
“Well, the dads want him up there with you to take a look at the
site.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So, we’re good about waiting to tell Jessie?”
“Okay, but keep me up to date. I should be home in the next few
Wilde Fire
61
days.”
“Will do.”
* * * *
Jessie stood up from the hotel’s only sofa in the lobby when
Phoenix walked in the door. He’d brought her back to the hotel over an hour ago with the promise of a nice dinner. She’d agreed, under a little protest, wondering if being seen in town with him might stir up trouble. But she was hungry and really wanted to clear her head,
believing a nice meal might do the trick. He’d promised to take her somewhere away from the prying eyes of the citizens of Wilde.
As he walked over to her, he waved at Maude, who sat behind the
counter. She wore a green muumuu and typed frantically on a laptop.
“You working all night again, Aunt Maude?” Jackson asked.
The woman nodded. “Where are you taking Ms. Greene?”
“I’m not telling. You’d have it posted on Facebook before we
were out the door. Besides, we don’t want people knowing our
business.”
“You mean all the time you’re spending together?”
Jessie felt a chill cover her body. “Maude, it’s not what you
think,” she lied. But it was exactly what the woman thought, and
Jessie knew it, too.
“Hun, it’s none of my business. You’re my guest. That’s all I
know.” Maude winked. “Besides, you two look great together.”
Jessie felt her shoulders relax. “Thank you.”
“Go have fun, kids.”
“We will.” Phoenix turned to her and grabbed her hand. Warmth
shot up her arm and through her body. “You ready to go?” Every
word that came out of his sexy mouth warmed Jessie up. His strength and vigor was evident in every syllable.
“Yes, I am.” She looked back at Maude, who was staring intently
at the laptop screen. Then she turned to face Phoenix. “Do you mind 62
Chloe Lang
if we don’t hold hands outside?”
He released her hand, and she instantly missed his touch. “I mind,
but if that’s what you want, I’ll consent until we’re in my truck.”
She nodded, knowing how foolish it was to agree to his demand
but wanting to submit to him with all her heart.
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