Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

EVERLY

The flutters in my stomach haven’t stopped all week. The house was listed Monday morning and since then I’ve refreshed the listing to see how many people have viewed it about a million times. And when Heather so much as smiles at me, I’m hoping she’s going to say we have an offer.

She warned me that a house at this price point could take a while to sell. Plus, we’re at the end of the lake season so buyers aren’t as eager. At least Lisa is in the same boat.

Today we’re both working on staging another home going up for sale soon. This one is a lot smaller than our previous projects, but it’s still great to be out of the office and doing real design work. We do everything together, instructing the delivery people where to set the furniture, and then adjusting every small thing until we’re both satisfied.

“I think we’re done,” I say.

“It’s perfect.” Lisa does a circle, taking it all in and smiling. “This is exactly how I’d decorate it if I lived here.”

I’ve learned what appeals to buyers when it comes to décor, but the modern and simple touches still feel too sterile for me. It has no personality, and I want my house to feel like a friend.

When we get back to the office, Heather steps into the doorway of her office, looking out. “Lisa, Everly, can I talk to you both a minute?”

I can’t find my voice, but nod. We shuffle in, nervous energy bouncing between us, and sit in front of Heather’s desk.

I dig my nails into my palms to keep from wringing my hands and showing how anxious I feel.

“Congratulations,” Heather says. “The feedback on the homes you staged has been positive. The listings are both getting a lot of traction and we’ve even had a couple of offers.”

“We have?” Lisa asks, then steals a glance at me.

“Mhmm.” Heather nods and smiles at her.

“Which house?”

A pit forms in my stomach. It’s Lisa’s house. Of course it is. She stuck with what works. She did a clean, modern approach, following the usual playbook. I knew that it was a risk to deviate and I’m willing to accept my fate. It stings, but I force a smile. I can be happy for Lisa now and frustrated with myself later.

“Both.” Heather smiles. “And they came in at nearly the same time.”

“Oh my gosh.” Lisa and I grin at each other. A wave of relief washes over me followed by a sea of pride. I did it. I staged a house and someone loved it enough to want to make it their home. But it’s not just about the house, I believed in myself. I stuck with what I felt was right and it paid off.

“You both have done an exceptional job. I wish I had capacity for both of you at the end of your contracts.”

The realization that we still don’t know who she’s going to ask to stay hits us both and we fall quiet again.

“I haven’t made a decision yet, but I promise not to leave you in suspense for long.” She smiles. “That’s all. Have a great weekend and good job. Both of you.”

We leave with the same anxious energy as we arrived with.

“We did it,” I say quietly.

“Yeah.” She smiles and then lets it fall. “But one of us still has to find a new job.”

“Not for another few weeks.” There’s less than a month to go on my contract and I have no idea what I’ll do if Lisa is the one asked to stay. I didn’t allow myself to plan on being here longer than the internship, but I also didn’t plan on what to do after.

“Do you want to go out and celebrate?” she asks as we get back to our desks.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and stare at Jack’s name flashing on the screen.

“Uhh…maybe. I think Jack is coming up.”

“Bring him if you want.” She grabs her bag. “Text me. I’m going to run home and shower.”

I nod my agreement and then take a seat at my desk as I answer. “Hey.”

“Hey. Done with work?”

“Yes. I’m leaving soon. Where are you?”

“Come outside and find out.”

I hurry to gather my things and rush out of the building. Jack’s G-Wagon is parked next to my car and I scramble to get in so I can kiss him.

“Hi,” I finally say when I pull back.

He hums then brushes his lips over mine again.

“I have news,” I say. “My house has an offer! Someone wants to buy it!”

A wide grin spreads across his face. “Of course it does. You’re so talented. There was no doubt in my mind.”

“Well, there were lots of doubts in my mind.”

The backs of his fingers graze my cheek and push my hair back behind my ear. “We should celebrate.”

“Lisa is going out and wants us to join her.”

“Is that what you want?”

I stare at him in his black hoodie and athletic pants. He looks like he came straight from practice. The smell of the rink mixes with his shampoo and body wash.

“Kind of,” I admit. “But I also don’t want to waste a second of our weekend together.”

The team has time off until Monday, a rare weekend break, and I want to soak up every second with him.

“We won’t,” he says. “This is a big day for you. We can celebrate just the two of us tomorrow. I have a surprise for you.”

“Ooooh. What is it?” I’ve come to look forward to Jack’s surprises. Usually when people try to surprise me, I can totally guess what it is, but I never can with him.

“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

My face pulls into a pout, which does not work on him.

Laughing, he puts the car in drive. I leave mine at the office to grab later. I don’t plan on needing it this weekend.

“I have to make a few phone calls,” Jack says when we walk into my apartment. He walks over to the countertop where a stack of books sits. He picks up one and looks at the cover. “I’ve seen this book before.”

I take it from him and set it back on the stack. “Well, it is a very popular book.”

Draping my arms on his shoulders, I lift onto my toes to kiss him again, then pull back and take off my shirt. I feel grungy from moving furniture around today. “I’m going to shower.”

His gaze trails over my lacy black bra and he watches while I push my jeans down to reveal the matching panties.

“Want to join me?”

“Temptress.” He takes my mouth and kisses me hard and demanding, only pulling back when I’m breathless. “Give me five minutes.”

After showering until the hot water ran out, Jack and I get ready and head out to one of the downtown bars. Lisa is already there, along with some of the other people from the office. We grab drinks and mingle with everyone. The tables are small and close together, and my boyfriend is the center of attention, even while trying not to be.

It’s fun to see people’s reactions to Jack. He’s just Jack to me, but to them, he’s Jack Wyld, and they look at him starstruck and filled with admiration.

I love how easily he takes it and it’s really a wonder he isn’t the most self-centered jerk in all of existence.

“I’m going to grab another drink,” I say and stand from his lap.

He pulls me back down. “I’ll get the drinks. You stay with your friends.”

His lips graze my neck and he deposits me onto the chair while he gets up and goes to the bar. I stare after him, feeling happier than I can ever remember.

Liam, a listing agent at the office, slides closer to me, dragging my attention away from my man and his fine ass.

“Congratulations. I saw the offer come in just as I was leaving the office,” he says.

“Thanks. I don’t think the buyer is going to take it, but it’s a start.”

His brows pinch together. “There was another offer. You didn’t hear?”

“No.” My excitement lifts. “Really?”

He nods, grinning. “They offered above listing. All cash. Thirty-day closing.”

My heart races. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. I handed it over to Heather myself.”

It feels too good to be true. Another offer. Above the listing price. Something tickles my brain. I glance back at Jack.

“When did you say the offer came in?” I ask Liam.

“An hour or so ago.”

The same time Jack said he needed to make some calls.

I nod and then say, “Excuse me.”

Jack smiles when he sees me approaching him at the bar, but it falls at my expression.

“Did you buy my house?” I demand.

He keeps staring at me like he’s deciding how to answer. Finally he says, “I put in an offer and it was accepted.” He takes a drink from the glass in front of him. “I guess technically it’s my house.”

“Why would you do that?” I ask, voice climbing with irritation. Here I was thinking my work had paid off, and it’s just Jack doing what he promised he wouldn’t do.

“Because I love that house. It’s perfect. I told you I’ve been thinking about a place up here. It was too good to pass up.”

“You promised,” I say, and I’m not sure if I’m more disappointed in him or myself for believing him.

I step away from him, grab my purse, and head outside, walking back toward my apartment.

I know it’s his footsteps behind me, but I don’t slow down even when he calls, “Ev, wait up.”

He jogs to get in front of me. “I promised not to interfere with your job, and I didn’t. I waited until you already had an offer.”

I glare at him. It’s semantics and he knows it. I brush past him, but he takes me by the arm and forces me to look at him.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you, but I wanted to make sure it went through first.”

“Why?” I ask, and I’m not even sure what I’m asking. Why did he promise at all if he wasn’t going to stand by it? Why did he have to interfere with my job? Why did he have to make me question all the pride I’ve felt in the past few hours?

“Because…” He trails off, then runs a hand through his dark hair.

“All my work feels completely irrelevant now. I’ll never know if it sold because I did a good job or because you’re too selfish to not interfere. Don’t you understand?” I ask quietly.

He brings a hand up and brushes his knuckles along one side of my neck then drops his hand back to his side. “I wanted to have a place here in case this is where you end up. You love that house and I love it too. I’m not just blowing smoke when I tell you that you’re talented. You make everything feel like home. So yeah, I bought it and I’m sorry if that was crossing a line, but I didn’t do it so you could keep your job. I did it in hopes I get to keep you.” My frustration dissipates as he scans my face, waiting for my reaction. Worry lines bracket his mouth and he looks so devastatingly nervous that he’s fucked up.

“You are very frustrating,” I say, then press my lips to his.

He exhales slowly then wraps an arm around my back and takes over the kiss, sweeping his tongue in and savoring me.

“I’m sorry,” he says, gruffly against my lips.

“You better have a hell of an apology planned,” I murmur.

“Do you want to go back to the bar?” he asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “I want to make love and then look at photos of your new house. I know a designer in case you need one.”

He grins. “Done. I bought all the furniture, but it needs more. I need more. More of you.”

“You bought all the furniture?”

“I told you I loved it. I meant it.”

“I love it too, but it’s a three-million-dollar home.” I blow out a breath thinking about how much money he spent.

“It’s worth it. I would have paid so much more.” His hands frame my face on either side. “You are incredible. You don’t believe it yet and that’s okay. I’m going to keep telling you until you realize it for yourself.”

We spend the night exactly as I planned. I wake up with Jack’s body draped over mine. I have to pee and my mouth is dry. I wriggle to get free, but his arm tightens.

“Where are you going?” He pulls me back into his chest, and his mouth skates over my shoulder and then nuzzles into my neck.

“I was going to come right back.” I laugh as he holds me like I’m in danger of running away. Fat chance. I know what he can do with his tongue.

“What time is it?”

I stretch out an arm to grab my phone from the nightstand. “Just after nine.”

“Shit, really?” His hold on me loosens and he gets up quickly.

“Somewhere to be?”

He’s so handsome all sleepy-eyed and hair disheveled. My stare rakes over him.

“Eyes up here, temptress. We don’t have time to do what you’re thinking.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?” I ask, not moving from the bed even as he picks up his clothes and moves around my room frantically.

“Because I’m thinking it too.” He stops and comes over to drop a kiss on my mouth. “But right now, I need you to get ready and pack an overnight bag.”

“Where are we going?” I ask, a giddy sensation taking root.

“Somewhere warm. Pack a bathing suit. Or don’t.” His brows waggle.

“Wait. You’re taking me on a trip? Where?”

“You’ll see.” He backs away and tips his head, indicating he wants me to get up. “But we gotta move. The jet leaves in two hours.”