Enchanting Wilder (21 page)

I snicker. He has no idea. “I can understand that. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Exactly.” He clinks our amber beer glasses together.

We both sit back on our chairs and take in everything around us. For a guy who parties hard—or at least seems to—Alden’s very laid back. I’ve only ever talked to him in passing. Said a quick, ‘hello’ while walking past him at the bar, but tonight is the first time I’ve truly been able to have a real conversation with him. I have to say, it’s kind of nice to have a connection with someone and not feel threatened or hit on.

“So what’s your story, McKenna?” Alden asks after a few minutes of people watching.

I cross my legs. “Oh, you know. Simple girl. Big world. Parents died a little over a year ago and Candy and I took over the business.”

Alden’s face crunches. “I heard about that. Sorry.”

I wave him off, not wanting to pile my feelings onto someone I hardly know. Though, I do find his interest endearing. “It’s okay. That’s life, you know? We lose our parents and are left to pick up the pieces.”

“Sounds tragic.”

I lift my eyebrows. “Mhmm.”

“Well if it’s any consolation, I’d be a wreck if I lost my parents.”

I smile. It’s sweet he loves his parents so much. “Thanks, Alden.”

He winks, and puts the bottle to his lips. After he swallows, he looks back at me. “So, what do you do when you’re not working? I’ve only lived here for a few years. I’d love to get some insider Summerson night life details from a native.”

I laugh and point to Candy. “Then you’re talking to the wrong sister.”

“Ah, Candy. She’s a wild one, eh?”

“Very much so, but she works hard, too.”

Alden nods. “She’s a good girl. Jared seems to be pretty fond of her.”

I look up to where Jared and Candy are sitting, her in his lap. He snuggles close to her, and she sighs into his neck, completely content. “As long as he’s good to her, that’s all I care about.”

Alden stays silent, like he’s bursting with information but won’t give it up.

I give him a pointed look, ready to fire questions, but I decide against it. “I won’t even ask.”

“That’s probably best,” he answers reassuringly.
Does he feel bad for Candy?

“So that’s it? You don’t do anything on your down time?”

I scrunch my nose. “Not really. I read. Work. Do more work. I’m pretty simple.”

Alden thinks for a few moments, bobbing his head. “I think that’s kind of cool. No one ever said you had to go out and get drunk every day to have fun. Sometimes the simple things are the most important in life.”

“Totally,” I agree, looking down at my empty bottle. “Hey, I’m going to go get another drink. Want one?”

Alden finishes off the last of his beer and hands me the bottle. “Sure. Thanks.”

I get up and pull my leather jacket closer to my body. Little swirls of snow wrap around my body and I relish in the freezing air. I love this time of year so much. The brisk promise of heavy snow makes my heart giddy for what’s to come. Hot chocolate and long days snuggled in bed binge watching television—it sounds like heaven. I’m usually so busy with work and my Strix duties, a few days off could do me some good.

With my head down, concentrated on my steps, I make my way to the makeshift bar and order two more autumn flavored beers. Candy slaps my ass as I make my way back to Alden, handing him his drink as I sit down.

Alden twists the caps off of our beers and wiggles his eyebrows.

“So where were we? Oh, yes.” He snickers, pulling his jacket up higher to cover the bottom part of his face. “You’re a hermit and you need to get out more.”

My mouth falls open and I slap his chest with the back of my hand. “Shut it.”

His head falls back in laughter. “I’m kidding.”

I narrow my eyes and pinch my lips together, but it’s no use. Laughter bubbles from my throat.

“Seriously, we should hang out. I could use more friends in this town. All I have is the band, and don’t get me wrong, they’re great, but it’s hard to…”

I unintentionally tune him out. My eyes slide up to find Declan sitting on the edge of the roof, drink in hand, watching me closely. His brow is bent in a way that makes me think he’s unhappy that I’m talking to Alden, and I can see he’s gripping the cup in his hand a little tighter than normal. The corner of his mouth turn down and I can feel the intensity of his eyes on me. Angry and hot. They scold me from across the roof, the overwhelming need to shed my jacket to cool off.

I swallow, eyes wide, hands shaking.
Damn.

I quickly shift my body to Alden. “Alden,” I stop him, putting my hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. Here.” I hand him my phone. “Give me your number and we’ll hang out.”

Confusion muddles his face but he takes my phone, tapping the screen.

My eyes move back to Declan and my heart thrashes in my chest. “My uh—my friend’s here and I haven’t seen him in a while. Is it totally inappropriate to leave you here?” I turn to him with the biggest eyes I can muster and silently plead with him. I feel bad for leaving him hanging, but Declan’s here and he seems a bit pissed.

Alden’s eyes slide to Declan and his shoulders fall. Declan’s expression screams protectiveness. “Oh. Sure. Go see your friend. Text me and we’ll get together next week. We don’t head out for another show until Saturday.”

“Okay,” I reply, but my feet are already moving. “I’ll text you!”

My boots slap hard on the ground as I make my way to Declan. My hands wring in front of my body, both nervous and excited to see him. Though it’s only been two weeks, I can’t help but feel a little relieved he’s back, again.

Once I’m finally in front of him, Declan stands, his brows still furrowed in rage and pulls me into his embrace. His grasp is tight and firm, and I almost feel as if he’s punishing me. In his arms, I’m at his mercy. He holds me close, his power consuming his anger. I grip him with fervor.

Cupping the back of my head, he sighs. “Mighty. I’ve missed you,” he finally says, relaxing in my clutch.

I breathe in his scent, the smell permeating my being, it luring my contentment to the surface.
He missed me?
Oh God, I can’t help the words that fall out of my mouth. “I missed you.”
So much.
“When did you get in?”

He lets me go, and I take a seat next to him on the ledge of the roof. My arm touches his and I can’t help myself from resting my head on his shoulder.

He sighs. “A hour ago. Kai and Wood are around here somewhere.”

My head snaps up. “What? They are? How did you know we were here?”

Declan laughs. “Kai used a tracing spell. They ran into a couple of girls when we got here.” He rolls his eyes.

I laugh. “I’m surprised Wood wanted to come.” I got the feeling he wasn’t social.

“Oh, he didn’t. Kai talked him into it.”

“Whoa. Good for him, then.”

“Pretty much.” He drags his hand down my arm and clasps our hands together. “So who was that guy?” He juts his chin toward Alden, his jaw twitching.

“Oh, uhh.” I laugh. “That’s Alden. He’s…well, I guess he’s a friend. I’ve known him for a while, but we actually talked for the first time tonight. He seems like a pretty cool guy.”

Declan’s mouth turns down and he takes a drink of what looks like whiskey—seems to be his signature drink. He takes long pulls from his drink. His eyes narrow at Alden.

He must sense Declan’s hard stare because he turns, his hands in his pockets and squints in our direction.

“Am I sensing a hint of jealousy, Declan?” I arch one of my eyebrows.

He finally looks away from Alden, his eyebrows creased. “No.”

I attempt to hide my smile. “Mmm.”

“What?” Declan groans, setting his glass down on the ledge of the roof. Clamping his mouth shut, his eyes skirt around the roof, avoiding my gaze. He takes a deep breath, his gaze in Alden’s direction, again.

I look back at Alden and watch as he talks to another group of people, clearly oblivious to Declan’s hot glower.

I snicker and Declan looks back to me.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Okay,” I brush him off.

“Oh God.”

I snicker and squeeze his hand, teasing him.

Declan’s shoulders deflate again. “You’re impossible.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Declan releases my hand, moving his to my face. “So that means I can kiss you, right?”

I lean into his hold and smile. I kind of like jealous Declan. “Well, I guess if you want to go get Alden’s permission, I can wait. But…I don’t think he’ll care.”

Declan chuckles, giving me a pointed look, and licks his lips, bringing his mouth close. “This is the one thing that got me through the last few weeks.” He caresses my cheek. “The color of your eyes, the feel of your lips…that’s what pushed me forward.” He crushes his mouth to mine before I have a chance to swoon, and my arms wrap around his shoulders snuggly.

Suddenly, the obnoxious party around us falls away, and only a quiet lull of the wind fills my ears.

He tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth and my insides jump at attention.

Then, someone clears their throat and I pull back quickly, wiping my mouth.

Wood stands in front of us, his hands in his pockets. The awkward smile on his face is something I’ll cringe about for the rest of my life. “Uh, hey.”

Is it possible to combust from embarrassment? No? I’d like to challenge that theory.

Declan’s been in my life for a while now and I’ve yet to meet Wood. This isn’t how I imagined it would happen.

“Oh. Crap.” I rise to my feet. “Hey. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

Wood laughs and scratches his lip. His demeanor much different than the time I saw him at the hotel. He extends his other hand to me and I take it, shaking it in a jerky movement—like an idiot.

“It’s good to meet you too, McKenna.” The dimples on his cheeks make him look even more handsome. His longer dirty blonde hair and light blue eyes, make me feel at ease.

Declan moves to my side and he attempts to hide his smile.

“This is a pretty great party,” Wood says, taking a drink of something from a red cup.

I shove my hands in my jacket. “It’s not too bad, right?”

“Free booze and chicks? Can’t complain.” Wood eyes me with a mocking stare, and Declan smacks him in the stomach.

“Really, man?”

Wood shrugs. “What?”

Declan laughs under his breath and shakes his head.

“So,” I say, attempting to navigate from the weird place I was just put in. “What’re you guys doing in town?”

“Strix duty, lovely,” Kai says from behind Wood as he steps into view.

“Hey!” I greet with enthusiasm. “Declan said you were here.”

Kai raises his hand in the air for a high five and I slap his hand, amused. “Yep. I’m really starting to like the taste of alcohol.”

“You’ve never had alcohol?”

“Nope.”

“Not once?”

“Not even once,” Kai says proudly.

“I broke him of that habit the moment we left town.”

“I think he shoved it down my throat that first night,” Kai jokes, his eyes shifting to Declan.

“That’s what she said,” Wood says and then chuckles under his breath.

I spurt laughter as Kai glances to Wood with a confused expression. His eyebrows and mouth pulled down. He’s downright perplexed.

“Huh?”

Declan steps in. “It’s a joke. It’s from a TV show. Any time someone says something dirty in reference to a woman in a sexual situation, you say, ‘that’s what she said.’”

Kai takes a sip from his cup. “I don’t think I follow.”

Wood’s shoulders bounce in laughter and I hide my grin behind my hand.

“Yeah,” Wood helps. “Like, McKenna might say, ‘hey, that piece of meat looks downright delicious.’ And then, I’d say, ‘that’s what she said.’”

Kai contemplates.

“Or if you said, ‘I had to put it in my mouth because my hands were busy,’” Declan adds.

Kai juts his foot out and his mouth thins. “I don’t understand. That seems like a completely normal thing to say. Her hands were probably full.”

“Never mind,” Declan says, smiling into his whiskey.

“It’s a sexual innuendo, Kai,” Wood offers.

Kai snaps his fingers. “Oh! Because ‘it’ could technically be a penis—err, dick, as Declan says.”

Declan’s face turns a bright shade of crimson and I howl laughter. “Exactly.”

Kai smiles, proud of himself, and Declan bites his lip from amusement. “Nice, Kai.”

Kai looks to Declan. “What?”

Declan shakes his head as he looks down at the ground.

“Hey, can I steal Wood for a minute?” I ask, turning to Declan. He scrutinizes me for second but nods, his hair ruffling in the breeze.

“That’s what she said,” Kai attempts under his breath and we all look to him as if he has grown a second head. He grins, cocky.