Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(57)

“She’s fine. She challenges me and can be an enormous pain in the ass, but she’s also fucking brilliant.” I’d leave out the fact that I couldn’t get her out of my fucking head. Now that I’d had a taste of her, I fucking craved her.

I’d never craved a woman—or missed a woman, for that matter. Even when I was a fucking teenager with raging hormones, I didn’t miss Kressa. I’d never been that guy, so I was glad Dylan had left because that shit didn’t sit well with me, and I needed to get it together.

“Oh, yeah? What the fuck does she look like? I can hear it in your voice, Wolf. You’re a fucking smitten kitten.” He laughed again, and I rolled my eyes. It was what we’d always said to him when it came to Jaqueline. We’d razzed the hell out of how whipped he was.

“Never going to happen. But sure, she’s hot as hell.”

“I see. Hot and brilliant. That’s a deadly combination,” he teased.

“Well, I told you, she’s also an enormous pain in my ass.”

“The good ones always are, my brother. They always are.” He was still laughing when I pulled down his street.

“All right. I’m here. Give me a call before you head out, all right?”

“Yep.” His tone turned serious.

“I’ll make sure everyone here is okay. Don’t worry about that. You just be safe. Send word when you can. Just a sign, all right?” He knew what I meant. We had codes, things only he and I understood when we’d text one another.

“Thanks, Wolf. I’ll see you in a few months. You’re going to see my ass in a suit, marching into your office for my interview.”

“You don’t need to interview; I told you that. The job is yours.” I wanted to make sure he knew that the minute he was ready, I’d have his back. I always would.

“Yep. I’ll see you soon. Peace out.”

“Peace out, buddy.”

Fuck. I had a sick feeling in my stomach, but that didn’t mean shit. It could just be because I knew what he was heading out to do. I’d have to get my face straight before I saw Jaqueline and the boys. I pulled into the driveway and put the car into park just as my phone vibrated.

Dylan had sent a selfie of herself wearing her Halloween costume. How the fuck did she manage to make a Rocky Balboa costume sexy as hell? She wore tiny white shorts that looked like they barely covered her ass, and I was thankful the cold weather forced her to put tights beneath them. I couldn’t stand the thought of random dudes checking her out. She had on a tank top that read, You, me, or nobody is going to hit as hard as life, because apparently, it was one of her favorite quotes. Her hair was in a ponytail on top of her head, and she wore a mouthpiece that boxers used and was giving me a thumbs up.

Damn, she was sexy and fierce, and my dick sprung to life.

Me ~ I want to have my way with you in those shorts. You look hot as fuck.

Minx ~ That could be arranged. But you should know, I’ve got a mean left hook.

Me ~ I can take a hit, Minx.

Minx ~ I’ll bet you can. Are you at Jaqueline’s yet? Have you seen the boys?

Me ~ Just pulled up.

Minx ~ And you have the toys?

She’d given me all these instructions because apparently, you can’t go to a house with kids without presents. So, she’d sat on the phone with me last night when I ran to Target, and she told me what to get.

Me ~ Yeah. Thanks for your help with that.

Minx ~ Of course. They are going to love it. And that’ll help with them missing their dad. I remember after my mom passed, everyone kept bringing us presents. It didn’t stop us from being sad, but at least it was a distraction, right?

I stared at the phone for a minute and thought about how to respond to that. She’d lost her mom at a young age, and I knew that it had to be painful as hell to lose a parent like that.

Me ~ You’re a strong fucking woman, Minx.

Minx ~ I’m shaking. Was that a compliment? <smirky face emoji>

Me ~ It was. Don’t get used to it.

Minx ~ Never. I still hate you.

Me ~ Hate you, too. Be safe tonight. I’ll text you when I leave.

What? Why did I say that? Why was I updating her every time I did anything? This was not smart. Her going away for the weekend was supposed to be a time for me to get my head on straight, not fucking text her every time I took a shit.

Minx ~ Don’t blow down any houses, big, bad Wolf.

Me ~ The only thing I want blown is my <eggplant emoji> on your <lips emoji>

Minx ~ <panting emoji> <panting emoji>

I laughed as I stepped out of the car and slipped my phone into my back pocket. I grabbed the bags out of the trunk and made my way to the door.

Jaqueline pulled open the door, and the boys came flying around the corner.

“Uncle Wolfy,” Drake said. He pummeled into me, and I scooped him up. His brother, Slade, was right behind him, and I reached down with my free arm and lifted him up, holding one kid on each hip. These dudes were as cool as their dad, and I didn’t mind hanging out with them at all. I was happy to be living back here full time so I could see them grow up.

I wanted the same thing for their father because I knew how much he loved them.

“Hey, guys, are you ready for some trick-or-treating?” They cheered, obviously ready to get things going as I set them back down on their feet.