Wilde Blue (Wilde Brothers Book 4) Read Free

less judgmental than any of his family were likely to be.
    ****
    Dani waited while her new boss, Jared, sampled the dishes she’d put together. He’d already approved two new appetizers, and now he was trying the pulled pork sandwich she wanted to add to the menu. It was a variation of the one her parents served in their restaurant, but she’d changed some of the ingredients to add her own personal spin to it.
    “Hell yes, we’re putting this on the menu. This is incredible, Dani. Remind me to thank Tag the next time I see him. Suggesting I hire you was the best idea the big lug ever had.”
    “I should be thanking all of you. You and your family have been so helpful these last few weeks.” She meant every word of it, and so much more besides. The journey from Seattle to Chicago had taken two weeks as they moved from one shelter or haven to another.
    By the time she and Casey had arrived in their new city, they were both exhausted. When Tag had met them at the bus station, she’d looked right past him in her search for their contact. The last thing she’d expected was to be met by a tall, dangerous-looking man with his arm wrapped around a laughing and clearly pregnant red-headed woman. Tag and Jo had greeted them with open arms and welcomed them into their home and their lives. Within days “Danai Walker” had a new job at the Wilde family’s bar and grill, and Casey, who now called herself Carla, had practically been adopted into the Wilde family as one of their own.
    Jared gave her a lopsided smile. “I know your reasons for moving to Chicago weren’t happy ones, but I’m glad you’re here, Dani. If for no other reason, your daughter has done a fantastic job of distracting my mother from her mission of finding me a nice girl to marry.”
    Dani laughed. “Your mom is not that bad. And you’re not her only target. Apparently your big brother, Dave, is due back from some out of town convention and she’s hoping he met someone there.”
    “If that’s the case, I should phone Dave and warn him. He hates it when Mom starts poking into his personal life.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, then glanced up at Dani. “Put all the new stuff on the specials menu starting next week. If people love your dishes as much as I think they will, we’ll add them to the permanent menu next month.”
    “Will do. While you call your brother, I’m going to check in on Carla. Thank you again for letting me bring her tonight. I promise to find someone reliable to babysit her soon.”
    “You take as long as you need. She’s my best defense against my mother, remember?” Jared winked at her, then starting dialing.
    “Grown men afraid of their own mother.” She shook her head. “It’s sad, really.”
    With that parting shot, Dani left the kitchen and headed for Jared’s office, only to spot Meg Wilde standing outside the door, peering inside with a smile on her face. Dani recognized the look in the older woman’s blue eyes. It was the same one she got when she was watching Casey. Dani took a few more steps and Meg turned toward her, pressing her finger to her lips, then pointing back inside the office.
    Curious, Dani made the rest of the journey as silently as she could, though once she got close enough she realized she shouldn’t have bothered. Casey was babbling loud enough that she’d drown out anything short of a fire alarm.
    But who was she talking to?
    She joined Meg and peeked in to find her daughter still at Jared’s desk, which was now covered by a number of drawings. Seated across from Casey was a stranger. He had short, blond hair and a big body that barely fit in the chair he was perched on. He was bent over the desk, with the same focus as Casey, sketching intently as her little girl peppered him with a nonstop barrage of questions and commentary.
    Dani raised an eyebrow in question, and Meg nodded toward the blond man. “My son. David,” she whispered.
    So this was Dave. He was the only one of