Wilde Blue (Wilde Brothers Book 4) Read Free Page A

the brothers she hadn’t met yet, but she’d heard enough about him from the others. He was the oldest and the most ambitious of the siblings, dedicated to his job and his family, usually in that order. The last place she expected to find him was sitting with her daughter, apparently having a lengthy discussion on why police horses weren’t blue.
    She and Meg stayed at the door for another minute or so, two mothers watching over their children, and it occurred to Dani that it didn’t matter that Dave was a grown man; to his mother he was still her little boy.
    “Are you going to stand there all night, Mom? Did you really think I didn’t know you were there?” Dave asked without looking up from his drawing.
    Casey’s head snapped up in surprise. “How did you know they were there? Do you have eyes in the back of your head, too? Hello, Nana Meg. Hi, Mommy. Is it time to go home yet?”
    It was Dave’s turn to be surprised. He turned around to face the doorway, and Dani got her first real look at him. There was no doubting he was a Wilde. He had the same strong features as his brothers, with his mother’s fair hair and his father’s hazel eyes. He looked even larger now, with broad shoulders that seemed to fill the room.
    His gaze met hers, and for the first time since she’d divorced Bobby, she felt the first sparks of desire.
    “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize you were there, too. I thought it was just my mother stalking me.” He got to his feet and held out a hand in greeting. “I’m Dave Wilde. I’m going to guess that you’re Carla’s mom and the new cook here at Leo’s. It’s nice to meet you.”
    She walked into the room and took Dave’s outstretched hand, marveling at the way it dwarfed her own. “I’m Danai Walker. Everyone calls me Dani, though. I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
    Dave shook her hand, then released it with a groan. “I’d like to go on the record here and now and state that whatever my brothers have told you, it’s all a pack of lies and innuendo. I’m the only angel in the bunch. Isn’t that right, Mom?”
    Meg laughed. “Out of all my boys, you were the one least likely to get caught when you were up to no good. I’m not sure that qualifies you for angelhood. It just means you were the oldest and had the best chance of getting away with things. Once you pulled a stunt, I was prepared when your brothers tried it.”
    Dave clutched his chest in mock agony. “I’m wounded. Next you’re going to tell me I’m not your favorite son.”
    Before Meg could reply, the distinctive warble of the Muppet Show’s Swedish chef started to play, filling the room with gibberish words followed by a familiar “bork, bork, bork!”
    Dave pulled out his phone and switched it off with a chuckle. “That would be Jared warning me not to come to Leo’s because you’re hoping to hear I’ve suddenly developed a love life, Mom.” He held up the phone, grinning from ear to ear. “Want to read it for yourself? I bet he’s not your favorite now, is he?”
    Meg rolled her eyes and looked at Dani. “Be grateful you had a sweet little girl and not a boy or five. I don’t know what I was thinking. I should have stopped after this one.”
    ****
    Dave was doing his best not to stare at the stunning black woman standing beside his mother, but it was a losing battle. Even the utilitarian fit of her chef’s uniform couldn’t completely disguise her lush curves. Her hair was cropped short in a sleek, modern style that only served to emphasize her natural beauty.
    Dani’s laugh was a beautiful thing, rich and sensual. It made him think of things he’d sworn to live without. Lazy mornings spent in bed with someone special, midnight conversations, and kisses wrapped in laughter. Standing there looking down at Dani, he had an uneasy feeling that she was a threat to his quiet, well-ordered life.
    Carla chimed in at that point. “You should have had girls, Nana