Lang, Chloe - Going Wilde [The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 1] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) (11 page)

“You still care for dis vone, but I sense dat you have unresolved pain.”

“No. We’re good friends. It’s cool.”

“Dat’s not vhat the next card shows. Da Ace of Swords is also reversed. It means defeat. You came to Vilde dejected and sad.”

“Maybe I did. Things have been tough.”

“And here is your present. Da Lovers. Human love is a mystery and full of its own challenges.”

“Boy, do I know that.”

“Dat’s the truth.” Carlotta closed her eyes. Her finger came down on the fourth card. “Listen to me, Jessica. Be on guard. Dis is da Five of Pentacles in your near future. It’s reversed. Somevone vishes you harm.”

Austin Wilde, I bet.
“I will. Thank you.”

Carlotta took Jessica’s hands. “See dis?” She tilted her head toward the last card. “It is da best outcome. Your distant future. Da Star means new hopes and vonder. You vill find inspiration, courage, and so much more, my dear. Your dark days vill end. Your future is full of light and love.”

She smirked. “I’m glad to know that things will get better for me in the distant future.”

“Get past da danger around you. Love and trust yourself again. You’re so much more dan you know. Do dat, and your distant future might be just around da corner instead of years from now. Only da invisible knows for sure.”

“I sure hope so. Thank you, Carlotta.”

The woman smiled, and released Jessie’s hands. “Let me get your vine for you, my dear.”

Chapter Eight

The four of the Wilde brothers, Jackson, Phoenix, Dallas, and Denver, sat at a table in the middle of Sneaky Pete’s Casino, playing poker.

Jackson bet fifty dollars, expecting his two aces in his hand and the one on the table would finally have him winning a nice pot.

“Raise fifty.” Dallas moved the chips into the center of the table. Likely, he either had a pair of fours or a pair of jacks. He never stayed in a pot unless he had a strong hand. Too bad for him, Jackson had the best hand at present.

“Call,” Denver announced, and added to the growing pot.

“I’m out.” Phoenix leaned back, looking at Jackson with a wide smile.

Sneaky Pete’s wasn’t like the bigger casinos in Vegas or Reno. It was more of a local watering hole than anything else. Still, the place was really quiet for ten at night. Only four of the ten slot machines had customers. The craps table was empty. No one sat at the bar. A couple of Jackson’s cousins, Tobias and Nate Strong, were the only people playing at the blackjack table.

Pete himself was the Wilde brothers’ dealer tonight. He laid down the three-card flop, revealing the ace of hearts, the four of spades, and the jack of hearts.

Jackson thought about raising on top of Dallas’s, but with two opponents still in, he decided to slow play. “Call.”

Pete looked at his watch. “Boys, this has to be the last hand for now. I’ve got a wedding in fifteen minutes to conduct.”

“No problem.” Jackson nodded.

Pete, aka Sneaky Pete Buchman, had opened the casino and chapel next door fifty years ago. The old man was Wilde’s only minister, which suited everyone in town, including Jackson.

Pete turned the next card over. It was the three of clubs.

“A hundred.” Jackson pushed in more chips.

Dallas didn’t hesitate. “Call.”

“That’s all for me. I’m out.” Denver grabbed up his remaining chips. “I’ve lost sixty bucks tonight. Not bad for me.”

“Not at all, bro.” Phoenix had doubled his chips in the two hours they’d been playing. He turned to Jackson. “One down. One to go.”

Jackson loved poker night with his brothers. He rarely won. With Austin, the best player of them, absent, tonight would be different. “We’ll see.”

Pete turned over the river card. It was the queen of hearts.

“Another hundred.” Jackson expected Dallas to fold with that bet.

He didn’t. “Raise. Five hundred.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

Jackson studied his face. Could he actually have a flush or straight? That would mean he’d been betting on blue sky, and that wasn’t like Dallas. Or could he finally be trying to bluff? Austin was always on him to change his play, but Dallas never had. With their eldest brother not at the table, Jackson suspected Dallas had finally done it.

“I’m calling your bluff, Dallas.” Jackson pushed in the rest of his chips, then he flipped over his cards. “Triple aces.”

Dallas stood up and shouted. “A royal flush!” He flipped his two cards over to reveal the king and jack of hearts.

Jackson couldn’t believe his eyes. Second place in a round of poker meant you went home poorer. “Shit.”

“Way to go, Dallas. You’re the second person to get one here. Your Pappy Jack got dealt one back in the summer of seventy-seven. Your picture will go up next to his behind the bar. I’ll take it later.” Pete stood up. “I’ve got two grooms and their bride waiting on me.” Then he marched to the exit.

Phoenix came up behind Jackson and patted him on the back. “Lil’ bro, the queen of hearts lost you that pot. Fitting, don’t you think?”

“Shut up.” Jackson smiled. “I’ll buy the first round.”

He needed more time to plead his case to his brothers. He’d told them during their poker game that he believed Jessie would be the perfect wife for them, but Dallas and Denver remained hesitant to the notion. Phoenix hadn’t said a word, but stared at him intently. Jackson wasn’t sure if he was on board or not with his idea, but he hoped so. Phoenix had sure been game to get Jessie in bed.

Jackson and his brothers went up to the casino’s bar, ordered drinks, then sat at an empty table.

“Guys, she’s the one.”

“So you’ve been saying.” Denver downed a tequila shot. “She’s really gorgeous and seems nice and all, but she’s not from here.”

“Neither was Mom.”

Dallas put his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “That’s different, lil’ bro.”

“Why?” Jackson’s frustration whirled inside him. If his brothers didn’t want Jessie as a shared wife, so be it. He’d opt out of his portion of the mine and start a life with her by himself. Still, he had to try to convince them. “Our parents are in love. It worked out for them. It can work for us, too.”

“That was a long time ago. Outsiders don’t understand our ways.”

“Bullshit. That’s a cop-out. Jessie is smart. All she needs is some persuading.”

Phoenix glared at him. “She’s also a recent virgin, whose cherry you popped. You really think she’ll go for marrying five men?”

“I didn’t say it would be easy, but she will be worth it.”

“A virgin?” Dallas absently staked up his chips on the table. “I knew it.”

“You’re such a liar, bro.” Denver shook his head. “None of us did.”

“She is quite amazing.” Phoenix’s tone softened.

Dallas barked. “Come on. You left with us the other night. When did you have time to fuck her?”

“Me and Jackson took her back to his place after the accident at the mine.”

“I can see it in your eyes, Phoenix. You’re into her, too. Not as much as Jackson yet, but still true.” Denver rubbed his chin. “If Jackson’s right about Jessie—”

“But what about Austin?” Dallas asked. “His plan has always been to leave once the four of us find a wife. Is that what we want? To lose our brother?”

“No.” Phoenix downed a tequila shot. “He’ll never go for the likes of Jessie. Not with what he likes in the bedroom.”

The truth Phoenix shared sunk Jackson’s hope. Austin visited BDSM clubs in Reno, Vegas, and even L.A. on a regular basis. Hell, he’d built a
playroom
in his house complete with a bench, straps, paddles, whips, and more.

“Jackson, you really want her?” Denver asked.

“With all my heart.”

“Okay. I think I have an idea that could win Austin over, but it is going to take awhile. In the meantime, I suggest each of us get to know Miss Greene better.”

Denver had restored Jackson’s faith in the possible. No matter what means it took to win Jessie’s heart, that’s what he would do.

* * * *

Jessica exited the car, holding the bottle of wine she’d gotten from Carlotta. She headed for the front door of the Hotel Cactus, anxious for a bath and alone time.

A man walked up to her. He didn’t wear the typical dress for men in Wilde. Instead, he wore a suit and tie and carried a large case. He could’ve easily fit right into Manhattan’s mainstream as one of its stylish, good-looking males. In this remote town, he looked out of place. “Miss Greene.” His smile was broad and inviting.

“Yes?” She tensed. This was Wilde, Nevada after all.

“I’m Malcolm Winters.” He extended his hand to her.

She shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Winters.”

“Malcolm, please. I have something for you.” He opened his case and produced something she was thrilled to see.

“My laptop! Thank you.” She took it from him. “You work at the mine?”

“Oh, no.” His eyebrow shot up. “I’m president of the bank. One of my security guards also works at the mine from time to time. He found it and brought it to me.”

That puzzled her. “Why didn’t he just turn it in to a supervisor at the mine?”

“The man is a little off. He trusts me. Anyway, it’s back in its proper owner’s hands. No fault. No foul.”

Jessie sighed. She wouldn’t have to call the boss now. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am, Malcolm.”

“No need. I know your job is a hard one. I heard about your accident at the mine.”

“Word travels fast around here. I’m fine.”

“But you could’ve been really hurt. What a shame about Paul’s heart condition.”

“Paul?”

“The driver that almost hit you. It was his heart, apparently.”

“Is he all right?”

“He is. With rest and rehab, he’ll be good as new.” Mr. Winters motioned to the front of the hotel. “May I escort you inside the hotel to the lobby?”

“Certainly.” His formal manner didn’t put her off, but instead eased her anxiety. “I’m so glad the driver is going to be okay.”

“Aren’t you sweet. Maybe too sweet, I’m afraid.”

She tensed. “What do you mean?”

“We citizens of Wilde believe in our mine, Miss Greene. The last thing we want is for another accident to occur due to carelessness and oversight.”

Jessie bristled. “I can assure you, Mr. Winters, I am a professional. I’m here to make sure Wilde Mine is safe.”

The man nodded, opening the hotel’s door for her. “Excellent. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.”

Jessie walked into the lobby, and turned back to him. “Thank you, but I’ve got it covered.”

Chapter Nine

Jessica sipped her wine. She’d finished reading her last e-mail. The Deputy Director was giving her free rein. Whatever time or resources she needed in her investigation of the Wilde Mine, he would approve it. It seemed that back at headquarters no one was the wiser about her spending time with Jackson Wilde and his brothers. That pleased her.