Wilde Chase Read Online Free Page A

have to tear their heads off just on principle. This was going to take
a little preparation, or his first date with Kelly was going to end up with at
least one of his siblings bleeding. She was far too beautiful for it to go down
any other way. His brothers weren’t going to be able to resist.
    “I should probably
warn you, my brothers are going to take one look at you and consider it their
sworn duty to convince you that you’re with the wrong Wilde.”
    “Just how many
brothers will I be saying ‘no’ to on the way to pay for dinner?”
    “At
least two. Three is more likely and there’s some
chance of all four being there.”
    Kelly’s eyes
widened. “Your mother raised five boys? Has she been nominated for sainthood
yet?”
    Ben reluctantly
stepped back and released her from his arms. It pleased him to note that she
didn’t go very far, taking only a single step so she had room to straighten her
dress and shake out her hair. “Not yet, no. What about
you?”
    “I’m definitely
not up for sainthood. As for my family, my parents were killed in a car crash a
few years ago, so now it’s just me and my sister, Jenny.”
    “I’m sorry.” Ben
slid an arm around her again and drew her close for a gentle hug.
    “It’s okay. You
couldn’t have known. My sister took it pretty badly, but she’s getting her life
back on track now. We watch out for each other, you know how it is.”
    “I do. You may
want to smack them upside the head sometimes, but they’re family .”
    “Exactly. And for the record, I don’t need to meet your brothers to know I’m
with the right Wilde.”
    “Please feel free
to tell them that when the flirting starts.” Ben hoped she did just that. He’d
enjoy watching their faces as she shut them down and walked out of there with
him tonight, probably more than he should.
    “Ben?” Something
in Kelly’s tone made his chest tighten, and when he met her eyes there was
nothing but sincerity in her gaze. “I mean it. I’m not the kind of person who
is always wondering if the grass is greener down the road a ways. I know it’ll
probably make me sound pathetic, but this is the first date I’ve had since I
moved back to Chicago .”
    “Then the men in
this town are morons, myself included. And since we’re
being honest, I’m not exactly a social whirlwind these days either. I’m just
sorry it took me so long to ask you out.”
    She laughed and
placed her index finger squarely on his chest. “Funny. I thought I asked you out.”
    “Yes, you did. But
I think I should get credit for coming up with a backup plan when you picked
Leo’s for dinner.”
    “Fair
enough. So, what do you recommend we order? I
don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
    “Double bacon
cheeseburgers and fries? I’ll provide the beer.”
    “Sounds
good to me.”
    “Then just let me
make a call.”   He unwound his arm from
Kelly’s waist and pulled out his phone, hitting speed dial. Jared was going to
bitch about family not getting special treatment, but Ben knew he’d come
through in the end.

Chapter Three
     
    Kelly took Ben’s
hand as he helped her down from the passenger seat of his Jeep and into the
sweltering heat of the city street. Instead of letting go, he threaded the
fingers of his hand between hers, giving it a light squeeze. It felt right, and
Kelly squeezed back before falling in beside him as they headed up the road
toward their destination. She spent the short walk trying to stay calm, but her
heart was racing and she felt as if her feet weren’t touching the ground.
    Being around Ben
always made her a little light-headed, but tonight, knowing that she was going
back to his place with him, she was nearly dancing on air.
    The sound of
laughter and music flowed around them as Ben opened the door to Leo’s. It was a
loud and boisterous place, with dark wood paneling and brass fixtures, just
like so many other local pubs she’d been in. he differences. took her a little while to