Wilde Chase Read Online Free Page B

notice. The wood was polished to a subtle shine, every
one of the staff were smiling, and the air was not
tainted by the usual blend of stale beer and grease that often accompanied this
type of place. Instead, the savory aroma of grilling beef filled her nose and
made her mouth water. If the food tasted half as good as it smelled , she was going to be very happy.
    The place was full
of patrons, so full that they had push through a crowd to get anywhere close to
the bar. They’d only made it about halfway across the space when a loud voice
boomed through the room. “Benji! I thought you weren’t
coming by tonight?”
    Kelly bit back a
giggle as Ben grimaced. Clearly he wasn’t fond of that particular nickname. A
gap opened in the crowd and Ben aimed straight for it with Kelly in tow.
    “Hi,
Dad. Change in plans. We’re just here to grab a
takeout order and then we’re—”
    “We? Who is we ?”
    “Right. Dad, this is Dr. Kelly Towers. Kelly, this is my father, Brian.”   Ben made the introductions and then stepped
back so Kelly could get a proper look.
    “Hi,
Mr. Wilde. It’s nice to meet you.” Ben had
definitely taken after his father, though he was broader across the shoulder
and chest than Brian. Same hazel eyes, same dark hair and gentle smile, though Brian’s
hair was more silver than brown these days. Kelly liked the older man right
away.
    “Doctor?” Brian quirked a brow at that bit of information.
    “Vet, actually.
I’m Chase’s veterinarian. And please, call me Kelly.”
    “Well it’s nice to
meet you, Kelly, and you can call me Brian. I should have known the only thing
that would keep my son away from this place on a Friday night would be a pretty
woman.”
    “Actually, we weren’t
sure he knew what a woman was. He spends all his time hanging out with that
mangy mutt of his.”
    Kelly turned
around and found herself looking up at taller, long-haired version of Ben. “You
have to be one of Ben’s brothers. Do you all look alike?”
    “Hardly. I’m much better looking. I’m Tag, by the way, and you are?”
    “Out of your
league, little brother,” Ben grumbled.
    “I’m Kelly.”
    “And I’m charmed.
If you’re having dinner with Benji, I hope you’ll consider coming back here
afterward and letting me buy you dessert?”
    Ben growled under
his breath and Kelly squeezed his hand again. She wanted him to know that he
had nothing to worry about. “That’s a lovely invitation, but I’ll have to
decline. Ben has me booked for dinner, dessert…” She leaned in closer to Tag
and dropped her voice to a whisper, “And breakfast.”
    Tag burst out
laughing and winked at her. “Then he’s a lucky man.”
    Ben moved in
behind her, close enough she could feel the heat of his body through her dress.
“Yes, I am.”
    His brother threw
up his hands in mocking surrender and backed up a step. “You can’t blame a man
for trying.”
    “Wanna’ bet?” Ben
muttered.
    “First one of you
yahoos to throw a punch in my bar gets punted and won’t be allowed back in for
a month,” a new voice announced.
    “You are no fun,
bro.”
    Kelly turned to
meet the newest arrival. He was a little shorter than Ben, with blond hair,
blue eyes, and a very familiar smile.
      “Hi, I’m Jared Wilde. Harried
barkeep and peacemaker. You must be the reason Benji’s been in a good
mood the last few days.”
    “I’m Kelly. Thank
you so much for organizing the takeout order for us. If I had known how busy
you were, I’d have suggested we try somewhere else.”
    “What, and deprive
Chase of his favorite cheeseburgers? No way.”
    She turned and
frowned at Ben. “Just how many burgers does Chase eat, exactly?”
    “Uh,
a few.”
    “One of these days
we’re going to have a chat about your dog’s diet.”
    Brian hitched a thumb
toward Kelly and grinned at Jared. “Meet Chase’s vet.”
    Jared’s hazel eyes
glittered with laughter. “Really? Then do yourself a
favor and don’t let her see how many