Someone starts clapping really slowly. Then someone joins them. And another.
“Are they seriously starting a slow-clap?” Liam asks against my lips, even though he’s grinning too big to continue kissing me.
The slow clap builds momentum until it’s finally a true applause, and we both look toward the windows to see Vincents and Malones pressed against the glass. Nila and Krysta are on a set of shoulders—Nila on Killian’s and Krysta on my father’s as they smirk and clap for us too.
“I’m going to ruin a set of boots kicking so many asses,” I say on a weary sigh.
But Liam starts kissing me again, drawing my attention back to the important part as he kisses me harder.
“I think I’ve seen enough. I don’t want to get sick,” I hear my dad grumble. “Beer at my place!” he adds jovially. “Tonight we celebrate with all the Wild Ones. To hell with the rules.”
Liam starts grinning against my lips again, and I pull back, my eyes locking on his.
“Are you sure you can handle being a Malone?” I muse, smirking a little.
His eyes narrow even as his grin stays in place. “I think you still underestimate me.”
His lips brush against mine, as he prompts me to wrap my legs around his waist and starts carrying me toward the door.
“Where are we going?” I ask against his neck as I start kissing on it.
His grip on my ass tightens as his footsteps hurry, carrying us away from Lilah’s cabin and everyone shouting at us to hurry up and meet them at my Dad’s.
“We’re going to celebrate on our own first before I spend a night with the Wild Ones and alcohol.”
“I can walk. It’ll be faster,” I murmur against his neck, dragging my lips up toward his ear.
He groans. “You’re barefoot,” he grumbles.
But we only make it as far as halfway before his lips are on mine and he’s shoving me against a tree, too impatient to make it all the way back.
Tree sex is totally hot with Liam Harper.
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
Wild Ones Tip #367
Custody disputes are as ugly as a shaved opossum.
LIAM
Wet.
Cold.
Wet.
Cold.
I jerk awake, and curse those stupid fucking Malones when I realize I’m floating on a damn air mattress in front of the town.
On a Saturday.
My head swivels when I hear the roar of a motor coming toward me, and a horn blares from the town hall, reminding me of the weird fog horn I heard in my shitty dream where I was stuck on a boat in a storm.
Kylie is on her father’s hover boat and waving at me, even as I narrow my eyes at her.
“Really?” I snap at her, clinging to the mattress as their wake tries to tip me over.
George fights a grin, trying not to gloat, as Kylie doubles over from laughing so hard.
“Family rules, Liam. First one drunk pays the price!” she shouts.
“I’m not technically family yet!” I remind her, still struggling with the mattress that is now sinking because of all the water they slung up.
George chuckles as he tosses me a rope with a lot more ease than the time I tried to reel in Kylie. I catch it and he starts dragging me in as Kylie ties them off.
Just as I near them, a lot of loud motors roar closer, and I turn in time to see a huge burst of water slinging up from Kai Wilder’s motorized surfboard. The water crashes into me, and I struggle to keep my balance on the wobbling mattress, my feet moving like I’m dancing to keep steady.
George laughs harder, but I dive into his boat before I can fully fall into the water.
“Come on, city boy. We have a meeting today,” he says as I try to catch my breath and glare at Kai Wilder, who doesn’t even glance my way.
Kylie, the little traitor, comes giggling up to my side before pressing a kiss to my cheek.
I glare at her.
“Why do you look so giddy?” I ask her suspiciously.
“Because,” she says around a grin, “today is a big day.”
Before I can ask her what that means, George is shoving me toward the dock like he’s too impatient to let me catch my breath or figure out what the hell is going on. I’m wet, I have morning breath, I’m really fucking hungover, and I spent the night on a mattress.
Now?
Now that damn violin has just started playing on the town speakers, and Kylie turns to me with wide, excited eyes.
“This day just got better,” she says in a squeal, clapping her hands together.
This is the worst day ever.
I groan, even as George starts river dancing like a pro down the dock. In fact, all the Wild Ones are dancing like it’s no big deal.
Wait…
Why are all the Wild Ones in town at the same time?
Killian looks like he grew up knowing this shit as he dances and owns it.