Wild Card

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>A simple kiss with a beautiful stranger becomes so much more... </strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Over a decade ago I laid my bat aside and walked away from the Majors with no regrets. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Being a Marine was in my blood.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>My code is simple: </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Discipline Control Protection</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>-words I live by. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Which is why the night a fiery woman approaches me to help her friend I'm all in. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The emerald-eyed beauty across the room awakens my protective instincts.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>It started with harmless flirting. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Until the moment my lips crossed hers and everything changed.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In an instant she runs leaving me without a word. </span></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>As it turns out luck is on my side. </em></strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>It doesn't take long to find Willow Richards and this time she's not getting away.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Willow denies our connection. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>She calls me a daredevil. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>An adrenaline-fueled junkie who thrives on danger and has no place in her controlled world. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>From the ball field to the battlefield I thrive on challenge. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Breaking through her walls turns out to be my biggest obstacle yet. </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>When the façade she's living implodes exposing the betrayal she's buried my purpose becomes her happiness.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Just as things fall into place my past collides with my future threatening every promise I've made.  </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>But one thing is certain Willow Richards is mine.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>And I will </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>scorch the earth</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> before anyone hurts her again.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Including myself. All she has to do is trust me... </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>My name is Talon Simms.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I've waited a lifetime for this woman. I'm not losing her now.  </span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>