by Kait Nolan
He shrugged that off. “It’s been, what? Two years? You’re a consummate professional. It won’t be a problem.” His tone was so certain, as if there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that she’d fall in line.
And why shouldn’t he expect that? She always had, hadn’t she?
The unmitigated gall of these people astounded her. It was bad enough she’d had to work a job for years where she regularly chanced running into her ex-husband. But to be expected to actually work with him? To be at his beck and call? It would be like being married again.
There wasn’t enough money on earth to induce her to put up with that.
With one sweeping gaze of the men in the room, she returned her focus to Richard as she opened her folio. “As hell has not frozen over, that will not be happening. I quit. Effective immediately.”
She dropped the letter on his desk, taking pleasure in the expression of profound shock on his face before she sauntered out.
Lacey had obviously been eavesdropping. Her jaw hung practically to the floor as Deanna exited the office.
“Good for you,” she hissed.
Deanna just nodded and made straight for the elevator. Now that it was done, she needed to get the hell out before reality sank in.
“You can’t just quit.”
She repressed a sigh. Of course, Blake had come after her. Not bothering to look in his direction, she pivoted and headed for the stairs. “I believe I just did. You don’t control me anymore.”
“Are you fucking him?”
“Excuse me?”
“The carpenter. Are you fucking him?”
Seriously? Even her ex-husband had heard about her involvement with Wyatt? What kind of publicity magic had that kiss video had?
“Who I take to my bed stopped being your business a long time ago. Not that fidelity was a concept that apparently ever meant a damned thing to you.” She yanked open the door to the stairwell.
But Blake couldn’t just leave well enough alone. He followed her inside. “You still owe me alimony.”
“We both know that’s bullshit. You just signed with one of the biggest labels in Nashville.”
“That doesn’t change anything.”
“Oh, but it should. And I’m finally going to do what I should have done in the first place and contest the divorce decree based on the conflict of interest of the judge. I’ll see you in court.”
And feeling lighter than she had in years, she left her ex-husband gaping after her and went to gather her personal effects.
Chapter 13
“This totally isn’t on the new schedule until after the party.”
Wyatt didn’t even spare Simon a glance from his crouched position. “I am aware.” He was the one who’d lost sleep the past week and change to pull it off.
“I still can’t believe you managed to keep it a secret. Doesn’t Deanna go through the house daily to check for changes?”
“Yeah. I’ve kept her busy downstairs with all the other prep. She’s not expecting changes anywhere else, and we’re both so tired by the time we’re done with work for the night, there’s no energy left for anything else.”
“That’s just sad, man.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Get your mind out of the gutter.” He was spending plenty of time fantasizing about it himself. He didn’t need any help on that front.
Last fastening tightened, Wyatt pushed in the modified drawer and stood. They both took in the finished room, the product of their hard, sneaky labor. Deanna was going to love it. At least, Wyatt hoped she did.
“Well, if she doesn’t jump your bones for this, your relationship is doomed.”
“That’s not why I did it.” He’d wanted to thank her for her faith and hard work. Because of her, he was closer to his dream than he’d ever been. Even if the reaching for it might lead to his first ever legitimate panic attack.
Casper rose from his spot on the floor and peered out the window, his tail swishing like a metronome, his nose leaving prints on the glass. On a yip, he tore out of the room and raced for the stairs.
“Shit, she’s home early. Go, go, go. She can’t see this yet.” He had a plan for presenting this surprise and it didn’t include tools and drywall dust being everywhere.
They shut the door and bolted downstairs after the dog. Wyatt had a bottle of water in his hand when Deanna came through the door.
“Hey! I wasn’t expecting you for a couple more hours yet.”
Coming into the lounge, she dropped her purse, and he got a good look at her face. Her eyes were wide, her expression a little shocky. Going on alert, he set the water aside and moved to her, curling his hands around her elbows. “Are you okay?”
“I… don’t know.”
“What happened?” Had she gotten bad news?
“I just turned in my letter of resignation, effective immediately.”
The flood of relief and excitement had him scooping her into a hug. “Oh, my God. That’s huge! How do you feel?”
“Um… Somewhere between giddy and terrified. But I’m finally free. Of that at least.”
“That’s freaking fantastic.” Simon held up a fist for a bump. “Congratulations.”
In a daze, Deanna returned it.
“That’s amazing. Seriously. I’m so proud of you. What made you pull the trigger?” He hadn’t really believed she’d be able to make herself take the risk. Maybe she was finally really making progress on exorcising her parents’ voices from her head.
She slid her arms around his shoulders. “If we’re going to make this deadline, I need to be all in. And my boss tried to force Blake on me as a client.”
“He did what?” Wyatt knew his voice was one step above a growl. But how the hell could anyone expect her to work with that good-for-nothing shit biscuit.
“Quitting on the spot and handing over the letter of resignation I’d been carrying was a pretty fantastic mic drop moment.” She grinned, her fingers curling in the hair at his nape. It was the first sign of her coming back to herself since she’d walked through the door.
She’d really, truly done it. There’d be consequences but in this moment, nothing else was more important than acknowledging the enormity of her action.
“This calls for a celebration.”
“Does that mean I get input on our project for the night?”
“It means we’re knocking off for the night early and going out on an actual date.”
Her brows drew together. “Are you sure? There’s so much to do.”
“Other than Simon’s birthday weekend, you haven’t had a break since we started on the Hall. We can take one night to toast to this.”
She angled her head in concession. “Alcohol of some kind seems like it might help head off the impending—holy shit, what have I done?—freak out. I want to change clothes. If I never see another pair of stilettos or pencil skirt again, it’ll be too soon.”
Wyatt kept hold of her. “Full disclosure: I kinda like the shoes and the skirts. So maybe keep a few?”
She laughed. “Noted. But nothing formal tonight.”
“Fair enough. Go change. I’ll be right behind you to shower.”
A flash of unmistakable heat flickered in her eyes. Maybe she felt like celebrating some other way? Wyatt’s pulse kicked up several notches as Deanna brushed her lips over his. He didn’t think he was misreading the promise he tasted as she stepped back.
The moment she was up the stairs, he turned to Simon. “I need a favor. Changing won’t take her long. I need you to distract her until I’m out of the shower so she doesn’t see what we’ve been up to.”
Simon smirked. “Looked like you could distract her yourself in the shower.”
As appealing an idea as that was, he didn’t intend their first time to be a fast, hot coupling while his brother was roaming the house. “Please, man.”
“Fine. I’ve got your back.”
“And after we leave, could you please go finish the last cleanup? I want to surprise her wh
en we get back.”
“In the name of doing you a solid, I can do that, too.”
“Thanks, bro.”
Deanna was not waiting in the bathroom, and she didn’t come in during his whirlwind shower. He found her outside with Simon, peering up at the second floor galley. She’d traded the businesswear for jeans and a little light sweater set. It was very girl next door, yet another side of her he hadn’t seen before.
“—need to see if we can tackle some of the outside as well. Fresh paint and shutters. Maybe some landscaping. But none of that makes sense if we have to rebuild or massively repair the gallery.” Deanna turned to him. “What do you think?”
Wyatt felt another hitch in his chest at the idea of adding anything else to the to do list, so he fell back on the party line. “We’ll discuss it. Later. Tonight is not about work.” Taking her elbow, he steered her toward the truck.
“Have fun, you two! I’ll lock up.”
At the head of the driveway, Wyatt turned to her. “What are you feeling? We could go all the way into Nashville proper, hit up Lower Broadway for some music and dancing.”
“Ugh, God no. I’d like to stay far from the country music scene. You know what I’m really craving? A gourmet burger.”
“I know just the place.”
The Pharmacy was a Nashville institution. As ever, the beer garden was packed, but that was the price you paid for one of the best burgers in town. They kept up an easy, running conversation while they waited, both steering clear of work. As they were finally seated at one of the outdoor tables beneath the trees and string lights, Wyatt was very conscious this was the first actual date they’d been on. Hell, it was the first date he’d been on period in… He couldn’t remember when.
Deanna settled with her menu. “What are you thinking?”
“About how long it’s been since I went out on an actual date. I really can’t remember.”
“That’s easy for me. This is my first date since my divorce.”
“Really? I’d think you’d have had plenty of offers.”
She shrugged. “Oh, it’s not my first opportunity. It’s just the first one I’ve accepted. After Blake I was not, as you might imagine, feeling particularly kindly toward your half of the species.”
She’d had her trust shattered. Wyatt understood what it meant that she’d gotten involved with him. He took her hand. “Well, I’m glad I’m the lucky guy who got the yes.”
Those glossy pink lips quirked, and her eyes crinkled with amusement. “Technically, you didn’t ask. You told. I just happened to be on board with spending some non-work-related time with you. We’ve been doing this relationship thing kind of backwards.”
He stroked his thumb over the pulse point of her wrist, feeling it jump. “Maybe, but it seems like it’s working out pretty well all around.”
“True enough.”
“Oh my God, you’re DIWyatt!”
They both jolted at the voice, yanking apart like guilty teenagers.
The forty-something woman clasped her hands together in excitement. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. I just love your show.”
Wyatt found his host’s smile. “Glad to hear it.”
“I’ve been following along with the renovation on Blackborne Hall, and it’s just awesome! I can’t wait to see the kitchen finished!”
In his periphery, Wyatt saw Deanna’s smug smile. Her campaigns to expand the audience were working. Not that he hadn’t been recognized in public before, but it was a rare thing.
“Thanks. It’s a hell of a house.”
A server materialized, clearly ready to take their order.
“Oh, I’ll get out of the way. But could I possibly get a picture?”
A picture? Like he was somebody? That was new. Acting as if he got this kind of request all the time, Wyatt dialed up the smile. “Of course.”
“I can take it.” Deanna held out her hand for the woman’s phone.
“Oh no! You have to be in it. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Delighted she’d been recognized and appreciated, Wyatt watched Deanna sit back in shock as the woman turned to the server instead. “Would you mind?”
“Sure. Gotta document the Wyanna sighting.”
“Right? You know the show, too?”
“Of course.”
Deanna leaned toward them. “I’m sorry. Wyanna?”
The server grinned. “Didn’t y’all know you have a hashtag?”
“I… did not.” Clearly flummoxed, she looked at Wyatt.
He shrugged. Bennet had said people were into the idea of them. This just seemed to prove it. It was kinda weird, but if it expanded their audience base, wasn’t that the point?
“Please?” the woman begged.
“Um, sure.”
The fan crouched down between them both and mugged for the camera.
“Say keys!”
“So what did you think about our first official public outing?”
From the passenger seat, Deanna rolled her head toward Wyatt. “The date or being recognized?”
“Mmm, both.”
“Five stars to choice of restaurant. That was the best burger I’ve had in years, and the atmosphere was perfect. As for the rest… it was so surreal. I’m used to being in the background with my work. I never expected to be recognized.” An oversight on her part. By taking a more active role in the show, she automatically became more visible. But somehow she hadn’t expected all her hard work at expanding the DIWyatt audience to already be bleeding over to her. Apparently Bennet wasn’t the only one out there with a gooshy, romantic heart. Deanna wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about it.
Wyatt turned into the drive for Blackborne Hall. “The first time I got recognized in public because of my show was the biggest thrill. I almost asked the guy if I could get a picture with him to prove it.”
“Prove what?”
“That what I was doing was legitimate. That I was reaching people.”
That I mattered.
He didn’t say it, but Deanna heard the subtext. Given what he’d told her about his adopted family, that had to underscore everything he did. For all his confidence in his abilities, he needed that external validation. Had she given him enough of that herself?
“Is it still a thrill?”
“I’m not sure it will ever get old.” He shifted the truck into park. “Is that something you’re going to be okay with? The increased recognition?”
“I don’t know. It’s not something I’ve ever sought. But it feels kind of like a sign from the universe that I made the right call, you know?”
“I absolutely do. I think it’s evidence that we’re on the right track.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek, and Deanna turned into the touch, basking in the little zings across her skin. “I already said it once, but I’m really proud of you. I know quitting goes against all those internalized messages from your parents. It’s the hard thing.”
She curled her hand around his wrist, holding him to her just a few moments longer. “It’s not nearly as hard knowing you’re in this with me.” It was so different from what life had been like with Blake, where everything they did was in service to his questionable career and his pursuit of adoration. In an effort to be supportive, she’d lost herself. Deanna didn’t think Wyatt would let her do that with him. He’d made it very clear he wanted her to succeed at what she wanted on her own terms. That kind of support was something she could get drunk on.
“I’ll be with you every step of the way. C’mon. Let’s go let Casper out.”
They went inside, laughing their way through Casper’s ecstatic greeting. The domesticity of letting him out and securing the house for the night added an icing of contentment to an already fantastic night. Coming home with Wyatt felt good. Too good.
The idea of it gave her pause. There was no longer a built-in expiration date, no more threat of losing the house. But a part of her still didn’t want to fully trust in the longevity of this. Of them
. She didn’t know if she had it in her to fully give herself over to another relationship. But she was too happy to worry right now, so she shoved the thought away to think about later.
At the base of the stairs, Wyatt took her hand and drew it to his lips for a lingering kiss that made her heart thud. “We should do this date thing more often.”
“It was a good night.” A night she wasn’t ready to end. The look in his eyes said he’d be amenable to that. But Deanna knew she’d have to make the move. He wouldn’t push her, wouldn’t rush. That wasn’t his way. If she wanted him in her bed, she had to speak up. Preferably before Casper finished his dinner and installed himself at the end of the bed, as he considered his due.
“I want to show you something.”
Jarred from her thoughts by his statement and the undercurrent of nervous excitement suddenly pumping off him in waves, she could only nod and follow him upstairs.
“I’ve been living like this—the middle of a job site—for years. I’m used to some pretty rough conditions. You weren’t. But you jumped in feet first, without complaint. You’ve lived rough for months, tolerating all the practical reasons why it made sense to do things to the whole house in phases rather than one room at a time. So I did a thing.”
He opened the door to what they’d decided would ultimately be a master suite somewhere well down the line.
“Holy shit.” Deanna stepped inside.
He’d taken out the wall between this room and the next, opening it up to a much larger space. The old water damage was a thing of the past. New walls had been erected, making way for a massive walk-in closet and what was presumably the bathroom they’d discussed. The drywall wasn’t finished yet, but it was damned close. He’d gifted her a blank canvas, ready and waiting for color and texture—all the things she loved best.
“This is amazing.” Her mind spun, imagining the sort of furniture and finishes she wanted in here. Dreaming of a comfortable, lavish retreat from all the chaos of renovation.
“Oh, this isn’t what I wanted to show you. It was just a necessary part of the rest.” Wyatt pulled her past stacks of lumber and more drywall to the closed door beyond. “This is what I wanted to show you.”