by Holly Jaymes
“Come over now. Bring jammies and a change of clothes. We’ll make a whole night of it,” I said.
“Can I bring Allie? Josh is on duty tonight. She’s cool. You might end up liking her better than me, in which case I’ll kill you both.”
“I’ll be sure to have Wyatt keep an eye on you.”
She purred. “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
Jealousy flared. “How about you and I just stay friends.”
“That’ll work too. See you in about thirty minutes.”
I hung up the phone and watched Wyatt as he read a magazine. I wanted to ask him about Victoria. Did he think she was pretty? Would he want to keep an eye on her?
“Get a grip,” I said to myself. To Wyatt, I said, “Victoria and Allie will be here in a half-hour with wine and ice cream.”
“I’ll keep scarce.”
I watched him feeling sad. Where had the man I’d spent two spectacular days with gone? I realized that this was something that I’d usually talk to Victoria about, but I wasn’t sure I could do it in front of Allie. After all, Wyatt was her brother-in-law.
Even if I couldn’t have a heart-to-heart with Victoria, it would be nice to have a girls’ night take my mind off my sexy, untouchable, bodyguard.
Chapter 16: Return to Normal
Wyatt
I was relieved that Allie and Victoria were coming over. It was painful to not touch Lily. Each time I looked at her, I wanted to touch her soft hair and taste her sweet lips. I wanted to make her smile like she had up at the cabin. But I needed to keep my distance. We needed to go back to what we’d been before. I was her protector. That was it.
Thirty minutes seemed to take forever, but then I heard a car pull up. I went to the front door and checked to make sure it wasn’t a bold paparazzi brazenly showing up.
“Hey Wyatt,” Allie said as she and her sister came to the door.
I leaned down and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Allie. Victoria.”
“You’re looking as serious as ever,” Victoria said with a smirk.
There was no doubt that she and Allie were sisters. They had the same coloring and facial features. But whereas Allie had a soft, girl-next-door quality, Victoria always made me think of Marilyn Monroe. She was lush and beautiful but hiding her personal strength and smarts. When I first met her, I noted her sensuality, I was a man after all, but I’d pegged her as being vain and vapid. In truth, there was more to her, but she hid it for reasons I didn’t know.
“I’m working, Vic,” I said, knowing she didn’t like being called Vic.
She glared at me. “Be nice, Wyatt.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I let them in, and I’d barely had the door closed before I heard a squeal and laughter from Victoria and Lily. I watched them from the entryway, noting how beautiful Lily was when she was happy.
“Wyatt, will you be our bodyguard and official drink maker?” Victoria asked.
“No.” I looked at Allie, hopeful that she wasn’t imbibing since she was pregnant.
As if she knew what I was thinking, she said, “I’ve got seltzer water and tea.”
I gave them a professional smile. “I’ll leave you to your…whatever it is you do.”
“Where will you be?” Lily asked.
“In the other room. If you need me for something other than servitude, let me know.” I saluted the ladies and then went into a T.V. room off the living area.
I picked up the remote to see what might be on when I noticed Tucker running along the lake back towards his place. I grabbed my coat and went out the back door, down the deck toward the lake to intercept him.
He stopped when he saw me. “Wyatt. How’s the babysitting going?”
“She’s having a sleepover with Josh’s wife and sister-in-law.”
Tucker laughed. “God. Do you want to come over to our place?”
I shook my head. “Hen party or not, I have to stick around. You’re home the next few games, right?”
“Yes. Emma and I came home for a few days. She much prefers it here to the city. And I much prefer it when she’s happy.”
I laughed. “I’ve heard something about a happy wife, happy life.”
He looked toward the cabin that Emma had inherited from her grandmother. It was now a full-time home for her and Tucker when they weren’t in his penthouse in L.A. “I know it sounds like a pussy thing to say, but I didn’t know happy until her. So yeah, making her happy is my number one passion.”
“That’s great, man. I know Josh feels the same.”
Tucker gave me a knowing look. “So, you and the model?” His question was loaded.
I shook my head. “She’s a job. But she’s nice, and she’s the best poker player I’ve ever met.”
“No kidding? We should get together.” He nodded toward home like he was going to leave but then stopped. “Oh, hey, I heard about Josh and Allie expecting. Congrats to them. That’s awesome.”
“Thanks. Are you and Emma thinking about starting a family soon?”
He waggled his brows. “We’re often practicing.”
“TMI, my friend.”
He said goodbye and headed back to his place. I went back into the house through the T.V. room. The girls were laughing and chatting away.
I turned on ESPN to catch up on sports news. A while later, I heard the sliding door open and checked to see the ladies bundled up in their coats as they went on to the deck. They sat in lounge chairs they must have pulled out from the shed, as they’d been packed away for winter.
I took the time they were outside to go to the kitchen to make lunch.
“This must feel like a job that’s beneath you,” Allie said as she came in from the deck.
I shrugged. “It’s different. Can I make you something to eat?”
She quirked a brow. “I thought you weren’t going to serve us.”
“You’re my brother’s wife and carrying my niece or nephew, I’ll serve you.”
She smiled. “You’re a good man, Wyatt. Can I have extra mayo?”
“Of course.”
She sat at the island while I made her a sandwich. “I’m giving them a minute alone. I think they have some secrets they want to share.”
“And you’re not allowed to hear them?” I asked, spreading the bread with extra mayo.
“Sometimes, close friends need their own space. I suspect it’s about you.”
I stopped mid-swipe and looked at her. “Me?”
“Victoria is quite astute when it comes to male-female relationships. She knew Josh, and I were meant to be before we did.”
“Hmm.” I went back to her sandwich.
“She thinks she sees something between you and Lily.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Is she right?”
“I’m working for her father. We’re friendly.” That sounded professional and indifferent, right?
Allie blew out a breath. “I’m not as astute as my sister, but I agree, the way Lily looks at you suggests something more.”
“Maybe she’s got a thing for her bodyguard.” God, I was a jerk to put it all on her.
“Maybe. Although, you look at her in a way too.”
“What way?” I pulled some lettuce off the bunch and put it on the bread.
“Like you wish things were different.”
I shrugged and finished making the sandwich. I cut it diagonally and put it on a plate, handing it to Allie. “I think you women like to see romance where there is none.”
“Two days snowed in with a supermodel is a long time,” she said, picking up a sandwich half.
I looked at her, hoping my face was impassive.
“Fine. Don’t tell me. But I will say this, if you like her, tell her. Go for it.”
I rolled my eyes. “What is it about people who finally find love that they have to start playing matchmaker?”
“We know what you’re missing and recognize how easily we could have missed out. We don’t want yo
u to miss out.”
I sighed. “I appreciate that, but, for me, all that happily ever after isn’t in the cards.”
She looked at me, sympathetically. “Is it because of the injury?”
Jesus. Why did Josh have such a big mouth? I turned away for a moment.
“I’m sorry, Wyatt. Josh told me. He was feeling guilty about hurting you because of our news.”
I blew out a breath and turned to her. “Allie, I’m so happy for both of you. Really. You and Josh don’t need to worry about me.”
“There are other ways to have a family—”
I held up my hand. “Please don’t. I know you mean well, but I’ve had this talk more times than I can count.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”
“And I’d appreciate it if you kept my…condition, to yourself.” I nodded toward Lily and Victoria outside, indicating who I wanted Allie to keep a tight-lip around.
“Of course. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”
I waved her comment away, even though I was, in fact, uncomfortable talking about my infertility with my sister-in-law. If Josh wasn’t working now, I’d give him an earful.
“How’s the sandwich?” I asked.
She smiled. “Perfect. I have to eat it here, though, or they might want you to make them one too.”
Eventually, Lily and Victoria came inside.
“Wow, it’s cold here,” Victoria said. “How is it possible that it’s freezing here and seventy degrees in L.A., which is what, a hundred miles from here?”
“It’s probably twenty degrees warmer in San Bernardino, which is only about forty miles away,” I said. “Welcome to the mountains.” Then I left them to do whatever they were going to do.
I ordered pizza for them for dinner, ordering one for myself as well. Around midnight, I checked the house, closed the curtain, which Victoria fussed about because the moon on the lake was so pretty. Then I went to my room to go to bed.
I don’t know how long I was there when I felt someone sitting on the edge of my bed.
I shot up to sit. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lily’s soft, quiet voice said.
It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dark. “Do you need anything?”
“Yes.” There was a slight slur to her voice, which wasn’t surprising considering she and Victoria had been drinking most of the day. While they never became obnoxiously drunk, it was clear they’d been drinking.
“What?” I asked.
“What did I do?”
Huh? “What do you mean?” I pushed back a bit so that I was sitting against the headboard.
“We had such a lovely time at the cabin. Didn’t we?” She looked down. “At least I did.”
“We did. But we both said that was a place out of time. Now we’re back to real life.”
“You can do that?”
“Do what?” I asked, unsure of what she was asking. I wondered if she knew what she was asking. Would she remember asking it tomorrow?
“Just turn it off? Or was it just sex? I mean, I know you don’t have feelings, but it wasn’t just a hookup, was it?”
Fuck. I didn’t want to lie but telling her the truth didn’t seem right either. If I told her that it was more than just a hookup and that I wanted to touch her, I would ruin our return to normal. And yet, she looked so vulnerable, like my withdrawing from her hurt her. I felt sick at that.
“It wasn’t just a hookup, but—”
She reached out and pressed her fingers against my lips. “You don’t need to explain. I just...” She looked down again. “I just needed to know that you weren’t angry or something.”
I wasn’t angry. I was hurt and felt stupid. I wondered why she was here now talking like this when Trask was waiting to know if she would give him another chance. But I wasn’t going to tell her all that.
“I’m not angry, Lily. Really.” I reached out and rubbed her arm to reassure her.
She launched herself into my arms, hugging me. The move shocked me at first, but instinct kicked in, and I held her.
“I’ll go now.” She leaned back and smiled.
Jesus, she was so beautiful. I pushed a tendril of her hair behind her ear and fuck me, I couldn’t stop the need welling inside me. I wrapped my hand around her neck and pulled her to me until my mouth was on hers. I groaned as her taste filled me. She tilted her head to take the kiss deeper and pressed her marvelous tits against my chest. It was all I could do to keep from rolling her underneath me and fucking her right there.
Finally, I pulled away. “See. Not angry.”
She looked at me with a mixture of longing and sadness. It was exactly how I felt. I wanted her, but couldn’t have her.
“Good night Wyatt.”
“Good night, Lily.” I watched her until she left my room, then I sagged back in bed. She’d left me with a hardon and heartache. This assignment couldn’t be over soon enough.
Chapter 17: Us for Now
Lily
Being with Victoria and Allie was a wonderful change of pace. Not that I didn’t enjoy being with Wyatt, but since coming back from the cabin, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was upset with me. When Allie went inside to talk to Wyatt, I told Victoria about him.
She looked at me, stunned. “You and Wyatt…had sex?”
“Why does that surprise you?” I asked.
She looked inside the house at Wyatt and Allie chatting in the kitchen. When she looked back, she was grinning. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”
“Why? He’s sexy. He’s sweet. He’s very good at it.”
Victoria laughed. “I think I’m jealous. All I meant was that he’s very serious and by the book. I figured his being worried about you being his boss’ daughter would keep him from getting it up.”
I let out a breath. “Maybe that’s why he’s different now.”
“Different?”
“Up at the cabin, it was like we were the only two people in the world. Now, back here, he’s all business again.”
She nodded. “That sounds like Wyatt. I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean, I don’t think he’s mad or anything. He’s just back in the real world, you know?”
I nodded.
“If you want him, you’ll have to seduce him.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
I shook my head. “It’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?” She picked up the wine bottle we’d brought out and poured herself another glass.
“Because he’s worried about my dad finding out, and I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
She rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while you’re together.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
She cocked her head. “You’re worried you’ll fall for him?”
I was worried that I already had.
I probably should have stopped drinking then. If I had, maybe I wouldn’t have snuck into his room when Allie and Victoria were sleeping. It was pathetic how much I needed to know that he wasn’t angry at me.
I was just sober enough to be embarrassed, and then he kissed me. God, how I wanted to get naked and feel him moving inside me again. Instead, I bade him goodnight and rejoined my friends in the living room, where Allie slept on the couch, and Victoria and I were on the floor.
I woke the next morning to the smell of coffee.
“Oh my God, Wyatt, you’re like the king of domestication,” I heard Victoria say. “Please tell me you’re going to share that.”
“Have some water and pain reliever first,” he said, bringing a tray of water and a bottle of pain reliever and putting them on the coffee table next to us.
“He’s a keeper,” Victoria said with a wink to me.
I looked away, embarrassed. I wouldn’t say I was hungover, but I was definitely feeling the effects of drinking.
While Wyatt went to take a shower, the three of us made waffles and bacon for breakfast.
I glanced at Allie, curious about her response.
“I’m sure after all of us, Wyatt is ready for peace and quiet.”
“Wyatt could use a little fun,” Allie said.
I shrugged. “I’m not stopping him.”
“He could use a good woman, too,” she said more directly to me. “He’s such a sweet and loving man.”
“And has a body that doesn’t quit. It’s hard to understand why he’s not taken,” Victoria said.
Allie looked down like she knew something but didn’t want us to know. I wanted to ask about it, but I didn’t want to be talking about Wyatt behind his back.
After breakfast, Allie and Victoria prepared to leave.
“I have to head out to L.A. I told my parents I’d come to see them now that I was back from New York,” Victoria said.
“You can’t stay an extra day?” Allie asked her.
“Your husband will be home from work shortly…and I don’t want to be there when you two make up for lost time.”
I laughed. “The honeymoon isn’t over yet?”
“How do you think she got knocked up,” Victoria said.
Allie rolled her eyes. “My honeymoon will never be over. I’ll be loving my man until the day I die.”
“Must be nice having a dick at your whim,” Victoria quipped.
“You’re vulgar,” Allie said with humor.
“Probably because I’m sexually frustrated.” Victoria reached out to give me a hug. “Call me when you’re done hiding.”
“I will.”
I said goodbye to my friends and then retreated into the house for more water and pain reliever. Then I went to my room, taking a shower and getting dressed. I was sitting on the bed, trying to decide my next move when there was a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
Wyatt opened the door and leaned against the doorjamb. “How are you feeling?”
“Embarrassed.”
“Why?”