“Don’t laugh at me,” she commanded.
“I wouldn’t think of it. You scare me, Alex.”
“I do?”
“Yes. You do.” Except his voice wasn’t teasing anymore. “I should get you back home.”
“Not yet.”
He raised one eyebrow, questioning.
“We didn’t come here to make love. We came for this sweet little place,” Alex said. “And we’ve ignored her. It’s her turn to get some attention, and it’s clear that you love her.”
He looked at her with those deep green eyes that made her soul ache and yearn. “I don’t love anything or anyone.”
The cut went deep, although Alex didn’t know why. He’d been telling her this from the moment she’d met him. He’d told her in so many words just moments ago. In fact, everyone had been telling her that, and why should she be surprised? A man who came into the world subjected to only hate and hitting would have had all the love beaten out of him. But not the caring, she reminded herself. No matter what he said, she’d seen him be gentle with Belinda. He’d done all he could to help Randy. And as for me, Alex thought, he’s bent over backwards for me. He cared about some things, on some level.
He cares about these falling-down cottages, she thought. Cottages as imperfect as a beaten boy had once been. So she took a deep breath, took a chance. “I take it you brought me here for an objective opinion. So if I told you to tear it down?”
She could see him swallowing. “You wouldn’t do that.”
And now she saw why he had kept this place a secret. “You know that most people would tell you to sell it.”
“Absolutely. If another person had bought it and I was the one giving the advice, that’s what I’d tell them.”
“And you’re sure I won’t do that?”
“I’m reasonably sure of it.”
“Why?”
He gave her one of his rare smiles that made her want to curl closer, to rub up against him. “You like to make things better, not tear them down. Randy was snobbish to you, and you looked for the bright side; when Belinda was in labor, you could have shooed the customers away or sent them to Randy, but you made the best of the situation and helped them. It’s just not in you, Alex, to throw up your hands and walk away. You see the way things might be. So if you told me to tear this place down, I’d know that it really was completely hopeless.”
“I sound like such an idiotic optimist.”
He shook his head. “No, you sound like an admirable woman with good ideas.”
“But you like winning, and you know that despite my ideas, I don’t always win.” She hesitated, remembering all the times she had lost. She had tried to win love and ended up shattered. But…what a ridiculous thought. Wyatt was talking about business, not love. She looked up and surprised a concerned look on his face.
“I’m not putting the success or failure of this venture on you, Alex. I’m just asking for your opinion.”
“Yet you’re a genius in your field. McKendrick’s—”
“Was different. The location alone assured its success.”
“But you built it into more of a success than other people could.”
“Thank you. Let’s just say that my odd fascination with the Haven makes it too personal for me to trust my judgment. I don’t want it to be personal.”
Now at last she saw clearly. “You don’t really want to change it, and yet it doesn’t fit with your ‘change is good, perfection is everything’ motto, so you’re at a standstill.”
“Something like that, yes. I… Maybe I should sell it.”
With those words Alex knew that this bit of property held a very personal place in his life, even if he didn’t want it to. It was a misfit, like he had been, and he was fighting his urge to keep it because only winners were allowed in his life.
Her heart hurt at that thought. She was good at many things, but she had been a loser…so many times.
She took a breath, pushing that thought away. This wasn’t about her. It was about Wyatt’s battle with his past and what this place represented. What would happen to this place if he sold it? And how would he feel when the deal was done?
She didn’t know. She only knew that no matter how rundown the Haven was, it was worth fighting for.
“Don’t sell it,” she whispered. “It has…real possibilities.”
He chuckled. “Such as? You said that as if you weren’t sure you believed it.”
Okay, the man saw too much. Alex concentrated. Despite her bad luck with men, or maybe because of it, she’d learned to look for the rainbow in the rain. So what was there to work with here?
“How about adding a small, private rustic garden next to each cottage, with native plants and rocks and a viewfinder, so that the visitors staying can see the birds and the local wild-life and get a closer view of the rock formations? It’s really a starkly gorgeous area. Or add some charm by placing local history plaques in the cottages. Decorate them with antiques. Maybe enlarge one of the cottages and make it a communal gathering area. Make this a rest-stop for those on their way elsewhere or a place to kick back after days of non-stop activity in Las Vegas. Or…”
“Or what, Alexandra?” Wyatt asked, taking both her hands.
“Or you could just leave it as it is,” she said softly. “You don’t have to change it at all. You don’t even have to rent it out. Imperfect as it may seem to others, it’s perfect in its own way if it’s what you like.”
He reached out and brushed her hair back from her face with one hand. “I knew you’d be good for this place.”
His touch was entrancing; his words did wonderful things to her ego, even though she knew he was just being nice. People always teased her about her overeager outlook. Even people who loved her worried that her attitude made her a target for those who wanted to take without giving, and they were right, but…
“What do you think you’ll decide to do?”
Wyatt glanced toward the place that clearly called to him. “I’m not sure, but you’ve given me some springboards. Thank you. I’d better get you back now. We’ve been gone a long time, and I don’t want people wondering what we’re doing.”
“You think they’ll think I’ve kidnapped the boss?” she teased.
“I think they’ll worry that I’m seducing you. Randy is very protective of you these days.”
She rolled her eyes. “Randy idolizes you, Wyatt.”
“And he knows me. Too well. Randy is grateful to me, but he knows I’ve got a dark side. And you don’t.”
“I might have,” she said defensively.
He laughed as he helped her into the sleek black convertible and headed back toward McKendrick’s. “What have you ever done that was so terrible?” he asked.
She knew, but she didn’t want to think about it. Wyatt’s concern for her was pushing her over the edge. What had she done that was so terrible? She was very close to falling in love with him. And she certainly couldn’t say that.
“I wrote I heart Erick Swanson on the bathroom wall at school. In permanent marker. Red, too,” she said, feeling silly for saying it. It was the only detention she’d ever received.
Wyatt laughed—a gorgeous, sexy laugh, its tones echoing through the gathering dusk. “Lucky Erick,” he said.
“Well, my infatuation didn’t last. When word got out, he called me names and made fun of my braces.”
“The man deserves to lose all his teeth at an early age,” Wyatt said, making Alex smile.
“If only you’d been around in those days,” she said. “I would have had a defender.”
“You wouldn’t have wanted to know me then,” he said.
But he was wrong. She wanted to know more of him. She wanted to know all of him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
WYATT had gone back to work with a vengeance, reminding himself of all the reasons he needed to maintain some distance from Alex. A second tier of reviewers had hit McKendrick’s. It was clear that the ante was being uppe
d, the city was starting to buzz, and his chief competitor, Champagne, was making great upgrades. They’d had some fantastic reviews. He should be worried. He was worried. To come so close and lose would be…difficult, scalding. And yet the competition wasn’t what was bothering him the most.
On the way home the other night, he’d asked Alex about her shop, and she’d told him about calling a real estate agent to set things in motion. It was clear that San Diego was her passion. She had major plans. Wyatt identified with that. McKendrick’s, Las Vegas…he belonged to this city. But it was equally clear that Alex belonged to San Diego. And also clear that her plans would become a reality in the near future.
He was getting in too deep, flying blind with Alex, with no chance of a future. At least not one that would make her happy.
He needed to remember that this temporary position she was filling was…temporary. Which was a good thing, because Alex was far too clean and pure and joyful for someone like him.
He could tease her and pretend his past was behind him, but he was still the guy whose past colored his present. He dealt in empire building, not love, because needing someone to care and letting that person’s opinions matter was impossible. The only safe route was to be an island. Anything else and the risk of someone being damaged was too great. He might not be Erick Swanson, but he could crush Alex just as easily as that idiot had.
If he let himself continue down the path he’d been following. If he didn’t stop things right now.
He had to stop. No matter how difficult that would be.
Alex was worried. “I don’t know what’s happening, Jayne, but Wyatt is acting very strange lately,” she told her friend during a phone call a few days later.
Silence followed. “Jayne?”
“Strange how?” Jayne’s voice had an edge to it. “You sound as if you care about him, Alex…”
“I’m not in love with him. I’m worried, the way I would be about anyone.” Except maybe more, Alex thought. A lot more.
“He probably just has some business issues, Alex. Which isn’t your problem. I know you’re used to jumping in to help, but you can’t save everyone.”
“I know,” Alex said, and they hung up.
Jayne was right. She was falling into her old routines. Having two fathers turn their backs on her as if she didn’t matter had made her too eager to please. That was why she’d helped Robert and Leo and Michael…and why she’d gotten hurt when they’d left her. And now?
The warning bells were clanging, telling her to leave now.
She should. In fact, she’d gotten a call yesterday from her real estate agent. The woman thought something might open up soon. She should be rejoicing at the news. Instead she was thinking about Wyatt.
The other day a male guest had been giving her a hard time, complaining that she wasn’t trying hard enough to satisfy his demands. He’d called her an unspeakable name, and she had looked up to see Wyatt, his face fierce as a class-five tornado. He’d come up behind the man, and in a voice so icy that it would have scared Alex had she not known him, given the man ten seconds to vacate the premises.
The man had opened his mouth to argue, but after taking one look at Wyatt’s whipcord-lean body and “just try me” expression, he’d headed for the door, mumbling something about intimidation.
“Thank you,” she’d said quietly.
“You’re an employee of McKendrick’s. I take my responsibilities seriously.”
Somehow Alex had managed not to flinch at being thus demoted from what had felt like more than an employee, but something must have shown in her eyes.
“Don’t look like that. I’m doing this for your own good.”
“Of course. I am your employee.”
The low curse hadn’t carried far, but Alex had still heard it. “I’ve tried to tell you not to trust me too far. You were wrong when you said that I could have been your hero during the Erick Swanson incident. I would have been just as bad in my own way, because I would have acted as if you didn’t exist.”
“Because of the braces?”
“Nothing to do with the braces. I just wasn’t…social.” His jaw had tensed, his expression had become unreadable, and just like that they were back to being strangers.
Thinking about that pain knifed through Alex. Which was so stupid. She knew the score. Wyatt had walls that couldn’t be breached. And yet here she was, making the same mistakes she’d made before, leaping in to help and falling for a man she could never win. The only way to save herself was to walk away. She would.
But not yet. Not yet.
Wyatt walked into the lobby, took one look at Alex and swore beneath his breath. “This is wrong,” he muttered to himself.
“What?” Randy’s voice came from behind him, catching Wyatt off guard. He hadn’t known the man was so near. Still…
Wyatt nodded toward Alex. “She looks tired.” Worse, she looked sad. And he was pretty sure that he was to blame. She’d given him her sunshine, and he had ignored her for days. The fact that he was trying to protect her, that he wasn’t capable of being right for her, and that he was scared that he was starting to feel things for her that could never be called back was no excuse. She’d held nothing back from him. He’d repaid her with silence and dark moods.
“We all like her, Wyatt,” Randy said.
It was a warning. Randy sometimes got away with things that other people couldn’t. Maybe because they shared the common bond of a dark past.
“Good. She needs friends here.”
“She needs more than that. And she deserves more. She’s done more for McKendrick’s reputation than anyone but you.”
Wyatt turned to look at Randy. The man gave him a sheepish look. “Sorry.”
“No. You’re right. I’ve been an ass lately, haven’t I?”
“We’re all sure that you have good reasons.”
“Don’t make excuses for me. Being the boss doesn’t exempt me from being a human being.”
Somehow he kept handling Alex wrong. That would end soon…because she would leave. But before she left she needed to know that his avoidance of her didn’t have a thing to do with her worth. Alex had been a blessing and a gift for McKendrick’s. And he hadn’t even told her that.
It was past time to tell her a lot of things.
Alex was just leaving work when Wyatt came up to her. “Any chance that you’re free tonight?”
She blinked. Wyatt had kept his distance for days. “Is it something about the hotel? Something I need to know…or do?”
He frowned.
“Wyatt?”
His eyes flashed green fire. “I wanted to apologize to you.”
She opened her eyes wide. “For…?”
“Being a jerk. Ignoring you. Not acknowledging what you’ve done for me and McKendrick’s.” His dark brows beetled.
Alex couldn’t help laughing.
“What?” he asked.
“That’s the grumpiest apology I’ve ever received.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever offered one before.”
Her smile blossomed. “Then I’m honored to be the first.”
“Are you honored enough to come out with me? Have dinner with me? Let me apologize more…properly?”
The word warred with his tone, and there was absolutely nothing about the look he gave her that was proper.
Her heart began to thud. Tears clogged her throat, but she wouldn’t let him see. She had missed him so much, and she was so happy to see him that she didn’t care what had brought him back. She wanted to touch him so desperately. All of that combined sent warning signs blaring in her brain. She needed to retreat to safety. To say no.
Her heart lurched and fought her. To hell with reasonable and safe. Her calendar pages were tearing away. Time was running out. And she already knew this was a temporary relationship, headed nowhere, so where was the risk?
“I’d love to have dinner with you.”
Had she said that with too much fervor? Wyatt’s ex
pression told her he was thinking of more than food, but he smiled gently.
“I’ll pick you up at your room in ten minutes.”
At her room. The words only made her think how badly she wanted him inside her room.
“Casual?” she asked, pretending away that last thought.
“Mmm. I’m bringing a picnic basket from Sparkle.”
Alex had never eaten the rooftop restaurant’s food, but she had recommended it to many people.
“Wear those cute little palm tree earrings. And shorts. White. A top that’s soft. Blue.”
She opened her eyes wide. “Is this my boss talking?”
“This is Wyatt the man talking. For this one night let’s pretend I’m just a man who knows you’ll look amazing in white and blue.”
Her heart nearly stopped. Her breath definitely did stop.
“Too much?” he asked. “Should I apologize again?”
“No, but if you’re not my boss tonight, I’m thinking that you shouldn’t expect me to follow every request you give me in my off hours.”
“I like it when you use that sassy tone. Have I said that before?” he asked, just before he left to get the food.
No, he hadn’t, she thought as she changed clothes. He’d tried to keep everything impersonal, which was probably smart. There was something even more dangerous about this new, friendly Wyatt. She wanted to give him exactly what he’d requested. But that was the mistake she’d made all her life. Trying to win affection by giving people exactly what they wanted. Besides, if she tried too hard he’d know that she was becoming one of those women Randy talked about. Women who ended up with nothing but tears and memories. She did not want to be that woman.
When she opened the door to Wyatt a few minutes later, he paused. Then he smiled. “Great shorts, even greater legs, and red definitely looks fantastic on you,” he said, referring to her scoop-necked tee shirt. “Maybe even better than blue. And the bicycle earrings are just as good as the palm trees. Good for you for ignoring my arrogant request.”
“Thank you.” She smiled. “Should we go?”
Saving Cinderella! Page 12