“It really doesn’t matter if it works or not, does it? We aren’t together very often and when we are, we’ll just ignore each other.”
His soft chuckle ran along her skin, raising goose bumps. “Ignore each other?”
Olivia slammed the last plate down and glared at him. “It shouldn’t be too hard for you to ignore me, Wyatt. You’ve been doing it since the first day we met.” She walked forward, halting in front of him.
“Move,” she commanded, raising her eyes to meet his. He stared back at her, and then took a deep breath, stepping back from the doorway. When she started to pass him, his fingers wrapped around her arm, stopping her. She narrowed her eyes. “Get your damn hands off me.”
“Is something wrong, Liv?” Wyatt’s oldest brother, Jake, asked from the doorway leading to the living room.
She tore her gaze away from Wyatt and smiled at Jake as best she could. “No. Wyatt was just giving me a rough time.” She gave a half laugh, noticing Jake didn’t look as if he believed her, but he gave a nod and left the room anyway.
Olivia looked back at Wyatt and growled low. “Don’t touch me again.”
She pushed past him and headed into the kitchen.
* * * *
Wyatt rubbed his hand over his jaw. Damn. His gaze followed her as she headed toward the kitchen. His eyes instinctively went to her ass. The woman sure could fill out a pair of jeans. His groin tightened as he watched the natural sway of her hips. Fuck! Striding from the dining room, he headed toward the living room where his brothers were. He flopped down in the recliner. He could feel Jake’s eyes on him. Wyatt glanced over to him and raised an eyebrow.
“You have something to say, Jake?”
“What the hell is going on with you and Olivia?” Jake asked him.
Wyatt shrugged. “Just as she said…I was giving her a rough time. Nothing to concern you, or anyone else.” Wyatt shifted his eyes to his other brother, Gabe.
“I don’t have any idea what either of you are talking about,” Gabe muttered.
“They looked like they were having quite a conversation when I interrupted,” Jake volunteered.
Wyatt stood and glared at him. “Let it go, Jake.”
He knew Jake was about to say something when Becca announced dinner was ready. Saved by the dinner bell. Everyone moved into the dining room and took their seats. Just his luck, Wyatt ended up sitting across from Olivia. Biting back a sigh, he knew his family had done this on purpose. He tried his best to keep his eyes cast downward but he happened to glance up, and her gaze captured his eyes. In the years he’d known her, he’d never seen her look at him like she was doing now. It was a look as if she hated him, and it bothered him. It bothered the hell out of him.
* * * *
Olivia had to get through this. With him sitting right across from her, she was finding it difficult to concentrate on the conversation flowing around the table. The food tasted like dirt because she had no appetite. When she heard her name, she quickly looked at Becca.
“Are you all right, Liv? You’re not eating and that’s not like you,” Becca scolded.
“I’m just not…” She glanced at Wyatt. “I’m not real hungry, Becs. I’m fine.”
“You’re always hungry, Liv.” Gabe laughed then grunted when Emma elbowed him. “Sorry,” he muttered.
It was a running joke with all of them how much Olivia ate, but still stayed so slim. She always seemed to be eating and they constantly teased her about it. Now she had no appetite, at least not with Wyatt sitting across from her. Certainly not after the conversation they’d had a while back. He’d practically called her a slut, and then told her he didn’t want her for that exact reason. Her gaze ran over him. It didn’t look like he’d eaten much either. She’d had enough. She stood quickly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I’m sorry, I…uh, I’m leaving.” She quickly headed toward the back door. Becca and Emma caught up with her in the kitchen. Becca grabbed her arm and spun her around.
“What is going on with you?”
“I told you I didn’t want to be here to begin with, Becca. Let it go.”
“The hell I will. What happened between you and Wyatt?”
“Something happened between you and Wyatt?” This from Emma.
“We had a…a disagreement and I’d rather not be around him anymore.” Olivia picked up her purse. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“You’re damned right you will. This is not over. You will tell me what’s going on. Soon.” Becca ran her hand up Olivia’s arm. “I don’t like seeing you like this and I want to know what happened. We’ve never kept things from each other before and we’re not going to start now. I’ll let you go for now, but we will talk.”
Olivia stared at her best friends wanting to come clean, but knew she couldn’t so she nodded. “All right, but not now. I’m going home.” She left without looking back, got into her vehicle, and drove home to the B and B and her little apartment. She could hear her dog, Punkin, barking. Olivia didn’t know what she’d do without the little dog. There was no one else waiting for her. If only she could just find a man who was as excited to see her when she came home, she’d be content. Olivia laughed when Punkin tore out of the apartment to head for the back door. Olivia opened the door to let her out and noticed headlights coming up the driveway. Was a guest arriving this late? Closing the back door, she headed toward the desk to check the computer to see if someone hadn’t arrived yet.
As she started looking through the reservations, the front door flew open and Wyatt strode in. Olivia let out a gasp. “What are you doing here?”
She knew by the look on his face he was pissed off. “You ran like a scared rabbit and left me to wolves. They all wanted to know what went on between us, and then didn’t believe me when I told them nothing.” His jaw clenched and a muscle twitched in his cheek.
God! He was so gorgeous and no matter what she told him, she still wanted him.
“I don’t want to be around you, Wyatt. You’ve made it abundantly clear what you think of me.” She shrugged. “It was your fault I left the way I did, so it was your place to tell them what is going on. I’m done talking about it. Now get out.”
Wyatt stared at her for a few minutes before turning on his boot heel. He strode out the door, slamming it behind him. She blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. It was going to be way too hard to be near Wyatt knowing she’d never have him. Maybe it was time to leave Clifton, Montana.
Olivia sat behind the counter staring at the door Wyatt had just stormed out of in a huff. It wasn’t her fault everyone jumped on him about her. She sighed, thinking about Becca coming after her, and she would. Becca wouldn’t let it go no matter what Olivia told her—Emma too. They were both stubborn and they’d get it out of her, and then the shit would start. Becca would tell Jake and Emma would tell Gabe, and then the brothers would go after Wyatt. Olivia placed her hands over her face and groaned. Why did he have to be so damn hot?
There were quite a few hot cowboys in Clifton, so why did she have it so bad for Wyatt? She’d even tried going out with Ryder Wolfe but there’d been no spark between them, and so they agreed just to be friends. Ryder was gorgeous too. Why couldn’t she want him? Or that sexy sheriff, Sam Garrett? He was drop-dead gorgeous and very sexy but for some reason, he didn’t seem interested in her any more than she was in him.
She shut the computer down for the night and headed back to her apartment. It had once been the housekeeper’s quarters in the old Colonial style home. Becca inherited the home and ranch from a grandmother she never knew, and turned it into a very lucrative bed and breakfast. Falling in love wasn’t in Becca’s plans when she came to Clifton but once she met Jake, it all changed. Olivia was happy for her best friend. Becca and Jake were very much in love. Olivia and Becca met Emma in town and quickly added her to the friendship. Emma loved Gabe Stone, and she was so lucky when she became pregnant by him, he did the right thing and married her. They had a beauti
ful baby girl named Sophie Ann, and Gabe loved and adored them both. Wyatt was the youngest Stone brother and the minute Olivia set eyes on him, she wanted him but he’d always kept his distance from her. He was never rude exactly, but he just didn’t go out of his way to talk to her…until the other night, anyway. She still couldn’t believe how rude he’d been to her. And it had hurt. It hurt a lot to have him thinking that about her. She was not a slut. Just because she was flirtatious, and had a smart mouth, did not make her a slut. If she thought a man was gorgeous and sexy, she had no problem letting him know. Did that make her a slut? No, she didn’t think so. Sighing, she brushed her hair and teeth, undressed, and climbed between the sheets, hoping this was one night a dark-eyed cowboy wouldn’t show up in her dreams.
* * * *
The next day, Wyatt worked with one horse for hours. The mare didn’t seem to want to do any of the commands he gave her. He was tired, hot, sweaty, and hungry. He nudged the mare to the rail and dismounted.
“I don’t get what your problem is today, Candy,” Wyatt said in a low tone of voice. “Any other day you’re spot on.” He shrugged and led her toward the barn. It was then he noticed a hesitation in her gate. Why hadn’t he seen it when he was training her? God damn it! He lifted her front leg and saw she had a small cut. He slowly led her out and put her in her stall.
Wyatt went to the tack room to get antiseptic. If he couldn’t get it to heal, he’d call Doctor Will Carter. He was the best vet in the area and he knew he’d be here in a heartbeat if Wyatt needed him. He couldn’t believe he had missed that. Get your damn mind on your work and off Olivia. He started back to the stall when he saw Ben coming toward him. Wyatt halted and waited for him to reach him.
“Hey, boss.” Ben smiled at him, though it didn’t reach his eyes.
Wyatt nodded to him. “Something on your mind, Collins?”
“Could I get off early tonight? I’d like to head over to Dewey’s.”
“It’s not up to me. Ask Lucky.”
“You’re the boss.”
“Lucky’s your boss. He knows what’s going on and if he needs someone. I only make decisions for you men if Lucky has a problem with one of you or if I want you to do something.”
Ben nodded. “I’ll ask him then. Goodnight…boss.”
Wyatt wanted to grab him by his collar and shake him. He wasn’t sure what Collins’s problem was but he was defiant and it would come to a head eventually, Wyatt was sure about that.
He entered the stall to administer the antiseptic. The cut was fresh. His gaze roamed the stall to see on what she could have cut herself. He swore when he saw a rusty nail sticking out from one of the boards making up the stall. Walking over to it, he squatted down and could see blood on it. This never should have happened. The men were supposed to make sure something like this didn’t happen. He swore as he stood.
“What’s wrong, boss?” Lucky asked as he looked into the stall.
“There’s a damn rusty nail sticking out. Who was to check the stalls this week?” Wyatt growled.
“I’ll have to check the paperwork, but I think it was Kirk.”
“Kirk? He’d never let this happen.”
Lucky nodded. “I agree, but I’ll make sure and let you know.”
Wyatt had to be content with that for now. He couldn’t believe Kirk would miss this. Ben yes, but not Kirk. The idea of chewing Kirk out for this held no appeal. Kirk had worked for him for six years, almost since Wyatt started the ranch after he returned from his stint in the Marines at age twenty-six, and that was seven years ago.
Wyatt nodded his appreciation. He turned to leave and saw Kirk standing at the end of the barn.
“Kirk,” Wyatt called out to him. He saw Kirk lift his head, glance his way, and then began heading his way.
“Yeah?” Kirk put his hands on his hips, but his body language was anything but casual.
Wyatt frowned. “Is there something wrong?”
Kirk glanced away. When he looked at Wyatt, he had a profound sadness in his eyes.
“Come into the office.” Wyatt led the way. He motioned for Kirk to have a seat while he took a seat behind the scarred oak desk. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing…”
“Bullshit.” Wyatt sat forward and folded his arms on the desk. “Did you repair the stalls this week?” At Kirk’s nod, he went on. “There was a nail that was missed and it cut Candy’s leg.” He raised his hand up when Kirk opened his mouth to speak. “It wasn’t bad but the fact that it happened at all is unforgivable. Candy isn’t my horse. If a client finds out a horse’s leg has been cut due to negligence, it could ruin me, and all of you would be out of jobs. I’d still have a problem if the horse were one of mine, but being a client’s is something that we can’t allow to happen—ever. You’re a good ranch hand, Kirk and you’d never make this kind of mistake if something wasn’t bothering you.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I fucked up. That’s all.”
Wyatt sprang to his feet. “That’s all?” he yelled. “I can’t have you fucking up. I can’t have any of you fucking up. We’d all be out of jobs if shit like this gets out.”
Kirk gazed up at him with guilt in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Wyatt,” he mumbled.
“Go home. Take the rest of the weekend off—without pay.”
Wyatt strode from the office. He stopped to explain the situation to Lucky, and then headed back to the house. He mentally shook his head. What in the hell was the problem? He never yelled at his men like this. Damn. He knew exactly what the problem was or rather he should say he knew who the problem was. He headed for a shower. It had been a long, drawn out day and he was tired. He just wanted to sit in his recliner in his living room, have a beer, and watch some television. Most of the hands would be heading out tonight since it was Saturday night. They would head for Dewey’s. Wyatt just didn’t feel like going out tonight. He didn’t need to run into Olivia again.
He sighed. It would happen again though. They were family so there would always be gatherings. Emma and Gabe put on a big Thanksgiving dinner every year, and Wyatt only missed one year of attending since Jake and Becca first got together. Stephanie’s father had invited him to his home so they could discuss business. He couldn’t turn down an invitation from Blake Taylor, since it was Blake who had gotten Wyatt his start with training. It had been damned uncomfortable with Stephanie sitting there across from him at the table. She stared at him all day and he knew she wanted him back, but there was no way. Wyatt even wondered what he ever saw in her. She was beautiful, yes, but she was also a spoiled rich bitch and he knew now it never would have worked between them.
Stephanie Taylor had her eye on Wyatt the minute her father introduced them and like a fool, he had fallen for the blonde haired beauty. God! What a fool he was. He fell hard for her, and then she broke him apart. Jake kept telling him she wasn’t the woman for him but Wyatt refused to see it. All he saw was Stephanie and he believed she wanted him too. She wanted him all right, until he wanted her. Why she said yes when he asked her to marry him was anyone’s guess. She only wanted him because of his money. He had a lot of it and even though her family was rich, she couldn’t seem to get enough. But a week before the wedding, she decided he wasn’t the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. Wyatt knew he never would have been happy with her. The only thing was that she had ruined his trust of women. Throwing his heart out there again just wasn’t going to happen. He had no problem being with a woman for sex but the minute she started getting ideas of roping him in, he bolted.
Olivia popped into his head. Holy shit! He sure as hell wanted her. He had lied to her when he told her he didn’t, but he was never going to let her know the truth. If there was ever a woman he was afraid of, it was Olivia Roberts. The woman should have the word heartbreaker tattooed across her forehead. He may be a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of man but he had a feeling he wouldn’t want to leave her and that just w
ouldn’t do. Wyatt didn’t know what to think as he headed toward the bathroom to shower. A night in was sounding better all the time.
Chapter Three
Olivia sat in her apartment working on the website for the B and B when she heard a knock on her door. She set the computer aside and answered the door. Becca stood there.
“Hi, Becs. Come on in.” Olivia sighed, opening the door wider.
Becca waltzed in and took a seat on the sofa. “It’s time you told me what’s going on with you and Wyatt.”
Olivia nibbled on her bottom lip. With any other person, she’d tell them to butt out but she couldn’t do that with Becca. They’d been friends far too long.
Becca patted the cushion beside her and after taking a deep breath, Olivia took a seat beside her and proceeded to tell her about Wyatt.
Becca jumped up quickly. “Jake will kill him.”
“No. This is why I didn’t want to tell you. I don’t want the brothers at odds with each other. It’s over. Please forget it. I have,” Olivia said but knew it was a lie. It would never be over in any way, shape, or form. She’d always want Wyatt, no matter how he treated her.
Becca sighed. “All right.” She hugged Olivia. “But if anything like this happens again, I will not hesitate to tell Jake about it. He’d be as appalled by Wyatt’s actions as I am.” Becca sighed and hugged her. “I love you, Liv. I’m here for you.”
Olivia could do no more than nod her head as Becca strode out the door. Olivia closed the door and leaned back against it. How much longer would it be before she could wake up and not think of him? Or go to sleep without seeing him in her dreams? Dear God, how was she to survive around him? She’d done a lot of thinking on whether to stay in Montana or move on. Leaving wouldn’t make her forget him, but she wouldn’t see him either, and that was the most important thing. Not seeing him. Because every time she saw him, she’d never be able to keep herself from wanting him. Becca was right, though. They were family. Becca was her family, and Becca married into the Stone family. Becca wouldn’t have everyone to dinner and not invite Olivia but she would always include Wyatt. Olivia put her hands over her face. God, what a mess.
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