by Reggi Allder
“Thanks—I will.”
He watched the sway of her backside in the tight black jeans and thought about stripping the jeans down her firm legs and then carrying her to bed, after Bobby was asleep of course.
When they finished eating pie and the raspberry sherbet, he and Bobby ran to the pumpkin patch. Wes followed close behind. Wyatt watched Bobby touch each pumpkin to see if it might be the right one for his jack o’ lantern.
Wes stood next to him and back a few feet from Bobby.
“I never thought I’d see a time when you’d take interest in somebody else’s boy,” Wes whispered. “He’s a cute kid. I’ll give you that. But who’s the father?”
Wyatt shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
Wes stared at him a surprised expression spreading across his face. “But Bro…”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“You got that right.”
They walked behind Bobby, dodging the other kids that ran searching for their “special” pumpkin. A sense of peace spiraled through Wyatt as the patch filled with the sounds of happy kids laughing. They would never know the loneliness and abandonment he’d experience when he was their age. Never feel the void careless parents created in their unwanted children.
After seeing the bitter relationship and the breakup of their parents, he and Wes had agreed to stay unattached, no wife and no kids.
Then he’d observed Amy’s grandparents cope with the ups and downs of their marriage, the financial slumps, and the lost of love ones. But still they stayed together. Wes hadn’t had that advantage. But Wyatt had seen what a relationship could be when the two people worked together as a team. Yeah, sometimes life was tough, but wouldn’t it be even harder without a partner to get your back when things were bad?
As the pumpkin patch filled with kids and their families, Wyatt had to admit Amy had done a spectacular job advertising the event. She’d worked hard with her Facebook page and her tweets, not to mention the human interest stories in the newspapers.
“Wyatt, look,” Bobby shouted. “Here’s my jack o’ lantern. The bestest ever.” The little boy hugged a pumpkin big enough for Bobby to sit on.
Wyatt strolled slowly around the pumpkin. “Whoa, big guy, this is the best ever. But I think we’re going to need your wagon to bring it to the house.” He looked at his brother standing in the field, a bored expression spreading over his tanned face.
“Bobby, my brother can wait here and guard the pumpkin while we go get the wagon.” He slapped his brother on the back. “Right bro?”
The look of boredom on his brother’s face turned to disbelief.
Wes opened his mouth to speak, but before he could Wyatt said, “It’ll do you good to be out in the sunshine with the kids, Bro.” He laughed. “We’ll be right back.”
“You owe me.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Wyatt knew he was in for it. Wes would get his revenge. Still, he smiled.
“Big time, Wyatt. You owe me.”
They left Wes surrounded by squealing kids, a look of apprehension spreading across his face, a lost doggie in a herd of children.
Bobby ran toward the house and his red wagon.
It took longer to find and empty the wagon than Wyatt thought it would. He hoped Wes had stayed with the pumpkin. If he left it and some other kid got the one Bobby had picked out, the little boy would be heartbroken. A realization that the boy’s feelings were important to him struck hard like a punch to his chest and for a second he didn’t move, instead, he took a long slow breath.
When they got back to the patch, Wyatt noticed his brother talking to a willowy blond with straight hair hanging down the back of her white shirt. Her well formed rear was expertly displayed in a short denim skirt. Black tooled cowgirl boots hugged her slender calves.
“Vanna,” Bobby called.
The woman turned and waved when she heard him. “Bobby.”
Wyatt saw her amazing blue eyes dance with pleasure when she returned her attention back to his brother. Leave it to Wes to find the only unattached female in the whole field of mothers and their kids. Radar that’s what the guy had, able to zero in on anything hot.
“Hi Wyatt”, Vanna said.
“Hey.”
“Teacher, did you see my pumpkin?” Bobby asked eagerly.
“Yeah, it’s great. It’s going to make a wonderful jack o’ lantern.” She bent down and gave him a quick hug and then released him.
“Wyatt, look at all the people. I’m so excited. It’s sure busier than I could’ve imagined. And the maze looks great. Amy told me all the work you did on it.”
“Johnny did the most of it.” He watched Bobby wander a few feet away to talk to another kid then glanced back. “I see you’ve met my brother.”
“Yeah. He was nice enough to volunteer to help me with the kids. Offered to get their pumpkins to my van. I was wondering how I was going to do it.” She grinned openly at Wes.
“No kidding?” Wyatt gave his brother a “thumbs up”. “Well, I know how he feels about the little kiddies.” And sexy available blondes.
He watched Wes’s eyes follow the swell of Vanna’s breasts through the opening of her shirt, unbuttoned no doubt while was she helping the children.
“Missed a button,” Wyatt whispered to her.
Her cheeks colored to a deep pink as she quickly buttoned the shirt.
He ignored the glare Wes sent him. Instead, he smiled at his brother. It wasn’t returned.
They all walked back to the farmhouse.
Maybe he should warn Vanna what a womanizer Wes was. Nah. She’d been an actress living in alone in Los Angeles. She could take care of herself. Even so, he could see the craving in her eyes when his brother smiled at her. Damn, that guy could as the old saying went, “Charm the birds out of the trees.”
Amy joined them just as they reached the house. “We’re closing up for the night.”
“I got to get the kids rounded up,” Vanna said somewhat breathless. “I’m taking them back to the preschool. Their moms are picking them up there. I’ll come back and help you clean up, if you need me. Wes, do you want to drive along with me?”
“Whoa you’re a tall drink of water,” a female voice said.
Wyatt spun around to see Nan, Amy’s friend from San Francisco, standing behind him. Black knee high boots gripped her long slim legs and jeans hugged her tight rear end. A form fitting black sweater pressed her ample breast pushing them up and molding them into inviting morsels begging for attention.
“Hi all.” Her red lips curved up in a smile.
“Nan.” Amy hugged her friend. “I didn’t expect to see you today. Didn’t think a kid’s pumpkin patch could bring you all the way up here.”
“Can’t let your big day go by without showing up,” Nan cooed, but she didn’t look at Amy, her eyes were still on Wes.
She moved closer to him. “Who are you?”
“I’m Wyatt’s brother.”
“Right.” The corners of her mouth twisted slightly. “So, he does have a brother.”
Wyatt glanced at Vanna as a flush brushed her cheeks and her grin disappeared.
“Amy, you’ve been holding out on me,” Nan continued. “But I’ve found him now.” She laughed.
“I—uh.” Amy glanced first at Vanna and then at Nan.
“We were just going into the house,” Wyatt said. “Nan, join us.”
“Where were you going tall brother guy?” Nan winked at Wes.
“Honey, wherever you want to take me.” Wes hooked his arm with Nan’s.
Vanna cleared her throat, but Wes didn’t seem to hear her.
“Got a good sports bars in town Bro? I sure could use a cool drink.”
“I can find something to quench your thirst.”Wes pulled Nan to him. “Catch you all later,” he said as he walked away with Nan on his arm and without a backward glance toward Vanna.
“I—” Vanna’s voice cracked. “Uh—better get the kids.”
Wyatt watched
her run in the opposite direction from Wes and Nan.
“Wait,” Amy called after her.
Vanna continued to run.
“Wyatt, I didn’t know there was a sports bar in town.”
“There isn’t, but I’m sure my brother will find something to quench her thirst.”
Amy stared, a pained expression on her face.
“I don’t know what to say to you. Wes is—Wes.” He shrugged and watched his brother disappear behind the farmhouse and then heard the sports car’s engine turnover.
“I’ve never seen Nan act like that. I’m just blown away.”
“Wes does that to some people. It might do him good to meet a woman like Nan. Someone who knows how to handle him.” He hesitated. “Hope Vanna’s feelings aren’t hurt. I could see her cheeks were red.”
“I’ve seen Wes twice and both times he’s managed to hurt someone’s feelings.”
“Yeah. I never know what my brother is going to do.” He grunted. “Let’s get Bobby and I’ll fix you dinner. You must be exhausted. Bet you’d like to put up your feet up.”
“That sounds fantastic, but first I should find Vanna and help her now that Wes isn’t going to.”
“Okay. Bobby and I can hold down the fort.”
“Thanks. I—uh. Well, thanks.”
Amy ran after Vanna.
“Come on big guy, let’s get your jack o’ lantern to the house.”
“Wyatt, can we put it on the front porch?”
“Sounds good to me.”
He pulled the wagon, with the pumpkin precariously balanced in it. Bobby skipped beside it. The little boy looked up at him an expression of trust and affection on his young face.
“This is the funest day ever.” Bobby grabbed his hand.
A pang slammed against Wyatt’s rib cage. Anger toward the boy’s dad flared. Where was the jerk? Why wasn’t he taking care of his responsibility? Why didn’t he care enough to see the joy in the little boy’s face? Hard to understand how a man could just walk away from such an amazing kid. The boy deserved his father. But Wyatt wasn’t that man. Never could be.
CHAPTER 24
“Vanna wait up.” Amy yelled, but her friend didn’t slow down. Amy lost sight of her for moment and sprinted until she saw her talking to a couple of boys, each carrying small pumpkins.
“Hey.” Amy stopped and caught her breath. “I came to help you and the kids get their pumpkins to the van.”
“Thanks. Come on kids. If you can carry your pumpkin do it, but if it’s too heavy Miss Amy will carry it for you. Vanna winked at Amy.
“Thanks.” Amy wrinkled her nose at her friend. “Okay, but I can only carry one at a time. Does anyone need help?”
A pale faced little girl with bouncy red curls and huge blue eyes slowly raised her hand. “I do.”
Amy leaned down and smiled. “What’s your name?”
“Holly.”
“Hi. Where’s your pumpkin?”
The little girl pointed and Amy couldn’t help but smile that the delicately built kid had picked an oversized pumpkin.
Maybe someday she’d have a strawberry haired baby like Holly. Whoa, where did that come from?
The idea of having another baby sent a slice of pain to her chest. Even though she dearly wanted them, she wasn’t going to have any more kids. She couldn’t take the chance that she’d pass on the Celiac Disease.
If she married again, which was unlikely, she understood the probability of Celiac appearing again. She loved Bobby more than life itself, but she wouldn’t put another child through what he’d already had to endure, weakness, nausea, vomiting, constant vigilance concerning every bite of foods he took. Not to mention, other physical ailments he might have to deal with later in his life. The thought chilled her.
“Teacher.” Holly pulled on her arm. “Help me.”
Amy picked up the pumpkin, relieved to find it wasn’t as heavy as it looked.
She and Vanna marched with the kids while they all sang The Itsy Bitsy Spider. When they reached the driveway, she was glad to set the pumpkin in Vanna’s van.
“Okay kids, everybody in the car,” Vanna called.
Amy marveled as all the kids eagerly climbed in and put on their seat belts without complaining.
“I know my keys are in her somewhere.” Her friend stood outside the driver’s side door and dug in her purse. “Ah, found them.”
“Vanna, your blouse is undone again.”
“No.” She quickly buttoned it. “I shouldn’t have worn this old thing. But with the kids—it came open when Wes was here. He probably thought I was coming on to him. Ugh. I’m so embarrassed”
“I’m sorry about Nan. I’ve never seen her act like that. She should have seen Wes was with you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Amy could see by her expression it did matter. “Nan was wrong to do that.”
Vanna shrugged. “When I lived in LA, I met a lot of good looking jerks like Wes, who thought they were God’s gift to women. They could turn their attention from one woman to another in a blink of an eye. I should be immune to guys like that by now.” She flushed. “Nan probably saved me from making a fool of myself. I’m looking for more than Wyatt’s brother has to offer. I came home for a new start and he’s way too much like my past.”
The melancholy tone in her voice belied the smile on her lips.
“The right guy is out there,” Amy said.
“Tell him to hurry up. I’m not getting any younger.” Vanna laughed, but a touch of bitterness sounded in her voice. “What about you and Wyatt? I noticed the way you looked at him when he couldn’t see you. You love him.”
“Oh my God, am I so obvious?” She glanced around the area hoping no else heard what Vanna said.
“Only to me. After all, I’ve known you since first grade.”
“I’ve tried to be cool, but…” She sighed.
“I don’t think he knows. If that’s what worries you.”
“It does. Damn it. I know he’s not interested in me. Doesn’t want love and a family, but when I’m with him—how can I explain?”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. Vanna, he’s so good to Bobby and to me. It’s just my imagination, but when we’re all together I feel like we’re a real family. I never felt like that with my ex-husband even though he’s Bobby’s father.”
“And Wyatt?”
“Uh.” Amy hesitated. “I’m not sure what he thinks of us,” she whispered. “Maybe he doesn’t have any thoughts about us at all.”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“I couldn’t do that. What if he doesn’t care? Can’t stand us? What would I do then?”
“Teacher?” Holly said as she peeked out from the van window. “When are we going?”
Amy jumped and looked at Holly, wondering if she heard the conversation.
“Soon.” Vanna said. “Amy, your secret’s safe with me. I’ll never tell.”
“Thanks.”
Her friend glanced at the kids in the van. “I better go. Ciao.”
Amy watched her climb into the driver’s seat and slam the door. “See ya.”
She waved at her friend as the van backed out of the driveway.
***
Wyatt stood in front of the fireplace at Granny’s old farmhouse, backlit by the flames.
Amy admired him as she entered the room. “Thanks for dinner. You and Bobby make a mean omelet.”
“Just call us anytime you need short order cooks.”
She chuckled and rubbed her arms and glanced around the room for her sweater. “Man, it’s chilly. Glad you made a fire. It’s going to be a cold night.” She sighed at the lost of summer. “Autumn is definitely here.”
He strode to the couch and sat down. A sense of desire rippled through her.
“Bobby didn’t want the day to end.” She set the baby monitor down on the coffee table and with a big sigh sat on the couch, leaned back, and put her feet on the wooden cof
fee table. “Wow, this feels so good.”
“When you first told me your idea for the pumpkin patch, I wasn’t sure it would work. But you did a great job today.”
“I was afraid I’d be left alone in the field of pumpkins with dozens of pies waiting to be served and no one wanting to eat them.” She kicked off her shoes. “It looks like I’m going to have to get up early and make more pies before we open the pumpkin patch tomorrow.”
She watched the flames in the fire place. “Thanks to you and Johnny the maze was a big hit, especially with the older kids. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She stretched content for the first time in months. “I couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
“Bobby said it was the “funest” day ever.” Wyatt smiled.
“You helped make it fun.” Their eyes caught and held. A shiver of longing danced in her core. Ignoring it she said, “I’ve never seen him so happy, yet so completely exhausted. He’s going to sleep soundly tonight.”
“You must be tired too.”
“No. I feel strangely exhilarated.”
“Adrenaline. Once it settles down you’ll relax and feel worn-out. I know about that. I spend most of my time being thrown around by horses.” He grinned. “Sometimes after a hard day of landing on my rear I feel that way. Even when I stay on the horse, which I do more often than not, adrenaline races in me for hours. My body aches with exhaustion, but I can’t sleep.”
“That must be awful.”
“You get used to it. Even enjoy the sense of being completely alive.”
“I feel alive when I’m with you.” She didn’t mean to say it, but the words came out before she could censor them.
His eyes widened, but he didn’t speak. For a moment, the noise of the crackling fire was the only sound in the room. Then he gently pulled her to him, caressed her cheek. “Your skin is soft and you smell like pie and perfume.” He took a deep breath. “Sweet and feminine.”
He kissed her cheek and then the nape of her neck. She leaned against him and moaned with pleasure.
“Amy, come to bed with me.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Breathless, she kissed him and then took his arm. He grabbed the baby monitor and together they went out the back door toward the cottage.