by Ellie Hall
It was true. She’d rather he saved his billions. Wyatt too.
“Although…” He inclined his head.
She knew what was coming and she couldn't resist because kissing Wyatt made her happy. Bonus, it was free, but she knew, deep down, that it did come with a price. She’d have to let go, but that was something she knew she wasn’t good at.
“Will’s probably not going to be happy about—” she started.
The rest of the conversation was lost as Wyatt planted his lips on hers in a long smooch. A few passersby whistled, bringing her back to attention.
Charlotte pulled away first. “Wyatt, we can’t do this in public.”
“If I can’t show you how much I care and how attracted I am to you at a rock concert of all places, then…”
She shuddered a breath because as much as her sensibilities and the guards around her heart resisted and protested those comments, it felt good to hear along with being in his arms and having his lips on hers. As the band started to play, she realized she was at war with herself.
Several songs in, Charlotte’s phone chimed with a call from Will. She answered but couldn’t hear him so she sent out a quick text letting him know they were at an L Ryder concert. She didn’t get a reply but did lose herself in some of her favorite songs, except Forever a Love Story—the tune she and Wyatt danced to at the Wedding Eve party. Then again, that was a relatively slow song and the crowd was pumped, singing and dancing along to the faster songs.
After the finale, a large man dressed in black tapped Wyatt on the shoulder. His hat said security.
Charlotte startled.
Wyatt spun around as the muscles in his jaw tightened.
Chapter 22
Wyatt
In a deep voice, the man wearing a security hat said, “Please, come with me.”
Wyatt instinctively gripped Charlotte’s hand, but it only took a few paces of him walking on his injured ankle to realize that Will was up to something. He was good friends with Logan Ryder, the front man for the eponymous band. Wyatt had met him a couple of times at events over the years and he was a nice guy.
“Does your brother happen to know where we are?” he asked Charlotte.
She nodded. “I texted him.” Her eyes widened.
“See? Spoiling you makes him happy.”
“And there I thought we were going to be arrested or something dreadful.” She sighed with relief.
“Did you commit a crime because the only one I can think of is not seeing you in jean shorts more often.” She giggled then stopped herself.
It was obvious that Charlotte wasn’t used to compliments or guys like Wyatt flirting with her, holding her hand, or spoiling her.
“Is that why you got them for me?”
“I noticed you only had the one pair.” He flashed a cocky grin, admiring her curves.
When they reached a closed door, the security guard showed the badge hanging off the lanyard around his neck to another guard. He then led them through a maze of hallways before letting them into a lounge with numerous couches and sitting areas. A table along one wall brimmed with snacks and drinks.
A woman with a heart-shaped face and brown hair bounded over to them. “You must be Charlotte.” She held out her hand. “I’m Clara. Any friend of Penny and Emma’s is a friend of mine.” She explained how the women grew up together and that she was Logan’s girlfriend as well as the official puppy wrangler. She clicked her tongue and a couple of dogs bounded out from the other side of a couch and to her side. The smaller one sniffed Charlotte’s hand and gave her a lick. She scratched his head and the two women soon made a connection over rescue dogs.
Wyatt wandered over to Logan and made introductions.
“Will, texted, promising you’d come to say hello. I hope you enjoyed the concert.” He glanced at Clara and Charlotte. “Though, I see the main attraction is the dogs.”
Wyatt nodded. “She loves them as much as I do horses.” The two guys conversed about their respective animals, the women in their lives, and charity work. Then the conversation turned to Will’s Wedding Eve party.
“I saw the two of you dancing,” L Ryder said.
Wyatt raked his hand through his hair.
“Uh oh, I recognize that look.”
His eyebrows knit together. “What look?” There was no hiding his grin.
“Should we have played the song from that night?”
Wyatt shrugged, not following.
“That look, that yearning, feeling torn up inside. Oh, I knew it all too well once. Even wrote a song about it called No Regrets.” He started singing the lyrics about falling in love and fighting for it.
In love? The words echoed through Wyatt’s mind, which felt as dry and desolate as a canyon. He wasn’t in love. That wasn’t possible. It wasn’t sensible considering, well, a lot of things.
Logan tilted his head with sympathy. “The sooner you give in the better.” He cast a glance at the two women. “It was the best risk I ever took.”
Wyatt opened and closed his mouth afraid that if he spoke, he’d agree with Logan’s astute observation. Afraid that if he spoke, he’d acknowledge that it was true.
He was in love… with his best friend’s sister. With Charlotte.
Her voice filtered from across the room as she and Clara talked about her volunteer work at Wags and Purrs and how she had two elderly dogs.
“Rupert and Roofus,” Wyatt whispered.
“What’s that you said?” Logan asked.
It was then Wyatt realized that he wanted to know everything about Charlotte. Her favorite color, what kinds of books she liked to read. He wanted her in his life. How could he have fallen in love in such a short time? Without knowing every detail about her? It was because love went deeper than that it; it was something mysterious and infinite. His heart swelled and just as quickly deflated. He couldn’t give her what she wanted. Forever. Because he knew things like that never lasted. At least not for him.
He glanced over at her, desperate to spend what little time they had left together. “It was nice seeing you again, Logan,” he said, extending his hand.
The musician held it a moment longer that was custom as if to solidify what he said next, “Don’t let her slip through your fingers. You’ll regret it.”
Wyatt wasn’t sure he had a choice, but he had right then and there was something important he wanted to do when they got back to the ranch.
“You almost ready to head home?” he asked Charlotte when she came over.
She shrugged. “Sure.” She turned to Clara.
“So glad to officially meet you both,” she said. “Will has told Logan and me a lot about you guys.”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed as though she didn’t understand the comment.
Wyatt’s mind was already on the front porch of the ranch.
For the duration of the ride back, Charlotte excitedly told him all about how Clara worked for an animal shelter in New York City and together with Logan, they found homes for twelve dogs on Christmas Eve. “I love stories with happy endings.” She sighed.
“Must be the writer in you.”
She went on to tell him an idea for the storyline of one of her characters.
He basked in the sound of her voice and picked up the details she shared with him about aspects of her life like breadcrumbs, leading him closer to her. But he knew, all too soon, the trail would disappear and they’d be apart.
Once they were cruising along the country roads and he didn’t need his right hand to shift gears, he reached for her hand, clasping it in his.
Charlotte continued to chatter about how much she missed Birdie and the dogs. She also mentioned she’d like to use some of her inheritance to help the animals like he did with the horses. As they pulled up in front of the ranch, she said, “It’s too bad they didn’t play the song we danced to at Will and Emma’s Wedding Eve party. Forever a love story. It would be nice to get a redo.”
“Why? Because I kept six-in
ches of space between us?” He chuckled, remembering how nervous he was to be sure Will didn’t think he was putting any moves on the woman he thought was his best friend’s little sister.
She laughed. “So I could properly rest my head on your chest and then look up and kiss you…”
The corners of his lips lifted. “I like the sound of that. I have something almost as good if not better.”
“What do you mean?”
He led her to the house, ignoring how his ankle hurt. Although he’d already fallen in love, after she left, he’d surely fall…but with her absent from his life, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to get back up. The thought slowed his steps because he didn’t want their time together to end.
Once on the deck of the front porch, with the moon hanging high in the sky and the twinkling stars overhead, he took her hand in his and planted the other on her low back. She smiled as he led her in a slow dance as the fireflies performed their nightly light show in the background.
As the dance continued, she rested her head against his chest. She was there with him, fully. Hand in hand. Heart to heart. His life was finally complete.
The next morning, they both slept in, nearly until noon after the last couple of late nights. Loud coughing and sneezing came from the guest room. Wyatt hurried down the hall to find Charlotte still in bed and sick with a cold.
“Don’t come in, you don’t want to catch this.”
“Oh no. What’s ailing you?”
“My head aches.” She sneezed. “And my nose won’t stop running.”
“Do you want to go to the doctor?”
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“That’s what Will always said. You sure?”
She nodded. “I’m probably contagious so you shouldn’t come in. I just want to be able to get on the plane later.”
Wyatt nodded but didn’t like to the idea of her feeling unwell so he rushed to the barn to find Norm. The older man was untangling a lead rope when Wyatt consulted him about Doris’s famous cold and flu bomb—a tincture she’d make up when Wyatt was a kid that always cured him in no time.
“Ah yes, I remember it well. I’ll run over to the house and make Charlotte up a few capsules. She’ll want to drink one every hour with warm tea. When did you say her flight is?”
“I ought to have her stay another few days, but her daughter returns from camp tomorrow and she wants to be there.”
Norm nodded. “Understandable. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
While his ranch hand ran the errand, Wyatt fielded several calls as part of the investigation he was doing to find out how he could help Charlotte with her ex-husband. He didn’t want to bring it up during her stay because the topic clearly stressed her out. He’d brought her to the ranch to relax and didn’t want anything interfering. At the same time, he chopped up ingredients for chicken soup. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he mixed the dough and chopped the apples for his hand pies.
Half an hour later, Norm knocked on the door, breathing deep. “I should come to you when I fall ill. It smells like Thanksgiving in here.” His eyes sparkled. “Then again, let’s hope you don’t fall in love with me.” He chuckled.
There it was again, the thing he’d had such a hard time seeing and it was too late, never mind impossible.
Norm left the tincture on the counter and Wyatt promised him an apple hand pie for his trouble.
“How about two?”
“It’s a deal.”
A short time later, Wyatt loaded a tray with all the natural remedies for Charlotte and brought them to her room.
She started to get out of bed, telling him he didn’t need to fuss with food and medicine.
Wyatt propped up the pillows, edged her back into the bed, and set the tray on her lap. “You helped me when I hurt my ankle.”
“But—” she started to protest.
“You’re being more stubborn than Wally and Boss Lady—that’s a horse—combined.”
“Are you comparing me to a horse?”
“More like a donkey. Now, take the tincture, drink the tea, and eat the soup. Trust me, you’ll feel better and can go back to being your slightly less stubborn self.” He had laughter in his voice despite being serious.
She gasped but went ahead and followed orders. In moments, her color seemed to return.
“I don’t mean to offend you, Charlotte. You said you don't want help. I'm here to say maybe you need some. There’s a difference,”
A pair of tears whispered down her cheeks as she set the teacup down.
“Aw. Now I’ve upset you. I’m sorry. I just want to see you get better and I don’t want to see you go—” He sunk onto the edge of the bed.
“No, I’m sorry. It’s just because you care and this is all so sweet. I guess that I’m not used to it.”
“Well, I wish I could tell you to get used to it.”
“But good things like that never stay.” Her voice was small, faint.
“Including you.”
Their eyes met and something unnamable passed between them.
Wyatt gripped her hands. “I’m awfully sorry you lost Sydney, the person who did take care of you. You allowed him to. And if you’d just let me…” Wyatt trailed off. “And it’s a shame that things didn’t work out with your ex, but maybe if you’d allowed him in, to get close—” Wyatt regretted the words because it wasn’t true and he wasn’t talking about Montgomery, rather about himself. If only she’d allow him in.
“Wyatt, you don’t understand. My ex was never like that. He was not the caring or romantic type.”
His hands balled into fists that matched Charlotte’s. “Unfortunately, I know. You’re right.” He scrubbed his hands down his face. “I’m sorry. I just want things to work out and—” And he didn’t see how they could, but he was desperate for a way.
She sat up. “Wait, what do you mean you know about Montgomery and me?”
“After you told me that he’s threatening to take custody of Birdie after not ever spending time with her, it became really clear what kind man he is. One that doesn’t deserve respect. I did a little digging. I’m sorry if I overstepped bounds...”
“I think you overstepped bounds the minute your lips landed on mine. In both instances, I welcome it. What did you find out?” She stiffened, a fierce mama bear if there ever was one.
“At first, there was very little. Just the usual, a bank account that was listed as his primary with hardly a dollar in it.”
“Serves him right. During our divorce, he went after me. Me, the person who was taking care of our daughter. He wanted every dollar, or rather, pound in my account. I’ve never had much of my own but am thrifty and know how to save. He wanted it all.”
“Well, I found out he’d also lost his job a couple of years ago and there was no record of him being employed elsewhere.”
She huffed. “He was just a layabout back then too.”
“But I recalled the presents he sent to Birdie so he had to be earning income somewhere. I went a little farther along and came up with sizable weekly deposits in a second bank account listed under his mother’s name. It also had his as a secondary signee.”
She listened intently.
“Long story short, he’s involved in insurance fraud. And unlike you and me who wager kisses when playing cards—”
“Don’t forget Ile Amor.”
He had to focus to stay on track when she whipped out the French. “He also has a gambling habit. He owes a lot of money to some not so nice people who’re under investigation.”
“How do you know this?”
“I have a friend. Henry.” Wyatt cleared his throat. He’d probably already said too much, but she had the right to know the truth. “He’s uh, MI6 and owed me a favor.”
Her mouth fell open. “Your friends and their favors. Wow. So Monty’s under investigation by the British intelligence service? He’s trying to get custody of Birdie so I’ll pay child support so he can pay off his gambling debt?” She sa
id in one breath, putting the pieces together.
“You’re fast. I only wish I could represent you as a lawyer.”
Charlotte threw the covers off and got to her feet. She wore sleep shorts and a T-shirt. It tugged on his heart to imagine her leaving.
“I have to get back to Birdie. There’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“But maybe you should rest some more. Wait until you feel better. I can delay the jet.”
She sniffled. “No, I need to get there as soon as possible.” Her tone was urgent.
“What if we take a detour to the island? Escape for a little while.” The familiar pull of desperation, the desire to escape when things got tough made him seek any possible exit.
She paused and cupped his cheek. “These last days have been splendid, Wyatt. You’ve done so much for me, but I have a life and a daughter to get back to, to protect.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He knew as much and felt foolish for suggesting otherwise but wanted to return to the cocoon where it was just the two of them and the horses. No worries. No heartache.
She tossed everything that she hadn’t packed into her suitcase and then disappeared into the bathroom.
Wyatt felt helpless. There was nothing else for him to do other than leave before she could. He dipped his head and walked out the door.
Chapter 23
Charlotte
The kisses. The concert. The dance on the front porch. As romantic as it all was, nothing clouded Charlotte’s thoughts as she rushed to get home. With her belongings thrown into her suitcase, she went to the kitchen, but Wyatt wasn’t there. She rushed outside, but the truck sped down the long driveway leading away from the ranch.
He’d left her.
She sniffled and not only because she was getting over the cold. The morning in bed and whatever Wyatt had brought her had definitely minimized the effects of the bug that had made her sick.
But he was gone.
There wasn’t time for her to process how much that hurt because he’d done something else for her, prompting her hasty departure. Wyatt had investigated, including employing a member of England’s intelligence service, to find out about her ex-husband’s wrongdoing. Nonetheless, as always, it was up to her to get home, make it right, and of course, protect her daughter.
