Fierce-Wyatt

by Ann, Natalie

  “Are you kidding me,” Stephanie said. “It’s not just that you’ve held onto him this long, it’s that you are so different than the type he normally dated.”

  This time she had no control and found herself asking, “Different how?”

  “Most are bragging they are with him and you’ve kept quiet until now. I mean I asked you directly and you said yes. Wyatt even said that. If I wanted to know something to ask him directly. I figured I could do the same with you. But it wasn’t just that. Everyone else has always been ditzy. Or superficial. You aren’t.”

  “No,” she said. “I’m nothing like that at all.”

  She walked away not only because she had to get back to work but also because her conversation with Stephanie gave her a lot more to think about.

  When she got back to her floor she was waiting for the next surgery to start when she heard her name and turned.

  “Hey there,” she said to Wyatt.

  “I was looking for you,” he said. “I guess you just got off of lunch.”

  “I did,” she said. People were looking at them and she didn’t care. “I just had a conversation with a woman in your office.”

  “Who?” he asked.

  His stomach grumbled loudly and she reached into her pocket and pulled out the granola bar she’d grabbed out of the vending machine earlier. “Here. This will hold you over.”

  “Thanks,” he said opening it and taking a big bite. She was watching his lips and saw the grin spread. “People are going to start talking if you keep looking at me that way.”

  She shook her head. “Sorry. You’re kind of cute.”

  He started to laugh, drawing more eyes to them. “Kind of?” he said in a lower voice.

  She looked down at her computer when it beeped. “Fishing for compliments.”

  “Just trying to find out about your lunch date with someone else,” he said.

  “Oh yeah. Stephanie. She said she works in your office. She wanted to apologize to me about her part in any rumors or gossip. I guess she is upset you aren’t being friendly with her.”

  He laughed some more. “It wasn’t on purpose as much as I’m just trying to keep to myself. I don’t want to do anything to get into another fight with my girlfriend.”

  That was twice now the word was used in reference to her. She liked it coming out of his mouth. “I know how to handle my boyfriend.”

  “Do you now?” he asked. “Man, is there a crowd over my shoulder? It feels like there are a lot of eyes on my back.”

  “There is. All women. Except for Sam that just joined them. He’s coming this way.”

  “Great. Let’s see what he has to say,” he said.

  “He’s heard some of this conversation, I can tell by the look in his eyes.”’

  “Hey, you two,” Sam said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “When are you leaving for Charlotte this weekend? After work on Friday or Saturday morning?”

  “After work tomorrow,” Wyatt said. “How about you and Dani?”

  She was going to meet the Five and their spouses for a summer picnic. She and Wyatt, Noah, Paige, Sebastian, Drake and Kara were all staying with Cade at his new house since he had four spare bedrooms. Jade was staying with Aiden and Nic to get her baby fix. She hadn’t heard about the rest of them.

  “We’re going Saturday morning with Bryce and Payton. Ryder might be bumming a ride with one of you guys tomorrow night as he talked about going early.”

  “I’m sure he’ll end up with Drake,” Wyatt said. “He’ll ask him last minute before they leave so that Drake won’t have time to say no.”

  Sam grinned. “I’m sure. Anyway, see you guys there.”

  When Sam walked away, she asked, “What was that about?”

  “Him giving the family stamp of approval in front of everyone. Is the crowd breaking up now?”

  “They actually are.”

  “Welcome to the family, Adriana. You can’t run now. Sam just made it very clear it’s not a passing thing with us.”

  She felt her face flush. “Good thing I like you and your family.”

  He smirked and walked away and she had a feeling she might have just been tag teamed by Wyatt and Sam.

  35

  Wouldn’t Dare

  “Don’t be nervous,” Wyatt said to her when they pulled into Cade’s driveway.

  “Oh my God, this house is huge.”

  “Yeah. Cade is pretty flashy, but Alex isn’t.”

  “Your family is wealthy, aren’t they? I guess I never thought much of it. You all seem so normal.”

  He shook his head but didn’t get out of the car. “We are normal. Wealth is relative. The Five, well, they are in a league of their own now. When Mason opened up the brewery seven years ago, things just took off. They sell millions a month I’m sure. Hell, they probably sell millions a week. I don’t know and never asked. It’s not my business. The restaurant and pub are packed. Aiden has a line of spices he is marketing soon. It’s just a massive business and those Five put a lot of time into it. More than I work.”

  “I’m almost afraid to meet them. I’m nothing.”

  “Please,” he said. “You’ve met my family. You’ve met the women they are all marrying. Everyone of us is every day average people.”

  She started to laugh. “I’m not sure there is anything average about the Fierce family. Genetically you’re all blessed and you’re finding spouses that are equally so. Your family just wants to continue to pass along those genes.” The front door opened. “Holy shit. Is that Cade’s wife? I know what the Five look like, I’ve seen them on their site,” she whispered.

  “Yes. That’s Alex. She owns Marshall printing that does all the print and marketing for the family business. She does it for my father and uncle’s firm too.”

  “She’s stunning.”

  “She is. And she’s very nice and sweet.”

  They got out of the car and he walked up to give Alex a hug and kiss. “Wyatt. So glad you could come. If I find anything out of place or pranked you aren’t allowed in my house again.”

  He laughed. “Cade will do it to just blame me.”

  “I’ve already lectured him too. You are both to be on your best behavior. And you must be Adriana. You poor child. Wyatt is just like Cade.”

  “I’m insulted,” he said. “Cade is a lot worse than me and the family would confirm that.”

  “I am,” Cade said, pushing the door open wider. “Come in. No one can best me. Not even you, Wyatt. Nice to meet you, Adriana. Where are the rest of them?”

  “On the way. We got an earlier start. Ryder held up Drake and Kara and they are dropping him off at the bar. He’s going to Brody’s after and staying there.”

  Cade’s eyes lit up. “Oh boy. He’ll never want kids then. Whose idea was that? Between Sidney running around and Evan not sleeping.”

  “I think Uncle Grant suggested it,” he said.

  “He must want to torture his youngest then. Since you’re the first one here, you get the choice of rooms. Let me show you around.”

  Wyatt followed Cade up the stairs and grabbed Adriana’s hand and pulled her along. He never thought he’d see her speechless and wondered if this weekend would push him ahead or set him back.

  Saturday afternoon, Adriana said, “I can’t get over how big this party is.” They were at his Aunt Jolene and Uncle Gavin’s house.

  It was the house they raised their five kids in. Even with all the money they had now, they weren’t leaving and he could understand why. The place was huge, had a massive yard and pool and everything he had and wanted growing up. He suspected his cousins felt the same way.

  Last night they’d had a blast with his brothers and Cade and Alex. They’d ordered pizza and just hung out and talked. Cade told the story of how Cade and Alex met and Adriana thought it was hilarious, saying, “I can’t imagine parents going to that much trouble to set their kids up. No way. I’d run away from any man my mother even liked. My father wouldn’t dare.”<
br />
  He was glad to be able to say his parents wouldn’t dare either.

  “You must be Adriana,” his Aunt Jolene said, almost running toward her.

  “Aunt Jolene. Good to see you too,” Wyatt said as his aunt went right past him and hugged his girlfriend.

  “Yes. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you. You’ve got a beautiful home.”

  “Thank you, thank you,” his aunt said and then whisked Adriana away.

  “At least you don’t have to worry about your mother setting you up,” his cousin Mason said. “You got her on your own.”

  “I did,” he said. “But you don’t seem to mind too much at the way things turned out.”

  Mason caught one of his sons that tried to run past, then threw him in Wyatt’s arms. “Hold Jacob.” The next toddler came charging in the other direction. “Got you, you little monkey.” He threw Jeremy in the air and then caught him and started to tickle him.

  “Throw me too,” Jacob said to him. Wyatt did as he was instructed, caught the squirming toddler and tickled him like Mason was doing. “I’m gonna pee!”

  Wyatt stopped quick and put his cousin’s son down. “I think you need your mother.”

  Mason started to laugh. “He’s pulling our chain. Jade put him up to that.”

  He looked over and saw his sister laughing so hard she was holding her side. She pulled Adriana over and said something, then watched as they both laughed.

  “It’s never going to end, is it?” he asked.

  “Not in this family. It’s not like you’ve stopped,” Mason said.

  “Why would I when it’s so much fun?”

  He walked away from Mason and joined Aiden at the table for some food. He’d planned on introducing Adriana to everyone, but it seemed like his aunts and his mother had it under control. “She’ll find her way back to you. She seems nice.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “Damn, this all looks good. Where’s Nic?”

  “She went in to change Anthony’s diaper. Adriana almost gagged when the smell drifted up. Who would have thought something so little could stink that much.”

  “You’re loving every minute of it too, aren’t you?”

  “You know it.”

  Two of his cousins loving marriage and kids. He saw Brody in the shade walking his son and patting him on the back while Aimee was in the pool with Sidney. Ella and Travis were talking with Sam and Dani who just arrived with Bryce and Payton.

  “Your family is a lot to take in, but they’re all so friendly,” Adriana said when she made it to his side a minute later with two beers in her hand. “I needed this and thought you might too.”

  “Thanks. They told you it’s going to get nuts here soon, right? That family is here for about an hour and then the rest of the guests come?”

  “Yeah. I’m glad I can figure out who is who. If I had to be introduced when all the employees and neighbors were here I might have felt lost.”

  “I’ve got you,” he said, putting his arms around her. “You aren’t going anywhere without me.”

  “Nor do I think I want to.”

  * * *

  “Look at them over there,” Jolene said.

  Carolyn looked over at her youngest son and saw his arms around Adriana. “I’m so proud of myself on this one. I knew it’d work out.”

  “It’s been a few months,” Garrett said. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

  “I thought you liked her,” her brother-in-law Gavin asked Garrett.

  “I do. I’m just saying that my wife is getting a little cocky. This is Wyatt we are talking about. Though I admit he seems to be taking this seriously, there is still time.”

  “He’s not like Ryder,” she said, then looked at her other sister-in-law. “Sorry, Diane. Your youngest isn’t even the love ‘em and leave ‘em type. He just finds the worst possible women there are while trying to love them. But then even he can’t stand them after a few weeks.”

  “I don’t know where he gets it from,” Diane said. “It’s like he’s a magnet for the ditzy blonde. I can’t even tell you the last time I saw him with a brunette. You’d think if he just changed what he looked for in a woman he’d do better, yet he goes back to the same molds that are dented and broken.”

  “Oh, those molds have had a lot of work to fix them,” her brother-in-law Grant said.

  “Enhancements aren’t fixing the real problem with those women,” Diane said.

  Carolyn listened to everyone go on about Ryder but looked at Wyatt and saw how happy he was.

  “You’re feeling good about yourself, aren’t you?”

  She looked over to see her daughter standing there. “Of course I am, Jade. You should be thrilled your brother is happy. I’m ashamed of you.”

  Jade laughed. “I am thrilled. I like Adriana a lot. She won’t take any of his crap either. Did you hear about the breakfast she made him?”

  “What? No. I didn’t know she was cooking for him. Even better,” Carolyn said.

  “An omelet so spicy that sour cream, a glass of milk, and five antacids didn’t help,” Jade said.

  “How do you know that?” Garrett asked.

  “Because he told me. I gave him the antacids,” Jade said.

  “Well, she just likes spicy foods,” Jolene said. “It’s her heritage. Just like Nic who has red sauce flowing through her veins. They are good at making what they grew up on.”

  “Oh yeah. That’s it,” Jade said. “Not that he called her a wuss because she couldn’t handle his coffee.”

  Carolyn laughed. “That a girl.”

  “What’s he doing here?” Jade asked. “What the hell, he’s on crutches. What happened?”

  Brock James just came hobbling in. Brock was Travis’s best friend and had been the best man in their wedding last September where Jade met him for the first time as the maid of honor. Where most of the family met him the first time, as Brock was some special op Navy SEAL who took his leave for his best friend’s wedding.

  “You didn’t know?” Jolene said. “Brock got injured when a bomb exploded. He’s on leave right now while he tries to figure things out.”

  “No,” Jade said, her voice dropping, her eyes not leaving his. “No one said anything to me. How come no one did?”

  “I didn’t think anything of it,” Carolyn told her daughter. “You only met him that one time.”

  “That’s true,” Jade said and straightened up then looked away. “I’m going to see if I can get my hands on one of the babies.”

  They waited until Jade was out of earshot. “Did you see the change come over her when she saw Brock?” Jolene asked her.

  “Yeah. I guess you were right. I wasn’t paying attention at the wedding. Why the heck were you paying attention to that when your own daughter was getting married?” she asked.

  “Jolene has a special talent for finding people,” Gavin said. “Too bad I started it all and she can’t accept that.”

  Jolene narrowed her eyes at her husband. “It’s not a competition. It’s about finding mates for the next generation.”

  Gavin started to laugh, followed by his younger twin brothers Garrett and Grant. “It’s true,” Carolyn said, siding with her sister-in-law.

  “That’s right,” Diane said.

  Garrett shook his head. “No one believes you, Carolyn. You want to win this just as much as Adriana wanted to kick Wyatt’s butt in basketball.”

  “And look at how happy they are after that. A little competition is good for the soul.”

  “So is knowing when to let your spouse have the last word,” Grant told his twin Garrett, causing everyone to laugh again.

  36

  Haze of Fury

  When everything is going great is when things start to crumble like a twenty-day-old cookie left on the counter.

  At least that was how Adriana felt when she was leaving work on Monday and heard her name called.

  She turned and saw the last person she ever expected to see again
. Least of all in Durham, North Carolina.

  “Spencer? What the hell are you doing here?” she yelled. Her face was flaming red. It had to be because she felt like she could start kindling on fire just being within one foot of it.

  “I needed to see you. To talk to you. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  “How did you know where to find me?”

  He looked uneasy for a second and finally said, “I went to talk to your mother.”

  “My mother told you where I was?” She was going to strangle the woman...if she ever talked to her again.

  “I told her I loved you. That I was wrong. Everything I said was true about my wife and me. We’ve split. We split almost a year ago, but she didn’t have anywhere to go and moved with me.”

  Adriana narrowed her eyes not believing it. “I don’t care. Those are things that should have come up on, let’s say the first or second date. Not for me to find out from your wife when she walked in looking for you. When she went up and gave you a kiss in front of everyone. When I had to hear about it from coworkers who had no idea you were married, let alone we had been dating for six months!”

  “Well, she wanted to stay married, but not me,” he said, ducking his head a bit. She used to think it was a sweet move. That most doctors were cocky and arrogant. And though he’d come off that way at first with her, once she got to know him more, he’d turned sweet and romantic. Not like anyone she’d ever been with before. Maybe she fell for that when she should have stuck to the type of guy she really liked to be around.

  Men like Wyatt. Men that liked to get out and enjoy life. Not hide. Not play games. Ones that were honest and in your face.

  “You are just digging a hole and I’m ready to look for a shovel to help make it bigger and push your lying cheating ass into it.”

  “You don’t get it though,” he said, reaching for her hand.

  She shook it off and looked around. Thank God Wyatt was held up in surgery or he might have sought her out and they would have walked out together like they had so many times.