Fierce-Wyatt

by Ann, Natalie

  Their relationship was no longer a secret anywhere, especially at work. No one said much to her. The gossip and whispering were still there from time to time, but she was learning to ignore it. It wasn’t worth it in her eyes if they were both happy.

  And she was.

  Until she saw this prick and it brought back all the mistakes she made.

  “Just leave,” she said. “What I understand is you’re an asshole and I want no part of you. I said all of this to you months ago. You tried to tell me the same things then and I didn’t want to hear it. You tried to convince me for months I was wrong and you were right and I should give you another chance.”

  She’d left because she couldn’t take it anymore. It was bad enough everyone found out about her and Spencer because his wife made a point of going in and letting everyone know he was married after she suspected he was having an affair.

  Somehow she’d figured out it was Adriana and then met her at work in the parking lot, very similar to this. Adriana had broken it off with Spencer the day she found out about his wife. It had come as a complete shock when the woman confronted her days later.

  “But I told Brenda it was over. I’ve been telling her for years.”

  Brenda, that was the wife’s name. Adriana had been in such a haze of fury that it never registered with her. All she knew was the guy she’d thought she was in love with had been living another life all along and she’d been such an idiot she never saw it.

  “Yet she moved to San Diego with you. I’m not buying it now any more than I did back then.”

  She should just leave, but there was so much she wanted to make sure he was clear on. As if she hadn’t been before.

  “She had no one. I told her she could to get established with me and then she had to move out. It was only supposed to be a few months.”

  Adriana crossed her arms. “Does she still live with you, Spencer? Has she lived with you in the same bedroom all this time?”

  His face flushed briefly and she turned to leave. “It’s hard to explain.”

  “I don’t care how hard it is. We are done. We’ve been done for months. There is no going back for me.”

  “Please,” he said. “I love you.”

  “I don’t love you. That love was shattered to a million pieces the minute I found out you were married. There is no reason and no excuse. No justification for any of your lies. Leave now before I call security.”

  She marched away from him to her car and pulled out, looking in her review mirror to make sure he wasn’t following her.

  Not that it mattered because if her mother told him where she worked then she probably told him where she lived.

  There was going to be hell to pay for that.

  The minute she got home the first thing she did was call her mother. She would have done it in the car, but she was shaking so much and she needed to get home safely.

  “Hello, darling. Are you just getting out of work? It’s so beautiful here. I’m sitting by the pool.”

  “What the hell is wrong with you telling Spencer where I was?!”

  There was silence on the other end. “He said he knew you were in North Carolina. I thought maybe he’d found you and he kept saying how much he still loved you. It was such a sweet story. Everyone should have a man want them that much.”

  “You’ve got issues. You want a man to love you like that. To give you that attention. I don’t. I don’t need it. I don’t want it.”

  “That’s because you’ve always been a Daddy’s girl. He never did that to me.”

  She wasn’t going there right now. It was probably the last thing in the world her mother could have brought up to her.

  “Your insecurities aren’t mine. I don’t like liars or cheaters and you know that. I think you thought I’d take Spencer back and then you could throw it in my face how much I was like you.”

  More silence on the other end. “He means well. You should at least hear him out and give him a chance. It’s not like you are doing anything there. You’re too young to be single.”

  “I’m not single,” she shouted. “I’m in a relationship and have been for months. And you and your petty ways are trying to make my life miserable. You’re nothing but an energy vampire. You just suck the life right out of me and don’t even care.”

  “That’s a little dramatic, Adriana,” her mother said, letting out a huff. “You’ve never been like that before. And you never said you were dating someone. Who is it?”

  Now her mother was all interested in her life. “There was no need to tell you. We don’t talk often and don’t have much in common. I’m not sharing my dating life with you when it’s still new.”

  “I bet your father knows,” her mother said sarcastically.

  “Yes, he does. He met Wyatt and he likes him. And I’m happy. I don’t need you meddling in my life. I don’t need you getting involved and making things hard for me. I walked away from Spencer and moved to the East Coast because he wouldn’t leave me alone and yet you just brought him back in my life. Didn’t it ever occur to you there was a reason I left so fast?”

  “You never tell me anything,” her mother said.

  Her father knew that Spencer just wouldn’t leave her alone. He was never violent. He was never mean, but he was persistent.

  At first it was annoying but then it bordered on creepy to the point of being uncomfortable.

  It wasn’t just him waiting for her at work in all different places, it was him trying to enlist her coworkers to do what her mother did.

  Some thought it was sweet like her mother. Others called her a homewrecker.

  There had been no getting away from any of it.

  Flowers showing up at her apartment on what would have been an eight-month anniversary told her the guy was delusional.

  She called her father. The one person she’d been able to talk to about this whole thing and he’d said he’d been worried and already started to look for places for her. He sent her the links, she signed a lease and put her two-week notice in, then packed up and left without telling anyone.

  “There is a reason for that. You think you’re my friend. A parent wouldn’t have done what you did. A friend of mine wouldn’t either. Not a true friend. Mom, don’t contact me again.”

  “You can’t mean that,” her mother said and she could hear the tears and the whine in her mother’s voice.

  “I most certainly do mean it.” She slammed the phone down and took a few deep breaths.

  When her hand stopped shaking enough, she went to the window of her apartment and looked out to make sure she didn’t see Spencer. Then she went into the bathroom and showered to try to wash the horrible day away.

  37

  Let Yourself Fall

  “Everything okay with Adriana?”

  Wyatt turned to look at Scott Winthrop as they were walking out of the building. Scott was the surgeon he just finished up with about thirty minutes ago. He hadn’t even been aware Scott knew he was dating someone, let alone her name.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Someone said they saw her talking to a guy in the parking lot when she left. More like yelling at him.”

  “What?” he asked. “I don’t know anything about it.”

  Scott shrugged. “Just thought I’d say something if you didn’t know.”

  “Thanks.” Though Wyatt had a feeling it was more like poking a bear. He didn’t talk much to Scott about life in general. He always got the feeling the dude was jealous of him.

  Now he was wondering if he might be starting shit on top of it.

  It wasn’t just Adriana that had to deal with this. Pettiness wasn’t exclusive to women. Men were just as bad if there was a competition involved.

  Many men didn’t care whose throat they cut on their way to the top or who they dragged through the mud entering an arena.

  He wasn’t going to give Scott the satisfaction that what he’d said might bother him.

  When he got home, he called Adriana to
see what she was doing. It was normal for them to talk each night even if they didn’t see each other.

  In his eyes, they’d had a great weekend together in Charlotte. They’d gotten back yesterday and as much as he wanted her to stay with him another night, she argued that she had laundry to do and food to buy for the week.

  He used the time to do those things himself, saying that he shouldn’t be bored being alone since he’d been surrounded by family all weekend.

  As much as he liked to be around people, it had more to do with just sitting around doing nothing. Like her, he had stuff to do. Laundry, bills, and shopping. Thankfully he didn’t have to clean, as the lady he paid came twice a week while he was at work.

  Adriana even busted him on that, but he’d said he didn’t have the time. He liked things neat and organized. The last thing he wanted to deal with was that when he got home and if he could afford to hire someone he was.

  He’d wondered if she would tell him he was frivolous for it, but she didn’t. He was the only one in his family who had someone come in to clean and it was the best money he’d ever spent on things in his eyes.

  He was looking for food in the fridge and nothing caught his eye so he called Adriana first. Maybe she’d want to get some dinner and he could convince her to come back to his place.

  “Hello,” she said. “Did you just get home?”

  “About ten minutes ago. I’m looking for food and nothing is catching my eye. Did you eat yet?”

  “No.”

  Normally she said more than that. He was curious if she would bring up what Scott saw today. He wouldn’t ask. It was probably nothing or not even Adriana. If it was important he was positive she’d tell him.

  “Do you want to get something? I’m in the mood for Mexican.”

  She laughed. “I haven’t found any place that met my expectations here. Let’s say I’m spoiled.”

  “I’d like to spoil you,” he said. “How about Italian then?”

  “I could go with a big bowl of pasta.”

  “Want to meet?” he asked. “Maybe you can bring some clothes and come back to my place?”

  “I think I’d like that,” she said. Interesting. Normally she would make some crack or sarcastic comment about it. Even an excuse.

  “I’ll see you soon,” he said, hanging up after he told her where he had in mind.

  When she walked into the restaurant, he stood up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “What was that for?” she asked.

  “You just looked like you could use it. How was your day?”

  “Busy,” she said. “I’m starving though. I might even get a beer.”

  Another thing she didn’t often do. Again, that didn’t mean anything and he wouldn’t read more into it.

  “Sounds even better to me. They have Mason’s stuff here too.”

  “Perfect.”

  The waitress came over and took their drink and food orders while they talked about their days and what they might do this weekend.

  Not once did she say anything about what Scott saw and he started to think it wasn’t her. She was acting totally fine too. Somewhat normal even.

  After dinner they drove back to his place, her bringing her bag to his room. “You know you can start to keep some things here if you want. I cleaned a drawer out for you.”

  “One whole drawer,” she said. “Wow. I’m a lucky girl.”

  He laughed and opened the drawer for her. “I figured just your underwear and socks could go in here. There is more room in the closet to hang things.”

  “I was just kidding,” she said when she put her scrubs for tomorrow in there.

  “I wasn’t kidding. And I’m going to make you one lucky girl tonight too. I mean if you are going to say that, shouldn’t I prove it?”

  * * *

  Adriana had to fight back the tears. She never got emotional over things like that. Words. Tender words at that.

  The only reason she cried a little when she and Wyatt fought was because she almost thought things were going to end and it was her fault.

  That made her realize how much she was falling in love with him, but she hadn’t wanted to say it just yet.

  It was early still and she was trying to protect her heart. She found that nothing could protect you when you really let yourself fall.

  And running into Spencer today just reaffirmed what she’d felt for him was nothing at all compared to what she felt for Wyatt.

  Why she was trying to fight it now was just a mystery she was ready to solve.

  “You like to prove things,” she said. “But sometimes showing is just as well without the words.”

  He tilted his head to her. “That makes me think you’ve got words to say you aren’t sure you want to.”

  She started to pull his shirt out of his shorts and over his head. “Actions are always better than words.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers. “They are. How much action am I going to get?”

  “As much as you can handle,” she said, lifting her shirt over her head and diving on his bed. “Come join me.”

  He did, reaching for her, pulling her close, and holding her more gently than normal. Rather than race to the end like she always wanted to, she embraced it as she embraced him.

  Softness and tenderness really did have a place between them and Wyatt showed her exactly what she’d been missing and craving without even knowing.

  And when morning came around, she realized that it was time to stop fighting everything so much.

  It was time to stop being competitive and serious and just let go and be herself.

  Wyatt was one of the most confident, happy, laid back people she knew. He had a balance in his life, one that she could learn from. And she was damn well going to, starting now.

  No more holding back.

  She got out of bed when he was in the shower and went to the kitchen to start breakfast. Normally she didn’t do much special during the week, but they had time so she made omelets, not spicy this time, and poured his coffee for him.

  By the time he was walking into the kitchen, she had the food set up on the island. “What’s this?”

  “Breakfast for us. I thought it’d be nice to start our weekday like this. Kind of calm and relaxing.”

  “You being calm and relaxed?” He picked a fork up and cut a tiny piece of the omelet off and put it in his mouth tentatively. Then he said, “This is good.”

  “I’m a pretty good cook. No reason to give you heartburn before work.”

  “I appreciate that. So what’s the occasion? It’s like you’re a different woman today.”

  “Maybe I am. Maybe I had an epiphany last night in your bed.”

  “Oh,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “What move was it? I’ll make sure I use it again.”

  She wiggled into his arms. “No moves. Just you being you.”

  “Are you going to tell me I’m right about something again? I like to hear that.”

  She closed one eye at him. “I’m sure you do. Let’s just say you’ve worn me down.”

  He lifted her chin. “Now I’m just waiting for you to catch up with me.”

  “I think I have,” she said.

  “And you aren’t saying the words first?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Do you really think I’ve changed that much?”

  “You do like to finish first,” he said. “In all aspects.”

  “Very cute,” she said. “Can I help it if you’re that good in the bedroom?”

  He shook his head and sat down to eat once she moved out of his arms to sit too. “What every guy loves to hear.”

  “Eat your breakfast, or take your time and I’ll eat fast. Then I’ll jump in the shower and we can leave.”

  She finished her omelet in a few big bites, then dashed to his room to get her clothes before she said she loved him. Their conversation was enough for her to know how he felt and she was sure he knew how she felt.

  As much as she was trying to let go, th
ose words just weren’t ready to be said yet.

  38

  The Most Important Thing

  Wyatt followed Adriana to work and parked in the doctor’s lot, then waited for her to walk over and meet him.

  Last night might have been the best of his life.

  Not the sex. It was always great with her.

  But the intimacy. The laughter. The smile. The look of love in her eyes.

  She still didn’t say the words he wanted to hear. Not the words that had been trapped in his mouth for weeks.

  For someone who never shut up, those words that hadn’t ever been said to another woman just wouldn’t come.

  Too many times she’d taken things he’d said out of context. Twisted them to what she thought they meant. Though there wasn’t a way to twist these words in a negative light in his eyes, he was sure if anyone could do it, it’d be Adriana.

  But their conversation this morning did make him feel like he was covering a lot of ground. Or she was. Maybe they could be on the same playing field for once.

  He caught sight of her walking toward him, but her name was called, forcing her to stop and look at someone behind her.

  He saw her stance change and knew she was ready for battle and made his way toward her at almost a half jog just in time to hear her say, “What part of just leave me alone don’t you understand?”

  “But I love you, Adriana.”

  Oh no. Some other man didn’t just say that to his woman. “Is there a problem here?”

  “Who are you?” the man asked him.

  “I’m Adriana’s boyfriend. I’d like to know who you are and why she told you to leave her alone. As if she’d said it to you multiple times already?”

  “Boyfriend?” the man said. “You didn’t tell me that. Why didn’t you, Adriana?”

  “It’s none of your damn business. And if my mother minded her own business you’d have never known or come looking for me. Just leave.”

  The ex? He followed her here? Was he stalking her? How could he not know this?

  “Adriana, go in the building and I’ll take care of this.”