Marrying Chrissy (Brides of Clearwater Book 3)

by Melanie D. Snitker

  Ugh, he was completely making a mess out of all of this. “Let me start over.” He paused for a moment. “There are several job openings at the country club, and I immediately thought about Emma. The schedules are super flexible, and the boss happens to know the situation so wouldn’t mind if she needs to take some time off for health reasons.” He smiled, but Chrissy didn’t return it. “The job opportunity has nothing to do with the family reunion.”

  “You’re serious.”

  “I am.” He bumped her knee with his. “And if a certain sister of hers insists on finding a second job, I’m pretty sure there’s one that requires weekends only.” Wyatt would rather she didn’t get a second job, but if she was going to be stubborn about it, at least she wouldn’t be working nights, too.

  His comment earned him a small smile.

  “I’ll let Emma know. Thank you, Wyatt.”

  “You’re welcome.” Wyatt couldn’t get over the way her smile went right to her brown eyes, bringing out gold specks of color. “As for the reunion, what happens if I cast my vote for you to come along?”

  “I…I…” She wrapped her arms around her knees and pulled them closer to her chest. “I have to work on Friday.”

  “You can go home and change, I’ll pick you up there, and we can drive over afterward.” He tried not to hold out too much hope that she might agree to go. “You get off work at four, right? Corpus Christi is just three hours away. We could get something to eat from a drive-through and be there before it gets dark.”

  “Your family doesn’t need me crashing the reunion.” Chrissy got up and brushed her shorts off.

  Wyatt followed suit, reached out, and cupped her elbow. “You realize you’re not crashing if you come as my date, right?”

  “I couldn’t do that. It’s way too last minute.”

  “Trust me when I say there are plenty of rooms at the resort my parents have reserved. There are always way more than we need, but they buy the place out for the long weekend anyway.” Her hesitation had his heart racing in panic. He’d enjoyed spending time with her over the last couple of weeks. Despite his own hang-ups about relationships, he’d been convinced there was something between them. Maybe it was all just an illusion. See, and this was exactly why he’d avoided this type of situation in the first place.

  “Wyatt?”

  “Yeah?” He tried to act casual as she seemed to search his face.

  “If it means that much to your Gran, maybe I could drive up for the day or something to say hello.”

  Wyatt smiled when he realized she’d completely misunderstood him. A breeze came through and blew some hair across her lips. She brushed it away, but he couldn’t take his focus from her mouth as she gently drew her lip in beneath her top front teeth.

  “I don’t want you to go for Gran. Or to tick my sister off, although that would be a bonus.” He reached for her hand and held it gently in his. “I want you to come as my date because I’d enjoy spending some more time with you.”

  “I don’t know…” Chrissy’s eyes went to their joined hands. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go away for that long. What if something happens here?”

  “Then we will drop everything and drive back.” He threaded their fingers together. “It’ll be fun. Or at least an adventure. What do you say?” This was either the start of something amazing, or he was just setting himself up for disappointment and regret. He wasn’t sure if he was more hopeful or nervous as he waited for her answer.

  A tentative smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I’ve always wanted to see the ocean.”

  Chapter Ten

  Chrissy worried leaving Emma and Mom behind would result in a stressful trip. It’d taken everything in her to not embarrass herself by crying as she got into the Jeep and gave her family one last wave. Now that Clearwater was disappearing in the rearview mirror, the tension began to dissipate from her shoulders.

  When Chrissy had second-guessed herself over and over again about agreeing to go with Wyatt, her family kept telling her she was doing the right thing. Mom asked when the last time was that Chrissy had done something for herself. She’d been ready to volley instance after instance right back at her. Several moments of silence later, Chrissy had finally admitted she didn’t know.

  When Chrissy realized she had no excuses or reason to get out of the reunion, she relaxed into the leather seat of Wyatt’s Jeep and watched through her window as the trees zipped by. This was good for her. In fact, after all the stress of the last few years, maybe this was exactly what she needed. Having the most handsome man she’d ever known sitting in the next seat over certainly didn’t hurt things, either.

  Wyatt glanced at her. He’d picked her up at the house wearing a pair of tan cargo shorts, a Star Wars t-shirt, and a welcoming smile. Despite his mixed feelings about the reunion and some of the cautionary tales he’d told her, he seemed ready to get away for a couple of days.

  Chrissy, on the other hand, kept ping-ponging between being excited about spending time with Wyatt and nervous about what it all meant. That evening while she waited for Wyatt to pick her up, Emma insisted it was clear he was falling for Chrissy. The very idea had her heart banging painfully against her ribs.

  She seriously doubted Emma was right. But what if she were falling for him?

  Wyatt reached for a bottle of water in the cup holder between them, took a drink, and put it back. For half a second, Chrissy thought he might reach over and hold her hand. The disappointment that hit when he didn’t reminded her that she needed to get a grip.

  Whether or not there was something here between them remained to be seen. Either way, a reunion where she’d be surrounded by his extended family was not likely the place she’d find out.

  She may as well focus on the good food and her first experience at the beach.

  “So the resort is close to the coast?”

  “You can see the ocean from many of the rooms.” Wyatt flashed her a smile. “And you can go out and walk right down the beach. It’s an amazing location. My family has a standing reservation for this week every year. I have an aunt who comes from Canada, and an uncle in Hawaii who makes the trip.”

  “Wow, so you have family that wasn’t at your grandmother’s birthday party?”

  Wyatt laughed loudly at that. “Oh, you have no idea. But you’re right, with Gran’s party, we’ve got back-to-back family reunions of sorts. But there will be a lot more people this weekend, trust me.”

  “That’s wonderful everyone takes the time out of their busy lives to gather together like that.” Her voice carried a wistfulness that surprised even her. “You really are lucky to have such a large extended family.”

  “For better or worse, I know you’re right.” He passed a slower vehicle on the highway before getting back in the right lane again. He smiled at her. “I still can’t believe you’ve never seen the ocean.”

  “Mom always wanted to take us. But as kids, Emma got sick easily. Most of our vacations—few and far between that they were—revolved around staying at home or maybe a hotel in Austin or Dallas. I guess time just got away from us…” A pang of guilt hit her, and she tried to push it away. Neither Mom or Emma would want her to feel bad. Instead, they would want her to have fun and come back with a full report on her experience.

  They made a stop halfway through to stretch their legs and grab something to eat in the Jeep. Chrissy enjoyed watching the scenery change as they traveled across East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi was interesting to look at as they went through. Chrissy kept her eyes peeled for her first sign of the ocean.

  “You see that gray there along the horizon?” Wyatt pointed out the driver’s side, and she nodded. “That’s the Corpus Christi Bay. We’ll follow it down, go across a long causeway, and then the resort is on Mustang Island.”

  Chrissy listened to him point out different highlights as they continued on their drive. Her favorite, however, was definitely the causeway. They were halfway across when Chrissy r
emembered her mom and sister. She took several pictures and recorded a short video to show them.

  Wyatt lowered the windows so they could breathe in the ocean air as they continued on their trek. They hadn’t gone far when he took an exit.

  “Oh, are we close to the resort?” Chrissy scanned the buildings ahead.

  “Not quite.” He continued to drive until they approached a clearing. From there, she could easily see the ocean in front of her. “I didn’t think your first visit to the beach should be within the chaos of my family’s reunion.” He parked the car near a trail that led down to the beach below. “What do you say? We have some time before we have to be at the resort.”

  “Are you serious?” Chrissy’s gaze followed the trail to the pale sand beyond. There were only a few people strolling along the beach or walking near the waves. She wasn’t about to turn his offer down. “Let’s go!”

  Wyatt chuckled as he got out of the Jeep and led the way.

  It took more energy than Chrissy thought it would to walk across the sand. The sound of the waves hitting the beach filled the air. She took in a deep breath, certain she would never forget the way it smelled here. While she didn’t think it was much cooler here than it was back in Clearwater, there was a breeze coming off the water that felt amazing.

  She paused only inches from where the sand became wet. Mesmerized, she watched as the waves crept closer only to finally cover the sand nearby in a frothy mix of foam and water. Then it seemed to race itself back out again.

  “You should take your sandals off.”

  Wyatt’s words broke into Chrissy’s thoughts. She turned to see him doing just that a few feet away. “We have time?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She didn’t have to be told twice. The sand warmed the bottoms of her feet as it pressed itself into the spaces between her toes.

  Wyatt held a hand out. “Give me your phone and then go stand just where the waves will cover your feet. I’ll take a few pictures for you.”

  Chrissy grinned, pulled up her camera application, and handed the phone to him. She carefully traversed the few feet until the sand became wet and cool.

  The next wave approached and swirled around her ankles. She was surprised to feel the sand shift around her feet as they sank and became covered. She looked up to find Wyatt smiling at her as he looked at her phone. She’d have to send a few of these to Mom and Emma. She grinned as she held her arms out to her side and then waved.

  The water began to recede. Wyatt brought the phone down and gave her a thumbs-up. “I think I got several good ones. You’ll have to check when we get in the Jeep since it’s hard to see the screen out here in the sun.”

  She met him halfway and accepted the phone, slipping it into her back pocket again. She was glad she wore capris today because it made it easy to splash in the waves. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He glanced in the direction of the sun. “Let’s go for a walk before it starts to get dark.”

  Chrissy readily agreed. He led the way toward the ocean until the waves lapped at her shins, and then they began to follow the coastline. If she didn’t have her keys and phone in her pocket, she’d be tempted to chase the waves out and then race to see if she could beat them back in again. She decided she’d find time to do that before the weekend was over.

  Meanwhile, she enjoyed the way the waves caressed the skin on her feet and lower legs every time they came in and out. Several times, if they’d paused to enjoy the sensation, she’d have to lift her feet out of the sand where they’d become buried.

  Wyatt cleared his throat. “I need to make a point of coming out here sometime when we aren’t having the family reunion. I forgot how peaceful this can be.” He chuckled. “You’ll see what I mean tomorrow. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to go down to the beach by the resort, but there will be very little peace.”

  Chrissy stopped walked and turned to face him. “What did your family do for vacations?”

  “My parents preferred the mountains. We went skiing a lot. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” He spotted something, stooped, and picked it up. He motioned for her to open her hand.

  She did so, and he dropped a small shell into her palm.

  “There, now you have a souvenir of your first trip to the beach.”

  Chrissy studied the shell, noting the little details etched into it, and smiled. It didn’t matter what happened at the reunion itself—or even whether there really was something going on between her and Wyatt—this time at the beach made the trip entirely worth it.

  She raised her gaze to his. “Thank you. For the shell and for this.” The only sound she heard was the low rush of the waves around them. “I had no idea how badly I needed to get away until now. This place is incredible. I don’t know how people live so close to the ocean and don’t just spend all their time right here.”

  Chrissy could picture herself owning a beach house. She imagined waking up on a lazy Saturday, walking barefoot down the beach to the place where a pair of lounge chairs waited. She’d ease herself into one of those chairs and bask in the sound of the waves. Suddenly, Wyatt was there, too, sitting in the other chair. It was as natural to find him there as it was for him to reach for her hand and press a kiss to it.

  She shook herself and blinked at the setting sun. Good grief, she had to get a grip on herself. Heat suffused her cheeks, and she hoped it just looked like the warm air was getting to her. The last thing she needed to do was start imagining herself with Wyatt in the future. Certainly not in a happily-ever-after capacity, anyway, no matter how natural it’d felt in her daydream.

  She wished she knew what it all meant. Was it possible to keep an open mind about it while simultaneously maintaining a protective barrier around her own heart? What she needed to do was keep it casual, enjoy getting away for the weekend, and keep reminding herself that she and Wyatt were way too different for anything to really work out between them.

  ~*~

  Wyatt watched as Chrissy’s face slowly transformed from relaxed and happy to something more akin to pensive. She was staring at the horizon away from the water with a small frown on her face. Her cheeks had gotten a little pink. He should’ve thought to bring a bottle of water for each of them to take on the walk. He hadn’t figured they’d stroll as far as they did. In fact, they’d better start heading back so it wouldn’t be too dark to find their shoes or his Jeep.

  He reached for her hand. He’d intended to only touch it to bring her attention back to the present. But the moment their skin met, he grasped her hand in his as though he had no control over it himself.

  Chrissy’s skin felt cool against his. That broke through her thoughts, and her gaze shifted to their joined hands and then up to his face.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.” She shrugged and glanced down at her feet. It looked like she tried to shift her weight when surprise flitted across her face. “Wow, those waves buried my feet fast. I guess that’s why you don’t build sandcastles or leave anything near the water.”

  Wyatt pulled his own feet out of the sand. “Just don’t let them sink too far or the hermit crabs will pinch your toes,” he said jokingly.

  “What?!” Chrissy jumped into the air and then hurriedly washed the sand off her feet in the next wave that reached them.

  Still holding onto her hand, Wyatt couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m teasing you, Chrissy.”

  She smacked his arm and pinned him with an accusing look. “That’s not funny.”

  “It was a little.”

  Chrissy tried to keep a stern look on her face but soon dissolved into giggles of her own. The sound washed over him, every bit as refreshing and memorable as the ocean waves themselves. He fought the temptation to put his other arm around her waist and draw her closer. He was succeeding, too, until she looked up at him with those gorgeous brown eyes. Her lips parted slightly, immediately drawing his attention.

  He ought to steer her back in the
direction they’d come, but his feet wouldn’t move. The distance between them evaporated, though he wasn’t sure which of them moved first.

  Wyatt leaned down until his lips brushed against hers in a brief kiss. He was going to step back, but her soft sigh had him moving in to kiss her again. Just before he felt the warmth of her lips, she straightened, and her face moved away from his.

  His heart stalled and then raced like a runaway train. “What’s wrong?”

  Chrissy gripped his arms for another moment before dropping her hands. The pink in her cheeks was just barely visible in the fading sun. “I can’t… you may end up being Emma’s boss… It’d be weird,” she finished lamely. Her chin fell as she clasped her hands together in an obvious sign of discomfort. “I’m sorry.”

  There was no doubt she was right, but Wyatt’s throat tightened with disappointment. Their kiss was so short, he might have imagined it. But it’d been long enough to prove they had some serious chemistry there.

  Maybe he shouldn’t have pressed her to come to the reunion with him. As much as he wanted to regret doing so, he couldn’t. The look on her face as she experienced the ocean for the first time made it all worthwhile.

  Wyatt reached out to touch her arm but stopped himself. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry.” He cleared his throat, uncertain what to say. He gestured toward the waves and then in the direction of the sunset. “I blame the ambiance.” To his relief, she gave a little laugh. “Come on, we’d better be getting back before it’s too dark to find our shoes.”

  She seemed relieved for the change in subject. They walked along the beach in near silence, allowing his thoughts to all but scream in his head.

  Was it wrong to want to kiss Chrissy again? She clearly regretted it. She seemed like the type to slap first and demand an apology later if he were to try it again. Knowing his family, it was unlikely he and Chrissy would get any time alone.

  That was for the best. He had a feeling it would be way too easy to allow himself to fall for Chrissy.