Fetching: A Frenemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy (Unleashed Romance, Book 1)

by Kylie Gilmore

  It’s around midnight when I get to Wyatt’s place. He’s expecting me and meets me at the door with a bouquet of red roses in one hand, Snowball tucked under his arm. She keeps sniffing the roses.

  “For you,” he says warmly.

  “Wow.” I take the roses and kiss him. “Thank you.”

  He puts Snowball down and helps me off with my coat, hanging it on the hook. Snowball trots back toward the sofa room, where Kayla sleeps. Wyatt keeps her doggie bed there now. Kayla takes Snowball out in the morning.

  “Such a gentleman tonight,” I tease. “Is Kayla up?”

  “She’s sleeping. Working on her thesis puts her to sleep. It would put anyone to sleep. You want something to drink or eat?”

  I shake my head.

  “Upstairs?”

  I smile. “Yeah.” He still only has the one bedroom set up.

  He cups my jaw and kisses me tenderly. His fingers stroke down my throat. “Give me a few minutes to prepare.”

  “Okay. Can I freshen up in the bathroom, or is that where you’re, uh, preparing?” I have no idea what he’s up to. Another romantic gift upstairs? Preparing his body in some way? Not that it needs it. He’s gorgeous.

  “Let me check on one thing.” He rushes upstairs. A moment later, he says, “Okay, come on up.”

  I follow him, intrigued. His bedroom door is closed. Maybe he got his furniture out of storage and wants to surprise me, though I thought he’d put that in the master bedroom. But no, they’re renovating the master bedroom to add an en suite bathroom and walk-in closet by adjoining the room next door.

  He waves me past the bedroom, a smile tugging at his lips. “Move along. Nothing to see here.”

  I smile. “Okay, if you say so.” I’m dying to peek but continue on to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I have an extra set of toiletries here now for convenience. Once I’m ready, I debate walking out in just my bra and panties—they are my nice red satin ones that push up my ample breasts—but I refrain. If he has a gift for me, that will distract him too much, and I won’t get it until I’m too spent to open my eyes. The way he wrings every last drop of pleasure from my body is phenomenal. Hands down, the best lover I’ve ever had. Or is it mouth down? He’s generous in that department too.

  I step out of the bathroom, still wearing my black uniform T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and cozy sheepskin boots. When I get to the bedroom door, it’s still closed.

  I knock. “Can I come in now?”

  Wyatt opens the door and gestures for me to come in. My breath catches. He strung white twinkle lights along the ceiling and sprinkled red rose petals on the bed in the shape of an arrow.

  I laugh. “Am I supposed to follow the arrow and climb into bed?”

  “Get a little closer and see.”

  I turn back to him, smiling. “It’s so romantic.”

  “That’s me.” He rocks his head side to side. “With you anyway.”

  I follow the rose petal arrow to the pillow. There’s a small robin’s egg blue box tied with a white ribbon. A Tiffany box. My heart races. “Wyatt?” I croak.

  He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. His voice is husky. “Open it.”

  “That looks expensive.”

  “It’s yours. Go ahead and open it.”

  I stare at it. “You didn’t have to get me an expensive present.” I turn in his arms. “I’m not about money. That’s not why I’m with you.”

  He frames my face with his hands. “I know. I want you to have it.”

  I swallow hard. Is this what I think it is? Maybe it’s just earrings. Oh God. I turn back to the gift, unable to move. I need to know how I’ll answer. I love him; he loves me.

  “You’re going to make me do this, aren’t you?” He snags the gift, tugging the ribbon off. He takes the smaller box out and goes down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”

  I slap a hand over my mouth.

  He looks down at the box. “Forgot to open it. This is my first proposal.” He opens the box to a huge round solitaire diamond on a platinum band. At least I think it’s platinum. The light is dim from the twinkling lights.

  I rush to the light switch and turn it on, staring at Wyatt on one knee, an engagement ring in hand. Yup, that’s definitely a multi-carat diamond set on platinum. I grip my trembling hands together.

  “Syd?” he prompts. “Are you going to answer me?”

  “I need to think about it,” I blurt.

  He snaps the box closed and stands. “Too soon?”

  “It feels quick. I’m just not sure. We haven’t talked about it before.” I can’t seem to catch my breath. I walk over to the bed and sit down.

  He shoves the box in his pocket and sits next to me. “Let’s talk about it now. We love each other. I’m going to marry you.”

  “You’re just telling me this.” I laugh, but it comes out shaky.

  “Well, I asked, and you didn’t answer. So yes. I’m going to marry you. You’re going to run The Horseman Inn, live with me here, and one day our kids will inherit the restaurant.”

  “Our kids,” I echo, my head spinning. I have never in my life had a guy look to the future with me with such absolute certainty. “Is it too fast?”

  “Sometimes it happens that way.” He takes my hand in his. “Your hand is so clammy. I really did surprise you, didn’t I? I’m new at this whole proposal thing. We’re both experienced enough to recognize when it’s right, and this is right.”

  I lean against his warmth, wrapping my arms around his middle. He puts his arm around my shoulder. “What if you regret asking? Wouldn’t a broken engagement suck?”

  “That won’t happen.”

  I laugh a little. “I don’t know how you can be so confident.”

  “Because you’re crazy about me. Even Kayla commented on the hearts in your eyes.” That’s what I always say about Harper, so I know he’s teasing.

  I poke him in the ribs. “You have hearts in your eyes.”

  “Guilty.”

  I sigh. “I want to say yes, but I’m scared. What if you stop loving me?”

  “I told you people only say that when there’s someone else.” He meets my eyes. “There’s never going to be anyone else for me but you.”

  I straighten, searching his expression. He’s absolutely sincere.

  “I already got you an engagement gift too,” he says.

  “Another one? Besides the gazillion-carat diamond ring from Tiffany’s?”

  He nods, smiling.

  “What is it?

  He smirks. “You have to be officially engaged to me to get it.”

  “Is this a bribe?”

  He nuzzles into my neck, kissing his way up to my ear. “Come on, Sydney, you know you want to say yes.”

  “Okay, yes! Yes!”

  He crushes me in a hug. “You won’t regret it. I swear I’ll make you happy.”

  Tears sting my eyes; overwhelmed by all I’m feeling. It’s like Christmas and my birthday all at the same time—such a great gift, our love, a future together. “Now you’re making me cry.”

  He cradles my jaw and kisses me tenderly. “I’m so happy.”

  I laugh through my tears. “Me too. Put the ring on me.”

  He stands, retrieving the box and pulling the ring out. Then he takes my hand, brushes a kiss over the knuckles, and slides the ring on.

  “It’s so sparkly,” I say, holding it up to the light and angling it back and forth.

  “So are you.”

  I hear the rustle of clothes, look up, and see he’s stripped naked.

  “You don’t waste time,” I tease.

  “Nope.” He reaches for the hem of my T-shirt and pulls it over my head. “I go for what I want without hesitation.”

  “Fearless.”

  He pauses, stroking a finger over my breast. “I wouldn’t say fearless. I had a few minutes there where I thought you were going to run screaming from my house, never to return. Scary stuff.”

  “Oh, Wyatt.”
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  He sends my bra flying, and then he pulls me up off the bed, enveloping me in a warm hug. I lift my head, our lips meeting once again, his fingers stroking down my spine in a tingly path.

  I break the kiss. “I can’t believe we’re engaged. I should tell people.”

  “It’s after midnight.” He huffs. “Clearly I’m not doing this seduction stuff right.” He tackles me to the bed, and I shriek.

  And then we’re kissing again, but this time he’s demanding, kissing me roughly. I ignite, eager to join with him, my hands all over him, stroking, scratching, pulling him closer. My lover, my fiancé.

  He raises himself up just long enough to strip me naked, rolls a condom on, and returns to me, taking me in one hard thrust. I wrap my legs high around his waist, my hips arching up, taking him deep. It’s a wild primal ride, our bodies slapping together, our breaths harsh.

  His head drops by my ear, a sexy rumble of dirty talk. The intensity skyrockets, and then I’m gone. The breath whooshes from my lungs in a cry of ecstasy. He shudders and lets go, pumping into me and then stilling with a long groan.

  I stroke his sweat-dampened hair. “I guess I can call you fiancé now.”

  He grunts. He’s not much of a talker afterward.

  I sigh happily. “I’ve never been a fiancée before.”

  He lifts his head. “I guess I should’ve asked before I locked it in, but did you want kids?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Me too. Okay, good. We’ll work everything else out.”

  He rolls off me, and then he reaches over and holds my hand.

  I smile so big my cheeks hurt. I can’t remember ever feeling so loved, so content, so utterly satisfied.

  The next morning after a rousing wake-up call from my sexy fiancé, followed by a shared shower, I step out of the steamy stall and wrap a towel around myself. Wyatt swats my ass on the way to get his towel just behind me.

  I suddenly remember he had an engagement gift for me. I hope it’s not too extravagant. I should get him something too. But what could I give him that he couldn’t easily buy himself?

  He combs his hair and turns to me. “You’re awfully quiet. After making my ears bleed this morning with your screams and all that talking. “‘Yes! Right there! Harder, Wyatt!’” He smirks. “Lose your voice?”

  I somehow find myself blushing. I’m not used to bedroom stuff being talked about outside the bedroom.

  He strokes my cheek. “You’re blushing? After everything we did to each other?”

  I push his hand away. “No!”

  He chuckles. “Yes.”

  “I was just remembering you said you had an engagement present for me.”

  He looks in the mirror. “You think I need to trim my beard? Or maybe I should shave it.”

  “I like it. We’re officially engaged now.”

  “Yup. Got the ring to prove it.” He walks out of the bathroom.

  I finish getting ready. He’s got a double sink with a long counter with lots of drawers and cabinets. It occurs to me he was dodging the question about my present. Did he change his mind about giving it to me?

  I follow him back to his room, where he’s getting dressed. I pause to watch his back muscles flex as he pulls a long-sleeved rust-colored shirt on. So sexy. I have some clothes tucked in his duffel bag, he washes them for me regularly, so I slip them on. Just a simple black sweater and jeans.

  He finishes getting dressed and turns to face me. “Breakfast?”

  “Sure.” I braid my wet hair to keep it out of my face. “Did you change your mind about giving me the engagement present? That’s okay. The ring is plenty.”

  “No, I didn’t change my mind. It’s a done deal.”

  “Oh. I’m going to get you something too.”

  He snags my belt buckle and pulls me close. “You don’t have to do that.”

  I smile. “When do I get my present?”

  He gets serious. “It’s not something you unwrap, but it’s a gift from the heart. Understand that.”

  My heart squeezes, my smile huge. “Okay, what?”

  “I paid off your loan to Harper.”

  I blink a few times, my gut doing a slow roll. “You what?”

  “She thought it was a romantic engagement gift. That’s how I want you to think of it.” He studies my expression. “I can see you’re getting worked up—”

  I pull away. “Wyatt.” I take a deep calming breath. “You swore you wouldn’t interfere in my business unless I asked you to.”

  “It’s not interfering. I’m helping.”

  “And I’m happy you want to help, but I’m still upset. You don’t trust me to handle things on my own.”

  “You don’t trust me to help.”

  “I don’t want your help!” I exhale sharply. “Sorry. I’m just frustrated. This is the second time you went behind my back to take care of things you had no business taking care of.”

  He scrubs a hand over his face. “Sydney, we’re getting married. Everything to do with you is my business.”

  My stomach drops. “Is that why you proposed? So you could play this off as an engagement gift?”

  “No!” He looks away. “Not entirely.”

  “I can’t believe you!”

  “Look, I don’t need to buy a failing restaurant. I’m doing this for you. I take care of those I love.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment, but do you get why I’m angry? You swore you wouldn’t interfere unless I asked. I didn’t ask because I’m handling it.”

  He lifts his palms. “What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to stop being the white knight! Women don’t always need to be rescued.”

  He scowls. “It’s not a character flaw to want to help. And you need to learn to accept help too, instead of being so stubbornly independent all the time.”

  “And you need to learn that not every problem requires you to solve it. I’m perfectly capable.” I gesture, dangling my fingers high in the air. “You can’t always be the puppet master in the background directing everything.”

  “So now I’m a puppet master? I don’t make anyone do anything. There’s a problem, and I fix it. That’s all.”

  I grit my teeth. “I won’t let you steamroll me. You have to respect what I decide. I told you that I handled it, and I did. Now what, you’re an investor in my business and you get a say in it?”

  “Why shouldn’t I? I know business. I could run that side, and you can manage the place.”

  I shake my head, all my earlier happiness draining from me. I pull my engagement ring off. “I convinced myself this was romantic when it was all part of an orchestrated plan.”

  He stares at the ring, his jaw tight. “Don’t.”

  I leave the ring on his bed. “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t respect me.”

  “I do respect you. Of course I do! But you’re not perfect. You’re stubborn to the point that it makes things impossibly difficult. For no good reason!” He frowns. “Why won’t you let me fix this?”

  My eyes sting with unshed tears. “You’re not perfect either. Always the leader, always the boss, directing everything.” My throat closes, tight with emotion. “Well, you can’t direct me.”

  “Impossible woman,” he mutters, shaking his head.

  I grab my purse and head out the door.

  I keep going, rushing through the living room, everything blurring through my tears. I grab my coat and step outside just as Kayla’s returning with Snowball from their walk.

  She smiles, her brown eyes sparkling. “Did you say yes?”

  I shake my head and dodge past her to the safety of my car.

  It’s not until I’m home that I completely break down. I make it to my bed and collapse, coat, boots, and all, curling up on my side. From engaged to completely over in less than twenty-four hours. He’s the impossible one. He went behind my back. Twice! I punch the pillow. He can’t just take over and do what he thinks is best for me and tell me later. It hurts doubl
y that he disguised it all in a romantic proposal. He should’ve talked to me about all this.

  I can’t be with someone who wants to run my life just like he runs his businesses and everyone else’s business who comes to him with a sob story. Or his sisters with their sob stories. Well, I am not a sob story!

  I sob into my pillow. At least I wasn’t until him.

  19

  Sydney

  This is just perfect. I toss back a glass of expensive chardonnay and order another. It’s open bar at Harper and Garrett’s wedding reception. Great timing to have a wrenching breakup the day before a romantic Valentine’s Day wedding. It’s painful to watch someone else get married while pretending I’m just fine being single. Even worse, Wyatt’s here, since he’s friends with Harper and Garrett. And it’s not easy to avoid him at this intimate celebration for fifty guests on the third floor of a small cooking school in Manhattan. Which is why I’m now glued to the bar. Su-u-uck.

  Jenna and Audrey are protectively standing on either side of me. We’re in matching cap-sleeve emerald green bridesmaid dresses. I gave them the briefest of explanations on Wyatt—madly in love, went behind my back twice, broke up—on our limo ride into the city. Harper sent it for us bridesmaids. We made plans for next Monday to have a real breakup recovery session at Jenna’s place. With the wedding, I didn’t want to get into all the nitty-gritty. It’s Harper’s special day, and I need to be cheerful for her. I’m really trying.

  A slow song starts, the sappy lyrics making my jaw clench.

  Both of my friends turn toward the small dance floor longingly.

  “Wyatt’s staring at you,” Audrey whispers.

  “No Wyatt updates, please,” I say, tossing back a healthy swallow of wine. This is my second glass. And two glasses of champagne in the limo. Plus one from a passing waiter when we arrived at the reception. Two plus one plus two. I plan to stay right here until the bitter end.