He bends to grab it, reads the title, and chuckles. “You have your own pregnancy guide in Presley. You don’t need to read this.”
I rise to my feet so we’re toe to toe. “You did this!” I point my finger at his chest.
“I’m pretty sure you were an active participant.”
So not the point.
“I’m going to get hemorrhoids! And droopy boobs!” His eyes travel to my chest and stop there. “Eyes up here, dipshit.”
“You said boobs.” Wyatt shrugs.
I groan, and Wyatt grabs my hips, pulling me close. My breath hitches as our bodies touch. “Stop freaking out. You’re beautiful, and you still will be after you have the baby.”
I fight the urge to cry. My hands rest on his arms as my head drops to his chest. “It’s so freaking much.”
“It is,” Wyatt acknowledges. “But relax a little, Angel. You’re not going to care about droopy boobs and whatever else when you’re holdin’ our baby.”
My heart flutters a little when he says that. I remember how I felt when I held Cayden and Logan, and they weren’t even mine. I can only imagine the way I’ll feel when I hold my own baby. “Maybe.”
He smirks and runs his hand up my back, holding me more securely to him. “You’ll see. I’m rarely wrong.”
I snort while shaking my head. “You’re nuts.”
“Maybe, but I have an idea . . . let’s grab some food and go out for a bit. It’s your first night in Bell Buckle and our first date.”
I shake my head and let out a sigh. “A date?”
“Yeah.” He pushes me back a little and gives me a smile that makes me want to set my panties on fire. “I’m takin’ you out on a date. So, go get yourself ready.”
This is the deal. I’m here so we can date and get to know each other. I have to be smart, though. I’m not staying here more than three months, so there’s no point in letting my heart get tangled up with his.
I have to guard myself. Because Wyatt is funny, sexy, smart, and it would be easy to fall for him. It was effortless when I allowed myself to sleep with him the first time. Then it was damn near impossible to stay away after that. The truth is . . . I like him. He’s a good guy.
Which is a bad thing for me.
I peek at him from beneath my lashes. “You don’t have to take me on a date.”
Wyatt’s finger lifts my chin as he studies my face. “I do. But more than that, I want to.”
“Oh,” I say as my eyes drift to his lips.
“Angie,” he says softly.
“Yeah?”
“What is the rule for kissing?”
I’m not sure what he’s asking. Something about rules and lips touching, but when his hands are on me, I go stupid. “Kissing is good.”
He doesn’t say another word. His lips press against mine and my brain shuts down. My fingers grip his shirt, holding him to me as his arms enclose around me. Kissing him is a full-body experience. I feel it all the way from my head to my toes. All I want to do is kiss him forever. His tongue glides against mine, and I moan. This is an otherworldly type of kiss. The kind that little girls dream of that makes everything else disappear.
It’s everything I remember.
Our tongues move in harmony, and his hands hold me exactly where he wants me. I don’t care, though. I wouldn’t think of moving away from him when his mouth is on mine. His lips are firm and his tongue demands access to every inch of my mouth. I lose all track of time as he kisses me as if I’m his reason for living. He’s in complete control of me right now, and that’s not a good thing, but I can’t find the wherewithal to stop him.
All too soon, he pulls back. “Kissing is very good. Kissing you is fucking unreal.”
I’m a fool. My rules are a joke. Kissing is going to lead very quickly to something else. I have to put a stop to it even though I want to do nothing but kiss him.
“Yeah.” I retreat a few steps and try to catch my breath. “Kissing is now one of my rules. No more kissing. Kissing is off limits.” I have to punctuate this so he knows I’m serious.
Wyatt’s eyes blaze as he stares at me. He steps toward me with purpose. “You think so?” His body moves closer, his voice turns deep, and sultry, and his eyes become soft. “You’ll be in my bed every night. You think you can keep your hands and lips to yourself?”
“Yup.”
He grins and nods. “If you say so. I love a challenge.”
I lean in close to his ear. “I can control myself.”
Wyatt lets out a low sound from his chest as he grips my shoulders. I lean back and see the desire in his eyes, but I see the restraint as well. “We’ll see about that.” He releases me and taps my nose.
“I’LL HAVE A JACK AND Coke, and she’ll have . . .” Wyatt trails off.
“A Sprite.”
The bartender nods, and we grab seats at the bar. For our first date, he took my pregnant ass to the bar. Because that’s completely romantic, and why not rub it in my face a little more that I can’t drink?
Smooth. Real smooth.
Last time I was here, I ended up going back to his house and . . . well . . . got quite the souvenir.
I look around as we wait for the bartender to return with our order. The dance floor is packed. Some people are spinning around the outside, and others are line dancing in the middle. Lots of girls stand off to the sides, watching and waiting for a guy to walk past. I laugh as they all get a little straighter and puff their already visible cleavage to be more prominent. I wonder how many of these girls have slept with Wyatt.
After what Presley said, I would guess all of them.
He’s known for being a bit of a slut, which never bothered me before. I’m clearly no angel, but I can’t deny the touch of jealousy I have now. It’s insane, but again, I blame the hormones. I also make a note to change the sheets on his bed and possibly burn the mattress. I can only imagine the shit that’s gone down in that house. Hell, I know what we did, and if it’s that times some unknown quantity . . .
Eww. Gross.
“You okay?” he asks while wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
“Yup. Just looking around.”
His eyes travel my sightline, and he stiffens. It’s subtle, but I notice it. “I know you’ve heard a lot of shit.”
“You don’t need—”
“I do. I’m going to say this one time.” He glances at them and then back to me. “I’ll never bullshit you. If you ask me, I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I’ll tell you this: no one has ever stayed the night in my bed. I’ve never even brought one of them back to my house. You’re the only woman who I’ve had in my bed. Ever.”
My eyes go wide at his admission. I’m stunned. He owes me nothing, but he gave me more in that one admission than he probably realizes. He confirmed what I was worried about but soothed it away in the same breath. He also confused me a bit more. Why me? Why has he never brought a girl to his bed? Why the hell me?
“Angie!” Presley yells, stopping me from asking any one of the questions tumbling through my mind. “You’re here!”
“I am.” I try to smile but fail. I’m still in shock as Wyatt continues to stare at me.
“Stop looking like that.” She chides and pulls me in for a hug. “Your face will freeze.”
I’m sure she thinks my lack of enthusiasm is because I’m here, but it’s because his words are still penetrating. I tear my gaze away from him and try to process. Does that mean there was more that time than just sex? That’s crazy because he doesn’t know me. We’ve only spent a small amount of time together, and most of it was spent screwing.
Could there be something?
I glance back at Wyatt as he heads to the other end of the bar where Zach stands. “Sorry, I’m just . . .”
“Settling?” Pres fills in for me.
“You could say that. I’m definitely not in Philly anymore.”
Presley’s face says she understands it all too well. “I wish I could say something
other than I’m sorry. I know you miss home.”
Grace, her best friend from grade school, comes over and hugs me. “We’ll grow on you, honey. Plus, we all love babies.”
That snaps me out of it. “Does everyone know?” I gasp, raking my eyes around the bar, catching several people trying to be inconspicuous as they watch me.
Presley’s lips form a thin line, and she shrugs, letting me know the answer is yes. “There are no secrets in a small town.”
Great. Now, I’m not only the new girl, but I’m the new girl that Wyatt knocked up. So much for laying low for the next few months.
Grace takes my hand. “Don’t worry about anyone here, honey. They’re all jealous. The Hennington boys are all coveted.”
“They have the egos to show for it, too.” Presley jokes.
“Well, both of you fell for their charms.” I cross my arms and wait for them to deny it. Presley is marrying one, and it’s no secret that Grace has been in love with Trent Hennington since she was a kid.
“I’m not denying anything, but you’re one to talk there, prego.” Presley smirks.
Grace’s mood seems to drop a little. Now I feel awful. Trent and Grace dated for a while, but he’s an ass. Trent won’t commit to her, so he strings her along and then breaks things off once he’s had his fill. Presley has done her best to get Grace to let him go, but her heart is always with him.
I feel for her, though. Having to see him daily and knowing that he’ll always be around. She told me about how she wants to get over him, but she doesn’t know how.
“I’m sorry.” I touch her arm. “I clearly allowed Wyatt to invade me.”
She laughs. “Oh, he invaded you all right. Repeatedly.”
“Yup, and I was the winner of door prize number two.”
We all giggle until I feel someone’s hand on the small of my back. “Ladies.” Wyatt tips his head. “I know you want to catch up, but my date and I need to dance.”
“Oh, don’t let us keep you.” Pres grins and looks back at the corner table where Zach is sitting by himself. “Your brother looks like he’s bored. I better head over there.”
He comes around and pulls me up. “Let’s dance.”
“Okay.”
Wyatt pulls me to the floor, keeping his hand on my back until we’re in the middle of the dance floor.
It’s no surprise he can dance. Guys do not do what he does in bed if they don’t have rhythm. He guides me around with ease. Considering I have no earthly idea how to dance like this, it’s amazing what a good leader he is. My feet follow his, almost as if there is no other choice. His smile is permanent, as is mine.
The music changes, but he adjusts to the new beat with no effort. I’m having so much fun. Who knew that I would enjoy this? Wyatt twirls me a little more than he did in the beginning, so I must be catching on.
When the song morphs into a slow one, someone taps my shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?” I turn to see a blonde with way too much eye makeup on. Her clothes are skin tight, and her tits might as well be completely out. I don’t even think she has a bra on. She looks at me with disdain in her eyes. “Haven’t had a dance yet, Wyatt.”
“Sure.” I start to step back, but Wyatt tugs me closer.
His eyes stay glued on mine. “No thanks, Charlotte.”
“But—”
“No.” Wyatt’s voice is stern, leaving no room for discussion, and not once does he acknowledge her with a glance.
He slides his hand around my middle and twirls me away from her.
I think that’s something to add to my pros list.
“You could’ve danced with her.”
I look back at Charlotte, who’s shooting daggers at me with her eyes. It’s clear I’m not going to be making any friends from his fan club. Whatever.
He rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to. I’m on a date with you, and you’re only here for three months. I don’t have a lot of time to win you over.”
“Win me over?”
Well, this should be good.
“Let me ask you something,” he says as he lets out a deep sigh. “Why do you think I was at Zach’s house the day you showed up a few weeks ago?”
What the hell does that have to do with him winning me over? “Because you like your brother?”
“Or I heard you were comin’ and I wanted to see you?”
That thought never crossed my mind. Not once. I figured it was because he was visiting Zach and Presley. “Why? Why would you want to see me?”
“Because I like you. You’re not like the other girls I’ve been with. You’re smart, funny, and you know you’re beautiful. So, I heard you were comin’, and I drove over to see you.” Wyatt doesn’t look ashamed or slightly embarrassed. He just says what’s on his mind. No bullshit.
It’s refreshing, and I don’t really know what to do with it. I’ve never dealt with a guy like him before. Not because the men I know have a hard time saying what’s on their mind, it’s just they usually keep their thoughts centered on pizza or beer or blow jobs. They’re not open with what’s actually in their hearts.
Wyatt, though, he tells it all, which makes my heart pound rapidly, my breathing accelerate, and heat pool.
“That’s . . .” I struggle for words. “Not what I was expecting.”
“Why? Because we’ve slept together two times, Angel. I don’t typically go back for seconds if the first time wasn’t something.”
“That was sex.”
“And it was good.”
My cheeks warm, and I giggle. “It was.”
And God was it ever. I’ve never come so hard in my life. Wyatt and I were explosive and so in sync. I think it’s why I was so angry to wake up to find him gone. I couldn’t understand what I had done wrong or what I misread. When you have mind-blowing sex, you don’t expect that kind of morning. I felt something deep inside that night. Something that scared me but gave me something to hope for.
It was strange and so personal. I never said a word to Presley. The fact that I couldn’t even make sense of it forced me to keep it to myself. She would never understand that something physical brought out something so emotional in me. Plus, Wyatt is known for his sexcapades. As am I. Trying to tie one of us down is a mistake. It makes me wonder what we’re doing now.
“What?” he probes.
“We’re very similar.” I pause, letting him lead me through a few more turns before continuing, “So much so that it’s scary. Neither of us are known for our long-term relationships. Yet, we’re about to be in one with raising this baby. Are we doing the right thing by complicating this more?”
Wyatt’s hands tighten on my back. “I’m not saying it’s because of the baby. Well, not entirely. I grew up with the best parents. My daddy loves my mama more than anything in this world. She’s literally his world. They gave me and my brothers a great life. We had Christmas mornings, Sunday dinners, and everything kids dream of. He taught us that the mother of your child is the most precious person in the world. I don’t know if we’re right for each other. I don’t know if I’ll come out of this thinkin’ you’re a pain in my ass that I hate, or the girl I want to come home to.” His eyes hold mine captive, and I wait for him to keep going. We stand in the middle of the dance floor, lost to each other as other couples move around us. “I do know this, honey. I won’t walk away without finding out. I felt something for you when we were together. Maybe, just maybe, this baby will be what wakes us both up. Maybe we’re supposed to do that together.”
Tears flood my vision, and I cup his face. “Maybe that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Maybe you’re rethinking that kissin’ rule?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Maybe.”
Maybe I’m rethinking all of it.
“Okay,” I whisper to myself in the mirror. “You can do this. No touching, and you’ll be fine.”
The night was really fantastic. Wyatt made me feel as if no one else existed. His attention was mine. Most of the time
we danced, but he forced me to sit and rest as well.
Zach, Trent, and Wyatt sat at the table next to Grace, Presley, and me, but Wyatt angled himself so we were almost at the same table. It was cute that he wanted to be close but didn’t care if I sat with the girls while we were on a date.
We ended up leaving fifteen minutes ago since it was late and I’m exhausted. Now, I’m standing here in this insane bathroom that I want to live in, and freaking the fuck out.
We’re going to sleep in the same bed.
Sure, one could argue that we’ve done this already, but now he’s my . . . I don’t know . . . boyfriend? We’re dating. We’re exclusively dating. He also understands no kissing and no sex.
I’m stupid.
Time to pull my big girl panties up and climb into bed with a super hot guy who I happen to know is fabulous between the sheets.
Right.
“You comin’ out?” he calls as my hand sits on the doorknob.
Here goes nothing.
I watch as Wyatt’s gaze travels the clothes I’m wearing. His eyes liquefy when he sees my tiny shorts and tank top that leave nothing to the imagination. I didn’t pick this because I wanted to make it harder on either of us. It’s just that this is what I sleep in if I sleep with clothes on. Usually, at some point in the night, I kick all the covers off because I’m roasting, which is why I sleep naked most of the time. I figured that would be bad, so I grabbed the least amount of clothing I had.
It was clearly a bad idea.
He clears his throat. “I’m . . . you’re . . .” He closes his eyes and releases a breath. “Maybe you should buy some pants. And a sweatshirt.”
I shake my head and lift the covers. “I’ll warn you now, I’m a violent sleeper. We didn’t sleep much the last time we were in a bed together, but I get really hot and rip off the blankets. I also don’t like to be touched. Oh, and according to my ex, I kick and knee people.”
“Great.” He laughs. “Should I wear a cup?”
“Possibly.” I climb in with a big smile. “But considering the fact that you knocked me up, I think it’s only fair I get one good knee in.”
He rolls to his side so we’re facing each other. “You want to hurt me?”
Say You Want Me Page 5
