by Jo Leigh
“Wow. I had no idea lawyers could be so sneaky.”
She turned to look at him, and in the moonlight her eyes seemed to glow. Not necessarily from amusement. He considered offering to let her slug him, but then she laughed. A really good laugh. The kind that shook her shoulders, and made her eyes crinkle.
They were already at the dune that would lead to the small inlet at the edge of the cove where the treasure was rumored to be hidden.
“I promise I’ll shut up now.” She smiled. “And how was your day?” Her voice had gone high and far too peppy.
It made him grin. “Well, let’s see, I missed out on a great date with a beautiful woman, then listened to tales of woe from sloshed customers, but what can I do? I’m a bartender and that’s my job.”
“And I’m a lawyer, and I can tell when someone’s lying.”
“Really?”
“No. I was there when your favorite customer busted you for trying to use that line. I believe he said something about you telling people to stick it, you’re not a therapist?”
“Nah. That doesn’t sound like me.”
“Uh-huh.”
Wyatt paused, lost in thought for a moment. The night was perfect, the temperature, the water, the moonlit sky. It didn’t seem fair. “Today’s my friend’s birthday.”
Cricket had hiked her dress up a few inches, but she’d need to lift it higher to step over the knee-high boulder. “Oh.” She turned back to look at him. “Why aren’t you celebrating with him?”
“Adam’s dead.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Wyatt shrugged. “It’s been almost three years. Hell, I don’t even know why I said that.”
“Probably because we’re strangers and I just told you something personal. So it’s kind of a quid pro quo.”
“It’s just not my style.”
Cricket touched his arm and he jumped. “Look, if you want to talk about your friend, it’s okay. I’d love to be your official listener.”
He studied her face in the moonlight, the earnest brown eyes and lush lips. Her skin looked soft and smooth, and he could barely think of anything else besides touching her. “Thanks,” he said finally. And held out his hand. “How about I help you over the rock?”
“Why, thank you.” She slipped her hand in his as she stepped over to the other side.
Releasing her hand, he let his fingers trail her lower arm. Damn. He’d never felt softer skin. Not even on the kids. And he recalled vividly how amazed he’d been the first time he’d touched Rose when she was about three. It had scared the hell out of him, he’d been so sure he would bruise her.
“Same goes for you,” he said as they continued walking. “Talk all you want. Those people you work with sound like real bastards. I know the type. Sometimes you need to just hash it out. Like getting the poison out of your system.”
“The last thing I want is to bore you.”
Wyatt smiled. “You couldn’t. Trust me. Tell me about the blackmail...what did they threaten you with?”
“Losing my job and any chance of a good reference.”
“Damn. That’s hitting below the belt.”
“As Shakespeare so eloquently stated, ‘The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.’”
“Not all of them I hope.” He slowed their pace as they neared the bronze marker that announced the entrance to the inlet and told the supposed history of the pirates and their buried treasure.
“Hey... I should start a hit list. I bet that would make me feel better.”
“Nah. Leaving any kind of paper trail is never a good idea.”
Cricket’s laugh was lifted by the wind, which made it even better.
“You sure are a mystery, you know that?”
“Me?” She lifted a shoulder. “Not really.”
“Classy, like the other preppies, but you’re not—” Hell, he didn’t want to insult her.
“A privileged jerk with an inflated sense of entitlement?”
“Your summation, counselor, not mine. But yeah, let’s go with that.”
Grinning up at him, she leaned a little closer on the cooling sand, the wind ruffling her shining hair. He wanted to kiss her, and he’d gotten the vibe that she was up for it, although, he’d been out of touch in that department for too long.
Now it was his turn to move a little closer. “I like you.”
“Yeah?” she said, a sly grin drawing his gaze to her moist lips.
“Yeah.”
Chapter Nine
CRICKET SIGHED WHEN Wyatt inched toward a kiss. The gesture was nice, but unnecessary. She wanted to kiss him, had since this afternoon before Grant had shown up. Wasting no time, she met him halfway, lifting her chin so his lips pressed against hers.
Wrapping her hand around his nape, she urged him closer, and he responded in kind, pulling her against him. His chest was solid in a way that made her shiver, and the muscle she gripped to steady herself felt like iron.
When his tongue touched her lips, they parted, and the taste of tequila and him made her moan.
They explored each other, and it reminded her of all the kisses she’d tried on this beach, all the clumsy boys and the clumsy men, and those very few who made an impression. But Wyatt, he was something else altogether. It wasn’t strictly technique, which was impressive, it was his stubbled jaw that was rough against her chin, the fact that she knew so little about him, and yet she wanted very much to lose herself in this enigmatic man.
His hands had moved to hold her upper arms, and it was a lucky thing because the dune shifted under her and they both would have fallen if he hadn’t been prepared. She hadn’t had a clue, and this was her beach. She knew every inch of it.
Had known. She wasn’t that kid anymore.
“You okay?” he asked.
Standing as they were, his eyes were shadowed, while her face was bathed in moonlight. She wished it was the other way around. “I’m fine. I think I’m just a little more tipsy than I planned on being.”
He let go of her arms. “We can go back.”
“Not yet.” Turning to the ocean, she let the waves calm her heart. “You think there are any sunken treasures out there?”
“It’s a good story. And stranger things have happened.”
“Huh.”
“What do you think?”
“I doubt it. So many people have tried, and with really sophisticated equipment, too. But I still like the story. I used to dream about it when I was a kid. And of course, the fish people talked about it all the time. They’d say they found gold and doubloons or whatever, but everybody always said they’d put it away somewhere safe, where no one could find it.” She turned to him again. “I think they were fibbing.”
“You dreamed about treasure, huh?”
“All the time. Especially after I found out about Anne Bonny, who was a pirate that ran rings around the king’s ships.”
“And yet you became a contract lawyer.”
“Yep. Go figure.”
He moved close to her again, and took hold of her hand. Somehow that made her pulse race faster than the kisses. It was sweet. Unexpected.
They walked, quietly, her wishing she’d brought water, and him, just silent. Hand warm, firm.
“What are you going to do?” he asked, as they reached the opening of the cave that cost three dollars to explore. It was closed now, but she already knew there was nothing but junk inside, planted by the city council.
“I don’t know. Chicago is home to me now, so losing my job would be...inconvenient. My friends are there.”
“Any of your school buddies?”
“No. And honestly, there aren’t many. I used to consider Grant one of them until he threw me under the bus. It’s just that I own a condo. I’d put down roots there. I even have a little veggie garden o
n my balcony.”
“That’s putting down roots, all right.”
She giggled, although she’d really worked hard on those stupid pots.
“I thought Temptation Bay was your home.”
“It is. Mostly. But after my folks got divorced, I spent summers following my mother and her many husbands all over Europe. It wasn’t as fun as it sounds. Too many changes. Too many husbands. But I’d always come back to my dad’s for school.”
“So, you’re a dreamer who craved structure?”
She looked up at him again. “What did you do before you owned Sam’s? Were you a therapist?”
He laughed. “No. Definitely not.”
“You’re either very intuitive, or I’m being extremely transparent.”
He turned them both around, heading south, still holding her hand. “Well, I do know something about human nature. Bartending will do that. And you’re not being transparent, just honest. Which is an admirable trait.”
“Honest. Admirable, yet not worth a lot in certain circles. What about you? What on earth made you come here?”
He shrugged. “I was kind of like you in a way. My family moved around a lot. But no place was home for me, not really. Too many schools. All that packing. But I’ve got people here I care about. And I like this beach. I like that it’s untamed in the winter and kind in the summer.”
She nodded, liking the interesting way he’d described the water. “Military brat?”
“Yeah,” he said, giving her a half grin.
“And your last place of residence?”
“Was just like all the others. Virginia.”
“Mom or dad?”
For a second he looked puzzled, and then nodded. “My dad. And he’s still at it. Hasn’t retired yet.”
“Wow. Must’ve been some pressure for you to carry the torch?”
“Definitely.” He kind of laughed, and stared out at the sea. “Someone has the right idea.”
She followed his gaze and saw the faint flickering light. “I used to love moonlight sails.”
“Not anymore?”
“Well, not in Chicago. Though Lake Michigan is nice. It’s not the ocean but an acceptable substitute, I suppose.”
He wasn’t dodging her, exactly, but she could tell he was reluctant. Normally, that would be a red flag, but there was something else going on just under the surface that made her want to be patient. Besides, it wasn’t as though this was headed anywhere. She’d be gone soon.
For the next few minutes they watched the vague outline of the sail as it glided north on the moonlit water, and enjoyed the pleasant breeze making the night nearly perfect. Even better, his thumb was making small circles on the back of her hand. She had no idea if he even realized it.
Finally, it was Wyatt who broke the silence. “What you mentioned earlier,” he said. “I did a stint in the Navy. Not so much because of the pressure, though.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“I did. For a while. Until I didn’t.”
Cricket waited for him to say more, but she wouldn’t push. Although his thumb had stilled. And then it occurred to her that she should warn him about her plans, in case it mattered. “I’m not leaving tomorrow,” she said, hoping it didn’t stop him from sharing more about himself.
“No?”
“My dad’s not feeling well, even though he refuses to admit it. So I’m going to stick around and make sure he gets a thorough checkup. You wouldn’t know it by his behavior but he’s not a young man anymore. I think he forgets.”
“So he still lives here.”
She nodded. “You know him, in fact.”
“I do?”
“Ronny?”
“Surfer Ronny?”
“Yep.”
He let out a laugh she couldn’t interpret. “You’re not kidding. That’s your father?”
“Oh, yeah, he’s my dad, all right.”
“Huh.” Wyatt rubbed his jaw. “Things are starting to make sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“Classy, but barefoot.”
She laughed. “Classy, huh?”
“That’s not the only reason I like you, though.” They started walking again.
Oh, how she wanted him to say more. But no. Patience. Now she might have a few more days to wait it out. Or much longer, if everything fell apart at work. God, she couldn’t let her mind go there and ruin the rest of her night. “So, tell me more.”
“More what?”
She shot him a look and was overcome by a terrible case of the giggles. It was his expression, and her shameless attempt to get him to flatter her.
And now Wyatt was laughing, which didn’t help.
After a couple of missteps in the shifting sand, and a brief run of hiccups, she was beginning to regain control. It was still touch and go when she decided to give her voice a try. “I was fishing for compliments,” she said, but he showed no sign of comprehension. “You said there were other reasons you liked me. So I said—”
“Okay. I get it.” It was clear he was trying not to laugh again, but he sure got her to sober up when he put his hands on her waist, and then pulled her against him as he bent his head.
His kiss was warm and sweet, but insistent. He stroked his hands up her back, and she mirrored the movement, loving the feel of his body, of all the planes and muscles of his back and shoulders. His skin was hot, and so was his breath as he swept his tongue into her mouth. A moan caught in her throat. She shuddered, and his arms tightened around her. The faint sound of laughter carried on the breeze.
At first she thought it was her imagination, but Wyatt had tensed, so clearly it wasn’t.
“I should get you back,” he said, although he wasn’t quick to release her. He took another light swipe at her lips, just as she was about to ask for more.
The laughter was getting closer.
They pulled apart, and started walking again.
She wrapped her arms around herself to keep from shivering. It wasn’t cold. Her body just missed his. “Do you have to go back to work?”
“Not sure.”
She didn’t think he was being evasive. His expression told her that he really didn’t know. “Don’t tell me you never play hooky.”
“Actually, I haven’t,” he said, laughing. “This is the first time in the two years I’ve owned the bar.”
“Oh, right. Like you don’t have customers hitting on you all the time.”
“Well, not all the time.”
Cricket grinned. “So, what do you usually do for entertainment?”
“I’m usually wiped out at the end of the night. Or some idiot wrangles me into a poker game.”
“Ah, a gambling man.”
“Not so you’d notice. It’s actually me who’s the idiot for playing. I tend to lose more than I win.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute.” Not with that poker face of his.
“Why would you say that?” He bumped her shoulder, and she bumped back.
“You’re very observant. I’d think you’d be able to suss out the other players immediately.” Plus he knew just how to answer a question without giving too much away, but she kept that to herself.
“Those games are where I let my mind wander. I don’t do that at work, because I need to be on top of things, and I don’t have much time off, so...”
“I can understand that.”
“The stakes aren’t that high, and...” He sighed. “I don’t know.”
“I’m not judging. I wish I had a place to let go. My life has been all about work for the last seven years, and before that it was school and internships. I go home and collapse. I wasn’t even going to come to this reunion, but I’m really glad I did. Not just because of Ronny, either. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my friends. Th
ey’re good for me.”
“They seemed like a lot of fun.”
“We were complete misfits at Prep. The only reason I got to stay with Ronny was that school. Which my grandparents paid for. Jade was a scholarship kid, one of the fish people, and she got a lot of harassment over that. Harlow and Ginny lived in the north, but didn’t fit in, either. We all worked really hard, though. Got great grades, which certainly didn’t make us more popular. They were my haven growing up. Until college at least, and then, well, we spread out all across the country. But we keep in touch on Facebook. I miss them. What about you?”
“With all the moving I didn’t make a lot of friends. Not until college.”
“What about Adam? Was he a college friend? Or military?”
Wyatt stiffened. Not only that, he distanced himself. Not a lot, but enough for her to know that she shouldn’t have asked the question. “Military,” he said. “But now I live the easy life. I watch the bar, take care of my friend’s kids from time to time. I run every day, past Ronny’s all the way to the fish market when I need food.”
“You ever hang out with the fish people?”
“I like them more than some. You’d be surprised how many Waverly Hills people are regulars at the bar.”
“No, I don’t think I would.”
They were almost back where they’d started. Before they went down the last dune he turned in front of her. “I’ve enjoyed tonight.”
“Me, too.”
“I’m also glad you’re not leaving tomorrow. Maybe we could go crazy, go out for more than just a walk.”
“You wild man. I’d like that. Give me your cell phone. I’ll give you my number.”
She did, and when she handed the phone back, he pulled her in for another kiss, and he took his time. Stopping only to adjust the angle and deepen the kiss.
She sank into his embrace, glad it was already a new day. And so very tempted to invite him back to her room. He’d relaxed a lot since she’d foolishly brought up Adam, and still, she debated saying one more thing. But he’d been kind to her tonight. Listened to all her whining and given her carte blanche to whine some more.
