Wyatt

by Fisher-Davis, Susan

  Olivia leaned across the table and smiled at him. “Not happening tonight, cowboy.”

  Wyatt raised his eyebrows. “What?”

  “I told you we were going to date and you had to work for it.”

  “Work for it?” Wyatt asked between clenched teeth.

  Olivia sat back and nodded. “Yes.”

  “I’m not some fucking dog you have on a leash, Olivia.”

  “No one said you were, but I’m not some slut you think you can hop into bed with at every opportunity.” She shrugged. “Even though you think I am.”

  Wyatt sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “I shouldn’t have—”

  “You’re right…you shouldn’t have.” Olivia leaned forward in her chair. “The thing is Wyatt, you don’t know me. Not really. You just assumed, for some reason, that I’m a slut.” She reached toward her wine glass and ran her fingertip around the top of it. “How many men have you seen me go out with since I’ve lived here?”

  He leaned forward. “I haven’t paid attention.”

  Olivia laughed quietly. “Liar.” She held her hand up when he started to speak. “I can count on one hand how many times I’ve gone out with someone. How many women have you been with since we’ve met?”

  “I’m not having this conversation,” he muttered.

  Olivia grinned at him. “So…who’s the slut?”

  Wyatt took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I said it. Now, tell me why you think I have to work for it when we’ve already been to bed together—several times.”

  The waitress, who had just arrived with their food, almost dropped it when she overheard his remark. She quickly glanced at Wyatt, and then Olivia. “Do you need anything else?”

  “We’re fine, thank you,” Wyatt told her but kept his eyes on Olivia.

  “Because this is how we do it or we don’t do it at all. I like to be wined and dined. Granted, we had sex first but if you want to continue being with me, then we go out on dates. I’m not a slut and refuse to be treated like one. If you think you can just call me or come by for sex anytime you feel like it, we need to end this right here and now.”

  Wyatt ran his hand over his mouth. Fuck! He stared at her and she stared right back. If this date had happened before the sex, he’d say fuck it, take her straight home, and say good riddance. But the sex had come first and he knew how damn incredible it was with her. He glanced away from her and swore under his breath.

  “Why is it all right for you to make demands, but I can’t? Why is it I have to take you out on dates but yet I can’t take you to bed?” He picked up his knife and fork, and began cutting into his steak. “Sounds to me like you’re getting everything you want, sweetheart, but I’m not.”

  Olivia cut into her steak, and then stared at him. “Seems to me that you already got what you wanted, cowboy.”

  Wyatt grunted. “Are you telling me you didn’t want it?”

  “I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you, Wyatt. I like to go out and have a good time with a man. I enjoy dating and I haven’t been on a date since…” She chewed on her bottom lip.

  “Ryder,” Wyatt muttered.

  Olivia’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought you said you haven’t been paying attention.”

  “Gabe and Emma made sure I heard about it.”

  Olivia stared at him and then burst out laughing. “I love those two.”

  Wyatt chuckled. “It was the night Jake and Becca made their engagement official. You left early.”

  “I remember. You were ignoring me as usual and I wanted to get away from you,” Olivia said.

  “I always knew when you were around, Olivia.” He shrugged. “I just didn’t want you knowing.”

  Olivia grinned. “Nice to hear you finally admit it.” She stood. “Excuse me.”

  Wyatt stood and watched her stride across the restaurant, turning heads as she went. He wanted to punch every guy whose gaze followed her, but he couldn’t blame them. She was beautiful, confident, and sexy as hell. He was going to get her into bed tonight despite what she said. She might not believe that but he did. He could be very persuasive.

  Sitting back down, he reached for his soda, took a sip, and almost spit it out when he saw Stephanie barreling down on him. God damn it! Good manners had him standing when she reached the table. She smiled up at him.

  “Hello, Wyatt,” she said her hand touching his arm. It took everything he had not to jerk away from her.

  Wyatt gave a terse nod. “Stephanie.”

  “You should come and join us,” she said.

  “No, thank you.”

  Stephanie stuck her bottom lip out into a pout. He’d always hated when she did that. He never thought it was cute and it never worked on him.

  “At least come over and say hi to daddy.” She looped her arm through his and tried to pull him along.

  Wyatt took his arm from hers. “I will on my way out. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He closed his eyes briefly when he heard Olivia clear her throat behind him. He turned toward her and saw her smiling. Wyatt took her hand and pulled her around him to sit at the table as he heard Stephanie gasp.

  “You’re here with her?” Stephanie remarked through clenched teeth.

  “Nice to see you too…fluffy,” Olivia said as she took her seat.

  Wyatt laughed, and then covered it with a cough when Stephanie glared at him.

  “Have a nice dinner, Stephanie,” he told her.

  Stephanie sputtered before spinning on her heel and marching across the restaurant. Olivia chuckled, making Wyatt look at her as he took his seat.

  “It’s a bitch running into the ex when you’re on a date, isn’t it?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you enjoyed that?”

  “Because I did. She’s such a bitch.” Olivia shrugged. “Sorry, but she is.”

  “You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know,” he mumbled.

  Olivia narrowed her eyes as she watched Stephanie walk away, and then she glanced back to him. “What did you ever see in that piece of fluff anyway?”

  Wyatt chuckled. “I really don’t know anymore. But what’s your problem with her?”

  “She made me angry with a remark she made to Emma one day.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Something to the effect that Emma got pregnant on purpose so Gabe would marry her.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Wyatt growled.

  “I agree and I told Stephanie Gabe married Emma because he loved her.”

  Wyatt laughed. “Well, not really, but he loves her now.”

  “I think Gabe loved her, he just didn’t realize it.”

  “I’m surprised you think that way.”

  “What do you mean? Just because I had a rough childhood doesn’t mean I don’t believe in love. I want that all-consuming love too. Like Becca and Jake, Emma and Gabe, and Brody and Madilyn. I want to find that kind.”

  Wyatt stared at her. “You won’t find it with me.”

  He watched as she glanced away from him, blinked her eyes quickly, and then turned back to face him.

  “You’re just a stop along the way, cowboy.”

  He clenched his jaw as he stared at her, and then he nodded. “Good. We’re on the same page.” He signaled for the waitress. “Are you ready to get out of here or do you want dessert?”

  “Nothing for me, but you go right ahead.”

  Wyatt grinned. “I’ll have dessert when we get to your place.”

  “No.”

  “To my place?”

  “You can have dessert alone at your place.”

  “Olivia…” he growled.

  “Just think how much sweeter it’ll be the next time.” Olivia winked.

  Wyatt stood and sighed. “Fine. Let’s go.”

  He took her elbow in his hand and led her from the restaurant without stopping to speak to Blake Taylor. He just wanted to get out of there. They walked across the parking lot and Wyatt opened the truck door
but when she started to climb in, he pulled her to him and spun her around to face him. He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. When she moaned, he slipped his tongue inside to taste her. God! She tasted so good. Everywhere. He leaned into her, letting her feel how much he wanted her. Her arms encircled his neck. He slid his hand down her side to the hem of her dress and moved his hand under it. He lifted his lips from hers.

  “You weren’t lying. There is only you under this dress,” he groaned.

  Olivia laughed low in her throat and ran her lips along his whiskered jaw to his ear. “And you’re making me wet, Wyatt.”

  He groaned. “Don’t tell me that shit. I want you, Olivia.”

  “I want you too, but we’re going to go to our separate beds tonight.”

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “Sure?”

  “Yes.”

  He blew out a breath and nodded. Once he helped her into the truck, he strode around it and got in. Christ, she was killing him. Slowly but surely, she was killing him. They rode to the B and B in silence. When he stopped the truck at the back door, he got out and walked around to her side. He opened the door and put his hand out to her. She placed her hand in his and stepped out. She started toward the porch steps when he grasped her bicep in his fingers and spun her to face him.

  “I did a lot of thinking on the way here. This shit of not having sex until you want to… well, it’s bullshit and I’m not going along with it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is you’re not calling the shots. At least not all of them. If we’re dating, you know damn well, it will only be on weekends. So you’re expecting to go out to dinner, a movie or whatever, but only have sex when you say. No way. I won’t go along with that.”

  Olivia jerked her arm from him. “So, what are you suggesting? Sex whenever you want it? How many times do I have to tell you I won’t be someone you hop into bed with only when you feel like it?” She folded her arms across her chest and stared up at him.

  Wyatt ran his hand over his mouth and sighed. “Look, I’ll be honest here. Sex with you is great and I want to be with you every chance I get. How is that wrong? We can go out on Saturday nights, but you spend the night at my place.” He held his hand up when she started to interrupt. “We’ll spend all day Sunday together until I bring you home that evening.” He shrugged. “If we end up in bed on Sunday, it’ll be because we both want it. If not, that’s fine. We’ll get to know each other better, but don’t expect me to go for however long you decide without sex, because I won’t. I’ll see someone else.”

  Those beautiful amethyst eyes stared up at him. “I told you, if we see each other we see no one else.”

  “Then you’d better make up your fucking mind,” Wyatt said through clenched teeth.

  “You’d want to spend Sundays together?”

  Wyatt shrugged. “Why not? We could go for a horseback…oh, that’s right, you’re afraid of horses.” He threw the challenge out there.

  “You know I am, so what would we do?”

  “Just have a lazy day around the house. I can’t believe I’m even suggesting this,” he muttered.

  Olivia chuckled. “I can’t believe you are either. What about Friday nights? We can do what we want on our own?”

  “As long as it doesn’t involve seeing someone else, yes.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she told him, spun on her heel and entered the house.

  Wyatt stood staring at the spot where she’d been standing, and then swore aloud. He started up the steps but stopped himself. It was what she wanted him to do. No. Damn it, no.

  He got into his truck and headed home. He wasn’t sure who the hell she thought she was fooling with, but he wasn’t going to let her do this to him. If he didn’t hear from her in a few days, he’d say the hell with her, and find someone else to take to bed. Someone probably not as good or as hot as Olivia, but that was the way it would have to be. Son of a bitch! He knew she had him by the balls but she didn’t need to know she did.

  * * * *

  Olivia couldn’t believe he left. Didn’t he know he was supposed to follow her inside? Damn. If he weren’t so damn hot, she’d say the hell with him and find someone else. She snorted. Yeah, right. The man was entirely too sexy for his own good, and to say he was only good in bed would be a huge understatement.

  She let Punkin out to do her business and once she was back in, Olivia retreated to her apartment where she undressed and took a shower. After putting lounging pants and a T-shirt on, she plopped down on the sofa to watch TV. She couldn’t believe she was sitting here at ten o’clock on a Saturday night. The lug head should have at least taken her to a movie.

  Wyatt definitely needed some lessons in the dating department. She knew she was going to agree to his terms. The thought of spending the night with him every weekend was mind blowing. She never thought he’d suggest such a thing, but he was right when he said she couldn’t call all the shots. He was going to take her out as she wanted and she’d stay with him just as he wanted. It was a win-win situation. Did he realize she’d have to have some of her clothes there? She still couldn’t believe he just left.

  Sighing, she headed to her bedroom with Punkin on her heels and crawled between the sheets. She wasn’t sleepy, but sitting around watching TV held absolutely no appeal.

  Why did you have to be so adamant about not sleeping with him tonight? Olivia groaned. They could be lying in bed together right now.

  “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid,” she chastised herself. She rolled over and punched the pillow. “You’ve never been stupid over a man before, Olivia. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  Sitting up, she reached for the sleeping pills on her bedside table and took two. Punkin jumped up on the bed with her and settled in among the covers. She let out a big sigh, making Olivia laugh.

  “Yeah, girl, I know how you feel.” She turned the light out and hoped sleep would come soon.

  Sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains woke her up. She glanced at the clock to see it was seven in the morning. Olivia yawned and stretched. Once she had fallen asleep, she slept well. After dressing, she wandered into the kitchen of the B and B. Evelyn was standing by the stove preparing breakfast. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Olivia.

  “How was your date?” Evelyn asked.

  “We had a good time. Dinner was nice.” Olivia poured a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter.

  “I wasn’t sure you were here.”

  “Wyatt brought me home before ten.” She sipped her coffee waiting for it.

  Evelyn’s eyebrows shot up. “Ten? That’s awfully early, isn’t it?”

  “We had a little disagreement.” Olivia pulled a chair out at the table and sat down.

  “Really? Are you going to see him again?”

  Olivia grinned. “Every chance I get.”

  Evelyn burst out laughing. “Good girl. He really is a gorgeous man. All the Stones are.”

  “I agree. I remember when I first came here and met them. I thought this must be where all the gorgeous men were hiding.”

  “Somethin’ special about a cowboy, honey.” Evelyn laughed.

  “Something about a sheriff too,” Olivia said, laughing.

  “You got that right. Sheriff Sam Garrett is gorgeous too.”

  “Yes. If I’d never met Wyatt, I’d have gone after Sam.”

  Evelyn laughed. “My good friend, Betty Lou Harper, is his dispatcher. She told me he gets calls from women all day for one reason or other. Sam’s a good man though.”

  “I like him but he never showed any interest in me. I went out with Ryder Wolfe one time, but we both knew there was nothing there so we decided to be friends.”

  “Now, there’s another gorgeous man. Where were all these men when I was your age?” Evelyn shook her head. “I’ve lived here all my life and watched them all grow up. They were hellions, all eight of them.”

  “Eight?”

 
“Jake, Gabe, Wyatt, Ryder, Brody, Trick, Riley, and Sam,” Evelyn called them out as she ticked off their names on her fingers.

  “I’ve met Trick but don’t know him real well. I don’t think I know Riley.” Olivia frowned.

  “Riley Madison. He left here, well, close to nine years ago I’d say. His dad is a real bastard. Used to beat Riley, I suppose once he’d had enough, he left. Roscoe Madison will die alone just like he deserves, for treating Riley the way he did. Ryder’s parents were just as bad.”

  Olivia shook her head. “How can someone beat their own child? Where’s his mother?”

  “She left here when Riley was six. I never could understand how she could leave her child behind with Roscoe.” Evelyn shook her head.

  The back door opened and Stan walked in. His eyes went straight to Evelyn and he nodded at her. He shifted his eyes to Olivia and flashed a grin. “Good morning, ladies.”

  “Good morning, Stan. What’s up?’ Olivia asked.

  “I’m going to take a few riders out this morning. I wanted to let you know in case you need me for something.”

  “That’s fine. Carl’s still here, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He glanced toward Evelyn but Olivia noticed she had turned her back to him. “I’ll, uh…see you later.” Stan left pulling the door closed behind him.

  Olivia cleared her throat. “I never took you for being shy, Evelyn.”

  Evelyn spun around and sighed. “I’m not, except when it comes to that man. He gets me all flustered.”

  Olivia laughed. “I think you do the same to him.”

  Evelyn shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

  “He couldn’t keep his eyes off you, and you wouldn’t even look at him.”

  “If I look at him and he looks at me, I blush. I know a woman my age shouldn’t still blush, but I do.”

  “A woman your age? Evelyn, no matter what age a woman is, if the man she’s interested in looks at her in a certain way, she blushes—whether you’re a teenager or ninety. I honestly believe that.”

  Evelyn stared at her. “You think so?”

  Olivia stood and hugged her. “Of course. A man has a certain way he looks at a woman he’s interested in, and if she’s interested in him too, then there’s this electricity between them. Sexual attraction is very powerful. It doesn’t matter what age you are. We all feel it. Wyatt told me he wasn’t interested in me, but I knew he was lying. I could tell by the way he looked at me that he wanted me.”