Wyatt

by Fisher-Davis, Susan

  Olivia raised her eyebrows in shock.

  “Not because of you. I have no feelings whatsoever for you but that man of yours, now he would be worth sticking around for.” Sharon turned away from her even as Olivia wanted to rip the woman’s hair out. “I mean it, Olivia. I want money.”

  “I told you. I. Don’t. Have. Any,” Olivia replied through clenched teeth.

  Jake suddenly appeared from the hallway. “Liv? What’s going on?”

  Olivia wanted to groan when she saw Sharon’s eyes widen at the sight of Jake. She saw her grin at him, and then it grew when Gabe sauntered in a moment later.

  “Well. The scenery really is amazing around here.” Sharon glanced at Olivia. “Why didn’t you tell me there were more of them?” She strode toward the men, stopping in front of them. “You have to be related to Olivia’s man.”

  “If you mean Wyatt, we’re his older brothers,” Jake informed her. “Who are you?”

  Olivia snorted. “This is my…the woman who gave birth to me.”

  Sharon put her hand out. “Sharon Winters and you are…?”

  “Jake Stone and this is my brother Gabe.” Jake didn’t put his hand in hers.

  “I can certainly see why you live in this godforsaken town, Olivia.”

  Becca and Emma arrived next and stood by their husbands. Sharon burst out laughing. “This is priceless. Is this your own little army, Olivia?”

  Olivia strode around the desk and stood close to Sharon. “I don’t need an army. I can take care of you myself.” She grinned. “Want to see?”

  Sharon stepped back. “I’m going for a little drive.” She glared at Olivia. “You and I will talk later.” She went out the front door without looking back.

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when she disappeared.

  “I hate that woman,” Olivia cried. “I need to see Wyatt. I think I’ll go…what?” she asked when she saw a look pass between all of them.

  “Nothing,” Jake told her.

  “Bullshit, Jake. You are a horrible liar.” Olivia glanced at Becca. “There’s something you’re not telling me. Is he all right? Did something happen?” Her voice rose as panic began to set in.

  “Let’s go to your room and we’ll talk.” Becca led her away.

  Once in the apartment, Becca told Olivia about the conversation she’d had with Wyatt. Olivia jumped up from the sofa and clenched her fists.

  “What?” she shouted at Becca. “He’s breaking things off with me? Through you?”

  “Liv, just give him time to think about what it’s like without you,” Becca suggested.

  “No. I’m going over there right now. He’s not breaking it off with me through his sister in-law,” Olivia muttered as she grabbed her car keys and ran out the door.

  * * * *

  Wyatt was riding Cochise around the arena when the door opened. He glanced over and swore under his breath as he reigned in the horse and dismounted. Cochise put his ears back.

  “We just can’t get rid of her can we, buddy.” Wyatt rubbed the horse’s neck and led him to the stall where he wiped him down, fed, and watered him.

  “You can’t just ignore me, Wyatt.”

  “I can sure give it a hell of a good try, Stephanie.” He glanced at her. “I thought I told you not to come back here.”

  “I heard you weren’t seeing your little slut anymore, so I decided to come over and see you.” She smiled at him.

  He glared at her. “I don’t want you talking about Olivia that way and I sure as hell don’t want you here.” He strode away from her but she grabbed his T-shirt in her hands and stopped him.

  “Wyatt. I forgive you for seeing her. We can be together now.”

  Wyatt clasped her arms in his hands. “Look, I know this is all an act with you but I can’t figure out why. You don’t want me back any more than I want you back.” He gave her a small shove. “Go away.”

  He moved past her and headed out of the barn. That’s when he saw Olivia pull up in her SUV. He groaned thinking he must be in hell. He watched her march across the yard to him and come to a halt in front of him. Those beautiful eyes of hers were shooting flames at him.

  “You can’t break it off with me in person? You had to have your sister in-law tell me?” Olivia had her hands on her hips, and her lips tightened into a flat line.

  Wyatt opened his mouth but Stephanie came up behind him. “This is why you’re telling me to leave? Because your…she was coming here?”

  Wyatt didn’t shift his gaze away from Olivia but instead watched as her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened, and then narrowed—dangerously.

  “Fluffy? Really?”

  Olivia folded her arms over her chest as she stared up at him and then she moved her eyes to Stephanie, who was staring right back at her. He had a bad feeling about this. He saw Stephanie swallow and nearly laughed because she was not quite as tough as she wanted to appear. He ran his hand down over his face. Christ, why me?

  “You want him? You got him,” Olivia exclaimed as she spun around to head back toward her car.

  Wyatt moved fast and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her close to put his mouth next to her ear. “Do you seriously think I’d have her here?”

  “She doesn’t want you, Wyatt. She said so.” Stephanie stepped up beside them.

  Olivia jerked out of his arms. “You didn’t even have the balls to break it off with me in person.”

  He sighed. “I was upset. You told me you didn’t need me. How was that supposed to make me feel?”

  “You were upset because you thought I didn’t need you?” Olivia asked.

  “You didn’t need me. You told me you didn’t need a babysitter but I wasn’t being a babysitter, I was there for you because Sharon was here.” Wyatt stared into her eyes and hoped she could see he was telling her the truth. He had missed her so much.

  Stephanie huffed. “You’re going to come crawling back to me one day, Wyatt Stone. When your little slut’s done with you and moving on to the next cowboy, you’ll come back to me.”

  “That’s it,” Olivia growled and reached out to grab Stephanie. Wyatt quickly grabbed her around the waist, picking her up so her feet dangled off the ground. “Put me down,” she hissed.

  “I think it’s time you got the hell out of here. I’m not sure how long I can hold her,” he told Stephanie. When she hesitated, Wyatt shrugged and started to lower Olivia to her feet.

  “This is just great. You told me to come here, Wyatt, then she shows up and you act like I don’t even exist,” Stephanie shouted at him.

  “Are you still here?” he asked Stephanie.

  Wyatt kept his hold on Olivia as Stephanie ranted. Finally, she stormed away from them and left. He blew out an exasperated breath.

  “Christ, she’s a pain in the ass,” he muttered.

  “Put me down. Now,” Olivia told him.

  He slowly lowered her to her feet. She turned and glared up at him. Wyatt tilted his head as he gazed down at her. When her mouth twitched, he reached out and pulled her close to him.

  “I’ve missed you, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear. He grinned when she shivered.

  “You know, you could be married to her right now,” Olivia told him.

  “That shit’s not even funny,” he muttered.

  Olivia laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re not.” She squealed when he threw her over his shoulder and headed for the house. “Must you always carry me this way, and just where do you think you’re taking me, cowboy?”

  “I seem to recall you saying something about me not having any balls. I need to prove that I do and I like carrying you this way. It gives me great access to your fantastic ass.” Wyatt ran his hand over her jean-covered ass while carrying her into the house.

  Sometime later, Wyatt woke up with Olivia’s head on his shoulder. He knew the minute she woke up because she blew out a breath. “What was that for?” he asked in a sleepy voice.

  Olivia je
rked. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

  Wyatt moved away from her and sat up. “It’s fine. I’m hungry.”

  “Me too.” Olivia smiled up at him.

  “You’re always hungry.”

  Olivia sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Always hungry for you, cowboy,” she said with a laugh that made him feel great.

  Wyatt wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll fix us something.” He stood up.

  Olivia flopped back on the bed. “Are you sure? I can wait a little longer.”

  He gazed down at her and shook his head. “I can’t. If I get back in that bed with you, I’ll die of starvation. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

  She laughed with a naughty glint in her amazing eyes. “No. You need your strength, cowboy.”

  “I sure as hell do where you’re concerned.”

  * * * *

  Three days later, Olivia was sitting at the front counter when Sharon came striding in. She halted at the desk, and glanced around as if to make sure they were alone then leaned forward.

  “I want seventy-five thousand dollars, and I want it within the week. I’ll stay in town until you get it for me then I’ll leave, and you’ll never hear from me again.”

  “Are you out of your fucking mind? I don’t have that kind of money,” Olivia exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down.

  Sharon smiled slyly. “You might not, but I bet that hunk of yours does.”

  Olivia gasped. “I can’t ask Wyatt for that kind of money.”

  “I guess we’ll be seeing quite a lot of each other then. Until you give me the money, I’ll be staying right here in Clifton.” Sharon turned away from her with a grin, and glided up the stairs to her room.

  Olivia blinked tears from her eyes. She knew she had no choice. To get rid of Sharon, she’d have to give her money. She marched to her apartment and found the number for the bank where the Daniels had deposited money into an account in her name. She groaned at the thought of doing this. Becca could never know about it. It would be the end of their friendship if she found out Olivia had used the money to pay off Sharon.

  She was heading back through the main kitchen but turned toward the foyer when she heard the front door open. She watched as Wyatt walked toward her and for the first time ever, she was wishing he hadn’t come by—not right now anyway.

  “Hey darlin’,” Wyatt said with a smile. She glanced away and didn’t respond. She felt his hand at her chin lifting it to force her to look at him. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked as he moved his hand up to cup her cheek. She leaned into his hand. It would be so easy to tell him what Sharon wanted, but she didn’t want to burden anyone else with her problem.

  “Nothing. I guess I’m just tired,” she whispered.

  Wyatt frowned at her. “Tired, huh?” He smiled. “Then I guess that means I’ll be sleeping alone tonight.”

  “I said I was tired cowboy, not dead.” Olivia glared at him.

  He chuckled. “Will you come over later? I’ll fix dinner. God knows, I know you’ll be hungry.”

  She swatted at him and laughed. “I’ll be there. I get off at four.”

  Wyatt gave her a wicked grin. “I’ll make sure you get off again after dinner.”

  This drew another chuckle from her. “You are so bad, Wyatt Stone.”

  He leaned down and kissed her fast and hard. “Later, darlin’.”

  Olivia sighed as she watched him saunter away. She was so in love with him and in way over her head. She was going to end up with a broken heart yet. It was already beginning to crack, but if she didn’t get rid of Sharon soon, she was also going to go insane.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Wyatt, Jake, and Gabe sat at a table in the diner having lunch when Sam sauntered toward them. Wyatt pushed a chair out with his foot.

  “Have a seat, Sam,” he said with a nod of his head.

  “Thanks. I was just going to pick something up, but Betty Lou’s driving me crazy today,” Sam said with a smirk.

  The men chuckled. Betty Lou Harper was sixty-five years old and the sheriff’s dispatcher slash secretary. Sam hired her because his mother asked him to and soon discovered Betty Lou could drive a crazy person sane, but he loved her.

  “What’s she on you about today, Sam?” Gabe asked.

  “That I should be married by now. She’s not getting any younger, she says.” Sam rubbed his chin. “My own mother doesn’t get on me like Betty Lou does.”

  Wyatt chuckled. “You’re like a son to her, Sam. Of course she wants to see you have kids.”

  Sam snorted. “I have to have a woman first.”

  After they finished their lunches, they all headed outside onto the street. Wyatt nudged Jake. “Look over there.” He jerked his chin toward the sidewalk across the street and heard Jake swear.

  “What’s going on?” Sam asked, curious and looking in the direction of their gazes.

  Wyatt couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Sharon Winters stood on the sidewalk talking with Stephanie as if they were old friends. He saw Sharon glance their way, and then she crossed the street toward them. She stopped in front of them.

  “It must be my lucky day.” She smiled at them.

  Wyatt watched as she boldly ran her eyes over Sam. “What makes you think it’s your lucky day?” he scoffed.

  “I’m going in for lunch. Maybe one of you gorgeous men could join me.” She glanced at Wyatt. “Or all of you.”

  “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” Sam said smiling at her.

  Wyatt laughed. Jake coughed. Gabe swore. Sam frowned.

  “This…” Wyatt muttered, “is the woman who gave birth to Olivia.”

  “Hello, Sheriff,” Sharon purred.

  “She’s up to no good,” Wyatt informed Sam none too quietly.

  “Is that so?” Sam’s mouth tightened as he looked at her.

  “I’m just here to see my daughter.” Sharon glared at Wyatt.

  “That’s a damn lie. Why would you suddenly want to see her after twenty-eight years?” Wyatt was pissed and not worrying about hiding the fact.

  “I just want to get to know her…”

  “Bullshit,” Wyatt growled. He jerked his eyes to Jake when his brother gripped his bicep.

  “Let it go, Wyatt. Eventually, we’ll find out why she’s really here,” Jake told him.

  Sharon huffed, tossed her hair back, and proceeded into the diner. Wyatt blew out a breath.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on? Do I need to look into this woman?” Sam asked them with a scowl as he watched her walk away.

  “I wish you would,” Gabe said. “Liv says she goes by Sharon Winters now but that isn’t the name she remembers her by. She thinks it was Charlotte something.”

  Sam was writing down what Gabe said. He nodded. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

  Sam left them and strode down the street, waving to someone who yelled a greeting.

  Wyatt glanced behind him to stare into the diner where he could see Sharon had taken a seat and was watching them.

  “She’s here for no other reason than to hurt Olivia in some way,” he said, turning toward his brothers.

  “I agree.” Jake nodded. “Why would she be here after all these years? And how the hell did she ever find Liv?”

  “I’m sure we’ll find out what she’s up to with Sam looking into her.” Gabe glanced over his shoulder into the diner.

  Wyatt wanted to know why she was talking to Stephanie too. Did Stephanie have something to do with her being here? He suddenly turned on his heel and headed back into the diner. Jake and Gabe followed him as he weaved his way through the tables to where Sharon was sitting, stopping alongside her table.

  “Why were you talking with Stephanie?” Wyatt asked through clenched teeth.

  “Who?” Sharon blinked up at him with an innocent expression or as innocent as the viper could look.

  Wyatt grumbled. “Don’t give me that shit. You were talking wit
h Stephanie Taylor before you came across the street.”

  Sharon’s eyes widened. “Oh, I only asked her where I could get something to eat. I don’t know her.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Wyatt said.

  “I really don’t care what you believe, gorgeous. It’s the truth. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to eat my lunch.”

  Wyatt’s jaw clenched. He was about to say something when Jake stepped forward.

  “We’ll find out what you’re doing here and if you’re here to hurt Liv, we will run your ass out of town.” Jake glared at her.

  Wyatt watched as she shifted her eyes around the diner. Everyone was looking at them. He nudged Jake and nodded for them to leave. The brothers left the diner and headed for their trucks. Wyatt drove home wondering what Sharon Winters was up to, and he knew in his gut that she was up to something no good. He just needed to find out what.

  Two days later, he walked through the door of the B and B and almost ran over Sharon. He instinctively put his hands on her hips to steady her. She gazed up at him with Olivia’s eyes. He mentally shook his head. No. They weren’t Olivia’s eyes. Sharon’s eyes were cold and calculating whereas Olivia’s were warm, and sparkled when she gazed up at him.

  “Thank you, Wyatt,” Sharon said in a husky voice.

  He gave her a terse nod and stepped back from her. She stepped closer.

  “You know, anytime you change your mind, I’m just up the stairs,” she whispered as she put her hand over his fly.

  Wyatt jumped back from her as if her touch had burned him. Olivia chose just that moment to enter the foyer. Sharon didn’t take her eyes off him. Olivia moved beside him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He put his arm around her shoulder.

  Sharon looked over at Olivia and met her gaze. “Remember what I told you.” Then she walked out the front door.

  “What is it you’re supposed to remember?” Wyatt asked looking down at Olivia.