Wyatt

by Fisher-Davis, Susan

  He wasn’t taking any chances though, so he took out his spare key and opened the door. Entering the kitchen, he strode back to Olivia’s apartment and pounded on the door. As he figured, there was no answer. She wasn’t here.

  Wyatt swore. Where in the hell was she? He ran back to his truck and glanced around. Her vehicle was nowhere around. Driving back toward his place, he traveled the road slowly and scanned the road ahead looking for any sign of her. Then headlights came toward him, he slowed down and then stopped when he saw it was Jake’s truck. They stopped beside each other and put their windows down.

  “Did you find her?” Jake asked.

  “No. I checked the B and B and it’s locked up tight.” Wyatt noticed Becca sitting beside Jake with tears on her cheeks. “I’m going to check along this side…you check your side, Jake. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t check that side real well.”

  Wyatt glanced down the road and saw flashing red and blue lights heading toward them.

  “I called Sam,” Jake told him. Wyatt nodded.

  The Sheriff’s SUV cruiser came to a stop behind Jake. A pickup truck stopped behind it. It was Gabe. Wyatt watched as both men strolled forward. He explained what he’d heard. Sam slowly walked along the road, shining his flashlight in search of clues.

  “There are skid marks over here,” Sam yelled out.

  Wyatt ran to where he stood. He saw them too. Then he ran to the side of the road calling out for Olivia. She couldn’t have just disappeared. Jake walked beside him.

  “I shouldn’t have let her go alone,” Wyatt muttered. “I offered to take her but she said she wouldn’t be long. Damn it.”

  “We’ll find her, Wyatt,” Gabe told him.

  Wyatt nodded absently and walked along the road. He spotted tracks in the freshly fallen snow and followed them, calling her name. He stopped and listened. That was when he heard her. Her voice was faint but he heard her. Running along the tracks with his flashlight shining, he saw her SUV. He made his way down the bank to her and opened her door. She was sitting inside with her hands clenched around the steering wheel. Wyatt touched her shoulder.

  “Olivia? Sweetheart, are you all right?” Wyatt asked. Her face was wet with tears when she turned her head and stared at him. Her bottom lip trembled. He reached in and unhooked her seatbelt. He barely had time to react before she threw herself at him. Catching her in his arms, he held her tightly against him. He kissed her forehead. “What happened, sweetheart?”

  “Do I need to get an ambulance out here for her, Wyatt?” Sam called down to him.

  Wyatt pulled back to gaze into her eyes. “Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

  Olivia shook her head. “I’m not hurt. I drove my truck down here to avoid being hit.” She stared at him with glossy eyes. “He ran me off the road, Wyatt.” Her voice ended in a sob.

  “Who did?” Wyatt growled. He was more than pissed.

  “I don’t know who it was. It was a big, dark pickup truck.” She shivered.

  “I’m bringing her up,” he called out. “No ambulance, Sam.”

  Wyatt held her hand as they walked up the bank. Once at the top, Becca reached for Olivia and held onto her as they comforted each other. The men stood off to the side until finally, Sam stepped forward.

  “Olivia? Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” he asked in a worried tone.

  “I’m fine, Sam. Just scared.”

  Sam nodded. “Tell me what happened.”

  Olivia told them what had transpired. Becca kept her arm around her. Wyatt got angrier and angrier as Olivia went into detail.

  “He spun around in the middle of the road and sat there pointing right at me for about a minute, then he gunned it and came straight at me. I sat there frozen, until for some reason, I looked to the right and saw the embankment. I drove over the side and went down the hill.” Trembling, she hugged Becca.

  “I doubt he would’ve hit you, but you did the right thing,” Sam told her.

  Wyatt stepped close to Sam. “Why do you doubt he would’ve hit her? Obviously, he wanted to hurt her,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Back off, Wyatt,” Sam growled. “Think about it. If whoever it was actually hit her, they could’ve been injured too, and even if not, they would certainly be easy to find due to the damage on the truck. No, this was to scare her, not kill or hurt her.”

  The two men stared at each other until Wyatt gave a terse nod of agreement, and stepped back.

  “Look, I know you’re pissed, we all are, but someone wants to scare Olivia for some reason, and I’ll find them,” Sam said.

  “Try looking at Dalton’s Motel. That’s where Sharon’s staying,” Gabe added.

  Olivia and Sam both shook their heads.

  “It’s too obvious to be her,” Sam said.

  “She wouldn’t have the balls,” Olivia said at the same time.

  Sam smiled at Olivia. “Nonetheless, I will check her out, and find out where she was when this happened.” He started toward his SUV then stopped and glanced back. “She may not have been driving but she could still be behind it.”

  “Sam…” Wyatt called to him. Sam turned in response raising an eyebrow. “Thanks.”

  Sam nodded and began calling in for his deputies to get to the scene, take pictures, and get measurements. Wyatt huffed and put his arm around Olivia moving her toward his truck.

  “Sit in here where it’s warm.”

  Olivia latched onto his arm. “Please don’t leave me.”

  “I’m not leaving you. I’m just going to look around. You can see me.” Wyatt tried to console her so when he saw Becca heading toward them, he relaxed a bit.

  “I’m going to get in the truck with her,” Becca told him when she reached the truck.

  “Thanks. She’s a mess right now,” Wyatt said.

  Becca smiled up at him. “I’ll hold her hand until you can.”

  Wyatt smiled. “I’d appreciate it.”

  He leaned down when she crooked her finger at him. She kissed his cheek. Wyatt grinned, glanced up at Olivia, who nodded. He stepped aside to allow Becca to get into the truck then walked down the road to where Sam stood.

  * * * *

  Olivia sat in the truck staring out the windshield. A small smile lifted her lips when she saw Becca kiss Wyatt on his cheek. She scooted over in the seat so Becca could get in with her. Olivia reached for her best friend’s hand. Becca squeezed it. Olivia watched Wyatt walk to stand next to Sam. She kept her eyes on him. She released a shuddering breath.

  “The only time I’ve been more scared was when Steve took you, Becs,” Olivia whispered. She felt Becca squeeze her hand. “I don’t know who would do this. But like Sam said, Sharon may be behind it, only it doesn’t seem like her style. Scaring me won’t get her the money any faster.”

  “She needs to leave this town,” Becca muttered.

  “Yes, but she’s determined to get money from me and she says she won’t leave until she gets it.”

  “I hope Sam finds something on her. He’ll take care of things,” Becca said with conviction.

  Olivia sighed. “I know he will.”

  Wyatt strode toward the truck and opened the driver side door, dropping her bag of essentials she’d needed, which had started this scary night, behind the seat. Olivia moved over to give him room to climb in too. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, making her feel a bit better. Neither paid much attention to Becca getting out of the truck. Olivia shivered against him and he hugged her tighter.

  “Let’s go home, darlin’. You need to get some rest. Sam called a tow truck to bring your SUV up. They’ll tow it to my place.”

  “All right, Wyatt. I want to take a long bath in that wonderful Jacuzzi of yours.”

  He chuckled. “I think I can arrange that.”

  Olivia grinned and stayed close to his side as he drove them home.

  * * * *

  The day of Thanksgiving was cold with snow falling. Olivi
a had slid into a funk and she knew Wyatt had no idea what to do to get her out of it. She lay on the couch waiting for him to come in from working, and eventually, drifted off. A little while later, she felt someone touching her hair. She opened her eyes to see Wyatt squatting in front of her. He made her smile.

  “Hi, darlin’,” he whispered.

  “Hi, cowboy.”

  “I’m going to take a shower, and then we can head to Gabe and Emma’s.”

  She nodded at him and closed her eyes again. “All right,” she murmured.

  Olivia waited until she heard the shower running before she headed in to join him. She knew he was wondering what was wrong with her and she honestly didn’t know. But she knew she needed to get out of her slump, and taking a shower with Wyatt seemed like a good start.

  After undressing in the bedroom, she silently opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. She walked toward the shower and gasped. Wyatt stood with his hands on the wall and his head under the showerhead. Water sluiced down over his big body. Good Lord, the man should be illegal. Her gaze roamed over him taking in every glistening inch, but when her eyes shifted back to his face, she moaned. He was staring at her, water droplets glistening on his long eyelashes. Taking a deep breath, she opened the shower door.

  “Can we save water and shower together, cowboy?” she asked smiling at him.

  “Sure thing, sweetheart, come on in.”

  He straightened up. She stepped in front of him and faced him with her back against the wall. She ran her hands over his chest and teased her fingers down through the hair trailing down his stomach to the thick thatch surrounding his hardening shaft. Her fingers wrapped around him, he groaned and reached for her. Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted her legs to encircle his waist. Wyatt slid inside her as she pressed her lips to his.

  “I’ve missed you, baby,” she whispered against his hot mouth.

  He moved out of her then thrust back in making her gasp.

  “I’ve been right here, sweetheart.”

  Wyatt caressed her lips with his tongue before ravaging them. His hands cradled her ass as he continued to move in and out of her, going deeper with each thrust.

  She dropped her head to rest against the wall as she thrust her hips against him. The groan that tore from her came from deep inside. She lowered her forehead to his.

  “Kiss me, Olivia,” Wyatt moaned against her lips.

  She ran her tongue along his lips and moved it inside. He took control of the kiss. His tongue entered her mouth, tangling with hers. When he started moving harder, and faster against her, she tightened her legs around him crying out his name as she came. Wyatt followed her over the edge.

  Olivia caught his groan with her mouth, making her moan low in her throat.

  “That was some shower, cowboy.” She laughed.

  Wyatt chuckled. “You’re telling me.”

  She started to put her legs down but it was slippery and every time she tried, she’d start laughing.

  “Let me get us out of here, Olivia. Hold on.” Wyatt tried to step from the shower but she was laughing harder. He glared at her. “You’re not making this any easier.”

  “Just let me put my feet down, Wyatt.” She giggled and tried to get her footing but he was too close to the open shower door and the next thing she knew, they were falling onto the floor. Wyatt took the brunt of the fall with her landing on top of him. They laid there a minute when she lifted her head to gaze at him. He had his eyes closed.

  “Wyatt?” she whispered. When he opened one eye and gazed up at her, she lost it. She put her head against his chest and laughed until she cried.

  “Get off me, woman,” Wyatt growled, sending her into another fit of laughter. She could feel him laughing too. Finally, she was able to get herself up to sit on the lid of the toilet. He still lay on the floor chuckling.

  “I’ll have bruises tomorrow,” he muttered.

  Olivia grinned. “Not me.”

  “That’s it,” he said as he got up from the floor and grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder and entered the bedroom. He tossed her onto the bed, and she put her arms out to him. They were very late for Thanksgiving dinner.

  * * * *

  When Wyatt woke up early the next morning, he glanced over at Olivia. She was still sleeping. He smiled and gently kissed her forehead. Not wanting to disturb her, he moved quietly to get out of the bed. She muttered in her sleep and rolled away from him. He reached for his jeans and pulled them on. After another glance at her, he left the room to make coffee since he hadn’t gotten around to it last night. Once they got home from dinner at Gabe and Emma’s, they had headed straight for the bedroom. Sex with Olivia was amazing—always amazing. Keeping his hands off her was almost impossible. He leaned back against the counter, folded his arms across his bare chest, and waited for the coffee to brew. His thoughts went to the sexy woman asleep in his bed.

  Wyatt was startled when someone knocked on his front door. Most of the people he knew came to the back door. He strode through the living room to the door, opened it, and loudly groaned when he saw Sharon Winters standing there grinning at him.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked.

  Sharon brushed past him and entered his home. Her eyes roamed over his bare chest and down along his stomach. She grinned at him. “You have a gorgeous…home, Wyatt.”

  He pushed the door closed because it was cold. “Nice to know you think so. Now you can leave.”

  “I’m not going anywhere…yet.” Her eyes landed on his fly. “You really are sexy.” She stepped closer to him, put her hands on his chest, and gazed up at him. “I could do so much for you. Some things you’ve only dreamed about.” She smiled up at him, and then moving toward his living room, she glanced around.

  “I don’t think so.” Wyatt opened the door again. “Go.”

  Sharon slowly strolled back toward him. “Have you ever been with an older woman, Wyatt?” He glared at her. “I bet you could teach me a few things too.” She ran one finger down his chest to his unsnapped jeans. “Let’s go to your bedroom.”

  He smirked. “Your daughter is in my bedroom.”

  Sharon glanced around. “How about the couch then?”

  He laughed at how pushy she was. “You’re really something.” When she laughed, he narrowed his eyes. “It wasn’t a compliment.”

  He heard a sound in the hallway and glanced over his shoulder to see Olivia standing there in nothing but his T-shirt. She walked up to him and put her arms around his waist.

  “You lost, Sharon?” Olivia asked.

  Sharon stepped back from Wyatt. “Damn you. I almost had him, Olivia. I told you I could get him. I would’ve had him on his knees in a few more minutes.”

  Wyatt burst out laughing. “You’ll never see me on my knees for any woman.”

  Sharon grinned as she looked at Olivia. “I told you men only wanted one thing. He just admitted he certainly wouldn’t get on his knees and beg you to stay if you wanted to leave him, Olivia. What does that tell you?” She spun on her heel and headed out the door, slamming it behind her.

  Astonished by the trap he just fell into, Wyatt turned toward Olivia, only to see her striding down the hallway. He went after her. She was pulling her suitcase from the closet.

  “Olivia…”

  “As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. You don’t care enough to beg me to stay if I wanted to end this.”

  He stepped in front of her. “Do you want to end this?” She didn’t answer him. “Olivia? Do you?” She shook her head as she continued to pack. “Then it doesn’t matter, does it? If it isn’t going to end yet, why worry about it?”

  Olivia gazed up at him with tears rolling down her face. “You just said why.”

  He frowned. “What?”

  “You said, yet.” She raised her hand up when he started to speak. “I know I agreed to it in the beginning, but…I can’t do it anymore.”

  “Olivia…”


  “No. I don’t need to hear that it was what we both agreed on, Wyatt. I’m…I’m walking away.”

  When she lifted the suitcase off the bed and moved to go past him, he wrapped his fingers around her arm. “Olivia, I…”

  “Let me go…please.” Her voice caught on the last word as she pushed past him, and left.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two weeks had passed since Olivia walked out on him and he felt worse than when Stephanie had broken their engagement. A pain surrounded his heart and he was sure it would never go away. He loved her, and he’d fucked it up. What an idiot he was. How was he going to go on without her?

  Wyatt swore when he saw Gabe enter the barn and head toward him. They glared at each other. Gabe halted in front of him. They stood eye to eye.

  “You look like shit,” Gabe told him.

  “Yeah, well it’s not the first time, but it sure as hell will be the last.” Wyatt led Cochise to his stall. Gabe was on his heels. Wyatt spun around. “Don’t you have something to do? A wife to go home to? A little girl to take care of?”

  When Gabe shrugged, Wyatt clenched his fists. “Go home Gabe. Leave me the hell alone or I’ll put you in your truck.”

  Gabe laughed and Wyatt stepped toward him. “You think I’m joking?” he warned as he clenched his jaw. Gabe threw his hands up in surrender.

  “I’m going. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  Wyatt snorted and turned away but apparently, Gabe wasn’t done yet.

  “Why the hell can’t you just admit you love her? I don’t understand what the problem is. You’d rather be alone than have her in your life,” Gabe shouted at him with his arms folded across his chest.

  Wyatt spun back around, strode toward Gabe, and punched him in the face. Catching him off guard, Gabe stumbled back but then he smiled at Wyatt.

  “Is that the best you can do, little brother?”

  Wyatt growled, reached out and grabbed Gabe’s shirt, and hit him again. This time, he left Gabe with a busted lip. His stubborn brother swiped his arm across his lip and smiled at him again. Wyatt growled and charged at him, grabbing him around the waist and taking them both to the ground. Gabe pushed Wyatt off him and quickly stood. When Wyatt tried to get up, Gabe put his booted foot on his chest and held him down, making Wyatt even angrier.