“What do you mean, studying?”
Wyatt pulled his baseball cap low over his eyes, suddenly feeling embarrassed. “Uh, I write scripts.”
“What?” Tamera jerked the wheel and Wyatt put out a hand so he wouldn’t hit the dashboard. “That’s amazing. I never would’ve guessed.”
Wyatt shrugged self-consciously. He’d never told anyone but Natalie about his scripts. Why had he suddenly blurted it out to Tamera? “They’re probably not any good, but I have fun writing them.”
“They’re not any good.” She waved a hand through the air. “Whatever. You’re Wyatt freakin’ James. People will throw their money at the box office to see something you wrote.”
“It’s not like I’ll ever sell anything.”
“Never say never.” Tamera cut across three lanes of traffic and barely made the exit. This woman’s driving should be registered as a lethal weapon. “Wow. I guess we have more in common than I realized.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Wyatt said. And for some reason, that terrified him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tamera pulled up to the gleaming black iron gate surrounding the community and entered in the pass code, curiosity eating her alive. Manicured trees shaded the driveway, which showed a few cracks—nothing major, but she could see weeds trying to peek through. A stone sign introducing the community sat among dozens of blooming flowers. Ivy climbed up the stone fence surrounding the area.
This community was definitely nice. High end, even. But it was lawyer nice. Doctor nice. Financial planner nice. Not professional athlete nice. Drew wouldn’t be caught dead living somewhere like this.
The gate to the community slid open with a low screech, as though the runners needed to be greased. Tamera drove down the tree-lined driveway, trying to ignore the very distracting man sitting beside her. The wind had been playing with his T-shirt the entire trip and driving her mad in the process.
“What do you think of the neighborhood?” Tamera asked as they turned down a street.
“It’s nice,” Wyatt said noncommittally.
Hmmm. Did that mean he hadn’t formed an opinion, or he wasn’t impressed?
And why had Drew told her to be careful around Wyatt? She and Wyatt had talked about their favorite movies the entire thirty minute drive. They shared a lot of the same tastes, and she’d loved dissecting the plots of some of her favorites with him. But Drew’s warning wouldn’t leave the back of her mind.
Tamera pulled up the the curb. “Here we are.”
The property sat in the middle of the block—not quite as desirable as a corner lot, but the street was quiet and the homes weren’t situated too closely together. The terra cotta roof and arched windows had a bit of a Spanish flair, and that wasn’t the only thing she immediately disliked about the property. Cracked white stucco was discolored on the west side from sunlight. The driveway needed to be resurfaced and the windows could use a good power wash. It was the kind of house she usually showed to a dentist with four kids.
Tamera cut the engine and tried not to stare as Wyatt unfolded himself from the passenger seat. His shoulders were broad enough to block her view of the house, and what a view it was. Wyatt tipped his ball cap back on his head, then rested his hands on his trim hips. She could see his biceps bulging through the thin cotton of his gray T-shirt.
“It’s big,” Wyatt said.
Tamera blinked, ripping her gaze from his arms. “Is that a problem?”
He shrugged, and his entire body seemed to move with the roll of his shoulders while her heart sped up to double time. “I’m not sure I need this much space.”
“It’s a house that can grow with you,” Tamera said. “But if you’re really not sure about the space, we can look at properties with smaller square footage next time.”
“I guess it would be nice when my family visits.”
“Absolutely.” She headed up the walk. “Do you have a big family?”
“No, it’s just my parents and little sister. But we’re close.”
“That’s really cool.” Tamera bent down and fiddled with the lock box.
“What about you?”
A bitter laugh escaped. “I just have one sister and parents, too. Me and Katie don’t get along for obvious reasons.”
“I can imagine.”
Tamera swung open the door, grateful for the distraction. “Here we are.”
The house showed its age, with several of the entryway tiles cracked from settling. The air smelled of fresh paint, but she could see from here that the carpet leading up the stairs was matted from use. If she’d been showing this home to her usual clients, she would’ve gushed over it—the perfect home for a family that could quickly increase in value with a little sweat equity. But for Wyatt?
She turned around, eager to see his reaction, and came face to face with his chest. Tamera took a quick step back, her heart stuttering.
“What do you think?” she breathed.
“It’s okay,” Wyatt said noncommittally, his eyes not letting go of hers.
She blinked and stepped even further away, trying to clear her head. Going all weak-kneed over Wyatt James was pointless. He could be the most attractive man on the planet—and he just might be—and it wouldn’t matter. The only relationship she was having from here on out was with her career.
“What don’t you like about it?”
Wyatt cleared his throat, looking around. “This entryway, for starters. I hate it when they go up the full two stories like this. It’s such a waste of space.”
Tamera barely refrained from rolling her eyes. It was such a guy reaction to be that practical. “Entryways like this make a house feel more open and inviting. It’s good for resale.”
“I don’t plan on moving again for a very long time.”
Well, that was an interesting bit of information. Tamera had been following the story on social media and no one could figure out what had made Wyatt James leave the Vigilantes for the Coyotes. She watched as he stepped into the kitchen and ran a hand over the tile counter tops. Did someone live in California that he wanted to be closer to? It was the only thing that made sense.
“The pantry’s kind of small,” Wyatt said, his head hidden by the doors and his voice muffled.
Right. She was here to sell a house, not ogle Wyatt.
“There’s quite a bit of cabinet space,” Tamera said. “Hopefully that would help compensate.”
He nodded, shutting the door. “The team nutritionist makes pretty much all my meals, but Natalie likes to cook so I try and keep things stocked for when she visits.”
“Natalie?”
“My little sister. She’s a junior at Arizona State.”
Relief flowed through Tamera, taking her by surprise. For a second, she’d thought Natalie was his new girlfriend. He’d broken up with a Vigilantes cheerleader a few months back—barely a blip on the celebrity gossip radar—but she couldn’t imagine someone like Wyatt would stay single long. He was down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Girls would be crazy not to snatch him up.
Other girls. Not her, obviously.
“Does she visit often?” Tamera asked.
“Mostly during school breaks.” Wyatt shrugged. “I got her and my parents season tickets. Now that my dad’s retired, he and my mom plan on coming up from Arizona pretty often.”
“Thus your need for more bedrooms.”
Wyatt nodded and moved past her into the dining room. Sliding glass doors let in lots of natural light and a dated chandelier hung low over the table for twelve. “It’ll be nice to see them more often, now that I’m closer to home again.”
Tamera leaned against the door frame, trying to keep her tone casual. “Is that why you transfered to the Coyotes?”
“Not exactly.” Wyatt motioned to the room. “I like more open floor plans, I think. I’m not much for formal dining rooms.”
“Noted.” Tamera followed him into the living room, which boasted twelve-foot vaulted ceilings. “So what was the reas
on you were traded?”
Wyatt glanced over at her but said nothing.
“Come on. You have to know speculations are going wild. The Vigilantes are the team to beat this year. And the Coyotes are … well, not.”
“McKinley’s got big plans for the team, and the new recruits seem promising.”
A canned response if she’d ever heard one. “Maybe, with a few years of hard training, the Coyotes can be back in it. But this year?” She shrugged. “You have to see the writing on the wall.”
Wyatt adjusted his hat, not meeting her eyes. “I guess I was ready for a change. Things were a little tense in Texas.”
“I heard about the breakup.”
“Really?”
Tamera shrugged. “It was a small article in one magazine. I keep up on those kinds of things. Aspiring actress, remember? Got to keep dialed in on Hollywood gossip.”
Wyatt grunted. “It was never going to work out with Becky.”
“I know what it’s like to go through an awkward breakup on television. I’m sorry you had to go through something similar.” Becky had apparently been caught with another man—the article never did say who—and that was that.
Wyatt’s face softened and he shook his head. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I can’t imagine having all my dirty laundry aired like yours was. You handled it so well on the show. Very classy. I admire how you never talked badly about Katie or Caleb.”
Tamera folded her arms, a slow grin spreading across her face. “You watched Eye in the Sky.”
Wyatt’s ears turned red and he ran a hand over his buzzed hair. “I was curious after meeting you.”
“Well, color me surprised, Wyatt James. I thought I made a total idiot of myself.”
He laughed, heading up the stairs to the second floor of the house. “I was so surprised to find someone in the gym.”
“That makes two of us. I had no idea I wasn’t alone.” She sobered, remembering the way her chest had physically hurt that night with the pain of Katie and Caleb’s betrayal.
They’d posted photos that morning of the two of them riding horses on the beach. It had taken a lot of effort not to react with an angry emoji.
Wyatt opened a door at the top of the stairs, revealing a small laundry room with barely enough room to open the appliance doors. “Seems like you and Drew got to be pretty good friends while on the show.”
“Yeah.” Tamera licked her lips, not sure if she should continue. Maybe mention it, but keep it playful? “Drew told me to stay away from you. But you don’t seem like trouble to me.”
Wyatt grunted. “Drew and I aren’t exactly best friends.”
“What happened between you two?”
“Oh, you know. Guy stuff.” He pointed to a doorway at the end of the hallway. “I’m guessing that’s the master bedroom?”
“Yeah, probably.” Tamera took the hint and let the subject drop as she followed him into the master bedroom, but that didn’t stop her mind from going nuts with the possibilities.
Maybe Drew and Wyatt just had conflicting personalities. No use speculating. Clearly, neither man was going to tell her what had really happened. At the end of the day, what did it matter? After Wyatt closed on a house, they’d never have to see each other again.
“The show certainly tried to convince everyone something was going on between you and Drew,” Wyatt said.
No way was she letting Wyatt operate under that assumption. And no, she most definitely didn’t want to more closely examine why it made her cheeks flush with rage to think of Wyatt assuming there was something between her and Drew. “If I had a dollar for every time someone asked about our supposed showmance, I wouldn’t have to sell you a house.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘no,’ then.”
“Drew’s only interested in what he can’t have.” Tamera peered into the master bathroom. Two steps led up to a giant soaker tub and a spacious shower sat beside it. “We are most definitely just friends.”
“Good friends?”
“Good friends with zero benefits. You’re really not going to tell me what the deal is between you two?”
“Just different approaches to life, I guess.” Wyatt pointed to the tub. “I know guys aren’t supposed to take baths, but a tub like that would be awesome. Sometimes it’s really nice to soak after a hard practice. Helps relax the muscles.”
And now she had the image of Wyatt submerged in bubbles, his broad shoulders not quite below the surface of the water. “Okay. I’m adding ‘soaker tub’ to your wish list.”
Now if she could just stop mentally adding Wyatt James to hers.
They headed back downstairs to admire the backyard. Sunlight reflected off the clear blue water of the pool and an impressive outdoor kitchen ran along the backside of the home.
“You’ve got a way with the camera,” Wyatt said as he stared across the yard. “I can see why you were so popular with viewers. You’ll do great as an actress.”
The audition came rushing back and Tamera sighed. “Maybe, if I ever get a part.”
“You’ll make it,” Wyatt said, his tone confident.
“Of course you think that, Mr. One-in-a-Million. How many little boys actually grow up to be pro football players?”
He laughed and the sound sent shivers down her spine. “Okay, I see your point. But seriously, you were great. I could never be that natural in front of the camera.”
He was a little stiff in interviews, but she wasn’t going to say it.
“The team’s asked me to shoot a few promo spots for the season and I’m already dreading it. Every time that camera turns on I clam up.”
“You do fine on the field,” Tamera said.
“That’s because my head’s in the game and I’m not thinking about it.”
Tamera hoped they had Wyatt shirtless in the commercial. It’d sell tickets for sure. “See? You just have to shut off your brain and become someone else for a moment.”
“Yeah, so simple.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great.”
“If not, maybe they’ll fire me and convince one of the other guys to do it.” Wyatt smirked. “Maybe I should purposefully do really bad.”
“I don’t think you’re that kind of guy.”
“Yeah, I guess not.” He let out a sigh. “I do love the landscaping on this house, but I can’t imagine myself living here. It just doesn’t have the right feel, you know?”
Tamera nodded. For a moment, she’d almost forgotten they were here to look at a house. “I totally understand. Let’s go see what the next house holds.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Wyatt drove carefully toward the Coyotes stadium as his sister’s chatter filled the cab of his truck, distracting him from worry over his first day with the team.
“I think it might be another week or two before I can come out and visit you,” Natalie said. “Mom and Dad mentioned coming out there in June and I might just wait until then. This semester is burying me in homework.”
“You guys should probably wait until I have a house anyway.” Wyatt slammed on his breaks as traffic suddenly halted.
“Get one with a pool, okay? I’ve been dying for a swim.”
Wyatt laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“I never did ask you if you found anything promising the other day. I guess if you had, I would’ve heard about it.”
“Nothing worth putting an offer on,” Wyatt agreed. Although the time spent with Tamera definitely hadn’t been a waste.
“Hopefully something comes up ASAP. The sooner you can settle in and hunker down, the better. People are super suspicious about your trade.”
Tamera had said the same thing. Wyatt gripped the steering wheel. If Drew didn’t keep his mouth shut…
But he had no reason to go public now. It would raise too many questions, since the injury had been five months ago.
“The whole thing is just so stupid,” Natalie continued. “Becky is a snake and so is Drew.”
Wyatt w
asn’t about to argue with her.
“How are classes going?” Wyatt asked, ready for a subject change.
Natalie prattled on about a professor she hated and one she had a crush on while Wyatt listened with half an ear. He turned into the stadium parking lot, nerves making his throat tighten.
His first day. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. Being the new kid on the block was never fun.
“Are you listening?” Natalie asked.
“Sorry. I guess I’m a little distracted.”
“Nervous about your first day?” she guessed.
“I’m sure everything will be fine. Can I call you back later?”
A dramatic sigh filled the line. “Oh, I suppose. Scope out the hot guys for me, okay?”
“Uh, we don’t scope each other out. Especially not in the locker room.”
He could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “Whatever. I demand you introduce me to everyone when I come visit.”
“Let me meet them first, okay?”
“Just this once. Good luck!”
“Thanks.” He was going to need it.
Wyatt got out of his truck and stared up at the ancient stadium looming above him. Scaffolding lined one entire side and painters were changing the exterior from a scuffed brown to a dark gray. Looked like Luke was wasting no time updating the stadium. Maybe the Coyotes really would turn around under his ownership.
Two other players met each other on the opposite side of the parking lot and slapped hands. They ambled inside, their deep voices carrying on the still morning air. Wyatt took a deep breath and hiked his duffel bag higher on his shoulder. He needed to go outside his comfort zone today and make friends so the others didn’t see him as an outsider. At least he wouldn’t be the only new face, although he was the only trade—the others were all new picks from the draft.
The concrete breezeways of the stadium echoed each of Wyatt’s steps. Laughter floated from the direction of the locker room, but Wyatt was alone in the hallway except for a few painters who were stenciling the team logo on one wall.
Match Me if You Can (No Match for Love Book 7) Page 6
