Saving Cinderella! (12 page)

“What do you think you’ll decide to do?”

Wyatt glanced toward the place that clearly called to him. “I’m not sure, but you’ve given me some springboards. Thank
you. I’d better get you back now. We’ve been gone a long time, and I don’t want people wondering what we’re doing.”

“You think they’ll think I’ve kidnapped the boss?” she teased.

“I think they’ll worry that I’m seducing you. Randy is very protective of you these days.”

She rolled her eyes. “Randy idolizes you, Wyatt.”

“And he knows me. Too well. Randy is grateful to me, but he knows I’ve got a dark side. And you don’t.”

“I might have,” she said defensively.

He laughed as he helped her into the sleek black convertible and headed back toward McKendrick’s. “What have you ever done that was so terrible?” he asked.

She knew, but she didn’t want to think about it. Wyatt’s concern for her was pushing her over the edge. What had she done that was so terrible? She was very close to falling in love with him. And she certainly couldn’t say that.

“I wrote
I heart Erick Swanson
on the bathroom wall at school. In permanent marker. Red, too,” she said, feeling silly for saying it. It was the only detention she’d ever received.

Wyatt laughed—a gorgeous, sexy laugh, its tones echoing through the gathering dusk. “Lucky Erick,” he said.

“Well, my infatuation didn’t last. When word got out, he called me names and made fun of my braces.”

“The man deserves to lose all his teeth at an early age,” Wyatt said, making Alex smile.

“If only you’d been around in those days,” she said. “I would have had a defender.”

“You wouldn’t have wanted to know me then,” he said.

But he was wrong. She wanted to know more of him. She wanted to know all of him.

W
YATT
had gone back to work with a vengeance, reminding himself of all the reasons he needed to maintain some distance from Alex. A second tier of reviewers had hit McKendrick’s. It was clear that the ante was being upped, the city was starting to buzz, and his chief competitor, Champagne, was making great upgrades. They’d had some fantastic reviews. He should be worried. He
was
worried. To come so close and lose would be…difficult, scalding. And yet the competition wasn’t what was bothering him the most.

On the way home the other night, he’d asked Alex about her shop, and she’d told him about calling a real estate agent to set things in motion. It was clear that San Diego was her passion. She had major plans. Wyatt identified with that. McKendrick’s, Las Vegas…he belonged to this city. But it was equally clear that Alex belonged to San Diego. And also clear that her plans would become a reality in the near future.

He was getting in too deep, flying blind with Alex, with no chance of a future. At least not one that would make her happy.

He needed to remember that this temporary position she was filling was…temporary. Which was a good thing, because Alex was far too clean and pure and joyful for someone like him.

He could tease her and pretend his past was behind him, but he was still the guy whose past colored his present. He dealt in empire building, not love, because needing someone to care and letting that person’s opinions matter was impossible. The only safe route was to be an island. Anything else and the risk of someone being damaged was too great. He might not be Erick Swanson, but he could crush Alex just as easily as that idiot had.

If
he let himself continue down the path he’d been following.
If
he didn’t stop things right now.

He had to stop. No matter how difficult that would be.

Alex was worried. “I don’t know what’s happening, Jayne, but Wyatt is acting very strange lately,” she told her friend during a phone call a few days later.

Silence followed. “Jayne?”

“Strange how?” Jayne’s voice had an edge to it. “You sound as if you care about him, Alex…”

“I’m not in love with him. I’m worried, the way I would be about anyone.”
Except maybe more
, Alex thought.
A lot more.

“He probably just has some business issues, Alex. Which isn’t your problem. I know you’re used to jumping in to help, but you can’t save everyone.”

“I know,” Alex said, and they hung up.

Jayne was right. She was falling into her old routines. Having two fathers turn their backs on her as if she didn’t matter had made her too eager to please. That was why she’d helped Robert and Leo and Michael…and why she’d gotten hurt when they’d left her. And now?

The warning bells were clanging, telling her to leave now.

She should. In fact, she’d gotten a call yesterday from her real estate agent. The woman thought something might open
up soon. She should be rejoicing at the news. Instead she was thinking about Wyatt.

The other day a male guest had been giving her a hard time, complaining that she wasn’t trying hard enough to satisfy his demands. He’d called her an unspeakable name, and she had looked up to see Wyatt, his face fierce as a class-five tornado. He’d come up behind the man, and in a voice so icy that it would have scared Alex had she not known him, given the man ten seconds to vacate the premises.

The man had opened his mouth to argue, but after taking one look at Wyatt’s whipcord-lean body and “just try me” expression, he’d headed for the door, mumbling something about intimidation.

“Thank you,” she’d said quietly.

“You’re an employee of McKendrick’s. I take my responsibilities seriously.”

Somehow Alex had managed not to flinch at being thus demoted from what had felt like
more
than an employee, but something must have shown in her eyes.

“Don’t look like that. I’m doing this for your own good.”

“Of course. I
am
your employee.”

The low curse hadn’t carried far, but Alex had still heard it. “I’ve tried to tell you not to trust me too far. You were wrong when you said that I could have been your hero during the Erick Swanson incident. I would have been just as bad in my own way, because I would have acted as if you didn’t exist.”

“Because of the braces?”

“Nothing to do with the braces. I just wasn’t…social.” His jaw had tensed, his expression had become unreadable, and just like that they were back to being strangers.

Thinking about that pain knifed through Alex. Which was so stupid. She knew the score. Wyatt had walls that couldn’t
be breached. And yet here she was, making the same mistakes she’d made before, leaping in to help and falling for a man she could never win. The only way to save herself was to walk away. She would.

But not yet. Not yet.

Wyatt walked into the lobby, took one look at Alex and swore beneath his breath. “This is wrong,” he muttered to himself.

“What?” Randy’s voice came from behind him, catching Wyatt off guard. He hadn’t known the man was so near. Still…

Wyatt nodded toward Alex. “She looks tired.” Worse, she looked sad. And he was pretty sure that he was to blame. She’d given him her sunshine, and he had ignored her for days. The fact that he was trying to protect her, that he wasn’t capable of being right for her, and that he was scared that he was starting to feel things for her that could never be called back was no excuse. She’d held nothing back from him. He’d repaid her with silence and dark moods.

“We all like her, Wyatt,” Randy said.

It was a warning. Randy sometimes got away with things that other people couldn’t. Maybe because they shared the common bond of a dark past.

“Good. She needs friends here.”

“She needs more than that. And she deserves more. She’s done more for McKendrick’s reputation than anyone but you.”

Wyatt turned to look at Randy. The man gave him a sheepish look. “Sorry.”

“No. You’re right. I’ve been an ass lately, haven’t I?”

“We’re all sure that you have good reasons.”

“Don’t make excuses for me. Being the boss doesn’t exempt me from being a human being.”

Somehow he kept handling Alex wrong. That would end
soon…because she would leave. But before she left she needed to know that his avoidance of her didn’t have a thing to do with her worth. Alex had been a blessing and a gift for McKendrick’s. And he hadn’t even told her that.

It was past time to tell her a lot of things.

Alex was just leaving work when Wyatt came up to her. “Any chance that you’re free tonight?”

She blinked. Wyatt had kept his distance for days. “Is it something about the hotel? Something I need to know…or do?”

He frowned.

“Wyatt?”

His eyes flashed green fire. “I wanted to apologize to you.”

She opened her eyes wide. “For…?”

“Being a jerk. Ignoring you. Not acknowledging what you’ve done for me and McKendrick’s.” His dark brows beetled.

Alex couldn’t help laughing.

“What?” he asked.

“That’s the grumpiest apology I’ve ever received.”

“I’m not sure I’ve ever offered one before.”

Her smile blossomed. “Then I’m honored to be the first.”

“Are you honored enough to come out with me? Have dinner with me? Let me apologize more…properly?”

The word warred with his tone, and there was absolutely nothing about the look he gave her that was proper.

Her heart began to thud. Tears clogged her throat, but she wouldn’t let him see. She had missed him so much, and she was so happy to see him that she didn’t care what had brought him back. She wanted to touch him so desperately. All of that combined sent warning signs blaring in her brain. She needed to retreat to safety. To say no.

Her heart lurched and fought her.
To hell with reasonable
and safe.
Her calendar pages were tearing away. Time was running out. And she already knew this was a temporary relationship, headed nowhere, so where was the risk?

“I’d love to have dinner with you.”

Had she said that with too much fervor? Wyatt’s expression told her he was thinking of more than food, but he smiled gently.

“I’ll pick you up at your room in ten minutes.”

At
her room. The words only made her think how badly she wanted him
inside
her room.

“Casual?” she asked, pretending away that last thought.

“Mmm. I’m bringing a picnic basket from Sparkle.”

Alex had never eaten the rooftop restaurant’s food, but she had recommended it to many people.

“Wear those cute little palm tree earrings. And shorts. White. A top that’s soft. Blue.”

She opened her eyes wide. “Is this my boss talking?”

“This is Wyatt the man talking. For this one night let’s pretend I’m just a man who knows you’ll look amazing in white and blue.”

Her heart nearly stopped. Her breath definitely
did
stop.

“Too much?” he asked. “Should I apologize again?”

“No, but if you’re not my boss tonight, I’m thinking that you shouldn’t expect me to follow every request you give me in my off hours.”

“I like it when you use that sassy tone. Have I said that before?” he asked, just before he left to get the food.

No, he hadn’t, she thought as she changed clothes. He’d tried to keep everything impersonal, which was probably smart. There was something even more dangerous about this new, friendly Wyatt. She wanted to give him exactly what he’d requested. But that was the mistake she’d made all her life. Trying to win affection by giving people exactly what they
wanted. Besides, if she tried too hard he’d know that she was becoming one of those women Randy talked about. Women who ended up with nothing but tears and memories. She did
not
want to be that woman.

When she opened the door to Wyatt a few minutes later, he paused. Then he smiled. “Great shorts, even greater legs, and red definitely looks fantastic on you,” he said, referring to her scoop-necked tee shirt. “Maybe even better than blue. And the bicycle earrings are just as good as the palm trees. Good for you for ignoring my arrogant request.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “Should we go?”

“Yes.
No.
” She realized that he was looking around her room. Frowning.

“What?”

“Is this really the best I could do for you?”

“Wyatt, this is a gorgeous suite! You moved me in here when I started working for you.”

“Yes, but it’s just a couple of rooms. There’s nothing here that would make it seem like a home. I could have at least made it feel less Spartan.”

Alex couldn’t help laughing. “Wyatt, I’ve never stayed in such a plush place before, and you’re worrying because I don’t have my teddy bear with me, or any reminders of San Diego?”

“Well, I know you love that place. And all you have in here to remind you of home is a picture of you and your friends in my lobby.”

“Wyatt, don’t worry. I’m fine.” She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Come on. I’m starving. Where’s the picnic?”

“It’s a surprise. You’ll see when you get there.”

He was right. When Wyatt pulled up in front of the Haven, Alex
was
surprised. There was a new low-profile sign, the native plants in the garden were perfect, and the freshly
painted white cottages had blue trim and welcoming little signs above the doors.

She gave a whoop. “Wyatt, you did this so fast!”

“Yes, well, I wanted you to get the chance to see the fruits of your creativity. It’s not done yet. I haven’t even touched the chapel, and the cottages still need work, but it’s a start.”

“It’s a great start. Can I go inside one of them?”

“Choose your cottage.”

That was easy. There was one that was slightly smaller than the others. It was shabbier, with roof work still to be done. It was the underdog, but it looked sound. Alex opened the blue door and stepped inside to find the perfect little cozy nook. The walls had been painted, and the furnishings were plain but pretty oak. The tiny fireplace had been framed in white tiles and timbers, and a fluted jar of desert sand sat on the mantel, surrounded by an arrangement of striking red rocks.

“I thought… The sky-blue pattern in the white upholstery reminded me of…” He looked at her eyes. “Silly, but it seemed to fit.”

“Wyatt, it’s wonderful. It feels so homey and inviting and comfortable—and I still can’t believe you did so much so fast.”

“I’d be farther along on this one, too, but I’ve been doing some of the work myself any chance I get.”

Alex widened her eyes. “The great hotelier, engaged in manual labor?”

He shrugged. “When I was growing up I…well, I know a lot about manual labor, Alex.”

“I’m not exactly shocked by that.”

He gave her one of his rare, full-blown smiles. “I’m beginning to think that nothing much fazes you.”

“Yes, well, I’ve had my moments.”

“Those men who used you?”

“They didn’t use me. I offered to help them.”

“Unlike me, who pretty much waylaid you.”

“You didn’t waylay me. You bribed me.” But she smiled.

“And I’d do it again. You’ve been magical for McKendrick’s,” he said.

Why did her heart drop like a rock at that? Because she wanted to be magical for
him
? Randy had warned her that wasn’t going to happen.

“You’ve shared with me, given me more than I ever asked for, and I’ve given you nothing in return,” he said.

Instantly Alex was indignant. “You pay me very well.”

“Money is too easy for me. I’m… The truth is, Alex, that I never learned how to be open or giving, but none of that is your fault. Asking you to bend over backward for me, taking all you’ve given and then shutting you out, wasn’t right. The thing is I don’t like thinking about my past or talking about it. It was a period of my life when I wasn’t strong. My family was, as I’ve mentioned, dysfunctional. I told you before that I wasn’t social. It was partly because I didn’t want to take a chance on anyone getting to know me and finding out what went on at my home. Having witnesses would have made things worse.”