Wyatt (11 page)

“Not quite. Wyatt’s in the barn. Do you want him to call you
back?”

“You can transfer me to the barn.” Gabe explained how to
send the call to the barn. Olivia hung up after she sent his on its way.

A few minutes later, Wyatt came in the back door with an
angry scowl on his face. “Why did you answer the phone?”

“What?” Olivia stared at him, not understanding why he was
angry.

“Gabe thinks we’re living together now. Did you tell him
that?”

Olivia had never seen him so angry. “No, of course not, he
was teasing when he asked if I lived here. I answered because I saw it was him
on the line and thought it might be important.” Her voice rose on the last
word.

“Well, it wasn’t and he tortured the shit out of me. Gabe
won’t let up. He’ll just keep on me about it.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry. Are you upset that
Gabe knows we’re seeing each other and before you answer that, you’d better
remember Jake already knows we are.” She was on the verge of tears.

“You just don’t fucking get it. Gabe loves to torment me and
now that he thinks you’re
living
here, he’ll be telling everyone to expect wedding invitations,” Wyatt shouted
at her.

Olivia stared at him in disbelief that he would put this on
her. Her entire body shook with anger. She strode over to him and stopped
inches in front of him.

“God knows, we can’t have that, can we?” She jerked back
when he put his hand out toward her. “Don’t touch me.”

“You just don’t understand.”

“You’re so right about that,” she hissed out through
clenched teeth.

Wyatt sighed. “I just meant that Gabe will tease me about
you being here. Answering the phone as if you…” He stopped when her anger
became apparent on her face.

“As if I…
lived
here?”
she shouted. Olivia marched from the kitchen and headed straight to the
bedroom. She grabbed her suitcase and started packing her clothes.

Wyatt appeared in the doorway.

“Olivia, we need to talk about this.”

“I think you’ve said more than enough.” She pulled her clothes
from the hangers. They swung around the bar and fell to the floor. She had to
get out of here before she fell to pieces. Her heart was hurting. Snapping the
suitcase shut, she lifted it off the bed and stalked toward him stopping a
couple of feet from him. She raised an eyebrow at him. He frowned at her, but
stepped out of the way.

Olivia practically ran down the hall and out the door to her
car. She called for Punkin and after putting her in the car, she got in and
started home to the B and B. Tears clouded her vision, hard sobs tore from her
so she pulled off the road. She put her head against the steering wheel and
cried her heart out.

* * * *

The next day, Olivia sat in her apartment working on the
books. Becca had a goldmine in the B and B, and it amazed everyone how well it
was doing. The little town of Clifton loved the business it brought in and it
looked like Becca would have to hire more people next season. Olivia rarely sat
at the front desk anymore, which was fine with her. She didn’t want to face
anyone right now, not even Evelyn and she loved Evelyn.

The numbers started running together. Olivia rubbed her
eyes. She hadn’t slept much last night. Why hadn’t he come after her? Because
he didn’t care enough to, that was why. He’d had enough of her. She covered her
face with her hands. How could she possibly have any more tears left? A knock
on her door startled her, and for a moment, she hoped.

You’re being silly,
Olivia, it’s probably Evelyn.

She stood and took a deep breath. Opening the door, she
found Emma standing there holding Sophie, who squealed when she saw her Aunt
Liv. Olivia took her in her arms and smiled. She carried her to the kitchen and
smiled at Gabe, who was waiting there.

“What are you doing here, Emma?” she asked bouncing Sophie
while avoiding looking either of the adults in the eye.

“Gabe and I were on our way home and thought we’d stop in to
see you.” Emma smiled at her.

Olivia knew better. “I’m fine, Emma. Don’t worry about me,
I’ll get over him.”

Gabe took Sophie from her arms and sat on the floor with
her. Emma handed her daughter a wooden spoon, which she used to hit her daddy
on the head. Emma laughed.

“You deserve that, Gabriel Stone,” she scolded.

Gabe glanced up at Olivia. “I’m sorry, Liv. It’s my fault
about you and Wyatt. I shouldn’t have ribbed him so much about you answering
the phone.”

Olivia blinked back tears.
Shit! Stop it!
You are so much stronger than this. She tried to
give him a brave smile but failed. “It had to end sometime.”

Gabe frowned at her. “Why…”

A sudden commotion from the direction of the front foyer
stopped his words. They all hurried out to the front.

Stephanie was standing in the foyer yelling at Stacy.

“I’m sorry, Liv. She came in here demanding to see you. I
told her to leave, but she refuses.” Stacy stood with her hands on her hips
glaring at Stephanie.

“
It’s
okay, Stacy.” Olivia looked
at Stephanie. “What do you want, fluffy?”

“Hiding, are we?” Stephanie smiled with an air of
superiority.

“What. Do.
You.
Want.” Olivia
narrowed her eyes at her.

“You couldn’t hold onto him, could you? You had him and lost
him.”

“That’s something that should sound familiar to you.” Olivia
stepped closer to her.

Stephanie’s smile faded then she laughed. “Your loss is my
gain. This time he won’t have to beg me to take him back.” She stood toe to toe
with Olivia. “I’m just happy he’s through with you. He never was into women who
sleep with any man who comes along.”

Olivia bared her teeth. “Back off before I knock you into
next week.”

Gabe stepped between them. Olivia glared at him. She could
handle this herself. He turned toward Stephanie.

“Get out.
Now.”

Stephanie hesitated then turned and left. Gabe blew out a
breath when Olivia turned away from him and headed back toward the kitchen.

* * * *

Three days later, Becca stopped by and had Olivia go to the
feed store with her. They rode in silence for a while until Becca finally broke
the silence.

“Are you all right, Liv?”

Olivia shook her head. “I can’t seem to stop crying.”

“I’m so sorry. I wish it hadn’t ended like this.”

“It’s my own fault, Becs. I knew what I was getting into,
but you know if he told me he wanted me back, I’d go in a heartbeat.”

Becca pulled into the parking lot and shut the truck off,
reached for Olivia’s hand and gave it a squeeze. When they entered the store,
it seemed as if everyone turned toward Olivia. She was wondering what was going
on when she spotted him. Wyatt. He was standing in the back talking with a man
when he suddenly turned and saw her. Olivia turned away, leaving the store without
a word to Becca. She knew her friend would understand.

While waiting in the truck, she saw Wyatt walk out of the
store and go right on past her. He didn’t even look at her. She sighed in
despair. When Becca returned to the truck, they didn’t speak but simply waited
while the feed was loaded into the back, after which Becca started the engine
and pulled out into traffic to head home.

“Did you speak with Wyatt?” Olivia asked, breaking the
silence even though it hurt even to say his name.

“Yes. I told him about Stephanie stopping at the B and B. To
say he was pissed would be a huge understatement,” Becca told her, glancing at
her from the corner of her eye.

Olivia groaned. “Why did you have to tell him?”

“Because that crazy bitch needs to learn she can’t fuck
around with other
people’s feelings…that’s
why!”

Olivia’s mouth dropped open for a moment then she burst out
laughing, and didn’t stop until tears ran down her face.

“What’s so funny?” Becca asked with a scowl.

“You…” Olivia laughed. “You…said…
fuck
.” She fell against the door and laughed even harder.

Becca started laughing with her. “Jake would have a heart
attack if he heard me say that.”

They rode home laughing. Olivia felt better than she had in
days. Becca dropped her off and left to head home. Olivia walked in the back
door and went straight to her apartment. Punkin snuggled up to her on the
couch.

“At least you love me, Punkin girl.” She rubbed the dog’s
ears.

She wondered how Wyatt felt about Stephanie making a scene.
The woman needed help. Olivia could understand being upset over losing Wyatt
but it was over two years ago, and Stephanie needed to move on. Just like she
knew she needed to move on too. It was over and she had to get past the hurt.
When she walked away from him last week, she’d left her heart behind.

She hugged Punkin to her.

“What am I going to do, girl? I’ve never loved anyone the
way I love that man and I know I never will again.” She choked back tears. “I
shouldn’t have any more tears left. I’ve done nothing but cry since I left him.
Why hasn’t he come after me? I really thought we had something, but I guess it
really wasn’t the same for him. It was only sex for him. He never lied to me,
just like he said he wouldn’t.” Tears began falling. “How am I going to go on
without him? I’m so angry with myself. I don’t cry over men. I don’t cry
period. At least I never did before I laid eyes on him.”

She hugged Punkin so tight that the poor dog whined and
squirmed. Olivia let her go and got up from the sofa. She missed Wyatt so much.
Not too long ago, she’d thought of leaving Montana, so now might be the right
time. She’d forever love Wyatt, but staying in Clifton and seeing him would
surely kill her. Especially if he started seeing someone else and she just knew
that he would. He was a gorgeous, sexy man, and plenty of women wanted him.
She’d noticed that right after she first saw him.

Olivia sighed and picked up her laptop. She could check
reservations and emails to keep busy. It was her job, along with the books and
the website. It would take her mind off Wyatt. Sure, it would—right.

Chapter Eleven

Olivia couldn’t take it any longer. The thought of not
having Wyatt was killing her. She was becoming pitiful. She’d had enough of
feeling sorry for herself so she decided to woman up and go after the man. Not
having him was too hard for her and she was miserable without him. If she had
to beg…well then, maybe she would. She was willing to take him any way she
could get him. Before she lost her nerve, she picked up her car keys, grabbed a
coat, and headed out. As she drove the road toward his ranch, she began to have
doubts again. Tightening her grip on the steering wheel, she talked herself
back to her goal.

“You’ve never backed down from anything in your life, now is
not the time to start.”

She pulled into his driveway and parked by the back door.
She glanced toward the arena figuring he was probably in there working the
horses. She got out of the car, squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and
strolled casually in that direction. As she entered the building, the heady
heat from inside felt good. She glanced around for Wyatt. Her breath left her
when she saw him. He had his back to her but she’d know that body anywhere.

His jeans hugged his butt deliciously, and he was shirtless.
She bit back a groan at the sight of him. His shoulders and back gleamed with
sweat. She slowly walked toward him. It was then she noticed he didn’t have his
hat on either and the ends of his hair were damp from sweat, and had started
curling. He was raking wood shavings around the floor.

When he turned her way, her knees almost buckled. She loved
that chest. He raised his head and stared at her. She watched a drop of sweat
roll down his chest to his rippled stomach, dip inside his navel, roll back
out, and disappear into the top of his jeans. She lifted her eyes again and met
his. Looking at him made it difficult to breathe.

Wyatt leaned the rake against the wall, took his shirt from
a nearby hook, and put it on. Olivia closed the distance between them and
stopped in front of him. She took a deep breath as he continued to stare at
her. One dark eyebrow lifted at her as if in question.

“You’re not going to make this easy are you, cowboy?”

Wyatt leaned against the wall and hooked his thumbs into his
pockets. She moved as close to him as she could without touching him. He tensed
up. She hid a smile, stretched up on her tiptoes, and ran her lips along his
raspy jaw. He took in a shuddering breath. She ran her tongue along his bottom
lip before taking it between her teeth, and then tugged on it. She cupped his
face in her hands and kissed him. She felt his entire body tense and his
breathing grew heavier. She moved her hands over his chest. He grabbed her
wrists. She jerked back from him.

“How long are we going to do this, Olivia, before you run
off again? You can’t do that every time we have an argument. Around here, we
talk about it like adults.”

“I’m here now,” she replied repentantly.

Wyatt grunted and strode around her, heading toward the
door. Olivia couldn’t believe he was walking away. She ran after him, and when
she reached him, she put her foot between his feet and pushed on his back. He
went down like a ton of bricks. He hit the ground and she landed on his back.
She sat up and straddled him. She leaned down and whispered in his ear.

“You just said we need to talk things out. Well, I’m here
now so let me talk. I’m sorry I got angry over the thing with Gabe. It was
stupid. I should be more sensitive to how it is with you and your brothers, but
I didn’t deliberately set out to cause trouble. I’m sorry, baby,” she
whispered. “I’m not letting you up until you agree we talk.”

Wyatt sighed. “You’re not letting me up, huh? Do you
seriously think a little spit-fire like you can hold me down?”

“Whether you want to admit it or not, I am holding you down,
cowboy.”

Wyatt lifted himself up as if doing a push-up with her on
his back, and then he rolled to his side knocking her off. He got up in one
motion leaving her sitting on the floor. He put his hand out to help her up,
but she ignored it and glared at him.

“If this,” he said waving his hand between them, “is going
to work at all, we don’t just walk away when there’s a disagreement. We talk
about it. You have me dating which I don’t do, so if you want to keep doing it,
we talk when things go wrong. We’re going to have arguments, Olivia.”

“You pissed me off, Wyatt. I can’t help it if Gabe took it
wrong when I answered the phone and I only answered it because I saw it was
him.” She stood and stomped her foot.

“It’s never boring with you, I’ll say that,” he muttered,
glancing to the ceiling of the arena.

Olivia put her hands on her hips, and narrowed her eyes at
him. He shifted his to meet hers and smiled at her. Her mouth twitched as she
fought her own grin.

“
Come
here, darlin’,” he said in a
low tone.

Without hesitation, she leaped into his arms, wrapping her
arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. He kissed her, sliding his
hands up to cup her face in his hands. She moaned.

“I’ve missed you, Olivia.”

“Then why didn’t you come after me?” She pouted.

“You’re the one who left over something silly. Yeah, I know
I overreacted, but we should have talked about it, not walked away.”

She nodded. “You’re right. From now on, we talk it out.”

Wyatt grinned, dropped her feet to the floor but when she
frowned, he picked her up, and tossed her over his shoulder. “I need a shower.”

“Need some help?” She snickered as she ran her hands over
his butt.

“I might. Why?”

“There are a few parts I wouldn’t mind washing for you.” She
laughed.

Wyatt chuckled.
“As long as I get to wash
some of yours too.”

“I’m sure we can work something out, cowboy.” They both
laughed as he carried her back to the house, where he pushed the door open then
kicked it closed behind them.

* * * *

Wyatt woke up, got out of bed, and moved to gaze out the
windows. He gazed out over the in-ground pool, and then back at Olivia. How had
this happened? His feelings for her had grown stronger than he wanted. Falling
in love was not in the plan. It was just sex. That was all this was supposed to
be. He sighed and went to the end of the bed to grab his jeans. He wanted to
get out of here but when he saw her lying on the bed, his groin tightened. She
was on her stomach with her legs slightly spread.

He dropped the jeans and crawled up behind her on the bed.
He nudged her legs wider apart. She stirred a little, but didn’t wake up. He
ran his hand down over her ass. He swallowed hard when she wiggled slightly
under his hands.
God!
He loved her
ass
.
Mentally
groaning,
he leaned down, running his tongue down along her spine, and moving his hand
between her thighs. She moaned loudly when he rubbed his finger over her
clitoris.

Olivia glanced over her shoulder at him, and smiled, the
heat blazing in her eyes.

Wyatt moved his arm under her waist and lifted her back onto
his lap as he sat back on his heels, and thrust into her. Olivia’s hands snaked
back to wind behind his neck. Her legs straddled his. She ground back against
him. He groaned and thrust hard into her and felt her breathing increase. He
could feel her tightening around him already.

“Come with me, sweetheart,” he whispered against her ear,
nuzzling the side of her neck.

Olivia moaned out his name and bucked against him as she
came. He groaned and came with her. Her head fell back onto his shoulder and he
put his forehead on her shoulder. Both of them tried to catch their breath,
until finally, Olivia moved off him and lay flat on the bed.

“Please, roll over,” Wyatt told her. She looked at him with
a frown, until he smiled. “That,” he said pointing at her backside, “is what
started this.”

Olivia laughed. “But do you regret it?”

He kissed her.
“Never.”

“I don’t either, baby,” she whispered.

He closed his eyes, and then looked at her. “I love it when
you whisper that in my ear.”

She smiled. “I love when you call me sweetheart and
darlin’.” She imitated his drawl.

He laughed. “I think every cowboy uses those.”

Olivia sat up. “You didn’t call Stephanie sweetheart, did
you?”

He chuckled at that idea. “No. I didn’t call her anything
but Stephanie.”

Olivia nodded and smiled. “Good. I call her
fluffy
because she’s a nonsense piece of
fluff.”

Wyatt burst out laughing and wrapped his arms around her.
“It suits her.”

* * * *

Later that afternoon, Olivia walked into the barn to give
the horses some apples. She wanted to make a habit of it so she could get used
to being around them. Wyatt had gotten her on Cochise several times but she was
still afraid of horses. She spotted Cochise in the corral alone and turned
toward him. He put his ears back when she stepped up to the rail.

“Come here, you gorgeous beast,” she said quietly. The horse
whinnied and tossed his head. She laughed. “Don’t tell me no, mister. Come on.”
She held her hand out.

“That horse hates everyone but Wyatt.”

Olivia started and glanced over to find one of the ranch
hands standing beside her. He was the same one who’d informed her about
Stephanie visiting Wyatt. He grinned at her. She gave him a half-smile. He was
good-looking and he certainly knew it, but she just didn’t care for men with
blond hair. His blue eyes ran over her, making her feel uncomfortable. She
frowned. Something about him gave her the creeps. He put his fingers to his
hat.

“Ben Collins, ma’am,” he said by way of introduction.

Olivia nodded.
“Nice to meet you.”
She
didn’t bother providing her name.

“My pleasure, Olivia.”
Ben grinned,
moving slightly closer.

Olivia stepped away from him. She had no desire to have a
conversation with him, not even to ask how he knew her name, and the fact that
he did bothered her. She supposed he just knew it from the people in town or
possibly Wyatt might have mentioned it to him. Somehow, she doubted that
though. He moved beside her when she moved.

“I tried to unsaddle him once for the boss and the damn
horse tried to bite me.” He laughed.

Olivia laughed. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. “I’m
afraid of horses. Wyatt’s had me on Cochise with him, but I’d never get on one
by myself.”

“You’d love it if you did. It’s really exhilarating feeling
all that muscle between your legs.”

O-kay!
He wasn’t
talking about horses anymore. She tossed the apple to the horse, but he ignored
it. Olivia sighed and turned to leave.

“You aren’t giving up, are you?” Ben asked.

“He’s never going to come to me.” She shrugged. “It was nice
talking with you.”
Not!

“How about the other horses?
You
could give them apples. There are plenty of apples in the barn.”

Olivia hesitated. What could he do to her on the ranch?
Only, she really didn’t trust him for some reason. Wyatt was around somewhere
and she wished she knew where—maybe in the barn. She shrugged, nodded her head,
and then followed Ben into the barn. He led her to a back stall and jerked his
chin for her to go in. She glanced inside and saw a basket of apples. With a
smile, she entered the stall. She had just bent over to pick up an apple when
he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her down onto the hay. The breath
rushed out of her when she landed, and he was on top of her in a heartbeat.

“Get off me,”
Olivia growled. She tried to knee him, but he had her legs trapped. He laughed
and put his face against her neck. She thought she was going to be sick when he
started running his tongue over her skin. She grabbed his hair and pulled as
hard as she could.

“Pull all you want honey, I love it.” He chuckled, and then
tried to kiss her. She bit his lip. He sat up, straddling her to keep her down,
and slapped her across the face. Olivia saw stars, but when he reached for her
blouse, she reached up and raked her fingernails down his face. He drew his
fist back to hit her but it never landed because someone pulled him off her.

Olivia looked up to see Wyatt had him by the collar and was
dragging him away from her. He hit Ben in the jaw, knocking him down. Wyatt
leaped on him and pounded his fists into Ben’s face. She sprang up and ran to
them.

“Wyatt! Get off him. You’re going to kill him,” she shouted
and pulled at him but she couldn’t budge him. Several ranch hands came running
in and succeeded in pulling Wyatt off Ben.

“Get off me,” Wyatt shouted as he jerked away from them.
Lucky didn’t let go of him even though Wyatt glared at him. The men lifted Ben
from the ground. Blood covered his face and his nose looked broken. “You’re
fired. Get the fuck off my ranch and don’t ever come back.” Wyatt stepped
toward him threateningly. “And if you even look at her, I’ll finish this.”

The ranch hands made sure Ben left the ranch. Wyatt glanced
at Olivia. His jaw clenched, and then he strode away. Olivia glanced at Lucky,
not knowing what to think, and then she started to shake. Lucky wrapped his arm
around her, shoulder giving her comfort.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. Thank…thank you,” she whispered, and then burst into
tears. Lucky put his arms around her and pulled her close.

“You just let it out, hon.
You’ll
feel better,” Lucky whispered against her hair.

She sobbed and held on to the older man. He’d always seemed
distant to her but he was the only one there for her now. She glanced up at
him.

“Why’s Wyatt angry with me?”