Say You Want Me (18 page)

“I’m not trying to be unfair,” she quickly interjects. “I don’t want to blow this chance.”

I get that. I don’t either, but I’m making concessions left and right in my personal life and her making me choose right now is going to push me over the edge. I’m just getting my footing with Wyatt, things aren’t secure and until they are, I need my business to stay the same. “I’m not saying no, Erin. I’m saying that I need the time we agreed upon. I need to be there when we choose a location.”

I also need to figure out how deep I am with this man.

“So you want to table the expansion?” Erin’s voice raises slightly. “Because if we pass on this space, we’re clearly not moving forward.”

Is that what I want? Am I really willing to give this up for him? Right now, yes. I am. Even if it doesn’t work out, this is the most I’ve ever felt for someone. My heart races when he touches me, and everything settles when I’m in his arms. The fact that I’m even questioning it says something. I’m not the girl who goes all mushy at some boy. I’m the girl who stands strong behind my independence. I don’t
need
a man. But I want Wyatt.

Damn it.

“Two months. I’m asking for two more months.”

Erin sighs. “I don’t agree with your decision, Ang. I think in a few weeks you’ll think differently. Did you get the quarterly P&L report I sent?”

We talk a little more about the profits and loss, and in the end, I think she understands. Erin has made back her investment, so I don’t have to worry about that. If I have to, I have the capital to buy her out. I like having her, though, and I hope she’ll stay on even though she’s mad about delaying things.

I walk into Presley’s house and greet everyone.

“The boys are getting ready to go for a horseback ride with Zach. He promised them he’d teach them new tricks so they can finally beat me. They’ve gotten really good at riding, but haven’t had a lot of time to practice between school and sports.” Presley explains after I barely get a hello from either of them as they run by. “Zach is upstairs, but the boys are going to saddle up.”

“Have they gotten close to beating you?”

“Nope.” She grins. “One day they’ll learn, and I’ll have to up my game.”

“Not likely.”

Presley grabs her wedding book and flops in the chair. “My brother is teaching them how to rope cattle.”

“Zach doesn’t do that?” I ask.

“No, we were the rodeo kids. The Hennington’s were too busy playing sports.” Presley shakes her head. “Cooper and I were really into rodeo stuff. Even though my mother was only okay with my brother performing.” She rolls her eyes.

“How is Coop? I haven’t seen him.”

Her brother is great. He’s quiet, tall, and almost always busting his ass somewhere out on the ranch. I’ve asked why he’s not taken, but Presley won’t say. However, I’d have to be blind to miss how he looks at Grace and not put two and two together. Grace is one of her best friends, Trent is her soon to be brother-in-law, and Cooper is her brother. Talk about an awkward Christmas.

“He’s great. He and Zach are doing a lot more business together, which is good. It allows me to see Zach during the day. Although, I pretty much see him whenever I want anyway.”

We both laugh. “Because you two don’t spend enough time together, right?” I feel like every time I see her, he’s right there too. Not that I mind, but isn’t she worried she’ll get sick of him?

“I kinda like him. You’ll see,” she looks up. “When you realize how great a guy is, you want to be around him more. You’ll crave his company because it makes you light up. Zach gives me that.”

“Not all of us are hopeless romantics. Some girls are happy on their own. We don’t dream of getting married and playing house. We dream of taking over the world.”

She rolls her eyes and goes back to her book.

The boys rush in the house. “Mom,” Logan huffs. “Where’s Zach? I can’t find him.”

“Must be at the barn,” she says even though she said he was upstairs.

“Bye, Auntie!” they call to me in unison.

“Bye, turdlets!” I call back.

“Zach!” she calls. “Boys are waitin’ on you. You got about ten minutes!”

“What is he doing?”

“He had a call about one of the horses. Felicia, the awful bitch she was, oversold a few of them. Remember how Zach thought it was best to keep her on for a bit?” she asks.

“Yes, and we both said it was dumb.”

She laughs. “I know. He thought maybe she wouldn’t be vindictive.”

“Did he ever actually speak to Felicia in the entire time he dated her?”

“I can’t even—” Presley huffs. “A fucking year he let her stay on! A year!”

I seriously don’t understand that. I can only imagine how Presley dealt with it. Having to see that girl every time she turned around. Then again, I can understand business wise how he could think it was a good idea. The whole enemies close theory, but that’s a little too close for me.

“That’s crazy.”

“No shit. Anyway, Zach has been cleaning up that woman’s messes nonstop. I know a woman scorned is bad news, but dear God. Now she’s threatening a lawsuit.”

That girl is a piece of work. It’s a good thing she left town, because I’m pretty sure Presley would’ve beat her ass by now if she hadn’t. She stole money, destroyed accounts, and shredded parts of the Hennington reputation.

“He’s really great with the boys,” I muse, steering the conversation away from Felicia and the mess she left in her wake. “They really love him.”

Zach comes around the corner. “I’m easy to like.”

“I beg to differ,” I say offhandedly.

His hand slaps against his chest. “You wound me.”

I shrug. “You’ll live.”

He leans in and kisses my temple. “You love me.”

“Wrong Hennington,” I retort. “I like the better version of you.”

“Hey now!” We both laugh, and Presley stands there with a grin.

She walks over, wraps her arms around his torso, and looks up with the gooey expression I’ve gotten used to seeing on her face. “I got the best Hennington.”

“And soon you’ll be Mrs. Hennington.”

The way they stare at each other is so intense I have to look away. I want a love like that. She may think Todd looked at her a certain way, but I’ve never seen anything like what they share. It’s so beautiful, I could cry.

“Not soon enough.” Presley’s voice is wistful.

Their wedding is in four and a half months. I’m going to be sporting a really big baby bump by then. “Can you move the wedding up?” I ask, breaking their staring contest.

“Why?” she asks.

“I’m going to be eight months pregnant!”

“And you’ll be breathtaking,” Wyatt’s voice rings out from behind.

My breath hitches as I turn around. He leans against the wall with his arms crossed. He has on a dark pair of jeans, a tight white t-shirt with a teal button up over it. I see every muscle in his abdomen when he shifts to walk toward me. The muscles in my body tense as he moves with purpose.

He stops right in front of me, and I tip my head back. “Aren’t you supposed to ring the doorbell and wait for Zach to let you in?”

“I have a key.” He grins.

I purse my lips. “That’s cheating.

He laughs. “Do you want me to go out and do it again? I can ask my brother to clean his gun to scare me off from getting frisky with you.”

Now, it’s my turn to burst out laughing. “You’re a mess.”

“And you’re beautiful.”

“So are you.”

He chuckles. “Well, that’s good.”

I nod.

Geez, I’m a mess. One word and I forget my big strong bravado.

“You guys are so cute!” Presley claps and breaks me from my stupor.

I turn and glare at her as she laughs.

My eyes return to Wyatt to see he couldn’t care less. He only sees me. He doesn’t even glance away. Instead, he takes my face in his hands with care, bends down, and gently presses his lips against mine. “Ready, baby?”

“I’m ready.”

Right now, I know that I chose right. He’s worth giving up the expansion for.

He’s worth all the possible heartache.

He’s worth it all.

“W
HERE THE HECK ARE WE
going?” I ask as we enter our second hour of driving.

“On our date.”

Wyatt has been tight lipped the entire drive about what exactly we’re doing. I’m going out of my mind, but it seems like he’s enjoying my irritation more than anything.

Pain in the ass.

“I know that. But it seems like you’re driving me back to Pennsylvania.”

He takes my hand in his and doesn’t respond.

Okay, then.

I lay my head back against the seat and watch the scenery change. There are rolling hills in Bell Buckle, but this is more mountains. The trees are dense and the air feels lighter. It’s absolutely breathtaking as the sun starts to set, and the pink and orange hues paint the sky, making everything feel warm.

I close my eyes and allow myself to feel the heat encompass me. Wyatt’s warm hand holds mine as I relax.

“Wake up, sleepy.” His deep voice is low in my ear.

I open my eyes, and it’s now dark. The sky is a dark blue with tiny shimmering lights.

Shit.

“Oh my God!” I sit up quickly. “I fell asleep! On our date!”

He gently squeezes my hand. “It was a three-hour drive, babe. You’re fine.”

“Three hours?”

Now I’m confused.

He climbs out of the truck and helps me down. “We needed to do this right.”

“Wyatt?”

I look around and realize we’re out in the middle of nowhere. In front of us is an adorable cottage. A little smaller than his house but much more opulent. I turn around and see the mountains shining in the moonlight but there aren’t any other lights from other houses that I can see. Off to the left, there’s a large opening with chairs off to the side and a barn a little farther in the background.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“This is my family’s oasis. A few years ago, my brother’s and I bought this property and built the cottage. We figured we could rent it out as a bed and breakfast. Instead, we kept it for ourselves. I wanted to share it with you,” he explains.

“I-I don’t . . .” His family owns this little slice of heaven? “This is . . .”

“It’s something I wanted you to see,” he says as he takes my hand. “I want this to be special for us.”

“I don’t . . . I don’t have clothes.”

I had a nighttime outfit picked out and everything, but that’s back at his house. Not that I think guys typically care, but still, the plan was there. I figured for our first time as a pregnant couple, I would put my sexy nightie on.

“You do. Presley packed you some stuff this afternoon.”

“Wyatt!” I stop moving as tears fill my eyes, but he tugs my hand until I start walking again.

He opens the door to the cottage, flips the lights on, and I gasp. The entire space is modern and warm. Cream-colored walls and rugs with beautiful couches sit in the middle. The massive king-size bed with upholstered headboard is on the far side of the sitting area. Each piece makes the space feel luxurious. I step forward touching the back of the chair, completely bewildered.

Then I see a box of cupcakes from my store. I rush over and run my fingers over the black calligraphy print we use for our labels. “My store.”

He walks over behind me. “Erin sent them here for me. I know you miss home and the bakery.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

I look to the left as he sets down a thermos I hadn’t realized he was carrying. I touch it and know.

“It’s your favorite.”

“It’s perfect.”

He really thought this through.

Between working and dealing with my crazy ass, he planned this.

If there was ever a time I doubted he would win me over, I was blind.

Wyatt steps forward, wraps his arms around my waist, and ducks his head to mine. “I’ve waited a long time for a girl like you. One that I’d want to do these things for. Someone who I want to come home to. When I asked you to come out here, I didn’t know this would be how I’d feel. I figured we’d enjoy each other, see that we’re from two different worlds, and move on. But the idea of you leavin’ makes me crazy.”

My breathing accelerates, and my throat goes dry. He’s feeling it all, too. I see it all in his eyes—the hope, the fear. We’re both in uncharted water, trying to plot the course and hoping we don’t get lost.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you want me.” His eyes hold mine.

I lift my hands, take his face between them, and lock on to his eyes. “I want you.”

And I do. I want him right here and right now. I can’t make grander promises to him, not yet, maybe not ever. My heart and my head don’t add up, but I want him. Maybe it’s supposed to be like this, but I wouldn’t know. I grapple with the conflicting emotions. The want to have this new life and still keep everything I have in Philadelphia.

I’ve worked hard. I love my company. I don’t want to give it all up.

“For how long?” He seems to read my thoughts.

“We’ll have to see.” I smile. “Maybe longer than I thought.”

He doesn’t say anything. He holds me close, and I move my thumb across his stubble. His eyes close as he dips his head toward mine. “I’m really glad you said that,” he utters before his lips touch mine.