Wyatt's War: Hearts & Heroes, Book 1 (6 page)

Fiona was a spitfire with attitude and determination. She’d let nothing stand in the way of making the convention a success. Even him.

After meeting the Mexican delegate at the airport, and a long afternoon of drinking cocktails in the barroom of the hotel, Fiona was counting the minutes until she could escape to her room and take a long, hot bubble bath. By the time she could get away, it was nearing six o’clock.

Hurrying to the elevator, she passed Wyatt with a towel slung around his neck, wearing shorts and flip-flops, probably on his way to the pool or sauna.

Perfect.

She hustled up to the room, showered and changed in record time, half expecting Wyatt to walk in naked like he had before. Her heart rattled in her chest, leaping at every sound.

Rather than get caught nude again, she’d brought all her clothing into the bathroom and dressed there. Every noise, every bump or thump, she jumped and peeked out the door.

Wyatt had yet to return.

By the time she was dressed, her nerves were hopping and she could barely catch her breath. What was wrong with her?

Her hair in place, her makeup just right and having spent as long as she could in the room before heading for the lobby, Fiona finally gave up at a quarter to the hour. Dressed in a slim-fitting pastel green tank-dress that hugged every inch of her body like a glove, she slipped into high-heeled strappy sandals that emphasized her tight calves. She looked more confident than she felt as she headed for the elevator.

When the lift car arrived at her floor, her breath caught and she waited. The door slid open to an empty car. The air left her lungs in a whoosh.

Where the hell was Wyatt? He’d be late if he didn’t get a move on. Then again, good. She wouldn’t wait, if he didn’t show up by seven then she wouldn’t have to sit across from him, wondering what it would be like sleeping in the same room with him later that night.

Yeah, right. That thought had been on her mind all day to the exclusion of all else. She didn’t have time to daydream about a man. She needed focus.

Fiona checked at the front desk to see which of the delegates had arrived, marking them off the list she kept on her cell phone. So far everyone who was supposed to arrive by now had.

With five minutes to spare, she stepped into the lobby.

It was D minus twenty-four. The kickoff started at seven o’clock the following evening with all the major players for this convention milling around, meeting, greeting and networking. Everything had to go exactly as planned. No hiccups. No distractions. No security issues and no thinking about Wyatt Magnus sleeping in the nude.

There she went again. Fiona closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“Thinking about me?” a warm deep voice whispered against her ear, melting her like chocolate in the hot Texas sun.

For a moment Fiona leaned toward Wyatt until she realized what she was doing. She pulled herself together and faced him with her best, no-nonsense poker face. “Of course not.” She frowned. “Weren’t you just in the sauna?” Her gaze swept his length.

His hair was damp and his clothes were clean and dry. And he was as sexy in khaki slacks and a polo shirt as he was in shorts.
Damn the man
.

Wyatt grinned. “I brought my clothes and showered down there to give you some space.”

“Oh.” She blinked, pleased at his thoughtfulness and at the same time, a little disappointed. The latter emotion surprised her. She shook it off and got down to business. “I’m going over the itinerary of the next twenty-four hours.”

“Including who gets the bathroom first tonight?” A grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “I don’t even know if you snore.”

“That’s it.” She started toward the reception desk. “I can’t do this.”

“Wait.” He snagged her arm. “I checked before I hit the sauna. They were scrambling to figure out where they’re going to put the other double-booked guests. I promise, I’ll behave. You won’t even know I’m in the room. And as far as I know, I don’t snore. We’ll be okay. Scout’s honor.”

She gave him a narrow-eyes look. “Were you even a scout?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” He grinned. “My father made me join to keep me off the streets. I was a very active child and he saw what kind of trouble I could be at an early age.”

“I can see that.” She sighed. “Very well. Looks like we’re stuck with each other. But understand this, I have too much riding on the convention. I don’t need any distractions.”

He raised his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of distracting you.”

Yeah well, you already are.
Fiona bit down on her tongue to keep from saying it out loud.

“Fiona, there you are.” Maddie, dressed in a summery, floral dress in soft pink, yellow and green, hurried through the front door of the hotel. “I thought I was going to be late.” When she spied Wyatt, her eyes widened. “Well, well, who do we have here?”

Fiona’s teeth ground together as Maddie’s gaze swept Wyatt’s length from gorgeous brown eyes down to the tip of his cowboy boots.

“Maddie Wells, meet Master Sergeant Wyatt Magnus, on loan from the Army to Homeland Security. He’s been placed in charge of the security of this convention.” After making the introduction, Fiona held her breath, waiting for Maddie to gush.

Wyatt took Maddie’s hand and lifted it to his lips. “The pleasure is mine.” He winked at Fiona as he pressed his lips to her assistant’s fingers.

A pretty, rosy blush rose up Maddie’s neck into her cheeks. “You didn’t tell me he was so handsome and charming.”

“I can be, when I want to.” He straightened, holding Maddie’s hand far longer than Fiona deemed necessary.

Her chest tight with a flare of unbidden anger, Fiona stepped out to greet Preston and Joe as they entered the hotel lobby.

“Preston, Joe, glad you made it. Arthur called and said his wife had plans for him, so he won’t be joining us. Shall we go find a place to eat?” She hooked her arm through Joe’s and stepped through the doors leading directly out onto the River Walk.

Preston, Maddie and Wyatt followed.

Fiona tried not to think about Wyatt behind her. But the nape of her neck tingled as if she could feel his gaze on her backside. She hoped her dress wasn’t hitched up in her panties. And if she put a little more sway in her hips, she chalked it up to the high-heeled, strappy sandals. They almost always made her walk like a model on the runway, one foot in front of the other.

They settled on one of the Tex-Mex restaurants with patio seating overlooking the river and a band playing an eclectic mixture of Latin American and soft rock music in the corner by the bar. As the sun set, the twinkle lights adorning the trees and bridges along the River Walk blinked to life. With the soft lighting, the background music and the warm summer night, it would have been a perfect evening for a romantic dinner for two. Glancing across the table, Fiona caught Wyatt’s gaze on her. A perfect evening for two
if
she wasn’t working through dinner, and
if
she didn’t have a convention to keep on track.

After everyone had placed an order, Fiona pulled out her work tablet and started the discussion. “Are we set for tomorrow?” Without waiting for a response, she turned to Joe. “The dogs will start through the convention center at nine in the morning, complete by two in the afternoon, at which time you’ll bring them to the hotel.”

Joe smiled. “That sounds about right.”

Wyatt turned to the supervisor of the hired security team. “Preston already has people in place, augmenting the convention center permanent staff.”

Preston nodded. “I’ll have additional staff at the entrances when the vendors arrive tomorrow and the day the convention starts. I’ll also have eight of my personnel at the function tomorrow night. They will be dressed as wait staff or businessmen, to keep it from appearing too obvious.”

Fiona stared down at her tablet, her list of notes blurring as she internalized the schedule. “The meet-and-greet is at seven o’clock tomorrow night. Maddie, you and I will arrive in the hotel ballroom an hour early and stay until the last person leaves.”

“Got it, boss.” Maddie gave her a mock salute.

“Which leaves you.” Fiona stared across at Wyatt. “Mr. Magnus, what exactly will you be doing during all this time?”

Wyatt’s eyebrows dipped and then smoothed. “I’ll be looking for weaknesses.” His lips tilted upward on the corners. “And you?”

A shiver of excitement rippled across her. She had to swallow hard to loosen her vocal cords. “I’ll be circulating through the meet-and-greet and then through the convention center the next day. Some of the delegates have a known propensity for drama. I want to curtail any scenes before the press gets wind of it.”

“You can’t be everywhere at once,” Joe said.

Fiona nodded. “Precisely. That’s why Maddie will be assisting me in circulating. Each one of us will be equipped with a radio headset. If anything happens, we’ll be able to call on each other immediately.” She smiled at Joe. “I’m not certain you’ll be there throughout, but if you are, you will be rigged with radio communications as well.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Joe grinned at Wyatt. “It’ll be like on active duty, only our teammates will be dressed to the nines, not covered in sand and smelling like last week’s sweat socks.”

Maddie turned to Joe. “What branch of service, Joe?”

“Army Special Forces.” His chest puffed out. “Three tours to the sandbox, and I was lucky enough to live to tell about it.”

Wyatt’s jaw tightened as his gaze rested on his friend.

“What about you, Preston?” Fiona turned her attention to the man beside her. “I understand you are prior service.”

Preston’s gaze narrowed. “Yeah.”

“What branch?” she pressed.

“Marine Corps,” he answered, his voice clipped, a frown settling between his brows. The man obviously didn’t want to talk about it.

Fiona smiled. “My stepfather was in the Marines for twenty-six years. He always said it was the toughest job you’ll ever love.”

Preston sat in stony silence.

“Wyatt?” Maddie piped in. “What’s your background?”

Yeah, Wyatt? What makes you so intense and sexual?
Fiona wanted to ask, but she remained quiet, awaiting the man’s response.

Wyatt seemed to be working through his answer in his head. “Army,” he finally spit out.

Joe chuckled. “Don’t let him kid you. He’s one of the most decorated soldiers you’ll ever meet. He saved my butt a time or two.”

Wyatt shrugged. “So, I assume you’ll want to meet at the hotel when the dogs have made their sweep?”

Fiona recognized the diversionary tactic and let Wyatt have it. “I’m spending my morning at the convention center and from noon on, I’ll be at the hotel managing the details for the evening’s event. Find me when you get there. I’d like to hear what you think are the soft spots for security.”

The food arrived, thus ending the business portion of the meeting.

After the waiter removed the plates, Fiona ordered a frozen margarita and sat back to enjoy the music and the soft-scented breeze.

The band struck up a song with a lively beat.

Maddie leaped to her feet. “Come on, Wyatt, the music is moving me.”

Wyatt shook his head. “I’m too full.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “In my neck of the woods, you don’t turn down a lady’s offer to dance.”

“You’re right.” Wyatt pushed to his feet with a smile. “Forgive my rudeness.”

Maddie batted her eyes and hooked her arm through his. “Forgiven. Now show me how well you move those sexy hips.” She danced him to the center of the floor and spun to face him, holding out her arms. He spun her into his embrace and moved around the floor like he was built to dance.

“Magnus was always good on the dance floor.” Joe stood. “If you don’t mind your toes being stepped on, I’d be honored if you’d join me.”

Fiona hesitated, not liking to leave a man alone at their table.

Preston settled it by standing as well. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to brief my staff one more time and then hit the rack. I’ll be up before dawn and would like to be rested.”

Shaking his hand, Fiona bid Preston goodnight and took Joe’s hand, allowing him to lead her onto the small dance floor. She hadn’t danced since college. Busy getting her business up and running, she’d forgone the young social scene.

It felt good to sway to the music. For what Joe lacked in rhythm, he made up for with enthusiasm. By the time the song ended, Fiona was breathless and smiling. If her eyes drifted over to where Wyatt and Maddie were dancing, she didn’t let it spoil her fun.

The band shifted to a soft and sensuous salsa. Joe tried a few steps with Fiona leading, but he laughed and gave up.

“Trade ya,” Maddie said, appearing beside Fiona with Wyatt on her arm. “I think I can teach Joe a few tricks.”

Wyatt held out his hand.

With a sense of excitement mixed with dread, Fiona placed her hand in his palm and let him draw her into his arms.

They fit together all too well, his hips rocking her hips in time to the music. Joe had been right, Wyatt could dance. A man who was strong, ruggedly good looking and could dance was a triple threat to Fiona. He reminded her just how much she loved to dance and made her wonder why she’d given it up for the sake of her career.

At the same time, being so close to Wyatt only made her infinitely more aware of his hard muscles, thick thighs and massive arms. How would it feel to be naked, her soft breasts pressed against his rock-hard muscles again? For a moment she melted against him, ready to feel the next best thing. When she realized just how close she was, she stiffened and tried to draw away.

His hand on the small of her back held her in place. “Loosen up,” Wyatt whispered into her ear. “Feel the music and let me show you how to move.”

“I know how to dance,” she retorted, though her voice sounded weak.

“Then show me.” He spun her around, his thigh pushing between hers, his hand creeping lower down her back, pressing her against the solid ridge beneath his fly.

Angry that he thought she couldn’t hold her own on the dance floor and even angrier at herself for caring, she closed her eyes and gave herself up to the music. As far as she was concerned, she could be with any man and still dance the same.