––––––––
Olivia arrived at his ranch before he did. She walked into the house and took her suitcase to the bedroom. Going back outside, she watched Punkin and Bear chase each other around the yard. When one of the ranch hands came toward her, she waited. He tipped his hat at her.
“Do you need some help ma’am?” He smiled at her.
“No, thank you. I’m waiting for Wyatt.”
“He’s sure been busy today. You’re the second female who’s been here to see him.” He grinned and walked away.
Second female? Who was the first? Had he lied about not seeing anyone else? Why would he ask her to come here then? She was about to go back inside and wait for him in the kitchen when he rode into the yard. Her breath caught. He looked incredible on that horse. She watched him jump out of the saddle and saunter toward her. He halted when she glared at him.
“Who was here earlier?”
Wyatt frowned. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“One of your ranch hands found it necessary to tell me there was another female here to see you today.”
“Son of a bitch,” Wyatt muttered.
“Who?” Olivia asked again.
Wyatt reached for her hand. She stepped back from him. He sighed, took her elbow, and led her toward the house. She glanced in the direction of Cochise, but he grumbled something about him not going anywhere. Once inside the house, she jerked her arm from him.
“Stephanie was here...” Wyatt began when she started back toward the door. He stepped in front of her. “You need to listen to me before you throw a hissy fit.”
Olivia put her hands on his chest and shoved him. “I do not throw hissy fits. I told you I wasn’t going to be with you if you were seeing someone else.” She tried to walk around him but he grabbed her by the waist.
“I’m not with anyone else and there’s no way in hell I’d be with Stephanie. I can promise you that, she’s only coming around because she knows I’m seeing you.” He spun her around to face him. “I don’t want anyone but you, sweetheart.”
The fight went out of her and she leaned into him. She looked up at him and felt a huge blast of satisfaction when he groaned.
“Those eyes of yours are going to do me in.” He lowered his head and kissed her. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Wyatt raised his head. “I’m telling you the truth, Olivia. After she kissed me...”
“You kissed her?” Olivia said, punching his arm and cringing slightly when it hurt her hand. It was like hitting a steel beam.
“You’re not listening. I said she kissed me.” He softly swore. “I don’t want anything to do with her and you have to believe that or there’s no sense in us being together.” He took her hands in his. “I told you I wouldn’t see anyone else while I’m seeing you. I’m not a liar, Olivia.”
“I bet she had some things to say about me though, didn’t she?” Olivia knew by the look on his face that she was right. “What did she say?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She continued to glare at him. He sighed and so told her.
“I’m not a slut,” Olivia exclaimed after hearing the account.
“I know that,” Wyatt said kissing the palm of her hand.
Olivia took his hand and led him to the living room. “I want to tell you about my life.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to...please.” She gazed up at him. When he nodded, together they sat on the sofa. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
“My mother abandoned me when I was two years old. She took me to a police station, pinned a note to my coat, and walked out. Since no one could find her, I ended up in an orphanage, and then I went to foster homes but no one ever adopted me. I was a hellion and did whatever I could to get attention. I was rebellious and no matter what home I went to, they sent me back to the orphanage.” She blew out a breath. “I wasn’t a good person. I had sex when I was fifteen and that was even after I went to live with Becca and her parents.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe they loved me the way they did. I was a bitch for the first two years but deep inside, I knew it was wrong acting as I did. At sixteen, I decided to turn my life around and be the person they thought I could be. Becca’s parents became my parents. They disciplined me and for once in my life, I listened to someone trying to straighten me out. I grieved right alongside Becca when they died.” Olivia blinked back sudden tears. “When I was twenty-one, I fell in love with a boy in college. I thought he was the one, until I caught him screwing my roommate. Trust me, if Becca hadn’t been with me, he’d no longer be among the living.”
She saw Wyatt’s mouth twitch but he nodded for her to go on. She gave him a sad smile. “I had a hard time trusting men after that. I figured they were all the same, especially when married men would hit on me. I’d tell them what I thought of them screwing around on their wives. You wouldn’t believe their excuses.” She gazed into those black eyes. “I grew up tough and until I met Becca and her parents, I didn’t give a shit about anyone. I love Becca as a sister. We may not share blood but I’d do anything for her.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been with four men. One, if you don’t count the three who were actually boys, and had no idea what they were doing. I was in relationships with each one of them. The relationships didn’t last long, but then it wasn’t really love I felt for any of them. I am on the pill but not because I screw around. It’s because I have menorrhagia, which means I have very difficult and nasty periods.” She shrugged. “The pills help some. I always made my partners wear condoms—until you. That’s it. The Olivia Rene Roberts story.”
“That’s it?” Wyatt asked.
“Yes. I understand if you don’t want to see me anymore.”
“Do you now?”
She glanced at him and nodded. “I do.”
Wyatt huffed. “As far as I’m concerned, none of that matters, Olivia. What matters is the here and now.”
She gasped in surprise. “Are you sure?”
Wyatt chuckled. “Do you think I’ve been squeaky clean?”
“You mean you haven’t?” She narrowed her eyes and grinned.
“No. You wouldn’t believe how Jake, Gabe, and I tore up this town when we were teenagers. A lot of our friends too.” He laughed. “You think Sam was always a good guy? He was one of the worst.”
Olivia laughed. “Sam? Well, now that you mention it, there’s something about a bad boy turned sheriff.” She gazed at Wyatt through her lashes. He growled at her and stood up. She laughed then squealed when he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
“I’ll show you a bad boy.” He carried her down the hall.
Olivia ran her hands over his butt in those tight jeans. “Please do, cowboy. Please do.”
* * * *
Wyatt lay on his back with Olivia draped across his chest while he tried to catch his breath. She amazed him, always giving as good as she got. He absentmindedly played with a few strands of her hair. She sighed and her warm breath blew across his chest. He tightened his arm around her and knew he had fallen hard into a pit of trouble.
Olivia rose up on her elbows to look at him. “Kiss me,” she told him.
He flipped her onto her back and leaned over her. He kissed her chin, her nose, and across her cheek but kept away from her lips. She moaned and his groin twitched. How was that even possible? They had just had mind-blowing sex but he was ready to go again already. He ran his tongue along her collarbone.
“Wyatt, kiss me,” she begged but then whimpered when he kissed her lips quickly, and moved to her ear. She grabbed a fistful of his hair. “Wyatt Stone, if you don’t kiss me, there will be hell to pay.”
He chuckled and then pressed his lips to hers, moving his tongue inside her mouth. She moaned and moved her tongue against his, making him groan. He pressed his erection against her leg. She pulled back from him and gazed up at him in surprise.
“Yeah, tell me about it.” Wyatt grinned as he moved on top of her.
Olivia reached between them, wrapped her fingers around his hard cock, and moved the head between her feminine folds.
“Jesus, Olivia.” Wyatt groaned. She laughed, and then gasped when he reached between them and guided himself into her, making them both sigh.
“Wrap your legs around me, darlin’,” he whispered and groaned when she clasped him tight. He gazed into her eyes and what he saw there couldn’t be what he thought it was, but only his wishful thinking. She moved her hips to his rhythm. Wyatt kissed her hard and deep.
Olivia tore her lips from his. “Please...faster...harder,” she pleaded with him. He complied.
He tried to hold back but when he felt her inner muscles tighten, he lost it. “Now, darlin’. You with me?”
“Yes,” she cried out.
A little later, they lay in each other’s arms. Olivia’s fingers were trailing over his pecs and rippled stomach. He knew she wanted to say something.
“Spit it out, Olivia. I can hear the wheels turning.” He chuckled when she blew out an exasperated breath.
“Tell me about Stephanie.”
Wyatt sighed, wishing it was something other than that. “I was engaged to her, she broke the engagement a week before the wedding. What else is there?”
“Tell me how you met her, and how you fell in love with her so much so that you wanted to marry her.”
“I met her years ago. She’s five years younger so we didn’t run in the same circles. I was twenty-eight when I met her through her dad. Blake and I had become acquainted through me training cutting horses. I thought she was beautiful...” He felt Olivia stiffen beside him. “Are you going to listen or just get pissed?” When she relaxed, he continued. “Anytime I was at Blake’s to talk with him, she was there. We started seeing each other and we fell in love...well, I fell in love. I’m not really sure about her now. I’d been out of the Marines for two years and looking into law school...”
“You wanted to attend law school?” Olivia asked in surprise.
“Yes. She talked me out of it. I kick myself every day for listening to her but in a way it was the best thing that happened. I love what I’m doing now. I was training horses part time and the more I did it, the more I loved it.” He shrugged. “So, I guess it was for the best. I only hate that I let her talk me out of it instead of making it my own decision.”
“Why did she break the engagement?” Olivia asked.
Wyatt grunted. “She told me I was spending too much time working the horses and if I had gone on to law school, we’d have more time together.”
Olivia sat up and glared at him. “Are you serious? She’s the one who talked you out of going.”
“That’s what I said, but it didn’t matter to her. She gave me the ring back and that was it.” He shrugged.
“Were you deeply in love with her?”
“When I think back, I don’t think I loved her enough. I was more interested in combining my business with her father’s. Stephanie was just a bonus. As I said, I thought she was beautiful but it didn’t take too long to realize she wasn’t a nice person. I’m glad now that I didn’t marry her.”
“Was she good in bed?” Olivia asked. Wyatt burst out laughing and she swatted him in response. “You want to tell me what’s so funny, cowboy?”
He rolled on top of her and kissed her. “If you like having sex with a block of ice, she was great. She doesn’t compare to you, darlin’, and never will.” He kissed her again. Olivia moaned against his mouth while wrapping her arms around his neck. All was good with the world—for now.
* * * *
The next morning, Olivia woke up alone. She dressed and walked to the kitchen looking for Wyatt. He wasn’t in the house so she headed out the back door in search of him. Her breath whooshed out of her chest in amazement when she saw him ride Cochise into the yard and head toward her. He smiled and her knees almost gave out.
“It’s about time you got up,” he said gazing down at her.
“You should have gotten me up.” She grinned up at him, waggling her eyebrows.
Wyatt shifted on the horse. He moved the horse closer to her but she backed up.
“Is he going to bite me?”
“No. Come here.” He put his hand out to her. She shook her head.
“Olivia, do you trust me?”
“Yes...but...”
“No buts. Give me your hand.”
Olivia was terrified, but she put her hand in his anyway. He lifted her onto the horse as if she weighed no more than a feather. She put her hands over her face and closed her eyes.
“You can open your eyes,” Wyatt whispered in her ear. “I’ve got you, darlin’.”
She opened her eyes and glanced down. “I can’t believe you got me on a horse.”
Wyatt grinned at her as he nudged Cochise into a walk. She clung to him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist. After a few minutes of walking Cochise around the yard, he halted the horse and let her down. He grinned down at her with smug satisfaction.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked her.
“No, but you know my motto.”
“I don’t. What is it?”
Olivia grinned. “Save a horse, ride a cowboy.”
Wyatt laughed. “Let me put Cochise up and we’ll talk about your motto.”
“Oh, we’re going to do more than talk about it, cowboy.” Olivia spun on her heel and sauntered away from him with a little more sway in her hips. She went inside just as the phone started ringing. She checked the caller ID and saw it was Gabe. She wondered if she should answer it. She shrugged. It could be important.
“Hello?”
“Uh, who’s this?” Gabe asked. Olivia laughed. “Liv? What are you doing answering the phone at Wyatt’s? Are you living there now?” He chuckled.
“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.