Wyatt (3 page)

There were quite a few hot cowboys in Clifton, so why did
she have it so bad for Wyatt? She’d even tried going out with Ryder Wolfe but
there’d been no spark between them, and so they agreed just to be friends.
Ryder was gorgeous too. Why couldn’t she want him?
Or that
sexy sheriff, Sam Garrett?
He was drop-dead gorgeous and very sexy but
for some reason, he didn’t seem interested in her any more than she was in him.

She shut the computer down for the night and headed back to
her apartment. It had once been the housekeeper’s quarters in the old Colonial
style home. Becca inherited the home and ranch from a grandmother she never
knew, and turned it into a very lucrative bed and breakfast. Falling in love
wasn’t in Becca’s plans when she came to Clifton but once she met Jake, it all
changed. Olivia was happy for her best friend. Becca and Jake were very much in
love. Olivia and Becca met Emma in town and quickly added her to the
friendship. Emma loved Gabe Stone, and she was so lucky when she became
pregnant by him, he did the right thing and married her. They had a beautiful
baby girl named Sophie Ann, and Gabe loved and adored them both. Wyatt was the
youngest Stone brother and the minute Olivia set eyes on him, she wanted him
but he’d always kept his distance from her. He was never rude exactly, but he
just didn’t go out of his way to talk to her…until the other night, anyway. She
still couldn’t believe how rude he’d been to her. And it had hurt. It hurt a
lot to have him thinking that about her. She was not a slut. Just because she
was flirtatious, and had a smart mouth, did not make her a slut. If she thought
a man was gorgeous and sexy, she had no problem letting him know. Did that make
her a slut? No, she didn’t think so. Sighing, she brushed her hair and teeth,
undressed, and climbed between the sheets, hoping this was one night a
dark-eyed cowboy wouldn’t show up in her dreams.

* * * *

The next day, Wyatt worked with one horse for hours. The
mare didn’t seem to want to do any of the commands he gave her. He was tired,
hot, sweaty, and hungry. He nudged the mare to the rail and dismounted.

“I don’t get what your problem is today, Candy,” Wyatt said
in a low tone of voice. “Any other day you’re spot on.” He shrugged and led her
toward the barn. It was then he noticed a hesitation in her gate. Why hadn’t he
seen it when he was training her?
God
damn it!
He lifted her front leg and saw she had a small cut. He slowly led
her out and put her in her stall.

Wyatt went to the tack room to get antiseptic. If he
couldn’t get it to heal, he’d call Doctor Will Carter. He was the best vet in
the area and he knew he’d be here in a heartbeat if Wyatt needed him. He
couldn’t believe he had missed that.
Get
your damn mind on your work and off Olivia.
He started back to the stall
when he saw Ben coming toward him. Wyatt halted and waited for him to reach
him.

“Hey, boss.” Ben smiled at him, though it didn’t reach his
eyes.

Wyatt nodded to him.
“Something on your
mind, Collins?”

“Could I get off early tonight? I’d like to head over to
Dewey’s.”

“It’s not up to me. Ask Lucky.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Lucky’s your boss.
He knows what’s
going on and if he needs someone. I only make decisions for you men if Lucky
has a problem with one of you or if I want you to do something.”

Ben nodded. “I’ll ask him then. Goodnight…
boss.
”

Wyatt wanted to grab him by his collar and shake him. He
wasn’t sure what Collins’s problem was but he was defiant and it would come to
a head eventually, Wyatt
was
sure
about that.

He entered the stall to administer the antiseptic. The cut
was fresh. His gaze roamed the stall to see on what she could have cut herself.
He swore when he saw a rusty nail sticking out from one of the boards making up
the stall. Walking over to it, he squatted down and could see blood on it. This
never should have happened. The men were supposed to make sure something like
this didn’t happen. He swore as he stood.

“What’s wrong, boss?” Lucky asked as he looked into the
stall.

“There’s a damn rusty nail sticking out. Who was to check
the stalls this week?” Wyatt growled.

“I’ll have to check the paperwork, but I think it was Kirk.”

“Kirk?
He’d never let this happen.”

Lucky nodded. “I agree, but I’ll make sure and let you
know.”

Wyatt had to be content with that for now. He couldn’t
believe Kirk would miss this. Ben yes, but not Kirk. The idea of chewing Kirk
out for this held no appeal. Kirk had worked for him for six years, almost
since Wyatt started the ranch after he returned from his stint in the Marines
at age twenty-six, and that was seven years ago.

Wyatt nodded his appreciation. He turned to leave and saw
Kirk standing at the end of the barn.

“Kirk,” Wyatt called out to him. He saw Kirk lift his head,
glance his way, and then began heading his way.

“Yeah?”
Kirk put his hands on his
hips, but his body language was anything but casual.

Wyatt frowned. “Is there something wrong?”

Kirk glanced away. When he looked at Wyatt, he had a
profound sadness in his eyes.

“Come into the office.” Wyatt led the way. He motioned for
Kirk to have a seat while he took a seat behind the scarred oak desk. “What’s
going on?”

“Nothing…”

“Bullshit.” Wyatt sat forward and folded his arms on the
desk. “Did you repair the stalls this week?” At Kirk’s nod, he went on. “There
was a nail that was missed and it cut Candy’s leg.” He raised his hand up when
Kirk opened his mouth to speak. “It wasn’t bad but the fact that it happened at
all is unforgivable. Candy isn’t my horse. If a client finds out a horse’s leg
has been cut due to negligence, it could ruin me, and all of you would be out
of jobs. I’d still have a problem if the horse were one of mine, but being a
client’s is something that we can’t allow to happen—ever. You’re a good ranch
hand, Kirk and you’d never make this kind of mistake if something wasn’t
bothering you.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I fucked up. That’s all.”

Wyatt sprang to his feet. “That’s all?” he yelled. “I can’t
have you fucking up. I can’t have any of you fucking up. We’d all be out of
jobs if shit like this gets out.”

Kirk gazed up at him with guilt in his eyes. “I’m sorry,
Wyatt,” he mumbled.

“Go home. Take the rest of the weekend off—without pay.”

Wyatt strode from the office. He stopped to explain the
situation to Lucky, and then headed back to the house. He mentally shook his
head. What in the hell was the problem? He never yelled at his men like this.
Damn. He knew exactly what the problem was or rather he should say he knew
who
the problem was. He headed for a
shower. It had been a long, drawn out day and he was tired. He just wanted to
sit in his recliner in his living room, have a beer, and watch some television.
Most of the hands would be heading out tonight since it was Saturday night.
They would head for Dewey’s. Wyatt just didn’t feel like going out tonight. He
didn’t need to run into Olivia again.

He sighed. It would happen again though. They were family so
there would always be gatherings. Emma and Gabe put on a big Thanksgiving
dinner every year, and Wyatt only missed one year of attending since Jake and
Becca first got together. Stephanie’s father had invited him to his home so
they could discuss business. He couldn’t turn down an invitation from Blake
Taylor, since it was Blake who had gotten Wyatt his start with training. It had
been damned uncomfortable with Stephanie sitting there across from him at the
table. She stared at him all day and he knew she wanted him back, but there was
no way. Wyatt even wondered what he ever saw in her. She was beautiful, yes,
but she was also a spoiled rich bitch and he knew now it never would have
worked between them.

Stephanie Taylor had her eye on Wyatt the minute her father
introduced them and like a fool, he had fallen for the blonde haired beauty.
God!
What a fool he was. He fell hard
for her, and then she broke him apart. Jake kept telling him she wasn’t the
woman for him but Wyatt refused to see it. All he saw was Stephanie and he
believed she wanted him too. She wanted him all right, until he wanted her. Why
she said yes when he asked her to marry him was anyone’s guess. She only wanted
him because of his money. He had a lot of it and even though her family was
rich, she couldn’t seem to get enough. But a week before the wedding, she
decided he wasn’t the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was
a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. Wyatt knew he never would
have been happy with her. The only thing was that she had ruined his trust of
women. Throwing his heart out there again just wasn’t going to happen. He had
no problem being with a woman for sex but the minute she started getting ideas
of roping him in, he bolted.

Olivia popped into his head.
Holy shit!
He sure as hell wanted her. He had lied to her when he
told her he didn’t, but he was never going to let her know the truth. If there
was ever a woman he was afraid of, it was Olivia Roberts. The woman should have
the word
heartbreaker
tattooed across
her forehead. He may be a
love ‘em and
leave ‘em
kind of man but he had a feeling he wouldn’t want to leave her
and that just wouldn’t do. Wyatt didn’t know what to think as he headed toward
the bathroom to shower. A night in was sounding better all the time.

Chapter Three

Olivia sat in her apartment working on the website for the B
and B when she heard a knock on her door. She set the computer aside and
answered the door. Becca stood there.

“Hi, Becs.
Come on in.” Olivia
sighed, opening the door wider.

Becca waltzed in and took a seat on the sofa. “It’s time you
told me what’s going on with you and Wyatt.”

Olivia nibbled on her bottom lip. With any other person,
she’d tell them to butt out but she couldn’t do that with Becca. They’d been
friends far too long.

Becca patted the cushion beside her and after taking a deep
breath,
Olivia took a seat beside her and proceeded to tell
her about Wyatt.

Becca jumped up quickly. “Jake will kill him.”

“No. This is why I didn’t want to tell you. I don’t want the
brothers at odds with each other. It’s over. Please forget it. I have,” Olivia
said but knew it was a lie. It would never be over in any way, shape, or form.
She’d always want Wyatt, no matter how he treated her.

Becca sighed.
“All right.”
She
hugged Olivia. “But if anything like this happens again, I will not hesitate to
tell Jake about it. He’d be as appalled by Wyatt’s actions as I am.” Becca
sighed and hugged her. “I love you, Liv. I’m here for you.”

Olivia could do no more than nod her head as Becca strode
out the door. Olivia closed the door and leaned back against it. How much
longer would it be before she could wake up and not think of him? Or go to
sleep without seeing him in her dreams? Dear God, how was she to survive around
him? She’d done a lot of thinking on whether to stay in Montana or move on.
Leaving wouldn’t make her forget him, but she wouldn’t see him either, and that
was the most important thing. Not seeing him. Because every time she saw him,
she’d never be able to keep herself from wanting him. Becca was right, though.
They were family. Becca was her family, and Becca married into the Stone
family. Becca wouldn’t have everyone to dinner and not invite Olivia but she
would always include Wyatt. Olivia put her hands over her face.
God, what a mess.

Three days later, early in the morning, Olivia sat at her
kitchen table answering emails with her headphones in listening to music. The
song,
‘Lost’
by Anouk came on and
made her pause. The song was a reminder of how she wanted a man she couldn’t
have.

She ripped the headphones out and tossed them onto the
table. She needed to get out for a while. This sitting around and trying to
work was going to slowly drive her insane. She stood and stretched. After
grabbing her keys, she ran out the door, leaving Punkin gazing after her.

“I’ll be back later, girl,” Olivia shouted over her
shoulder.

Cold weather was moving in from the Glacier Mountains. She
gazed at them for a few minutes before getting into her car. They were already
snowcapped, and she’d learned how snow came early and swiftly in Clifton. She
shivered at the thought. Being from Maryland, she was used to snow but what
they got in Montana was downright ridiculous. Pulling out of the driveway, she
turned left with no destination in mind, just driving. She passed Jake’s ranch,
then Gabe’s, and then slowed when she came to the entrance of Wyatt’s ranch.

Olivia chewed on her bottom lip. Should she, she wondered.
He wasn’t home because she knew he was in Butte. Becca told her the brothers
had made the trip and anytime they went to the sale, it was always a three-day
trip. One to get there, one for the sale, and one to travel back home. It was
almost unheard of to return home the night of the sale. She was sure he wasn’t
home and she’d love to see Cochise again. Although she was terrified of horses,
Cochise was the most gorgeous horse she’d ever seen. To her, he looked as if
someone had tossed a can of black paint over a white horse. He had gorgeous
blue eyes too.

Shrugging, she pulled into the drive and stopped at the
barn. She glanced around and didn’t see anyone. Where were the ranch hands? The
place looked deserted. The large log home resembled a ski chalet with rows of
windows on the front. A wraparound porch beckoned with rocking chairs. Olivia
opened her car door, got out, and strolled into the barn. The smell of horses,
hay, leather, and manure hit her. It wasn’t too long ago when she thought the
smell offensive, but now it wasn’t as unpleasant to her. She strolled down the
center aisle, glancing at the horses in the stalls. None of them was Cochise.
Where was he? Heading out the back of the barn, she entered the huge metal
building where she knew Wyatt did his training. Jake and Gabe had the same type
of buildings at their places.

Olivia went inside and sighed at the feeling of the warm air.
The buildings stayed heated for winter and air-conditioned for summer since the
men spent so much time in them. As she moved closer to the stalls, she noticed
a wooden sign with the silhouette of a woman riding a horse with the words,
THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN SEVENTEEN HANDS BETWEEN YOUR LEGS scrolled on
it. What in the hell did that mean? Olivia shrugged and moved on.

Sitting on the floor next to a stall was a basket of apples.
She picked one up and used her penknife on her keychain to cut it into
quarters. Not that she’d actually put her hand out to a horse. Their teeth were
too big. She shuddered at the thought. There were three stalls along the back
wall, so she headed toward them. The first two were empty, but the third one
was where she found the beautiful beast.

“Hello gorgeous,” Olivia whispered to Cochise. She frowned
when he backed away from her, tossing his head and kicking at the wood shavings
on the floor of his stall.

“Come here, Cochise. I have an apple for you.” She held her
hand out and tried to keep it steady. She wondered if horses smell fear like
dogs did. If so, then Cochise was getting a hell of a dose of it. He stood in
the back corner, his ears pinned back. She gulped. “I won’t hurt you, and
hopefully, you won’t hurt me. Come on. Come and get this apple. You’ll love
it.”

Cochise stared at her, and then whinnied. He pawed at the
shavings. If a horse could glare, he was doing it. Olivia held her hand out
again.

“Listen, Cochise. I’m not a fan of horses. It’s nothing
personal. I’ve just never been around them until lately and the thought of
being on one terrifies the shit out of me but you see, I think you’re perfect.
Just like your master. Is that right? Is he your master, like a dog owner is?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “I really have no idea.”

She smiled when Cochise moved closer to her but he still
didn’t take the apple. His ears were up and he wasn’t stomping anymore. He
seemed to be looking past her. She glanced over her shoulder and gasped. Wyatt
stood in the doorway. He just stood there leaning against the doorjamb with his
arms folded across his chest and his booted feet crossed at the ankles. His hat
sat low on his forehead, but she knew his eyes were on her.
Shit!
Could the floor just open up and
swallow her now?

* * * *

Wyatt stared at her. Why was she here?
God damn it.
He pushed himself away from the doorjamb and sauntered
toward her. He halted in front of her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“What are you doing here?” She threw back at him.

He raised his eyebrow. “I live here.”

“I meant, you’re supposed to be in Butte.” Olivia glanced
away from him.

“I came home last night.”

“I didn’t see your truck.”

Wyatt grunted. “So, if you had seen it, you wouldn’t have
stayed?”

“I…yes.
I mean, no.” She waved her
hand. “I wouldn’t have stayed.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

“I was so bored at home and so I went for a drive. I ended
up here. I wanted to see Cochise again. He won’t even come to me.” Olivia
shifted her eyes toward the horse.

Wyatt took the apple from her hand and held it out to
Cochise. The horse gently took it from him. Wyatt rubbed his velvet nose.
Cochise butted his head against him.

“He’s
a Paint
, isn’t he?” Olivia
asked.

Wyatt glanced at her. “He’s an American Quarter Horse.”

Olivia frowned. “I thought if they were spotted like this,
they were Paints or pintos.”

“Paints are a breed of horse, like a Quarter Horse is a
breed. Pinto is a coloring.” He jerked his chin at Cochise. “His coloring is
pinto.”

“You lost me.” Olivia frowned at him.

“Not all pintos are Paints, but most Paints are pinto.”
Wyatt rubbed the horse’s nose. “Hey, buddy.
Looks like that
ride’s going to have to wait.”
Wyatt glanced at Olivia. He heard her
sigh.

“I’ll go so you can go for your ride.” She turned to leave
but Wyatt grasped her arm, and turned her to face him.

“I’d rather go for a ride with you, Olivia,” he said in a
low voice.

Olivia stared at him. “What?”

Wyatt huffed. “I can’t get you out of my damn head.”

“Really?”
Olivia murmured.

“Yes.”

She smiled up at him and his heart slammed into his ribs.
This was not a good idea but he had to have her. Maybe once he had, he’d get
over this obsession with her. He mentally shook his head. He seriously doubted
that. Her hand slipped behind his neck as he leaned down to kiss her. Both of
them groaned when their lips met. Wyatt’s arms slipped around her waist. He
lifted her up. Her arms wrapped around his neck, knocking his hat to the floor.
Her hands fisted in his hair as he deepened the kiss, and Olivia’s legs wrapped
around his waist. Wyatt knew it would be like this. She tasted so good, and he
wanted to taste every inch of her soft skin.

She pulled back from him and looked at him with those
amazing eyes. “Tell me again how you don’t want me, cowboy,” she whispered, her
voice suddenly husky sounding.

Wyatt gazed into her eyes. Olivia was so beautiful, she took
his breath away. He carried her into an empty stall and leaned her against the
wall. His lips trailed down her neck and back to her ear. He felt her shiver
when he took the lobe between his teeth. Her moans were setting him on fire. He
set her down and pulled her jacket off, then her shirt over her head. He
groaned when he saw her breasts popping out the top of her demi-cup bra.

“Dear God, you’re perfect,” he whispered as he unhooked the
front clasp and her breasts fell free. They were beautiful, just as he knew
they would be. Her nipples were a rosy hue and already peaked. His hands cupped
them and he rubbed the pads of his thumbs over the nipples, making them harden
more. He leaned down and took one into his mouth. He lapped at it with his
tongue, and then pulled at it gently with his teeth. Her hands clenched in his
hair. He ran his hands down her sides until he encountered the snap of her
jeans. He slowly unzipped them, before moving his hand inside, dipping inside
her panties to what he’d only imagined. Wyatt moved his finger up and down
between her wet folds.

“You’re so wet, darlin’. You’re killing me,” he growled.

Olivia’s hands went to his belt, unhooking it before she
unsnapped his jeans and lowered the zipper. His hard cock strained against the
material. When her hand wrapped around him, he almost came.

“
Very
impressive, cowboy.
But then, I knew you would be,” she whispered
against his lips.

Wyatt stepped back from her and she whimpered. He grinned.
“I’m not done with you yet.” He shoved her jeans down and pulled her boots off.
He slung the jeans across the stall and turned to gaze down at her. Dear God,
the woman had a hell of a body. She stood before him in nothing but black
boy-cut panties. He almost fell to his knees to praise God for her. She stepped
toward him, pushed his jeans down, and then stared up at him.

“Condom?”

Wyatt reached behind him, pulled his wallet out of his
jeans, and retrieved a condom. He handed it to her. She smiled at him, and
after tearing the packet open, she slowly rolled the condom down over him. He
growled. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

She laughed.
“Maybe.”
Then she
glanced up at him with a sexy tilt to her head. “Show me what you got, cowboy.”

Wyatt grinned. “You’ve seen what I’ve got.”

“Please show me you know how to use every delectable inch of
it.”

He picked her up, carried her toward the wall, and leaned
into her. He moved his arms under her knees, opening her wide for him, before slowly
inching into her. When he could go no deeper, they both groaned.

“You feel so fucking good,” Wyatt whispered against her
lips. He started pumping into her and she moved her hips with him. When she
took his bottom lip between her teeth and sucked it into her mouth, he almost
lost it. “Jesus, I’m not going to last,” he growled.

He felt her tighten around him right before she cried out.
He moved harder, faster, and deeper into her. His orgasm ripped him to shreds.
It had never felt like this with anyone. Not even Stephanie.
Son of a bitch!
He knew right then, he’d
never get enough of Olivia. He leaned his forehead against hers. She opened her
eyes, gazed up, and smiled at him.

“Hi,” she whispered between breaths.

He smiled.
“Hi yourself, darlin’.”

Olivia laughed. “Wow.”

Wyatt chuckled.
“Yeah.
Wow is
right.”

She stared into his eyes. “They are black,” she said in awe.

“Yes,” he said, knowing exactly to what she was referring.

* * * *

Olivia stared at him. It had finally happened and it had
been well worth the wait. She’d never get enough of him now. She blinked at the
tears in her eyes. Sighing, she started to lower her legs and he let her down.
She watched as he zipped his jeans. To say he had one hell of a body would be
an understatement. She sighed. Now what? After picking up her clothes, she
dressed then glanced around.