Chapter 12

Ruby

Sunlight filters through my curtains, a gleaming trail washing over my still shut eyes. I groan in annoyance.

Do I really have to go to work?

Maybe I’ll just stay in bed. I could sleep in late, ignore my phone calls. Who needs a job, anyway?

My sleep-addled mind turns the idea over relentlessly, like it does most mornings.

As usual, I finally decide against it. For some reason, I’m just hell bent on keeping a roof over my head.

Go figure.

I open my eyes slowly, instantly feeling confusion wash over me.

It takes a long moment before I’m awake enough to put it all together.

Right, I actually don’t have to go to work today!

I’m on vacation. Back up at my family’s lake house with Mom, Dad, and Jake.

And—I sit up in a hurry.

Wyatt.

Something solid falls into my lap the moment I’m upright, and I glance down to find my journal, still open to the last page I was reading.

Must have fallen asleep mid-sentence then.

Hell of a bedtime story.

I lay back down, smiling now at the thought of Wyatt.

How could I forget?

The very notion that he’s somewhere in this house with me makes my skin tingle with delight.

I sigh contently, rolling over to grab my phone from the nightstand.

The moment the screen unlocks, the smile falls from my face.

Four messages from Fentress.

Of course, even on vacation, I can’t seem to get away from that guy.

I click the icon, groaning as I read the text:

Can’t wait to get those pictures!

Then, two hours later:

Well, this is disappointing. I was looking forward to those, Ruby. Now, you’ve made me a bit upset.

I roll my eyes, scrolling further down:

Well, I guess I’ll just be going to bed without them. Very disappointing.

And finally:

You and I are going to have a conversation about this when you get back.

I toss the phone down gently beside me, regretting even reading the messages.

What kind of asshole even does that?

Well, one thing’s for sure, I will most definitely not be responding.

I might have to deal with Fentress when I get home, not to mention five days of every week, but I sure as fuck don’t have to deal with him on my vacation.

I push the texts and all the baggage that accompanies them to the back of my mind, refusing to dwell on it further.

Today is not about Mr. Fentress, it’s about me.

And, hopefully, Wyatt.

The thought brings the smile quickly back to my lips.

After some of the glances exchanged yesterday, I’m actually feeling pretty hopeful about this situation.

This might just work out.

Though not if I stay in bed all day, I think, sitting up with a sigh.

What I need now is a shower, clean clothes, and a strong cup of coffee.

I stand and cross to my dresser, rifling through the drawers until I find something causal enough to look effortless, and sexy enough to catch Wyatt’s eye.

My very tightest jeans and a top just low cut enough to be appropriate.

Grinning, I turn and head for the bathroom.

A minute later, I’m naked and stepping underneath the steaming water. Heat runs through me, instantly clearing my still sleepy mind.

Not surprisingly, my thoughts turn immediately to Wyatt. Seeing him again has affected me even more strongly than I would have guessed. I feel completely overwhelmed by my attraction to him.

I’ve thought of little else since he first stepped into my office. Or honestly, since Jake first mentioned he would be accompanying us here.

All of my dormant feelings have woken with a vengeance, surprising even me with their power.

I want Wyatt like I’ve never wanted any other man. I need him.

My entire body, every single nerve, seems to burn for his touch.

I imagine it again as I stand beneath the gushing water, picturing his hands roving roughly across me.

More than anything, I want to feel him for real. I want to know what those hands of his can do, want to taste him on my tongue.

I groan in frustration, feeling my pussy grow instantly wet.

All I want is to be near him again. It’s like a craving, I need to be able to look at him. At the very least.

My last bit of reservation seems to shrivel up and die. As much as a part of me would like to remain rational here, there’s just no space in my mind for it. I am already full to the brim with my need for him.

And if anything is ever going to happen between us, it’s going to be now.

I’m sure of it.

There’s never been a better time. Never a more perfect place.

After all, it was here that I fell for him the first time. Here, where we had our first kiss. Countless pages of youthful lusting were scribbled under this roof.

It should definitely be here that all that buildup is finally fulfilled.

I feel the grin spreading widely across my face as I work shampoo into my drenched hair.

It really is perfect.

I couldn’t have planned it better if I had tried.

As it stands though, this whole situation came to be without any help from me. Call me a romantic, but that kind of feels like a sign.

And more importantly, I think he feels it too.

If the way he looks at me now is any indication, I’d say I’m actually pretty damn sure of it.

I finish up and step from the shower, water pooling around my feet as a million different images flash through my mind.

Memories of our time spent here when we were young mingle with fantasies of what might happen now.

I feel my heartbeat accelerate, butterflies flapping wildly in my stomach.

I had given up on the idea of a relationship with Wyatt long ago, thinking that when he left for the SEALs, any chance of us went along with him.

Now, I see how extremely wrong I was.

Turns out, we might only have needed time, to wait, to grow up. Luckily, we’ve had plenty of it. Too much, in my opinion.

Now, there’s nothing left to stand in our way.

I dry off quickly, anxious to get dressed and go downstairs, wondering if Wyatt’s even awake yet.

I certainly hope so. Though if not, I can wait. What’s another hour compared to how long I’ve already pined for this man?

I feel like we’ve been given a second chance here, and I don’t intend to waste it.