Chapter Twelve
Wyatt walked in to Russo’s at five thirty on the nose. He had thirty minutes to grab dinner, pick up Bella, and make it to the guesthouse on time for his date with Maddie.
“Pizza for Leone.” He didn’t recognize the pimply teen behind the counter.
“That you, Wyatt?”
“Nick?”
Nick Russo poked his head out from the office. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“What’s one of Glengrove’s finest doing here? Shouldn’t you be keeping the town safe from crime, and all that?”
“How about I arrest you?” The detective winked, a wide smile splitting his face.
Wyatt shook his head and chuckled at the joke. “Ha ha.”
“I’m helping out while Dad’s away. Nick whistled. “Where are you going all dressed up?”
Shit. Wyatt ran a sweaty palm over the thigh of his black jeans. Maybe he’d overdressed? Of course he had. Who wore long pants and a dress shirt to a picnic?
Nick ambled out of the office. “I’ll take care of him, Jerry. You clean off the dirty tables.” Jerry scurried off. “I’ll check on your pie.” Nick glanced at Wyatt, and then gestured to the bar. “Have a seat while you wait. I’ll buy you a beer.”
Wyatt sat on one of the empty stools and ordered a Bud Light on draft. Hopefully, it would help him relax. What the hell was wrong with him anyway? It was just dinner. No biggie. He grabbed a napkin off the bar and wiped the sweat from his brow. Who the hell was he trying to kid? How pathetic was it that at twenty-eight, he’d never been out on a date before? Not a real one, where you went out together. Where you talked and got to know each other.
“Hey Wyatt.”
The voice jerked him from his stupor. He glanced to the young man at the far end of the bar. “Hey, Miguel. Everything okay? The kid looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Probably did with the police arresting his father again. Another drunk and disorderly. No surprise there. Alberto had got himself fired from yet another vineyard. Wyatt sighed. The weight of the world indeed.
Miguel nodded and drank the last of his beer. “See you tomorrow, boss.” He stood and walked to the door.
The bartender set a tall frosty glass in front of him. “Thanks.” Wyatt lifted the mug to his lips and swallowed a mouthful.
“Seriously?” Nick grabbed the vacant seat beside him. “You can take your pick of all the beers I have on tap or in bottle, and this is what you choose?”
He arched a brow. “It’s what I like.”
The bartender poured another glass of something for Nick.
Nick lifted his mug. “So.” He gestured to Wyatt’s attire. “What’s the special occasion?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Maybe if he said it enough he’d believe it was true? He took a long pull of his brew.
“Yeah right. What gives? You never dress up.”
His gaze narrowed. “Give me a break. What’s with the third degree?”
“I like to see you squirm.”
“Whatever.”
“Oh, come on, man. What’s the term the old ladies down at the diner use?” He scratched his head as if trying to recall. “Oh yeah, dish. So, out with it.”
“Gossipmonger.”
Nick grinned. “Hell yeah. What do you expect when you live in a small town?”
“Fine. I have a date.”
“Interesting.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Nick shrugged and held up a hand in mock surrender. “Biting off my head, too. Must be a pretty damned important date.”
Wyatt gave a casual shrug. Understatement of the year.
“Does she have a name?” Nick elbowed Wyatt in the rib and waggled his brows. “Like maybe Maddie Scott-Smith?”
“Shit.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Is it true that you’re Maddie’s baby daddy?”
“No beating around the bush with you, is there?”
Nick shook his head. “Didn’t think I had to.”
No, he didn’t. He and Nick went way back. Nick had been the one person who hadn’t treated him differently after the fire, and that included his family. Nick had never given a damn about Wyatt’s scars. And Wyatt could be himself around him. Which included taking a shot of ribbing every once in a while.
“Baby daddy?” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Seriously, you need to stop watching all that reality TV. Yes, I’m Jacob’s father.”
“And you and Maddie?”
Damn good question. Too bad he didn’t know the answer.
###
Wyatt flexed his hands and leaned his elbows on the steering wheel of his F150. This was a mistake. “I shouldn’t have come.”
Bella cocked her head to the side as if trying to understand.
He scratched behind the dog’s ear. “I can’t do the relationship thing, girl.” He’d been crazy to believe he could.
The door to the guesthouse opened, and Maddie stepped onto the porch. Her wavy hair hung loose around her shoulders and gleamed in the evening sun. Beautiful. She smiled and, holy hell, a warm pressure filled his chest to bursting point.
Wyatt shook his head. He was acting like he hadn’t seen her in months. They’d had lunch together less than five hours ago—which was a miracle after the way things started out. Damned Bryce Beaumont.
Wyatt grabbed the bouquet off the bench beside him and hopped out of the truck. “Come on, girl. It’s show time. We both have to be on our best behavior.” Taking a deep breath, he strode down the cobblestone path to the guesthouse entrance.
“Hi, Wyatt. You’re right on time.”
“Hi.”
Maddie spotted Bella. Her eyes lit with pleasure, and some of the tension inside him disappeared.
“Oh my gosh. Who’s this?” She knelt, and petted the dog. Bella placed her front paws on Maddie’s knees, and licked her face.
Damn. He should have left her back at the house as he’d done this afternoon after his shower. What guy brought a dog on a date? “Down girl. I told you, best behavior.” He gazed at Maddie. “Sorry. I can bring her home if she’s bothering you.”
“No. Let her stay.” Maddie scooped up the dog and stood, her smile firmly in place. “Aren’t you a friendly pooch?” Bella licked her again and Maddie giggled. “She’s so cute. Is she yours?”
Wyatt nodded, relieved to see the joy shining in Maddie’s bright smile. He’d been worried. What would he have done if she didn’t like dogs?
“I don’t recall you having a pup before.”
“I didn’t. I never even contemplated owning an animal, but I fell head over heels when I saw Bella on the pet adoption segment of the news.”
“She’s a rescue?”
“Yes.” His skin crawled every time he thought about the shelter putting her down. Wyatt shuddered. How could no one want her? Okay, she wasn’t the prettiest dog in the pound, but she was the nicest, and he adored her.
“That’s so sweet.” Maddie nuzzled Bella. “When did you get her?”
“About a year ago.”
She shot him a quizzical gaze. Yes, he’d gotten Bella right after Maddie left. She’d been his constant companion ever since.
Maddie placed Bella on the ground, and Bella ran around her in circles. “Peppy, too.”
“Yep. She’s perpetual motion. Just keeps going and going. I hope you don’t mind my bringing her to meet Jacob, and you, of course. She’s part of the family.”
“Are you kidding? I love dogs. I begged Gramps for one when I was a kid, but he wasn’t keen on the idea.” A wistful expression crossed her lovely face. “It would have been fun to have someone to play with.”
Wyatt couldn’t conceive of what life would be like as an only child. He’d always had Dante and India. They’d played together. Fought tooth and nail growing up, but they’d had each other to navigate the tough times. He’d lay his life on the line for either of them, and they’d do the same for him. Maddie wouldn’t have had that. Her grandfather…
George Scott was a bastard, but Maddie had never seen him as such. He’d been her beloved Gramps. He hoped Bryce wasn’t setting her up to take an even bigger fall. “How are you doing?” He scuffed his feet on the concrete porch. “With everything that’s, ah, happened with your grandfather?” He hadn’t bothered to ask her that yet, and he should have.
Maddie gazed at him, uncertainty etched in those fathomless blue eyes. “I’m okay.”
Like hell. He cupped her cheek. “The truth.”
“I’m…” Her voice wobbled, and she dragged in a gulp of air. “I’m scared. What if…” Her voice hitched and she didn’t finish the sentence.
Wyatt pulled her into his embrace and held her tight. “I’ve got you, Maddie. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be all right.”
She eased away and offered him a watery smile. “You’re right. I’m being silly.”
“No. No you’re not. Being scared is normal given what you’ve been through. You can always tell me if something is troubling you.”
Maddie glanced off into the distance. “Really?”
He hated to see the doubt and hesitation return. Wyatt cupped her chin and lifted it until her gaze settled on him. “Of course. This family thing means we’re here for each other.”
“I’ve never—”
“You’ve never what?”
“Gramps, he, ah…”
Didn’t care. Wyatt tensed, then made a concerted effort to relax. She didn’t need him getting angry, even if it was on her behalf.
“So…” Maddie dragged out the word as she wrung her hands together.
Shit. What were they supposed to do now? He didn’t have a lot of experience making small talk. He scratched his head. Say something. Anything. Wyatt shoved his hands in his pockets. Come on. Don’t just stand here looking like a complete idiot who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
“You, ah, look very nice this evening.” Heat scorched his cheeks. The prim and proper comment sounded like something his Nana used to say.
Maddie grinned, and his stomach flip-flopped.
“You like my outfit?”
Oh yeah. The way those jeans clung to her hips, and holy cow, what they did to her ass, and the low V of her top… Lord have mercy. Damn. He’d planned to do this right, which meant not jumping her the second he arrived, but son of a bitch, she wasn’t making it easy. “Uh-huh.”
“You said casual, so I took you at your word.”
“It’s perfect for where we’re going. Are you ready?”
“I have to get Jacob.” She stared down at his hand. “Are those for me?”
Wyatt frowned, and followed her gaze. The flowers. Crap. He’d forgotten all about them. “Yes.” He thrust the bunch toward her.
“They’re gorgeous.” Maddie lifted the blooms to her nose and inhaled deeply. “And they smell so good.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his scarred cheek. “Thanks.”
Her soft caress soothed his battered soul. No. Lord, what was wrong with him tonight? He didn’t have a battered soul, and he didn’t want, or need, any woman to soothe it. Christ, this wasn’t even about him. He and Maddie were together for one purpose and one purpose only. Jacob. Their son was the glue that stuck them together. And he’d damned well better remember that.