Chapter Sixteen
Lord, was it morning already? Wyatt peered around the dim interior trying to get his bearings. Cherrywood dresser, flower-patterned wallpaper. Guesthouse master bedroom.
Maddie. Wyatt closed his eyes and gathered her close. She burrowed into his side, and he marveled at how perfectly she fit into the crook of his arm. How right it felt to wake with her in his arms. Spending the night with her hadn’t been a fate worse than death. Just the opposite. He felt more alive than ever.
But was he truly in love with her? He didn’t know. All he knew for sure was that he was happier now than he’d been since…they first got together. Before everything went wrong.
Maddie mumbled something incoherent, and he smiled. Whatever these emotions were swirling around inside, he’d keep them to himself for now. No use in saying anything until he was sure. He didn’t want to scare her off.
Wyatt yawned. What time was it? He glanced at the bedside table. Six thirty. Ugh. Too early to be awake. His meeting with Chip wasn’t until nine, and he’d barely gotten any sleep. What had woken him anyway? Bella? He tilted his head toward the bottom of the bed. No. She lay snoozing at their feet. Jacob? He listened. Silence greeted him. Whatever it was didn’t matter now. Maybe he could get a little more shuteye.
Wyatt closed his eyes. He let out a contented groan as Maddie trailed her fingertips across his chest, over his abs. He shuddered when she cupped his already hard cock, and his eyes snapped open. “God, I love it when you touch me.”
“Good, because I like touching you. A lot.”
He chuckled. “I’ll say.” They’d spent most of the night caressing, stroking, and tasting each other, and the sex got better and better each time they came together.
“I’m going to sample every inch of your delectable body.” She kissed him. “Again.” She nibbled on his earlobe. “And again.”
A loud cry filled the air. Maddie’s hands stilled, and she let out a frustrated groan.
“Looks like our son has other plans.”
She flopped onto her back. “He’s got lousy timing.”
Wyatt laughed. “Oh yeah.”
Maddie sat up and tossed back the covers.
He stilled her. “You stay here. I’ll get him for you.” Wyatt vaulted off the bed and strode across the hall to the second bedroom. “Good morning slugger.”
Jacob stopped crying and stared up at him, eyes wide.
Wyatt brushed a curl from Jacob’s face and grinned. “I’ll bet you’re surprised to see Daddy this morning and not Mama.” He tweaked his chin. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.” He leaned over the rail, lifted Jacob into his arms, and whispered conspiratorially, “If I have my way, I’ll be around all the time.” Wyatt waggled his brows and Jacob smiled. His heart turned over. “Let’s get you changed so Mama can feed you.”
He searched for the bin Maddie had loaded with baby stuff during the hasty move from Scott Hill, and then dragged it over to the four-poster Queen Anne bed. Wyatt laid Jacob on the mattress, and grabbed the box of diapers. “Uh-oh. Only a couple more left. I’ll have to pick some up later.” He changed Jacob. “All right, slugger, let’s go and find your mama.”
When he returned to the master he found Maddie, cell in hand, leaning against a stack of pillows with the sheet tucked around her.
“I should be there. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
She paused, and Wyatt assumed she was listening to whoever was on the other end.
“It’s too early. I can’t call anyone for service until after eight.” She shook her head. “Fine, Bryce.”
Wyatt stiffened. What was the bastard up to?
“I’ll get there as quick as I can.” Maddie disconnected, and placed the phone on the bedside table. “Come to Mama, little one. We’ve got a busy morning ahead of us.”
Wyatt handed Jacob to Maddie. “Problem at the vineyard?” He still found it hard to believe George had put Bryce in charge of Scott Hill. Why him, of all people?
“A couple of the distillation stills aren’t functioning. I’ve got to get someone out to look at them. Not sure if we can repair them or if I’ll need to replace them. There are a few other things I need to take care of while I’m there, too. I’ll probably be tied up most of the day.”
Wyatt strode over to the pile of clothes tossed on the floor and dressed. “Okay. I’m heading out now. I’ve got to stop by the bungalow for a shower and a change of clothes. By the way, we’re running low on diapers. There’s only a couple left. I’ll pick some up later when I go into town to get gas for the truck.”
“We only have two diapers left? Crap. I guess with everything going on I forgot to buy more. I’ll go to the market before I head to Scott Hill. Jacob usually goes through several throughout the day, and I don’t want to run out.”
“Sounds good.”
“Tell you what. If you stay here with him, I’ll take your truck into town now. I can fill the tank, purchase what I need, and have it back before your meeting.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’ve got to pick up the diapers anyway.”
Wyatt fished out the keys and tossed them on the bed. “Great.” Welcome to domestic bliss. Who would have guessed he’d enjoy the mundane? Not him, but then again nothing about Maddie or Jacob was ordinary.
Maddie handed Jacob over when she finished feeding him. “He’s all yours. I’m going to take a quick shower and then head out.” She gave him a quick kiss and disappeared into the bathroom.
“Well slugger, it’s just you and me.”
Jacob stared at him, a good-luck-sucker expression on his face. Christ, he was letting his imagination run wild today. How hard could it be to watch a five-month-old for an hour or so?
#
Maddie exited the market with a full carriage. She glanced at her watch. Eight o’clock. Right on time. She’d arrive home in plenty of time for Wyatt to make his meeting even with the additional few minutes she’d spent picking up a few extra items.
“Hello, Maddie.”
Her gaze jerked toward the woman who approached. Zoe. Shit. “Hi.”
“How are you?” Zoe’s voice dripped with accusation and hurt.
Maddie’s stomach did a loop de loop. Damn it, damn it, damn it. She hadn’t set out to hurt Zoe. Zoe had left her no choice. How could they stay friends given how Zoe felt about Wyatt?
An image of Zoe and Wyatt naked together formed in her head. She shuddered. Stop it, stop it, stop it. Nothing happened. Maybe not, but they’d been interested in each other, enough for things to get hot and heavy, and enough for them to take their clothes off. Doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.
“I’m fine. You?”
“Well, thank you.” Zoe straightened her shoulders. “I have to get going. Have a nice day.”
“You, too.”
Zoe disappeared into the store. Maddie sighed and made her way to the truck. She loaded the bags into the extended cab, and hopped in.
Maddie turned up the volume on the radio and hummed to the music as she drove out of the parking lot and turned on to Main Street.
Traffic crawled at a snail’s pace. Worse, she hit every red light. Crap. What was she thinking driving through town during rush hour traffic? So much for making it home with time to spare.
When the signal turned green Maddie decided to take a shortcut to Leone Estates. She could make up time on the less traveled back roads.
A white four-door sedan pulled up behind her and beeped. She checked the speedometer. “Sorry buddy, this is a thirty-mile-an-hour zone and I’m already close to forty. I’m not going any faster.” The driver beeped again, only this time he, or maybe it was a she, Maddie couldn’t tell, laid on the horn. The loud wail pierced the air. She waved the automobile by. It veered out and passed her, the tires screeching. She shrugged. “You should have left sooner if you’re in that big of a hurry.”
The vehicle spun around, and barreled right at her. Maddie screamed as the other car clipped her. She swerved. Tried to get the truck under control, but it handled differently from her Civic. The steering wheel wasn’t doing what she wanted. The truck skidded. Went off the road. She slammed on the brakes. The massive tree grew closer. The world went black.