“That he, you, me, and Caleb are meant to be a family,” Wyatt proclaims. His voice is solid, and completely self-confident—as if he has not one qualm about any of this.
I just stare at him, wondering if my heart will ever return to its normal beating pattern.
Family. Something I’ve never really had. Something I’ve always wanted.My heart does a weird, traitorous flip, and I feelmyself tipping—falling—for him, which is insane. Completely, absolutely, utterly insane. I’ve known this man for one day. One. Single. Day.
“Wyatt,” I breathe, ready to jump off the edge of a cliff with him, following him wherever he wants to take me. Then my brain finally starts catching up with my heart and latches onto the last word like a lifeline.“Wait …” I blink up at him. “Who’s Caleb?”
Something flickers across his face—worry, maybe. A tiny crack in that smooth, confident exterior that this man has shown me since moment one.
“Caleb is my son,” he says softly, yet the words echo as if they were screamed.
My mind goes blank once more—something that, apparently, I should get used to around Wyatt. Every thought I had in my head scatters like dust in the wind, swirling in so many directions it’s impossible to latch onto anything. All I can do is look at him, feeling the weight of those words, and wondering what the heck is happening between the two of us.
And if I’ll ever survive it.
Questions, Answers, and Christmas Spankings
HORSE
Ilean back on the leather-covered booth seat and watch Gwen move around the food on her plate. She seems to have relaxed more since we got here. I suppose that’s good. She was tight as a rattlesnake coiled up and ready to strike on the ride over. It’s not exactly a calming ride knowing you have a potentially deadly animal right beside you, waiting for the first opportunity to strike you down.
After I told Gwen about Caleb, she steered the conversation to other things. I worried that when I first mentioned my son, she would run away. She hasn’t done that, but she’s not asked one question about him either. That doesn’t sit well with me. I need to find a way to crack this wall of defense that Gwen keeps up at all times. If I don’t, there’s no way I’m going to get to the heart of her—and fuck, I need to do that. I want this woman. I’m pretty sure that she’s the one—but I can’t continue to do all the work.
“Is there a reason you’re staring a hole through me over there?” she asks, making me grin.
We’re at Ray’s Steakhouse—which is a couple of counties over from Valley. I did that on purpose. I wanted to have time with her that was just ours—not running into people weknow. I definitely didn’t want the rumor mill to start saying shit that might get back to Dee. The place is completely decked out. Across from our booth is at least a nine-foot Christmas tree with a ton of western-themed decorations and colored lights twinkling. Those same lights cast a glow around us that somehow makes Gwen look even more beautiful.
“You are fucking beautiful. Do I really need another reason?”
I see the blush that rises to her cheeks. I know she’s fighting her reaction to me, but the fact she’s struggling to do so gives me hope.
“You’re terrible,” she mumbles, a smile tugging at her lips.
“It was the truth … well, mostly.”
“Mostly?” she asks, making me put my fork down and contemplate my words.
“You haven’t asked about my son.”
Her forehead crinkles in what I think is a mixture of confusion and surprise. “Should I have?”
“I told you that the four of us are meant to be a family. I haven’t made a secret of my intentions where you are concerned. I think it would be natural for you to ask me questions,” I grumble, not liking the direction of this conversation at all.
She leans toward me, her voice soft but firm. “Wyatt, we’ve not even known one another for twenty-four hours. If you want to tell me about your son, feel free. I’m game. The thing is, I’m not going to tell you I’m all in with your crazy plans. I don’tknowyou. The only thing I can say for certain is you’re trying to steal my dog.”
“You’ll get to know me,” I shrug, not concerned at all. I’m not concerned that we’ve just met. She’s the one. If it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t, but something deep inside me says it will. Fuck, I knew Dee for years, and look how that shit worked out? Time doesn’t mean a damn thing.
“Okay, big guy, I see that I need to break this down for you.”
I laugh outright. I’m not a man who laughs that often. The only person who ever brings that out in me is my son. Gwen seems to do it with ease. “By all means, honey,” I murmur with a grin. “Break it down.”
She rolls her eyes, which should annoy me, but just turns me on. I like her spunk. I’ve never really been attracted to women who couldn’t dish out their feelings and thoughts. Her sassy mouth and the way she reacts to me—it just makes me want her more.
“In the real world—which I seriously think you may have checked out of—people go on dates. They get to know one another. They see if they have things in common. Spending time together ensures they make sense. Then,eventually, they start slowly getting to know people in one another’s lives. They don’t lock down a forever-type relationship, and they certainly don’t move in together and meet important loved ones within twenty-four hours. You shouldn’t do that, especially with your son. You should be very sure of any woman you bring into your son’s life,” she instructs.
I stare at her for a moment and then ask her the one question I really want the answer to. “How has that worked out for you, Gwen?”
“Huh?”
