Page 12 of Her Loving Hero

Wyatt’s head whirled to look at Dex.

Shit, he should have known that his mentor would have been able to see his cyber trail.

“Is it a crime that I was worried about her? That I thought she might need a friend? It was fortuitous that we both were involved with the Y.”

“Have you ever noticed that the more uncomfortable Wyatt gets with a situation he uses bigger words?” Aiden asked Dex.

“It’s fortuitous that you noticed that,” Dex grinned. “So, Wyatt, why are you so uncomfortable if you were just trying to do a good deed?”

“The more important question,” Dalton said thoughtfully, “is what are you doing with her. She’s fragile.”

“She’s not,” Wyatt said immediately. “She’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. I would put her side-by-side with any of your women any day of the week.”

Aiden bent down and sank the twelve ball. “Are you saying she’s your woman?” Aiden asked smoothly.

“Not at all,” Wyatt denied. “She’s a friend. A good friend.” He watched as Aiden sank the cue ball and he collected it so he could line up his next shot. “Ah fuck, it’s complicated.”

“Wyatt, I don’t care how strong she is, she wasn’t talking not so long ago. I was there on that truck in Saudi Arabia with her. It was bad. She needs…” Aiden’s voice trailed off.

“She needs what, Aiden?” Wyatt demanded.

“She needs someone who will be there for the long haul. You’re only twenty-five. Are you ready to sign up for something like that?”

“I told you, I’m her friend,” Wyatt said as he slammed his stick into the cue ball, hitting the eight ball into the side of the table barely stopping from sinking it into the corner pocket.

“What does ‘complicated’ mean?”

Wyatt sighed. He rested his fists on the side of the pool table. “I think I’m screwing things up. She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before.”

Dex gave him the side-eye. “You’ve changed.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“Seriously. Who you were two years ago, and who you are today? Two different men.”

“It’s your shot,” Wyatt said to distract the conversation.

“Hold up a minute, this is important. You really have changed. You know this man-whore thing was an aberration. You wanted a connection. It was never a matter of scoring notches on your bedpost,” Dalton said

Wyatt felt the back of his neck heating. He really didn’t like this kind of psychoanalysis.

“Thanks Dalton, I feel vindicated now that I have your seal of approval.”

“Stuff it Leeds.” Aiden’s voice was filled with authority. “We all have your back. Never once have we not liked you.”

“Sure doesn’t sound like it,” he mumbled.

“Did you always like yourself?” Dex asked. “Do you like yourself better with Emily? If you ask any of the three of us, we will all say we like who we are better with our wives.”

Holy Fuck.

“I don’t think she’s ready,” Wyatt whispered. “She’s still having panic attacks.”

“Have you ever talked to Hunter about Aliana?” Dalton asked.

“Or you could ask Evie about her sister Chloe. They might have occasional setbacks, but these women are never down for the count.” Then Aiden’s look turned steely. “But make sure you’re ready for the duration. If you think for even a second she’s thinking more than friendship and you’re not thinking along those lines, do the right thing and cut her loose.”

Aiden bent over and hit the stripe ball into the corner pocket, then he sank the eight ball. “Our game,” he said.