Say You Want Me(51)

I close my eyes and allow myself to feel the heat encompass me. Wyatt’s warm hand holds mine as I relax.

“Wake up, sleepy.” His deep voice is low in my ear.

I open my eyes, and it’s now dark. The sky is a dark blue with tiny shimmering lights.

Shit.

“Oh my God!” I sit up quickly. “I fell asleep! On our date!”

He gently squeezes my hand. “It was a three-hour drive, babe. You’re fine.”

“Three hours?”

Now I’m confused.

He climbs out of the truck and helps me down. “We needed to do this right.”

“Wyatt?”

I look around and realize we’re out in the middle of nowhere. In front of us is an adorable cottage. A little smaller than his house but much more opulent. I turn around and see the mountains shining in the moonlight but there aren’t any other lights from other houses that I can see. Off to the left, there’s a large opening with chairs off to the side and a barn a little farther in the background.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“This is my family’s oasis. A few years ago, my brother’s and I bought this property and built the cottage. We figured we could rent it out as a bed and breakfast. Instead, we kept it for ourselves. I wanted to share it with you,” he explains.

“I-I don’t . . .” His family owns this little slice of heaven? “This is . . .”

“It’s something I wanted you to see,” he says as he takes my hand. “I want this to be special for us.”

“I don’t . . . I don’t have clothes.”

I had a nighttime outfit picked out and everything, but that’s back at his house. Not that I think guys typically care, but still, the plan was there. I figured for our first time as a pregnant couple, I would put my sexy nightie on.

“You do. Presley packed you some stuff this afternoon.”

“Wyatt!” I stop moving as tears fill my eyes, but he tugs my hand until I start walking again.

He opens the door to the cottage, flips the lights on, and I gasp. The entire space is modern and warm. Cream-colored walls and rugs with beautiful couches sit in the middle. The massive king-size bed with upholstered headboard is on the far side of the sitting area. Each piece makes the space feel luxurious. I step forward touching the back of the chair, completely bewildered.

Then I see a box of cupcakes from my store. I rush over and run my fingers over the black calligraphy print we use for our labels. “My store.”

He walks over behind me. “Erin sent them here for me. I know you miss home and the bakery.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

I look to the left as he sets down a thermos I hadn’t realized he was carrying. I touch it and know.

“It’s your favorite.”

“It’s perfect.”

He really thought this through.

Between working and dealing with my crazy ass, he planned this.

If there was ever a time I doubted he would win me over, I was blind.

Wyatt steps forward, wraps his arms around my waist, and ducks his head to mine. “I’ve waited a long time for a girl like you. One that I’d want to do these things for. Someone who I want to come home to. When I asked you to come out here, I didn’t know this would be how I’d feel. I figured we’d enjoy each other, see that we’re from two different worlds, and move on. But the idea of you leavin’ makes me crazy.”

My breathing accelerates, and my throat goes dry. He’s feeling it all, too. I see it all in his eyes—the hope, the fear. We’re both in uncharted water, trying to plot the course and hoping we don’t get lost.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you want me.” His eyes hold mine.

I lift my hands, take his face between them, and lock on to his eyes. “I want you.”

And I do. I want him right here and right now. I can’t make grander promises to him, not yet, maybe not ever. My heart and my head don’t add up, but I want him. Maybe it’s supposed to be like this, but I wouldn’t know. I grapple with the conflicting emotions. The want to have this new life and still keep everything I have in Philadelphia.

I’ve worked hard. I love my company. I don’t want to give it all up.

“For how long?” He seems to read my thoughts.

“We’ll have to see.” I smile. “Maybe longer than I thought.”

He doesn’t say anything. He holds me close, and I move my thumb across his stubble. His eyes close as he dips his head toward mine. “I’m really glad you said that,” he utters before his lips touch mine.

Everything shifts. His hands wrap around my back as he mashes me against his hard body. I moan against his lips, and our tongues connect as my hands fist into his hair. Gone is the tender couple speaking their truths. All that exists are two passionate people ready to prove it.