Wyatt refused to accept that fate for his brother. Hell, he couldn’t live with himself if, having encouraged Ryder to compete in the first place, Wyatt didn’t soon figure out how to coax Ryder into wading back into life.
The sound of laughter pulled Wyatt back to the present. He glanced around the crowd and saw Emma talking with Andy. Andy gave Emma his full attention. His eyes didn’t wander the room, not even when another attractive woman passed by. Whatever he’d said had her laughing and smiling.
In one short week, Wyatt had watched Emma dedicate herself to taking care of everyone, including him. She deserved someone who made her smile. She looked happy now, but for whatever reason he couldn’t explain, Wyatt’s jaw clenched. He should be the guy doing that for her, not Andy.
“You’re looking a little green around the gills,” Trip muttered.
Wyatt snapped his head back. “How about you take care of your own love life?”
“That’s what I’m doing. Kelsey wants Emma to have a little romance. I want Kelsey to have whatever she wants. Maybe you’re the guy to break Emma out of her shell.” Trip glanced at Emma and Andy. “Or maybe she’s better off with someone like Andy.”
Wyatt grunted and then grimaced, wishing he hadn’t walked right into Trip’s little trap.
Trip just smiled. “What I can’t figure out is why you’re wasting time standing here talking to Grey and me.”
“Is he always like this?” Wyatt asked Grey.
“Pushy?” Grey asked.
“Gossipy, like a girl,” Wyatt said.
Grey burst into laughter and Trip just shrugged, unrelenting and comfortable in his own skin.
Wyatt was about to wander over to Emma when an attractive woman joined Trip, Grey, and him.
“Hey, guys.” A brunette in high heels and a skintight, waist-baring outfit sidled up with her friend. “Congrats, Trip. Still can’t believe you’re off the market.”
“Something tells me you’re going to be just fine without me, Sandy.” Then he nodded to Wyatt. “Have you met Wyatt Lawson?”
“I heard you were in town, but you’ve been laying low. How do you all know each other?” She brushed against Wyatt, using the crowd as cover for her flirtatious maneuver.
“Trip’s helping me with my training,” Wyatt replied and cast a quick glance over Sandy’s shoulder to look for Emma, who’d disappeared.
“Can I get your autograph?” Sandy asked.
It had been a while since he’d been asked. It felt a little awkward in this context, especially when he noticed Trip barely containing a smirk.
“Sure. Do you have paper and a pen?” Wyatt hadn’t felt this self-conscious in a while.
“Hang on.” Sandy strolled to the bar and reappeared with a Sharpie. “Here you go.”
“Napkin?”
“How about you sign right here.” Sandy pointed to her midriff. Classy.
“Uh, I don’t know.” Wyatt glanced at the guys. “This doesn’t seem like the time and place for that.”
“Seriously?” Sandy frowned, then shrugged and then held out her arm. “Okay, how about here?”
The temperature in the restaurant must’ve been turned up, because perspiration had broken out on his back. He did not want to be seen signing any woman’s body parts at an engagement party, let alone have Emma catch him doing so. Sandy, however, remained persistent, her arm still dangling before him. “Okay.”
As quickly as possible, he signed her forearm and handed her the pen. Behind her, he could see Trip and Grey suppressing their laughter.
“Wanna dance?” Sandy asked, gesturing toward the small area where several people, including Emma and Andy, were enjoying the music. Before he could respond, she grasped his wrist. “Come on, Wyatt. You’re in Sterling Canyon. Time to loosen up.”
“Have fun.” Trip’s low reply followed Wyatt as Sandy led him straight toward Emma.
When Emma saw them, he noticed her body tense for a second before she resumed dancing with Andy. The lights above cast a golden glow around her, making the blonde highlights in her red hair shimmer and glint just like the beading on her dress. The muscles in her legs flexed with each step.
Emma never gave off a highly sexual vibe, but she reminded him of a dormant volcano. Instinct or ESP told him that, down deep, something hot churned, waiting for release. Wyatt suddenly wanted nothing so much as to cause that eruption. He didn’t know why he had a feeling it would be the most exciting thing to see, but his desire would not be ignored. He could barely hear the music or notice the crowd thanks to the voice in his head shouting mine, mine, mine!