Page 42 of Wild Bliss

“I know you’re not,” Wyatt conceded, “so act normal.”

“Maybe she’s embarrassed she slept with me. Did you think ofthat?”

Wyatt sighed. “You could ask her.” He needed to give the mansome space. He couldn’t solve the situation by pushing him. It would be solvedby having Sabrina around a lot to tempt him. “Or not. It’s fine. I’ll let Melknow Sabrina only had eyes for me. She wasn’t even interested in you.”

“No one is going to believe that.” Sawyer frowned.

“Which way should I handle this, brother? Are we going forhumiliation? Or do we keep up your reputation as an asshole and tell everyoneyou turned her down?” He was being completely unreasonable. It made Wyatthopeful. Sawyer was always steady. He didn’t care what anyone thought. Excepthe didn’t want anyone to think Sabrina didn’t like him.

Sawyer growled. “Fine. She turned me down. It doesn’tmatter. The only thing I care about is her being safe and happy. I’ve got tofind a way to get her car off my mountain. I’m going down to look at it nowthat the snow’s stopped. I’ll take Bella with me.”

“Bella is cuddled up in front of the fire, and she’s goingto want to hang out and wait for Sabrina to drop bacon,” Wyatt pointed out. “Orfeed her leftover eggs from a spoon when she thinks you’re not watching.”

Sawyer sighed. “She’s going to ruin that dog.”

And yet Sawyer hadn’t stopped her. Not once. “If you waitand have breakfast with us it will likely feel more normal to Mel. He’llprobably believe nothing’s wrong and you’re just a friend.”

“And when I look at her like I want to lay her out and makea feast of her?” Sawyer asked.

Now they were getting somewhere. He’d been waiting for daysfor Sawyer to talk honestly. “Man, I do not get this. Come on. You care abouther. She cares about you. Why all the tough act? I know you think you’ll end upbeing bad for her, but why borrow trouble? Instead why not make the decision tonot be bad for her.”

It felt like the simplest thing to do.

Sawyer’s head shook. “That might be the most naïve thingI’ve ever heard you say. Do you think I wanted to be bad for my brother? Do youthink I want the shit that happens in Hell on Wheels to happen? I’m a magnetfor bad shit, and I’m not going to bring it into her life. At some point it’scoming back to bite me in the ass, and I’m going to make sure she’s well clearof the damage.”

“Or you could understand bad things happen to everyone, andit’s better to have people you love around you when it does.” Again, a truththat should be simple.

“Would you put her in your brother’s way?” Sawyer asked.

The very idea of Sabrina being in the same room as hisbrother sent a chill down his spine. “Of course not. I would make sure hecouldn’t get to her. But it doesn’t matter because I’m out of the life.”

“You might be done with the life, but it’s rarely done withyou,” Sawyer said gravely. “And that’s why I should stay away.”

The subtext was obvious. If Sawyer’s past was dangerous,then Wyatt’s was beyond. Sawyer had gotten out on fairly good terms. Wyatt hadpaid in blood and sacrifice and sin. At least they thought he’d sinned, and ifthey ever found out…

Which they wouldn’t. He’d been careful. He hadn’t left thelife so he could be alone and miserable. He’d left so he could have a life, andpart of the life he wanted was finding a family. Sabrina was part of hisfamily. He knew it deep in his bones. She was important. Sawyer was important.But he couldn’t force Sawyer to see it. “I’m going to date her. I wish youwould join me because she has feelings for you, but even if you never touch heragain, I’ll be there for her. Now come out and have breakfast and explain herdad to me. Then I’ll help you see what we can do about getting her car down themountain.”

“Oh, Dad told me Long-Haired Roger is going to come and getit tomorrow. He or Elisa will take me to school tomorrow morning,” Sabrina saidbreezily as she walked past them. She stopped and gave Wyatt a kiss on thecheek. “Don’t forget what I said about the bacon. Between that and provingyou’re not trying to force me to incubate baby aliens, he will adore you. He’sactually easy to get along with. Good morning, Sawyer.”

She gave Sawyer a brief nod and then walked into thebedroom.

Sawyer’s eyes followed her, his jaw going tight. It wasobvious he hadn’t liked being left out.

Which was precisely why Wyatt’s evil plan was going to work.

He gave Sawyer a pat on the arm and went to ensure hispotential future father-in-law got some forbidden bacon.

Chapter Eight

Sawyer waved as Long-Haired Roger pulled away, starting totow Sabrina’s car down the mountain.

It had been a day and a half since she’d left, and he wasfairly certain she’d already sent Wyatt a number of texts. They weren’t havingtrouble communicating at all. He’d heard his partner talking on the phone withher late the night before. Luckily Wyatt had put his cell on speaker so Sawyerhad been able to hear her voice, listen in as she described her day of lessonplanning and talking to her sister. Apparently, she’d decided to tell Elisa shewas having dinner with Wyatt because they’d had such a lovely time togetherbeing snowed in. She’d told Elisa they’d talked and played games and watchedmovies. She’d talked about the lovely meals they’d prepared together.

She hadn’t mentioned Sawyer even once.

She apparently hadn’t told her sister how he’d fucked her atevery given opportunity. She’d skipped the part where she’d lain in his armsand talked about her job and how much she loved it while he’d kissed her andstroked her breasts and memorized every fucking word she’d said. She hadn’tmentioned how those movies they’d watched almost always had to be paused so shecould ride his cock while she blew Wyatt’s.

How he’d been planning to lay siege to her tight asshole hadher dad not shown up and snowmobiled her away. He was entirely certain thatmotor wasn’t legal.

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