Page 18 of Wild Bliss

Wyatt shrugged, obviously not bothered. “I know enough toknow she’s kind and funny, and she’s good with pretty much everyone she meets.She’s excited about being here in Bliss, and she wants to go ice skating butshe obviously needs someone to help her get through her first winter here. Shedoesn’t even have a real coat. I’m surprised her sister hasn’t taken hershopping, but then she’s been super-busy with the school. She stays late mostnights.”

Holy shit. This was worse than he thought. “Have you beenstalking her?”

Wyatt frowned. “No. I just… I just am sometimes going thesame direction and sit close to her at Trio, and I mean it’s not like I don’thave ears and stuff.”

Sawyer pointed a finger his way. “You have to stop. Thesheriff won’t put up with it if he thinks you’re stalking the women of Bliss.”

Wyatt had the good grace to blush. “I’m not. It’s only theone woman, and it’s not stalking. It’s intense interest with a dash ofeavesdropping. Nothing more.”

And there it was. He was neatly trapped. It was plain to seeif he didn’t seduce Sabrina Leal, Wyatt would end up in prison.

His brain was really going that way. The part of Sawyerstill thinking with his brain knew this was what could only be calledbargaining. The dick part didn’t care. The dick part was more than happy tobargain away because he’d found a road leading him straight into Sabrina’spretty panties. And he wasn’t doing it for love or any other bullshit. He wasdoing it because he owed Wyatt.

And so his brain and dick made the bargain. “You know shecan never be anything more than a couple nights of fun.”

Wyatt’s gaze turned distinctly suspicious. “Is this the partwhere you tell me no teacher is going to ever want to build a life with twoformer criminals and we should accept the fact that all we can ever be is funsex for her?”

He finally got it. “Pretty much. And it’s not just theteacher part. Her sister is a deputy with the county. She’s literally lawenforcement. I’m certain she’s already seen your rap sheet.”

“I wasn’t convicted of anything,” Wyatt argued.

“Only because the MC had an excellent lawyer,” Sawyerpointed out. “Sabrina will be horrified when her sister hands her your records,and don’t think she won’t if she finds out her little sister is involved withtwo shady characters.”

“I’m not shady anymore. And I think you’re wrong about thesheriff. I actually think he likes me. He called me the sweet one. Said there’salways one in a Bliss partnership, and it’s obviously me.” Wyatt stopped.“Wait. Do you think they think…”

Sawyer was going to have a serious talk with the sheriff.“They don’t think we’re a couple. He’s talking Bliss nonsense. It’s somethingStella said a couple of years ago. She believes every Bliss male partnershipconsists of an asshole and what she calls the sweet one, meaning the one thewoman they select can walk all over. It’s bullshit.”

“So I really am the sweet one,” Wyatt said, his lips curlingup.

“Well, we both know I’m the asshole.” He was comfortablewith it. He was even oddly comfortable with the idea of sharing a woman withWyatt. For the short term, of course. “Look, it’s obvious to me you want thiswoman. Physically, I want her, too. And now I think she might be able to handlewhat I need. She’s different than I thought she would be, so if you can acceptthe reality of the situation, I think we can talk to her about a suitablearrangement.”

Wyatt sighed. “You want to offer her sex.”

“It’s all we can offer her.”

“Because she’s a schoolteacher and we’re unconvicted formercriminals,” Wyatt finished. “There’s not a lot of redemption in this world, isthere?”

Sawyer wished so much she hadn’t shown up on his mountain.“I’m not saying you can’t find a woman and settle down. I just don’t think it’sgoing to be her.”

“You didn’t saywe,” Wyatt pointed out.

“Because I’m more than willing to share a woman for sex, butI’m not going to have a relationship with one. I’m not built for it.” He wasn’tthe kind of man who talked and shared, and that was what women needed. He couldgive them sex and help them out from time to time, but it was all he was goodfor.

Wyatt nodded, seeming to come to a decision. “All right. Howabout we make a deal? We’re honest with her. Honest about who we are and whatwe want, but we’re not going to hit her with it all at once. We’ve got a coupleof days with her. Let’s have a nice meal and see where it goes.” Wyatt staredat him for a moment as though trying to read his mind. “You want to put it allout there, don’t you?”

Sawyer shrugged one big shoulder. “I think it’s best, butI’m going to let you steer this ship. I’m only here for the sex.”

“And if she doesn’t want only sex?” Wyatt asked.

“Then you should probably see her on your own, but bebrutally honest with her before she says yes. Her sister will give her thereport on you at some point. It’ll hurt so much more if you wait.” Sawyer had afeeling it wasn’t going to come to that. “But I think she’s interested. There’sreal heat between us, and I don’t think she’ll be able to stay away. Her sisteris in a ménage. She’s got to be curious. I’ll be less of an asshole, and maybeshe’ll get cold and need some body heat.”

“I will take the lead and if she’s…amenable…I’ll date her onmy own.” Wyatt grinned. “Amenable means agreeable. I’ve been doing word of theday. I think I’ll bring up my interest in education. It’s something we have incommon.”

He turned back to his stew.

Bella came bounding in as Sawyer heard the door to thebathroom shut and lock. The dog bounced in front of him and then ran toward theback of the house and then to Sawyer.

“Bella likes her. She’s doing her ‘someone I like locked meout, and can’t you bust through so I can be with my friend’ dance,” Wyatt said.

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