Page 20 of Wild Bliss

Sabrina smiled Sawyer’s way for the first time. “I ate a lotof tacos. There was a place off campus where you could get ten tacos for tenbucks, and I would split it with a friend and then we had dinner for two orthree days. I still had some hot sauce packets hanging around when I moved. Itwas so ingrained in me I kept doing it even after I had a good job.”

Wyatt was confused. “Why didn’t your mom give you money?”

“Because she didn’t agree with her life choices,” Sawyersaid. “Didn’t you listen?”

Asshole. “I did but I don’t understand.”

“I think you should,” Sawyer shot back. “Your father sure ashell didn’t give you the option of going to college. Hell, he pulled you out ofhigh school when he was legally able to and put you to work for the club.”

A flush of shame went through Wyatt. Sabrina was aschoolteacher. She valued education, and he didn’t have much of it. “I got myGED. I had to do it on my own.”

Sawyer shrugged like Wyatt had made his point. “See. That’swhat she had to do.”

“She wasn’t the kindest woman,” Sabrina said quietly. “Mymother had firm beliefs on how the world worked, and any time I challengedthose beliefs I was punished in some way.”

Sawyer pointed Wyatt’s way. “See. Same.” He set his beerdown. “Oh, did you think because she seems so nice and sweet her parents mustbe, too? Or is this one of those I don’t understand how the outside world worksand I think it’s all puppies and roses?”

Yep, there was more of the shame. “I know how the worldworks. I was confused.”

“You don’t, buddy, or you would be more cautious.” Sawyernodded Sabrina’s way. “We had to get him a social security card when he startedworking. At twenty-seven.”

He wished Sawyer would stop talking. “My family… Let’s saythey believed in staying off the grid as much as possible. I did, in fact, havea social security card and a driver’s license. But they weren’t real. I had tohave a lawyer find my birth certificate. I’m glad I had one.”

“Your past doesn’t matter,” Sabrina said with a smile.“Isn’t that kind of what this place is about? From what I can tell, a lot ofpeople came here looking for a second chance. I’m trying to find a trulysupportive family. I’m trying to clear my head of my mom’s voice. I havetwenty-eight years of listening to her tell me everything will go to hell ifI’m satisfied even for a moment. She thought happiness was an affront to fateor God or whatever you want to call the universe. If a person wasn’t humble andmiserable, they weren’t doing something right.”

“In my world if a man wasn’t screwing over everyone outsideof his family, he wasn’t a man at all.” Wyatt could relate wholly. “Did sheever tell you that you’re beautiful? I don’t say it because I’m trying to getsomething out of you. I’m saying it because I know how it feels to get groundunder the boots of someone else’s damage, and what helps is hearing the truth.Sometimes you have to hear it over and over until you believe it.”

Her eyes were suddenly shining in the low light from thedining room sconces. “That’s kind of you.”

“He’s not being kind. He’s telling you the truth.” Sawyerwas studying her. “But you don’t know it, do you? Like he doesn’t get he’ssmart. You should stop listening to those voices. Just shut ’em down.”

Her eyes rolled, and she picked up her napkin, dabbing atthem. “Another to write down. Forget your trauma. So, Sawyer, who’s yourterrible parent?”

He seemed to think about the question for a moment. “I guessmy dad. He left when I was four, though, so I don’t remember much about him. Mymom was lovely, and my grandfather was the best man I know.”

“Then how did you end up being such an asshole?” Sabrinaasked.

Sawyer’s lips curled up. The big bastard did seem to like itwhen she was mean. “I was born that way, I guess. So you’re telling me youdon’t care about anyone’s past?”

“I’m telling you I don’t think a person’s past matters ifthey’re trying to be better.” She turned Wyatt’s way. “I think it’s wonderfulyou got your GED. I don’t need to run a background check to make new friends.My mom would have done it. She was suspicious of everyone. I would ratherconcentrate on the here and now. Wyatt, what is it you do for a living? I knowSawyer rips off his tenants.”

“I do not.” Sawyer finally seemed a bit offended. “Your rentis perfectly reasonable for the valley.”

“It’s not reasonable for a place where the electricity needsfixing,” Sabrina countered.

“I told you it’s a ghost.” Sawyer snapped his fingers asthough remembering something. “Grandad used to tell the tenants to playCreedence Clearwater Revival once a day and the ghost finds it soothing. Ithink maybe it puts him to sleep or something.”

“That is the most…” Sabrina began.

Wyatt needed to take control or they would fight the rest ofthe night. “I handle some of Sawyer’s business work. His grandfather left himthe bar and properties and a couple of other businesses. I do all theaccounting. It’s the one thing my father and brother did value about me. I’mgood with numbers and detail-oriented work.”

She focused on him. “Really? Do you use a spreadsheet? Icould use a couple of lessons. The new system Stef Talbot had installed is hardto navigate.”

Now she was talking his language. He would learn the systemfrom top to bottom if it meant spending time with her. “Absolutely. I’m goodwith spreadsheets.”

“He’s not great with passing on complaints, though,” Sawyergrumbled under his breath.

Wyatt kicked him under the table. Sawyer grunted.

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