Page 18 of Taming Georgia

I hate how someone with such a cruel heart was given such a gorgeous body. I’d never admit that out loud, but I can’t lie to myself. He’s every bit as gorgeous as he was in high school, except, now, he’s even more muscular, broader. His face and neck are wider, his jaw more defined. I detest how good the two-day-old scruff on his face looks.

He makes my skin crawl. I loathe him. I just wish his appearance didn’t make my body feel all hot and weird. The sensations he causes have me all over the place, making me dizzy, ill.

After a few beats, when Ethel doesn’t leave my side, he grumbles, “I have to talk to you.”

Ethel nods. “Go ahead,” she says, making it clear that he can talk here.

He blows out a loud sigh, and I have to stop the smile that threatens to creep onto my face. He’s visibly annoyed with my presence while trying to ignore me. It’s comical really, and it could get fun for me. I might actually enjoy my time around him.

It’s when he opens his mouth and slashes me with his words that I hate him most. But uncomfortable Wyatt, I can do.

“I just got an email from someone across the tracks, saying that they hear a couple of dogs underneath one of the buildings. I’m going to go check it out.”

“Out by your old place?” Ethel asks, and if I’m not mistaken, Wyatt flinches before giving her a small nod of his head. “More than one dog?”

“Yeah, two or three, they think.”

“Okay, you should take someone. You’re going to need backup with multiple dogs.”

“I’ll take Xavier.”

“Can’t. He’s out walking.”

“Okay, Dan.”

“Also out walking the dogs.”

“Benny.”

“Called in sick.”

“John.”

“He’s busy.”

“Jesus, Ethel. Is everyone so busy that they can’t drop what they’re doing to help? I’ll just go alone,” he huffs before starting to storm off.

“Take Georgia,” Ethel calls to him.

My eyes widen. “What? No,” I whisper to her.

Wyatt doesn’t even turn around. He continues off in the opposite direction and raises his hand above his head, giving Ethel a wave. “I’m good.”

“I said, take Georgia!” she yells.

He doesn’t respond this time or slow his pace.

“If I didn’t love him so much, I’d beat him,” Ethel grumbles. “Come on.” She grabs my hand and leads me in the direction in which Wyatt just disappeared to.

“Uh…I don’t think this is a good idea. Let me just stay here and work with the dogs. Please,” I plead.

“He needs help. You’re available to help. That’s all there is to it. We’re all here to do a job, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let his stubbornness get in the way of that. Not on my watch.”

“I’ll go outside and relieve Dan,” I offer quietly as the two of us are now standing outside, next to Wyatt’s truck.

“Get in,” Ethel instructs.

I do as she said. Opening the passenger door, I grab on to the handle above the seat and pull myself up. Wyatt’s truck is tall, and the engine grumbles loudly—a fact that I’m grateful for, as it masks the argument between Wyatt and Ethel that’s going on outside right now.

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