Page 63 of Ridin' Solo
“What’s going on?” I asked Amelia softly, my gaze never leaving Wyatt as we pulled up in front of a large home that clearly had several more zeros after it than my own house.
Amelia put the car in park and swiveled toward me. I couldn’t look at her though. I could only soak in the sight of Wyatt in a pair of dark-wash jeans, boots, and a polo shirt in a deep blue to accent his eyes, the sleeves tight around his biceps. He even wore the black bulky watch. The one I never saw him without. It was like I knew him backwards and forwards, yet I was seeing him for the first time.
“I know I do a lot of crazy things, but I think we can all agree that I have a finely tuned bullshit meter.” Amelia put a hand on my shoulder, making me break my gaze and swing my head over to see her sympathetic expression. “He came to see me last week. I really think you should hear him out.”
My brain scrambled to catch up. “No furniture shopping today?”
Amelia pressed her lips to keep from laughing. “No. No shopping today. Just you giving Wyatt a chance to explain some things. Promise you don’t hate me?”
Given the fact my heart was about to race right out of my chest just looking at Wyatt, I couldn’t deny that he and I had unfinished business.
“I don’t hate you, but you owe me one.” I lifted an eyebrow, and Amelia had the good graces to smile apologetically at duping me.
“Good. Now get out there and hear out that gorgeous man.” Amelia gave my shoulder a push, which I found I needed.
What if we talked and he still wouldn’t tell me everything? What if I melted in front of all that gorgeous man meat and he still didn’t trust me enough to lay everything on the line? My heart couldn’t take another beating.
Wyatt stepped forward and opened my door, his open palm extended between us. After just a second of hesitation, I went with the pull I couldn’t deny and placed my hand in his. He helped me up, closed the door, and continued to hold my hand as we walked closer to the house. He kept his pace slow, his eyes nearly burning my skin as he assessed my condition.
“How’s the calf?” he asked, voice so rough it sent shivers across my skin.
I lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “Good. Still healing, but I’ll be fine.”
Honestly, the leg was the least of my worries. It was the limp in my heart that had my attention. Hope flooded in, masking the pain I’d felt for two weeks since I’d last seen Wyatt.
“Oakley.” Wyatt stopped in front of a massive door, his gaze flickering between me and the house. “I owe you quite a few apologies, but I figured the words wouldn’t mean anything. You deserve more than that.”
“Wyatt—” I interrupted, hating to see him uncertain.
“No. Let me finish. You deserve an explanation. You deserve to see exactly who I am and decide if I’m the man you want in your life. I should have done this right from the start, but I was afraid. I couldn’t believe that a woman like you would want to have anything to do with me. Only after long conversations with my sister and my mother could I see that I’m not the man I used to be, but the old meisa part of who I am now and you need to see all of that. So, if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to show you who I am. No lies, no omissions, just honesty.”
That flare of hope burned brighter. That’s all I’d ever wanted: a chance to get to know the real Wyatt.
He opened the front door and let it swing open. At my nod, he walked us inside, lacing our fingers together and not letting go. The sight that greeted us took my breath away. I wasn’t sure if I was stepping into a Four Seasons or a private residence. An older woman and Emmeline came around a huge pillar, hopeful smiles on their faces.
“Hello, Oakley. I’m Debra Dolby, Wyatt’s mother.” The woman came forward, her cashmere sweater and flashing diamond earrings making me a bit nervous. My sundress suddenly felt out of place.
She shook my hand and then surprised me by pulling me into a hug full of Chanel Number Five. “It’s so lovely to meet you. Wyatt’s told me such great things,” she whispered, not yet releasing me from the hug.
“Watch it, Mom. Oakley might put you in a headlock,” Emmeline warned.
Debra pulled back, giving me a thorough assessment, especially where Wyatt still had my hand squeezed in his. My cheeks heated under her scrutiny. I had no idea meeting the parents was on the agenda for today and therefore couldn’t have prepared.
“I wouldn’t dare do that. It’s just Emmeline reached for my Taser and it was second nature,” I tried to explain.
“It’s Em, and I’m just teasing you.” She gave me a hug too, a quick one though, like she wasn’t totally sure I wouldn’t body slam her again.
“We’ll let you two have some time.” Debra winked at me and hauled Em out of the room despite her protests to stay.
“This is the house I grew up in, Oakley,” Wyatt said, waving his hand around once we were alone. “My father started a company before he married Mom, and it did well. In fact, he made millions over the years, creating a lifestyle we all came to enjoy and rely on. Me, more than most. I lived a playboy lifestyle, complete with limitless money, women, trips, alcohol, and drugs.”
He winced as if confessing all this was physically painful. I gave his hand a squeeze and an encouraging smile. I felt horrible that I’d made him feel ashamed. Made him feel like he couldn’t tell me about his past. Was I so judgmental that I didn’t leave room for people in my life to make mistakes?
“I’m not proud of those years, Oakley. I don’t like to talk about it or remember them. But for a chance to win back your trust, I will. I want to take you to all the places that make me the man I am today. Ready for stop number two?”
I wasn’t sure what I expected from Wyatt when we talked again, but it certainly wasn’t this. He’d always hedged his answers. Asked me to just trust him without disclosing anything. But this? This was him being an open book. He was letting me sift through his past without objection.
“I’d like that,” I whispered.
