Page 63 of Silver Fake

Whenever I decide I need to wait to tell her I love her, she does or says something that makes me want to say it so much more. To keep from blurting it out, I lean over, grab her face, and kiss her, trying to convey everything I want to say with this one kiss. Then I drop my forehead against hers and just sit with her for a moment, breathing her in. Trying to get enough of her to last me through our eight-hour workday.

"Thank you," I whisper.

She puts her hand over mine against her face. "You're welcome, and for the record, I'm glad you asked me to go with you this weekend. It means a lot that you want me there for this."

"I do. I'm not sure I wouldn't have come up with an excuse not to go if you weren't going with me."

"Well, if you find yourself trying to find excuses to back out today, just let me know, and I'll remind you how important Wyatt is and how important it is for you to be there for him."

I grin and kiss her forehead. "I promise to let you talk me out of it if I get any dumb ideas."

"Good." She sits back and smiles. "Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing your parents again. Especially your mom. It will be nice to see her back on her feet doing the things she loves again."

I roll my eyes. "I should have known you were only going for my mother."

She winks. "You have to admit she's a catch. Of course, I want to see her."

We both laugh, and kiss once more before we get out of the car to head inside.

I feel much better about things than I did first thing in the morning.

For the first time since Wyatt's call on Tuesday, I'm finally looking forward to going back home to see him and my parents. Lisa is right. Seeing my mom will be great, and I know she'll be excited to see Lisa there with me again.

It will still be hard knowing Wyatt is leaving, but I've got so much to look forward to that I can't keep feeling bad about it. Change is inevitable, and looking at Lisa holding her hand out for me to take it as we walk to the elevator, I know that sometimes change brings the best things in life.

CHAPTER21

Lisa

Wyatt's going awayparty is a blast.

It seems like the entire town is here, and it's so fun to see John with his friends and family. I don't think I've seen John smile this much in a group of people before tonight.

At least not his real smile.

The one that reaches his eyes and makes them light up. He reserves that smile for friends, family, and me. Everyone back in Houston gets his business persona smile, and they are missing out.

We dance, laugh, and drink all night. The energy is infectious, and the room is filled with joy. The music flows through us, and we lose ourselves to the rhythm, our hearts matching the beat.

It's nearing 11:30 when the guests start trickling out the door and Denise finds her way over to me.

Brett's got his arm wrapped around her waist and a glazed look in his eyes. His other arm is draped over his brother, Bash's shoulder. The way Bash is standing a little crooked, holding onto his brother, it's clear he's the only thing keeping Brett upright.

I look at Brett, then back at Denise, and laugh. "I take it the three of you are heading out?”

She nods and gives me a pointed look. "I swear I can't take him anywhere."

"Yes, you can," Brett says, grinning like the Mad Hatter.

I hug Denise. "Hey, I'm just happy he's your charming problem and not mine," I tease, poking Brett in the chest. His grin widens, somehow, and he wobbles a bit, causing Bash to tighten his grip. "It was good to see all of you."

After they leave, John saunters over. "Once Wyatt hits the road, how about you and I make our own exit too?"

Even as he's smiling and being flirty, his eyes darken, and I can practically see the heat in them. I lick my lips. "That sounds great."

Wyatt walks over with a gift bag on his wrist. "Did I hear my name?" he says.

John wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer and grinning at Wyatt. "Still here, Wyatt?" he says, his voice laced with playful sarcasm. "I thought you'd be halfway to Wyoming by now."

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