Page 19 of Tempting Wyatt

“Why would you want to know about the inner workings of the ranch? You planning to buy one out in California?”

Something about her request sets off alarms in my head. Mostly because it surprises me, and people rarely surprise me.

This woman, with her Porsche and her designer shoes, hardly seems like someone who’d be interested in how a ranch operates.

She looks wistful for a moment. “No. Probably not. I’m curious, is all. It’s huge, and I’ve never been on one this big before.”

The masculine urge to add,that’s what she said, is overwhelming. But that’s more of an Isaac or Caleb comment, so I keep it to myself.

Seems like a valid answer, but also like she’s hiding something. Clearly, Caleb’s bullshit and the whole Nina ordeal are still plaguing me. Nina Berkowitz had done a number on my family. Apparently, she’d left more than just debt in her wake.

I shove the irritating memory to the back of my brain.

“Okay then. You’ve got yourself a deal.”

We shake on it, and once again, I’m hyperaware of the vulnerable softness of her tiny hand in mine. A surge of something powerful and animalistic flares in my chest at the contact. Her eyes meet mine, and I’m certain she feels it too.

She won’t make it until lunchtime tomorrow. Then she’ll be gone. And I can get back to work and stop being sotwisted up over this random woman who appeared out of the damn blue. I should be relieved. Maybe I’ll feel it once she actually leaves.

I maneuver myself out of the tiny car the best I can, then jog around to open her door for her as she shuts off the engine. She’s quick though and obviously not used to anyone opening her door for her.

Her eyes widen in alarm as I hold the back door to the house open for her as well.

The kitchen is empty when we step inside the house, but my mom and siblings quickly rush in from the dining room and start plating food. They were watching the exchange from the window then. Great.

“Ivy, you’ve met my mom and Isaac,” I say, nodding to each of them. “This is my sister Willow and the baby of the family, Sutton.”

Ivy smiles at the girls as they pause preparing their food to greet her.

“Asher is currently serving overseas, and our other brother Caleb is. . . off being Caleb somewhere.” I brush off the discomfort the mention of Caleb causes and gesture toward the food. “I hope you like spaghetti.”

Ivy nods and forces a smile.

I made her feel unwelcome with my dickhead comment earlier, and I can see it in the way she shrinks back, offering only a soft, “Hey,” when everyone greets her.

Her words come back to me.

“I have some issues with being where I’m not wanted.”

She’s wanted here—too wanted—which is my issue, not hers. And I need to figure out how to stop being such an ass to this woman.

At least for one more day.

I grab a plate for her and begin filling it with salad,spaghetti, and garlic bread. I hand her some silverware and lead her to the empty seat where I usually sit. Willow is on the other side of her. They smile warmly at one another as I place the plate on the table and pull Ivy’s chair out for her. She nearly trips over it, then thanks me softly without meeting my eyes.

“Really need to get used to people holding the door and pulling out your chair for you if you’re going to hang around here,” I tell her.

Once she’s seated, I bend down, leaning close to her so my family won’t hear what I’m about to say. “I’m glad it didn’t work out with whatever jackass you were dating back in California.”

Wide hazel eyes meet mine. “You are?”

I nod. “You clearly aren’t used to a man opening your doors or fixing your plate. Or even pulling your chair out for you. Whoever he was, he didn’t know shit about how to treat a woman. You can do better.” I give her a wink, hoping I haven’t overstepped my bounds.

A flash of heat I’m not expecting darkens her gaze.

Then she lifts her chin and shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe I was just in it for the sex.”

Willow smirks from beside her. She likes her already. Figures.