Page 70 of I'll Keep Her Safe

“They’re not as good as your eggs,” he says, grinning. “But they’re not bad.”

I push my mouth into a smile and reach for a fork. “Thanks, Dean.” He and Bailey chat and eat while I somehow manage to get breakfast down. Wyatt sits beside me, scrolling through his phone, radiating tension.

After breakfast, we return to our rooms to change into our bathing suits. I try to steal a moment alone with Wyatt, but Bailey slips into my room as I’m tying the strings on my bikini top.

“How was last night?” she asks, draping herself across my bed in her pink bikini.

Panic flashes through me as, for a brief second, I think she’s referring to what Wyatt and I did after we went to bed.

“Your dress looked fabulous,” she adds, and I realize she’s talking about the awards ceremony.

“The dress was beautiful,” I agree. “Thanks for helping your dad choose it. And the limo…” I still can’t believe Wyatt went to so much trouble to make the night special for me. What he didn’t intend was for the night to bequiteas special as it was. “It was a great night,” I mumble.

“I’m jealous,” she says.

I press my eyes shut, guilt trickling through me. She wouldn’t be if she knew what really happened.

“I haven’t had a night out in ages.” She sits up, stretching. “Work has been so busy.”

The trickle turns into a flood. I’m so distracted by Wyatt that I haven’t asked her anything about herself. When did I become such a terrible friend?

I sink onto the end of the bed, focusing my attention properly on Bailey. “How is everything going? Work, your apartment, Dean’s job…”

She smiles. “Things are good. Our apartment is great, and Dean loves the new branch.” Her smile fades. “Of course, Mom calls me every other day to ask when I’m moving back to New York.” Bailey’s eyes go to the ceiling in exasperation. “And every time she does, I become more grateful for the distance between us.”

I grimace, thinking of what Wyatt told me about Bailey’s mom. I wish I could tell her the truth, could help her realize how desperately Wyatt wished he could have been in her life, but it sounds like her relationship with her mom is hanging on by a thread. Besides, I would never break Wyatt’s trust.

“Anyway.” Bailey sits up on the bed. “Work is good. Intense, but good. I’m learning so much, making great contacts.”

I smile faintly. Now would be the time to tell her I launched our little business without her, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to do it. Besides, it’s not like I’ve gotten any more clients after that last one. The truth is, I haven’t thought about it much at all. My mind has been busy with recipes and catering menus, the odd revenge scenario with Kurt, and now with Wyatt.

So much Wyatt.

“What about you?” she asks, examining my face. “How’s life back in New York?”

God, where do I begin? I can’t tell her about Kurt ruining my job at Joe’s because she’ll go nuclear. And I don’t want her to worry, not when Wyatt has helped me come up with a new plan.

And I definitely can’t tell her about the situation with him.

“Good,” I say vaguely. And when Dean pokes his head around the open door, asking if we’re ready to head outside, I’m relieved. I rise from the bed, grabbing my wrap, and we wander out to the pool.

Wyatt is already there, soaking up the sun, and I find a pool lounger across from him and settle on it self-consciously. I’m wearing my green bikini again. I know it’s a little pathetic, probably a little wrong, but I want Wyatt to look at me, want him to remember last night, to want more.

He refuses, lying on his lounger with his eyes closed, as if sleeping, but I know he’s awake. He keeps this up for over an hour while I swim half-heartedly, but then it finally happens. Bailey and Dean are play-fighting in the pool, and I’m on my lounger, watching them with envy, when IfeelWyatt’s gaze on me. I glance up to find his eyes, dark and hungry, drinking me in. Triumph ricochets through me. I arch a flirty brow, and his nostrils flare, but then he drags a pool towel over his lap, glancing away.

“Dad!” Bailey calls from the pool, and he presses his eyes shut. I can practically hear him chastising himself from here.

“Yeah?” he calls in a strangled voice.

“Are you coming in? The water’s great.”

“Soon.” He sighs, staring up at the white cumulus clouds studding the sky. His face is awash with self-reproach, and my chest tightens.

Part of me wishes Bailey and Dean would, I don’t know, leave or something, so I could be alone with Wyatt to talk.

To repeat what we did last night.

But that’s not going to happen. We’re checking out in two hours to board our flight home, and then what? I’m not sure, but I have a feeling it won’t be a repeat of last night. In fact, given how Wyatt can barely look at Bailey today, I get the sense that won’t be happening again anytime soon. If ever.

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