For a moment, she thought he might speak, but he didn’t. He just scrutinized her, as if trying to see into the depths of her soul, then he walked away.
“That went well.” Wyatt drank that last of his beer.
“You think?”
“Yeah, he didn’t pull a weapon on me.”
She huffed. “Not yet.”
“Ah, he likes me, I can tell.” Wyatt laughed, pulled her closer, and set a kiss on her cheek. “My charm works on everyone. I’m irresistible, as you’ve found out.”
“You’ve got a big ego, you know that?”
He placed his mouth by her ear. “Big cock too, huh?” He laughed.
She giggled. “Shut it. I need a drink.”
He turned to Nina. “Two beers, and what’s the damage on my tab?”
“One hundred and forty should cover it.” Nina popped the lids on two bottles and slid them Wyatt’s way.
“Thanks.” He passed one to Belle. “Drink. It will be our last beer together ’til the rally in Pierce.”
She pouted again. “I don’t know why I can’t just stay—”
“I’m not even gonna be here tomorrow. Got the trip to do, and then it will be all go, getting shot of the cargo’s serials and distributing to buyers.” He touched his bottle to hers with a small clink. “There’ll be no time for the Duke of Buckingham.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Again, she laughed. She did that a lot when she was with Wyatt.
“But don’t worry, the duke will be at the rally, revved up and raring to go. So you, sweet little maid, will have to make sure you do your chores and—”
“Huh-humm.”
Belle dragged her attention from Wyatt to Brooklyn, who stood at their side with an amused twist to her lips. “Am I interrupting something?” Brooklyn asked.
“No,” Belle said. “Just talking about the rally.”
“You traveling with us?” she asked.
Belle shook her head. “Nah, Wyatt doesn’t want me around over the next week.”
“He’s a cocky bastard, but he’s sensible.” Brooklyn rolled her eyes. “Not like my boy, Carter. Trouble never seems far away. Could do with an attorney on speed dial if you ask me.” She swiped up a tray of shots Nina had set down. “The guys want one for the road. Who am I to judge?” She spun around, her long hair swishing down her back.
“I should go get organized,” Belle said.
“Sure, I’ll help.” Wyatt grinned.
“I don’t need you to—”
He cupped her ass and leaned close. “Maybe I just want a few minutes alone with you.”
Chapter Nine
Wyatt didn’t want Belle to leave California, but what choice did he have? He couldn’t afford to be distracted, and Belle was one hell of a distraction. With her soft body, girly laugh, and sexy-as-fuck strut, she’d quickly found her way under his skin.
And her eyes, they hypnotized him, and he now viewed it as a personal challenge to get rid of the distrust, the hurt, the memories of the past that flashed through them. He’d show her that real-life guys, not just dudes in books, could be true to their word, even if rough around the edges the way he was.
He followed her from Nina’s, aware of Teddy’s attention resting heavily on him.