Ridin' Solo (Sisters From Hell Book 1) by Marika Ray (the two towers ebook txt) 📗

from rolling my eyes. This whole mysterious setup was just like Amelia. How did I get rolled up in one of her schemes yet again? You’d think after thirty years I would have learned not to trust her.

The gate slid open with nary a groan. I could only imagine how much lube they’d have to use to keep that sucker from creaking. The road dipped to the left, the drive lined with palm trees. For a quick second, I thought we might be headed to an exclusive hotel, but as we got closer, the bellhop took a familiar shape.

Wyatt.

He was here. In the flesh. Standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze trained on our car. My heart clenched, and despite how badly I wanted to cling to the anger I’d felt at being the last to know who he truly was, all I felt in that moment was a complete and overwhelming yearning to pull his strong body into mine in a hug I’d never let him out of.

“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 me is a 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