Long Road Home

“Even when you’re about to be put on the hot seat?”

“Yeah.” He massaged the back of his neck. “I’m not sure what that’s all about.”

“After all my years as a beautician listening to women talk, I can make an educated guess. Husbands are more prone to say what they think their wives want to hear. These gals are hoping you might actually tell them the truth about what guys are thinking.”

“But it’s only one point of view.”

“Yes, but you’ve established yourself as one of the good guys and that makes your point of view worth exploring.” She pushed back her chair. “I’ll get you another beer. That should help.”

Before he could protest, she’d hurried over to the buffet table and snagged another bottle out of the ice-filled cooler Mary Lou had brought in.

“Here.” She handed it to him and then stepped closer. “Listen, before I make a complete fool of myself, I need to ask you something.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you involved with anyone?”

He looked into her eyes and his gaze was straightforward. “Nope, I’m not. Not at all. Are you?”

“Not yet.” Rising up on tiptoe, she gave him another one of her drive-by kisses. She was fast becoming obsessed with his mouth, but she didn’t dare linger. “I have to refresh my soaking solution.” She picked up the crystal bowl she used for that purpose and headed toward a bathroom located just down the hall on the right.

If she’d ever met a more adorable guy than Wyatt, she couldn’t recall who it might have been. If he truly wanted to relocate to Shoshone, Wyoming, she’d do whatever she could to help him make that happen.

ONCE AGAIN, OLIVIA HAD GOTTEN the drop on him. Wyatt vowed that the next time he’d be ready for her when she did that and he’d get in some lip pressure of his own. In the meantime, he stood there holding one full bottle of beer and one nearly empty one while he gazed after her like some love-struck adolescent. He finished off the almost-empty beer and looked for a place to put the bottle.

“I’ll take that.” Morgan appeared at his elbow with her red-haired mini-me propped on her hip. “You need to finish your meal because we really do have some burning questions.”

If Wyatt had hoped Morgan had forgotten her original plan in the flurry of excitement over Sarah’s admission, that hope was now officially dashed. “I’m really not very knowledgeable about—”

“Now don’t be modest, Wyatt. You’re eligible and you’re gorgeous, which puts you in the perfect position to give us some insight into how guys think these days.” She gestured to an empty chair. “That seat’s available. I’ll be right back.”

Wyatt glanced over at Olivia, who’d just started working on Pam Mulholland’s nails. Olivia looked up with an encouraging smile. She’d told him he had support in this room, so maybe he should stick around. Retrieving his plate, he sat in the chair Morgan had indicated and began to eat. He probably needed to keep up his strength.