CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"So, how was your day?" Bennett asked Vica as she crouched down in the back of his truck and he rumbled over the gravel to the security gate. "I heard you bit off Cash Reilly's head and then nearly lost your mind when a customer tried to change an order."

Vica snickered. "I decapitated no one. I just let him know he was trying to rob us on the highway."

"Yeah, Wyatt texted us all and let us know what Cash tried to pull. That wasn't fucking cool. But for what it's worth, I think both you and Wyatt handled it well."

"And as far as the customer …" She shook her head. "If I thought meatballs would go well in a fettuccini Alfredo, I would put meatballs in a fettuccini Alfredo. You know, I understand saying, ‘No mushrooms. I don't like the texture, or I am allergic.' That I can respect. But that customer today? No. I can not respect him."

Laughing, Bennett pulled up to the gate and punched in the code, then they waited for it to open. "Fair enough. I also think it's crazy. You're enjoying working in the kitchen though?"

"Very much."

"Well, we certainly appreciate the extra set of hands." He drove through the gate and it closed behind them. Wyatt was on the porch of his house holding a glass of wine for her. Her heart warmed at the sight of him.

Bennett stopped the truck and climbed out, checking for signs of danger before he opened up the door for her. "Milady," he said, holding out a hand so she could climb out easier.

" Grazie ," she said.

"Prego. "

That made her grin.

"How was the rest of your day?" Wyatt asked her, handing her the glass of red wine.

She took the glass from him and instantly took a sip. "Mmm. So much better now."

"Dinner's fifteen minutes away if you want to go and have a shower."

"Please. I smell like … french fries."

He took a big whiff. "You smell wonderful."

The side-eye she gave him was playful. "Are the boys home?"

"Upstairs playing in their rooms."

" Grazie , Bennett," she said, already on the stairs.

" Prego ," he replied again.

"You got a minute?" Wyatt asked Bennett.

Bennett nodded, but it barely registered with Vica that when Wyatt closed the front door, he was on the outside of it, not the inside. What were he and Bennett discussing?

Dinner was absolutely wonderful .

Wyatt had to be feeling better to create something so delicious. A dish he called "hot honey chicken" with a decadent summer salad that had a blueberry vinaigrette and mouthwatering roasted potatoes with crumbled feta and lemon. Vica ate way more than she should have, but she couldn't stop.

Sitting back from the table, she dramatically cupped her belly which she pushed out. "This is a baby made of food."

Jake and Griffon chuckled, then mimicked her and did the same. Of course, they didn't care for the chicken or salad. So they ate hotdogs and the potatoes.

"You two little beach bums look exhausted," Wyatt said, checking his watch.

Jake's eyes were hooded, and he nodded. "I think I'm ready for bed."

"Me too," Griffon agreed. "The beach was fun, but the sun zapped all my energy."

"Dishes in the dishwasher, then upstairs, brush your teeth, and off to bed. I'll be up shortly to read you a story and tuck you in."

Nodding like little sun-zombies, the boys got up from the table and did as they were told.

"I can do the dishes," Vica said. "You go see to them."

"You sure?"

Much like he'd done to her earlier that day, she cupped his stubbly jaw. "Yes. I am glad you are feeling better. Your boys have missed you."

"I appreciate you stepping up and helping out when I was bedridden. I didn't expect that of you."

She shrugged, which made the neck of her gray T-shirt slide off one shoulder. "I know. But I love them too. I was happy to help." Then she let go of him and began clearing the table. "Besides, while you are upstairs, I can eat more of these delicious potatoes without your eyes on me. If nobody is around to see it, it didn't happen. Right?"

His chuckle was deep and throaty, but it didn't stir her belly the way it should have. Instead, she was distracted by her own words.

If nobody is around to see it, it didn't happen .

That was exactly how the police officers treated her that night.

Nobody saw Track attack her or her defend herself, therefore it didn't happen. All they had were the facts. The evidence. And those pointed to her killing her boss.

Her brain was a million miles away, and she was on her second glass of wine as she closed the dishwasher and turned it on. Strong, warm arms wrapped around her middle and a kiss landed on her shoulder. "Bennett's coming over to sit for a bit so we can go for a walk."

"You feel okay enough to go?"

"I've been doing my exercises. Wolfe came yesterday for another chiro treatment, and as long as I remember to pivot at the waist and not the neck, I'm okay. I just need to be gentle. I'm on the mend though."

She spun in his arms and looped her arms around his neck. "I can be gentle with you."

His mouth lifted at one corner. "Yeah?"

"Mm-hmm."

They were just about to kiss when there was a knock and the front door opened. "I can come back," Bennett said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"No. We're all good. Just need to grab the bug spray."

"Oh, there are bugs?" Vica asked.

"Mosquitos," Bennett confirmed. "A creek runs on one side of Bonn's land, and any area that is standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitos. It's something we'll need to think about and deal with if we get the land."

"When," Wyatt corrected. " When we get the land."

Bennett snorted and took a seat on the couch, pulling out his laptop. "Might as well work."

Vica and Wyatt quickly sprayed each other down with insect repellent. She grabbed her cardigan and he grabbed a hoodie, then they were out the door. It wasn't dark just yet, but twilight was setting in. Without saying a word, they stuck to the shadows along the houses until they reached the house on the end, which belonged to Jagger.

"Just down here," Wyatt whispered, pulling through a small trail that forced them to no longer hold hands and walk single file.

It was about five minutes through the dense woods, the muted light of the ending day playing tricks with her eyes, before they emerged into a clearing.

It was mostly just tall, overgrown grass that had gone to seed, instantly reminding her of the fields in Tuscany. One of her favorite places in the entire world to visit, rest and relax.

Very few places rivaled the Tuscan countryside, or a sunset over the vineyards from the terrace while drinking good Italian wine and eating olives, focaccia and cheese. Her belly rumbled and her heart ached as the memory became almost visceral.

Wyatt glanced down at her and squeezed her hand. "You all right?"

Stuffing down the emotions threatening to bubble up, she smiled and nodded. "The place is really beautiful."

His smile eased the sudden strain in her chest.

She continued to take in the landscape.

A small cube-shaped, ramshackle, one-story dwelling squatted in the center of the tall grass. The brown, shake siding was falling off parts of the cabin and the windows were boarded up, but bright red geraniums burned like fire in the windowsill boxes and from twin hanging baskets on either side of the rotting porch steps.

It was the view, however, that pulled the gasp from deep within Vica's chest.

Unlike the view at the McEvoy property, which was mostly south-west facing, the view from Bonn Remmen's land was north-west facing, providing in the entirety of the setting sun. And it was completely breathtaking.

For a moment, they just stood there, hand in hand, taking it all in.

"It's beautiful," Vica finally said.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Smiling, and still holding his hand, she spun to face him. "I can see why you want this land. For the view alone, I would throw in a proposal too."

He tugged on her hand. "Let me show you all of it. It's a huge chunk of land."

She let him lead her deeper onto the property which was slightly sloped.

"We'd put at least five more cabins along here. The pavilion down here, as close to the tideline as we can get and permits will allow."

"What about the house?"

He scrunched his brows. "Well, we'd bulldoze that."

"But it's so cute and quaint. Surely you could move it and turn it into one of the cabins. Renovate it."

His lips twisted. "I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle."

"But would the preservation of Bonn's memory and paying tribute to it not be worth it?"

"Depends on what's inside, I guess. And if we could even move it at all. But it's something to consider." They wandered further up through the grass, and she was grateful she chose to wear long, loose-fitting pants because the grass surely would have made her legs itch. "Up here is where we'd put the garden and plant the hops. It's protected but it still gets lots of sun. And it's on the waterline from the road, so irrigating the garden would be easy."

They were basically at the top of the property at this point with the long driveway to the main road behind them. But even from where they stood, they still had a gorgeous view of the water and sunset.

"This is a really special place." She leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Thank you for showing me your family's dream." Guilt hit her hard though.

"What's wrong? The light literally just went out in your eyes."

"Do you think it's true? That it's going to be more difficult for you to get this land now that you're helping me? I couldn't live with myself if I were the reason your family didn't get this land."

It was starting to be their thing, cupping each other's faces. She liked it. It was intimate and sweet, and made her belly warm in a way she was beginning to crave. "I already told you, the Island Elders won't let anybody bully them. If we don't get this land, it will be because someone else had a better proposal. Not because they were blackmailed or manipulated into denying us."

She swallowed. "I've been talking to Gabrielle."

"And?"

"She used to do this back in Seattle, you know. Help abused and assaulted women. She also helped women get out of abusive relationships and go into hiding. She is looking for somewhere else for me to go."

He released her cheek and clasped both her hands. "No."

Vica blinked at him. "No?"

"No."

"Wyatt …"

"No, Vica. We've discussed this. I am committed to helping you. To protecting you. Nobody else is better equipped at it than me and my brothers. You are safer here than anywhere else."

She broke free of his grasp and stepped away. It was harder than ever to see how as the sun had all but completely set beyond the horizon. Nothing more than a sliver of gold was left and the sky was turning from soft oranges, pinks, and blues, to deeper purples and indigo. "Sometimes I wonder if I should have just taken the money. It would have saved everyone a lot of pain." She glanced back at him.

"Are you considering taking the money now?"

She shook her head. "No. My parents and brothers would never forgive me for letting the bully win. That is not the Vitale way."

"It's not the McEvoy way either." He stepped forward and laced their fingers together again as they stood side by side looking out over all the land they hoped to one day possess, and the beautiful sea beyond it. "You are a McEvoy though. Even if just temporarily."

Well, that was like vinegar in a fresh wound. She'd become so used to living with Wyatt and the boys and being part of the family that she almost forgot that it wasn't a permanent thing. And the fact that Wyatt still saw their marriage, and everything else, as a means to an end hurt her more than she ever imagined.

"Where'd you go?" he asked, squeezing her hand.

She shivered, pretending she was cold. "We should head back now."

Wyatt nodded and together they trudged through the tall grass back to the trail. She was grateful to him leading the way because she couldn't find the trailhead if she tried. The woods they had to traipse through was dark now, and shadows played with her eyes and mind even more than before. More than once, she was convinced she saw someone dangerous lurking behind a tree or a stump. It wasn't until they reemerged beside Jagger's house that she exhaled.

They were just reaching Wyatt's front door when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked it, grunted, then stowed it back in his jeans.

Once they were inside, they thanked Bennett and bid him goodnight. Then Wyatt boxed her in against the front door. "Promise me you'll stay. That you will tell Gabrielle to stop looking for somewhere else for you to go."

Gazing into his eyes, it was nearly impossible to deny the man anything. Biting her bottom lip, she nodded. "Okay."

"I promised to protect you, Vica, and I always keep my promises. You'll keep yours too?"

She nodded again. "Yeah, I will."

"Good." His eyelids dropped to half-mast and her smile curled up roguishly on one side making her belly flutter and her pussy throb. "Let's go upstairs."

"Wyatt, we …"

"Haven't had sex since our wedding night." Then his gaze turned cautious. "Unless you're having second thoughts and don't want us to do that anymore."

"No." She shook her head a little too enthusiastically, and her cheeks and chest grew warm. "That's not it. I just … I don't want to hurt you."

His sexy, playful smile was back. "Let me worry about that. Join me in bed, Vica … please."

He took her hand, and she allowed him to lead her upstairs and down the hall to his bedroom. It'd been a while since she'd been in here. She was using the boys' bathroom and sleeping on the couch since Wyatt's injury. Not that she minded. She did miss his comfortable mattress, sheets, and pillows though.

"I'm itchy from the grass. Are you itchy from the grass?"

She was a little itchy.

"Let's have a shower," he encouraged. "Or better yet, a bath." Then he walked into the en suite bathroom and turned on the tap for the enormous, freestanding, soaker tub that sat in front of the picture window. Only lights on buoys and far off boats could be seen now that it was dark out.

She'd always loved having a nice, hot bath, and even though she'd showered after working in the kitchen all day, she wasn't opposed to sharing a bath with Wyatt.

It took a while for the tub to fill up, but once it did, they undressed in front of each other, and she watched as his cock thickened and stiffened the more clothes she removed. If there was any greater compliment, she couldn't think of it.

He held out a hand for her and she stepped over the side and down into the almost-too-hot water, submerging her body to just below her neck. He'd even added citrus-scented bubble bath or something because all she could see was bubbles.

Wyatt was careful climbing into the tub, but the sound he made once he was finally all the way in made her pussy throb and her nipples pebble. He almost immediately found her foot and began to massage it.

"Oh, dio ," she murmured, closing her eyes and leaning back. He spent at least five minutes on that foot before picking up the other one and delivering the same attention to it as the first.

Vica was close to orgasm and sleep. Her body and brain couldn't decide which one it wanted more.

Then, of course, when she relaxed too much, she got into her head and started to think about how Wyatt kept referring to this as temporary. Yes, it was. It all was. She had plans to move to a new engineering firm—if one would have her after this. And his life was here. He had a big, crazy family and Vica had … nothing. They were from completely different worlds. He also made no mention or indication that he wanted this to be more. He'd already done more for her than she'd ever imagined, to ask him to love her forever and remain her husband just seemed beyond the scope of possible. In fact, it was downright absurd.

Letting go of her foot, he found her wrinkly hands under the water and tugged her over until she straddled him. "You look so good sitting on me like this," he murmured, cupping the back of her neck and guiding her mouth down to his.

She let him take the lead with the kiss, coaxing her lips apart and tenderly, then more passionately, dipping his tongue inside. They nibbled and sucked, smiled and played, as she ground her pussy against the soft, thick column of his cock. He wasn't even penetrating her and she was already close. The way his cock rubbed her clit felt incredible. He held her in place with one hand on her neck, and plucked and tweaked at her nipple with the other. She thought for sure he was going to encourage her to lift up and finally take him inside her, but he didn't.

A squeak then a gasp fled her throat when he picked her up by the waist and spun her around, "Stand up," he ordered. "And bend over. Hands on the edge of the tub."

Swallowing, and a little jelly-legged from how close she'd been to an orgasm before this abrupt stop, she did as she was told, facing away from him and fully aware of the fact that her ass was directly in line with his face.

His groan had her pussy clenching and swollen clit throbbing. He reached beneath her to find her clit, and then rubbed two fingers around and around it until her hips began to churn and she moaned. She had to bite her lip to keep her volume down.

It was when his mouth found her anus and he started to rim it with his tongue, that she nearly collapsed into the tub. Her legs trembled with each swirl of his tongue and every rub of his fingers.

"Do you like this?" he asked, the buzz of his lips against her sensitive, never-before-touched-in-this-way hole making her moan.

"Mm-hmm."

More fingers probed her pussy and slid inside. Now he was fucking her with his fingers, eating her ass, and rubbing her clit. She was close to combusting. It was all she could do to stay standing. Every muscle twitched and trembled the closer she meandered to orgasm. And Wyatt never stopped. He just kept going.

A sharp suck of air behind her pulled her attention back to the present, and that's when she realized she'd been squeezing her butt cheeks, over and over again, and pressing backward. She was probably suffocating the man.

"Sorry," she murmured, barely able to find the right word.

"Don't apologize," he said, resuming his fingers and tongue.

"Wyatt … I'm so close."

"Good. Are you going to come for me, Vica?"

She nodded. " Si ."

" Bella, " he purred, his words another agonizingly wonderful buzz against her skin. "Then we'll take it to the bed."

"Oh …" At the mention of this not being the end of their romantic time together, Vica let go of all the tension building inside of her and allowed herself to give into the pleasure.

"That's right, bella ," he praised, as her entire body detonated, and Wyatt pressed down firmly on her G-spot. His tongue continued, and so did the fingers on her clit, as wave after beautiful wave crashed through her. Her toes bunched and cramped, as did her fingers on the edge of the tub. But not even that could take away from how good everything else felt. From just how necessary of a release she didn't realize she needed.

By the time the tingling from her hairline to her instep receded, she was near tears. The weight she'd been carrying around since Wyatt was taken back to the hospital had become so normal, she just functioned with it like a lead vest someone sewed her into. She forgot the feeling of not feeling guilty, or responsible, or terrified for someone she cared deeply for.

Swallowing the sob that came out as more of a hiccup, she swallowed and sunk back into the water on shaky legs. Wyatt removed his fingers from her and helped her spin around to face him.

He was grinning with shiny lips and an impish twinkle in his unique hazel-blue eyes. "To the bed?" he asked.

Her throat was too tight to say anything. So all she could do was smile and nod as he reached into the bottom of the tub and pulled out the plug.

"All right. I expect you naked and on your back in my bed in two minutes, woman." Then he stood up, flashing her the most beautiful erection she'd ever seen, and climbed out of the tub to grab them towels.

It felt wrong to say it after he'd just had his tongue in her most intimate and private place, but now that the dam had broken and her emotions were no longer held prisoner within the confines of her shoulders, Vica knew she was in love with this man.

Unequivocally, irretrievably, with her whole body, mind, heart, and soul, she was in love with Wyatt McEvoy.

Which was going to make leaving, when the time finally came, so much harder—on all of them.