Chapter 7 Dare
SEVEN
DARE
“Right, shall I give you a tour?” I said, coming down the hallway after making up the guest room. I purposely looked around the living room and kitchen and not at the beautiful man cuddling my dog on my couch.
It was too much—seeing him in my space, with my things, doting on my dog. The more I looked, the harder it was to breathe but since he wasn’t going anywhere until Victor was dealt with, I had to get over myself. Get used to him.
But that was what I feared most—that I’d get too used to him and when the time came for him to go it’d feel like heartbreak all over again. And I’d been through enough heartbreak to last me a lifetime. I didn’t need to add more, especially for a man that would never look at me that way.
And even if he did, I couldn’t let anything happen. Never again. No matter how hard the loneliness was, having your heart ripped right out of your chest was harder and I was not a masochist.
“Sure,” he replied and gently lifted Lookah’s head off his lap so he could get up.
He was such a delicate man. How could anyone have the heart to break him like that? I didn’t even want to imagine what Victor had done to his poor soul. Just thinking about not thinking it made my heart race.
“Lead the way,” he smiled and ushered me forward.
I chuckled and took the lead, walking down the corridor between kitchen and living room that led to all the rooms.
“So, this is the living room, as you can see. Kitchen is obviously over there. Feel free to use anything and everything. You don’t need to ask,” I said and then turned my back and walked further down the corridor.
“First door is the bathroom. Second door is my room. This…” I opened the door at the end, and the goats came out to check out what was happening. “Is the store room slash goat room.”
Zach laughed and he crouched down to pet them.
“Why did you lock them in there? I thought you only did it when you left the house.”
I bit my lip and looked back at him.
“I didn’t want them bothering you. They can be little pests.”
Zach gasped just as Eve headbutted him on the shoulder the moment he stopped petting her.
“Oh no. Don’t do that,” he said. “This is as much their home as it’s yours. I’m the one you should be locking away.”
I frowned and Zach closed his eyes with a grimace.
“That sounded weird. I just meant—”
“I know what you meant.” I chuckled. “And okay. I’ll let them loose. But tell me the moment they get too needy.”
Zach laughed and distributed his head scratches equally to all the babies and as soon as Lookah heard all the commotion, he barged into the hallway and demanded his share.
“Wow. With such clingy pets I bet life never gets boring,” Zach said, and I had to shoo all of them away and get him back to his feet.
“They can literally be like that for hours so I wouldn’t recommend encouraging them.”
Zach smiled but didn’t say anything. I led him to the door opposite mine and opened it for him so I could show him the guest room.
“It’s a little messy. I’m sorry. I’ve been meaning to fix it up for ages but…never enough time. And I don’t really get any guests. But the bed is comfy.”
Zach put his hand on my arm and cocked his head.
“Don’t worry about it, Dare. I’ve made do with much less. This is wonderful,” he said though I barely heard him.
I was far too focused on the tingle in my arm where he was touching me. The way the sensation crawled up to the back of my neck, making my hairs rise and my throat tighten.
“If you need anything, let me know,” I managed to mumble.
“I…I think I’m okay. Although…” he paused.
“What is it? Tell me,” I almost leaned in closer to his face so that our lips were inches apart, but I pulled back, reprimanding myself mentally.
This was probably a bad idea. Inviting him into my home? It was a recipe for disaster. But I could do it, there was no alternative. I had to do it. I was stronger than my urges. Stronger than my desires. And my mind was stronger than my heart. I could do it—Zach’s safety depended on it.
“Could I have a towel? I think I might take a shower and wash all this…stress away,” he said.
I almost jumped away from him in response.
“Of course. Hang on,” I said and went into my bedroom only to return moments later with a couple of towels.
“Thanks. Would you mind if I go now?” He pointed to the bathroom door.
“No. Of course not. I’ll get started on lunch.”
“Oh you don’t have to go through all the trouble,” he said.
“No trouble.” I shook my head. “I haven’t eaten either and I bet you’re starving.”
“Okay,” he sighed with a nod.
After checking his dietary requirements and preferences, I let him get on with his shower and I returned to the kitchen with my herd behind me.
I was getting the vegetables out of the fridge when there was a knock on the door that sent Lookah into a frenzy and made my heart shoot right up my throat.
Had Victor found us? Had he followed us here? It couldn’t be. I’d made sure we weren’t followed.
I rushed to my bedroom, grabbed my gun, took the safety off and approached the door when the person knocked again.
I leaned into the eyehole and almost spat out in anger. Instead of taking it out on my floor, I threw the door open and took it out on him.
“Wyatt! What do you want?” I asked the older man standing on my doorstep.
He eyed my gun and raised an eyebrow.
“Planning to shoot me?” he asked.
“Don’t tempt me,” I growled. “What is it?”
I put the gun back under my waistband and Wyatt asked if he could come in. I wanted to tell him no, that he wasn’t welcome. That I didn’t want him or his macho energy anywhere near my home, but before I could articulate all that he stepped in.
“Nice place,” he said, hands in pockets, standing in the living room and pressing his lips together.
“Glad you like it. I couldn’t imagine what I’d do if it didn’t have your seal of approval.”
Wyatt sighed.
“Oh Dare. Don’t be like that,” he said.
“How should I be?”
Lookah approached the big new giant in the house and sat by his side waiting for pets and scratches. I had to bite my tongue because Wyatt was the last person I wanted touching my dog.
He glanced down at Lookah and in an instant his tough exterior was replaced by a softer one. One I was far too familiar with, too scarred by.
“Who’s this big fella?” he asked.
“My dog,” I huffed, and Wyatt opened his mouth to say something when he noticed the goats entering the living room as if they owned it.
“What are those?” he chuckled.
“Illusions. What do you want, Wyatt?”
He took a deep breath and stood up, dusting off his jeans and clearing his throat. But he still wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“I heard you took Zach in,” he said.
“And where did you hear that?” I asked.
“Teddy,” Wyatt replied.
Zach must have told him.
“Is it true?” he asked.
“Yes, and?”
He tried to say something again, but words failed him, just like his actions.
“Nothing. I…have you…what have you found out? Anything we can help with?”
“I’ll handle it myself,” I grumbled and crossed my arms.
“You know I…we can help. If you need any—”
“Well, Wyatt considering the fucking mess you’ve made here, I’d say you’re the last person that can help.”
Wyatt closed his eyes, licked his lips, breathed.
“You don’t have to be like this, you know.”
“Like what?” I all but growled.
“Forget it,” he said and turned his back on me, an image I was way too familiar with.
He walked to the door, and I couldn’t wait to get rid of him. To see the back of him one last time— but damn it, no matter what my heart said, I had to be practical. One man on his own could only do so much.
“I think the ex is linked to your syndicate,” I said with a sigh.
Wyatt paused and only half turned his head as if he couldn’t even look at me.
“What? Why?”
“When I tried to confront him, he got in a van. There were others inside. I don’t know how many. As far as Zach knows, his ex has no family or friends here so…”
“So he must be part of the network,” Wyatt mumbled as if to himself.
“He’s bad news. I know that much,” I said.
“Of course. You don’t set a truck on fire if you aren’t.” This time his words and his gaze were aimed directly at me.
There was something in his eyes. Something like pain. Something that made my chest hurt but I ignored it. I didn’t—shouldn’t—care if he was hurting. The kind of hurt he’d caused me was bigger. Far bigger.
He stared at me. Stared at me a moment too long as if trying to find the words to say something but before he could form any sentences, Zach walked into the living room. He had a towel around his neck, using it to dry his short curls, wearing a pair of pajamas with cartoon cupcakes all over.
“Okay. I take it back. Please tell me you made lunch because I’m so hun—” he started and stopped when he noticed Wyatt. “Mr. Goodman! Hi!”
Wyatt tipped his head at Zach, cast a strained glance at me and left without another word.
I watched the door for a moment, but then Zach sprang to life again and walked around the kitchen island, taking over cutting the lettuce.
“What was that about?” he asked.
With a deep breath I turned away from the door, and the man who had been standing there, the man who’d broken my heart five years ago. I turned away and faced the man who had the potential to mend it and who reminded me what it was like to be happy.
Because I felt nothing but happiness when I looked at him, even if I never could act on my attraction to him.
Because Wyatt Goodman had ruined me for love for the rest of my life.