Page 34 of Broken Heart

“I know,” I assured him. “I just… I don’t want to throw this kind of stuff in your face.”

“It’s fine,” he insisted. “Is this about the bookstore girl?”

“How do you know about Skye?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Word gets around.”

That was code for he had no intention of revealing his source. It wasn’t like it mattered anyway. Before the day was over, all the important people in my life would know about Skye.

I returned my attention to Wyatt and gave him an expectant look.

Without me needing to ask my question again, Wyatt answered honestly. “I’d like to say I knew the first day I met Rhea that there was something about her I liked, but if I’m being honest, it probably took me being around her two or three times to know I wanted everything I could get from her. What’s happening with you and Skye?”

I sighed. “I took her out to dinner last week, and we got together again this afternoon. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve had this feeling ever since I met her that just won’t go away. If anything, the more I’m around her, the more I’m convinced she’s someone I need to have in my life.”

“That’s awesome, man. Congratulations.”

“Don’t congratulate me yet,” I warned him. “She’s not interested in getting into a relationship right now.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that last week,” he noted.

“What’s stopping her? Does she have a good reason not to want to be in a relationship?” Liam asked.

I knew this conversation was hitting so close to home for him. “Skye’s ex-boyfriend broke up with her several months ago, doing it via email, because he’d cheated on her with her best friend.”

Liam winced. “Ouch.”

“Yeah. And it gets worse. When I was there at the bookstore fixing her door, Skye’s former best friend showed up wanting to make amends, and she thought Skye wouldn’t have a problem with it. Worst of all, the ex-boyfriend and the best friend are expecting a baby now.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Wyatt said.

I shook my head. “Nope. Anyway, I heard their conversation, realized what was happening, and stepped in, pretending to be Skye’s boyfriend.”

“Nice.”

“Yeah. Well, we’ve been getting together to get to know each other better, because our goal is to convince them at the charity event that Skye’s in a much better relationship now and that she’s much better off without them in her life,” I explained.

Liam chimed in again. “But now you’re getting caught up in her, and she doesn’t feel the same. Is that what you’re telling us?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s not throwing herself at me, that’s for sure. But I think she’s warming up to the idea of me a bit more.”

“Okay. So, what does how I felt about Rhea have to do with you and Skye?” Wyatt asked.

“Nothing. It was just me wanting to see if I’m crazy for feeling the way I do about her, especially when I know her stance on the idea of a relationship right now,” I explained.

Wyatt laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever fully explained to you how much Rhea did not like me in the beginning. She barely spoke to me. So, I think you’re already way ahead of the game with Skye. Just be patient with her, but I don’t think you’re wrong for feeling the way you do.”

That was a relief. “Thanks. That’s good to know. I probably should get going, because I still need to talk to Tate about something, and I need to go see Ivy before I get some work done here today. I’ll talk to you both later.”

“If you need an extra hand with anything tonight, let me know,” Liam offered. “I don’t have any plans, but that’s nothing new.”

I sent a sympathetic look his way. “Yeah, okay. Let me go take care of a few things, and I’ll give you a call to let you know where I wind up. By the way, what are you doing here? Did everything go okay with the construction today?”

He let out a slight laugh. “You’re awfully concerned for someone who wasn’t here today.”

“I’m here now, though,” I pointed out. “And as I just said, I intend to get to work shortly.”

“Right. Well, everything is fine. You need to relax a little. I can handle what’s happening at the amusement park. I merely stopped up here to give Wyatt an update on the progress and show him a few pictures of what got done today.”