Page 82 of Wild Heart

Tate didn’t immediately respond, and I worried that I might have inadvertently brought up a conversation in hopes of it being fun, only for it to be the very opposite. Luckily, just before I was about to try to switch topics again, Tate said, “Wyatt would never go around spreading rumors or gossip. Even if he has a good idea of what happened between us, he’s not going to run and tell the first person he can—not even in our family. But that doesn’t mean he won’t hesitate to get on my case about it later when he and I are alone, or if our brothers are around, too.”

Our family.

I loved that Tate referred to them as our family. My heart squeezed with so much love for him.

“That won’t bother you, will it?”

He raised a curious brow at the same time he lifted my hand up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “That my brothers know that you and I have worked things out?”

“Well, yes, but I was more so referring to the conference room table than anything else,” I explained.

“It doesn’t bother me. If it did, I wouldn’t have allowed it to happen there.”

I grinned at him. “I’m surprised you did.”

He tipped his head to the side, his eyes searching my face. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you’re the way that you are,” I reasoned. “You’re so regimented and strict about things. I guess I never imagined you would do something so out of character. I mean, anyone could have walked in at any point.”

“Didn’t that just make it better for you, knowing we could be caught?”

I bit my lip. I hadn’t considered that, but I guess there was a part of it that felt a little thrilling. “Maybe.”

“Ava, did you ever wonder why I seem so rigid about everything?”

Shaking my head, I answered, “No. I just think that’s who you are. You’re the kind of man who thrives with schedules and order and control.” I shrugged. “I don’t know. I never looked at it as a bad thing. It’s just a thing about you, and if I’m honest, I like it. But it sounds to me like you have a reason for it.”

“It’s you.”

“Me?” I jerked back. “What did I do?”

He sent me a look that made me think he was recalling years of memories, of things I’d apparently done to lead him to being who he was. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Fighting your pull for so many years hasn’t been easy. Working, staying focused, and keeping things tidy meant I had controlover something. It gave me a way to distract myself from what I really wanted.”

I swallowed hard. “That’s a conversation I think we probably have to have later tonight, too, don’t we?”

He dipped his chin. “We do.”

My mind whirled with thoughts and questions, wondering what the two of us would reveal to each other tonight. As confident as I was about how I felt for Tate, was it possible things could take a turn toward disaster again?

Seemingly aware of the change in my mood, Tate said, “Let’s not worry about that right now. Why don’t you tell me what this meeting with the realtor is all about?”

“I’m looking for a place.”

“You have a place. Didn’t you move in?”

Nodding, I confirmed, “I did. I’m not looking for another apartment. I’m actually looking for some commercial space to rent.”

Intrigued, Tate asked, “Commercial space for what?”

“I have a business idea, and I’m looking to open my own studio here in Landing. I’m making some moves in my life and my career, and this is just the next step in the process.”

Something I couldn’t quite read washed over Tate’s expression. If I had to guess, it was a mix of regret, curiosity, relief, and surprise. And if the look in his eyes was any indication, he certainly had some questions that went much deeper than basic informational ones. Tate never asked whatever was on his mind. “That sounds like a great idea. Where are you looking?”

“I’ve got two spots I’m checking out tonight. One is closer to Westwood’s; the other is closer to my new place.”

Any concerns he had seemed to have vanished as he smiled at me. “Do you want my help? I’d be happy to come along.”

My hand squeezed one of his in response. “I appreciate that, but I think I need to do this on my own. Ivy offered a while ago, telling me she’d be happy to help in any way she could. I appreciate it so much, but I want this to be my own thing, if that’s okay.”