Page 50 of Billionaire Unreachable: Wyatt

In the beginning, maybe I had thought I’d get over that attraction, but I hadn’t.

My preoccupation with her was rapidly turning into an obsession for me, and it wasn’t something I could just ignore or compartmentalize anymore.

Nor did I think it was going to go away anytime soon.

I was going to have to put my nuts on the chopping block to figure out what Shelby was really thinking, and I was a guy who had always been highly in favor of keeping his balls exactly where they belonged.

Shelby

“You look absolutely beautiful, Shelby, but Wyatt is going to be ticked off because you didn’t let me pay for anything today,” Tori said with a sigh.

I surveyed myself in the mirror of Tori’s master bedroom, feeling more attractive than I had in a very long time.

I’d completely blown my budget, but maybe it was worth it to feel like I looked nice for a change.

My confidence had been shot down in every way possible after being married to a man like Justin.

He’d built me up until I really believed that he loved me.

And then, once we were married, he’d done everything in his power to make me feel like I was nothing so I didn’t question what he was doing behind my back.

Little by little, I was regaining my assurance in some areas.

I was no longer convinced that I was nothing.

But he’d dug so hard to undermine my confidence in my personal appearance and sexuality that it was hard to shake off those uncertainties.

Tori and I had gone shopping, gotten our hair, nails, and makeup done a little earlier, and both of us were ready to head out for the charity gala.

With Tori’s encouragement, I’d finally selected a stunning, navy blue, formal dress. I wasn’t exactly sure about the plunging neckline or the slit that went up my thigh on the side, but I loved the flowy material that swooshed when I walked and hit right above the top of my foot.

My heels weren’t something I’d use again anytime soon since I didn’t cook in strappy sandals, but they went with the dress perfectly.

The hair stylist had suggested leaving my hair down and flowing down my back, but she’d done a very elegant style to sweep it off my face with beautiful clips that matched the dress. She’d left just a few wispy, curly locks of hair that framed my face.

My makeup was a lot more dramatic than my usual, but all of the colors were blended perfectly so it didn’t look completely overdone.

“You look gorgeous yourself, and I couldn’t let Wyatt pay for my clothing and everything else we did today,” I finally answered. “He asked for a favor, and after everything he’s done for me, I was happy to do it. Although I have no idea what it’s like to mingle at a gala. Do you have any tips for me before we go?”

I turned away from the mirror and smiled nervously at Tori, who was breathtaking in a deep red, formal gown.

Cooper and Wyatt were waiting patiently in the living room having a drink until Tori and I were ready to go.

I hadn’t seen Wyatt yet, but I knew that he’d gotten ready at home before coming to Tori’s to pick me up.

“Just be yourself,” she insisted. “This isn’t a business event, although there will be some rich people there. It’s about the only event that Wyatt makes an appearance at because it’s a fundraiser that my father started after my mother died. We all try to attend every year to carry on the tradition. We always went with my dad before he passed away, and this fundraiser was important to him because my mother died of ovarian cancer. It raises a lot of money for research. You don’t have to be anyone except who you are. You’re good at talking to everyone. Just have a good time. You’re about to knock Wyatt’s socks off right now, which I’m going to enjoy watching.”

“We’re just going as…friends,” I protested.

Tori snorted as she fussed with her hair in the mirror. “I hate to break this to you, but I don’t think Wyatt thinks you’re just a friend. He’s attracted to you, and I think the feeling is mutual, right?”

I wasn’t sure how Tori knew that, but she was so perceptive that it was scary sometimes.

She and Cooper had dropped over to Wyatt’s house several times, as had Chase and Vanna. But it wasn’t like she’d had tons of time to observe the way Wyatt and I interacted.

“Was I that obvious?” I asked softly. “It’s really not difficult to be attracted to your brother. He’s been really good to me, he’s crazy intelligent, and he’s ridiculously gorgeous. But you know my history, Tori. It’s really difficult for me to believe that a guy like Wyatt is genuinely attracted to me.”

“I think he probably feels the same way. Let me tell you something about Wyatt that might help. He doesn’t think he’s gorgeous,” she informed me matter-of-factly. “He’s never thought that. He was always a tall guy, even when he was younger, and he was self-conscious when he was a teenager. He towered over other guys in high school and it took a while for his body to fill out and catch up to his height. He’s also never been a smooth talker, which some women probably expect from a guy with that much money.”