Risk & Reward Read Free Page B

gone a little mad, proposing a one-night stand, a brief respite from both of their lives.
    He hadn’t expected that it would be an explosive night that would lead to an attempt at actually reconciling. Nor had he realized that he would want such a thing. But right now? He was about as happy—no, happier—than he’d been even in the early years of their young romance.
    Though his rash impulsivity had been rewarded, he was trying to keep a tight lid on himself as they came to know each other all over again. Neither of them had used the L word yet, and that was good. He was older, she was wiser, and he figured they had a tacit agreement in place to let this unfold however it did, no expectations.
    The long-distance thing wasn’t ideal, but he’d started delegating some of his day-to-day responsibilities so he could free up time for visits. They spent most of those visits naked, so he had an immense amount of fun. Aware that sometimes Tatiana might wish to try a non-fucking activity, he occasionally attempted to normalize their time together. Like tonight, she’d wanted to go out to dinner, so he’d mentally said sayonara to the plans he’d had to keep her tied to his bed. Thank God he’d rearranged his schedule to come fuck her on her ride home from the airport, or he’d be suffering by night time.
    Tatiana was happy, too. Each of her smiles beamed their way into his heart. She couldn’t fake that sort of pleasure.
    So, why, he wondered as he slipped his credit card back into his wallet, did he feel as though something was vaguely…off.
    Wyatt trusted his instincts. He was a poker player, after all, adept at reading his opponents and the situation. And right now, they were screaming that he and Tatiana were on the verge of some sort of impasse. Like those old Choose Your Own Adventure books, where the protagonists either lived happily ever after or died tragically.
    His resolve hardened, strengthened by fear. He would choose right, this time. Another decade with a barren personal life while he scraped and slaved to build a second or third fortune? No thanks.
    His lips quirked as the car slowed, and he tucked his wallet back into his pocket. God knew she wouldn’t take his money. She didn’t need his connections. The nostalgia factor could only go so far. All that was left was him. Adult Wyatt needed to be enough for Adult Tatiana.
    He hoped he was.

Chapter Three
     
    Red was for courage.
    Tatiana leaned in close to the mirror and slicked the lipstick on over her lower lip, her mouth forming an O. When she was finished, she pressed her lips together and examined her appearance critically.
    The bright red of her lips was reflected on her nails and dress. It was too much, perhaps, especially in contrast to her fair skin and honey-colored hair, but she liked the shock and awe of it all.
    It helped overcome the nervousness that had grown with every minute of the day.
    She smoothed her hand over her stomach. Grasshoppers were ricocheting around in her belly.
    Wyatt was going to kill her. She should have told him last night, the second she’d gotten off the phone with her parents, even if it had been late. Hell, she should have told him when he’d grasped her arm at the airport today.
    What was wrong with her? He was going to be so freaking angry. And she couldn’t blame him.
    As if she’d conjured him, the front door opened and closed. Those grasshoppers did another tap dance. “Tatiana,” came Wyatt’s faint voice.
    “In here.”
    The bedroom door opened, and Wyatt stepped in. “Sorry I’m late. I won’t change, we can—” His gaze met hers in the mirror, and his words dried up. She was gratified by the insta-lust that filled his gaze as his eyes dipped down over the front of her body. “Well,” he murmured. “Don’t you look nice?”
    She smoothed a hand over the dress she’d spent a solid five hours shopping for on the strip earlier today. A futile effort at distraction from her mounting anxiety.