A/N: So, I am having a ton of fun with this story. The last 3 chapters have been fun but this one is one of my favorites. (the next one is pretty great too, though.) We're getting to the good stuff now. Hopefully, you guys like it! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

angellwings

Chapter Four: Drinks

What exactly was she doing? Lucy asked herself as she bid goodbye to Dave and Celia and left to wait outside for Wyatt. She had a boyfriend. Yes, she was pissed at him. Yes, he'd lied to her. No, he hadn't really apologized. But despite the lies, he was a nice guy and a successful guy. He typically treated her very well, except for the lie about her mother. Did one sin mean giving up? And if that's what she was doing, should she end it first? Was it wrong to go out for a drink with Wyatt while still technically attached to Noah?

Not only that but what was her motivation here? Was she really interested in Wyatt or was she using him to get back at Noah? As soon as she asked herself the question she laughed. No, it wasn't revenge. She didn't like Noah enough for revenge.

Was Noah being a decent and stable guy enough of a reason to keep dating him? On paper he seemed like a solid choice for a boyfriend. Reliable, successful, kind, and even funny in that dry witty way. He could actually carry on a conversation and their relationship wasn't just about sex. Though, to be honest, her lack of connection to him meant the sex really wasn't that great. It was just...fine. But okay sex was better than none at all, especially okay sex with a guy who would still be there in the morning.

Noah was safe. Or she thought he was until he lied to her about her mother for reasons she couldn't comprehend. Even if he couldn't tell her that first night, it had been weeks since then. Surely, he could have told her at some point over the course of their short relationship. Now, she had doubts. Did it mean he wasn't who she thought he was? Did it mean he wasn't decent and stable? It made her head hurt thinking about it. So she didn't. Instead she turned her thoughts to the new mystery in her life.

Wyatt Logan.

He was smart, a quick thinker. Honest to a fault. He barely knew her and yet he seemed to genuinely care. He was damn attractive with blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. He actually listened when she talked and, just as important, he talked back. He'd answered her personal questions and, while he was very guarded, he'd let himself have a few vulnerable moments with her. He was willing to open up even if he wasn't completely able to quite yet.

There was also the fact that she felt some sort of mysterious pull toward him. From that first moment she'd noticed him during the band's soundcheck. He'd sat down at the table and she couldn't help but stare. He was attractive, but there was something else she couldn't name that drew her attention. Then Garth had noticed and teased her about it, she'd responded with a laugh and got back to work. The next time she looked up he was exiting the tent. Once the soundcheck ended she had no choice but follow him.

She thought he was attractive from her stage view but sitting next to him on the grass and being met with those blue eyes exceeded her definition of "attractive" in an unexplainable way. He'd sucked her in and she'd been flirting before she even realized it.

Was it wrong to let this play out with him? Was it fair to him? She didn't know much about his romantic past but he'd alluded to having something very special with someone once. Plus, she'd noticed how haunted he'd looked before she'd first spoken with him earlier in the day. Someone had left him scarred. Was exploring her options worth the risk that she might hurt him?

She huffed and shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. So far all they'd done was flirt and dance and talk and drink. It was harmless. Why her mind was jumping from that to the possibility she might break this soldier's heart was baffling to her. She didn't even know if this would lead anywhere. There was no sense in stressing herself out about something that may never happen.

But still, she couldn't explain why, something about Wyatt Logan felt inevitable. Like if she left with him now then everything would change. You could call it kismet or fate or a fixed point in time or whatever the hell else people want to call it, but whatever it was it felt important. It felt like maybe the pieces of her life had been coming together to lead to this moment. Did that sound insane? Yes, it did. Did it scare the shit out of her? Yes it did.

She was just about to slip away and chicken out of this drink she'd agreed to when she spotted Wyatt walking toward her. He noticed her and smirked, a crooked half smirk that was really starting to become a weakness for her, and that was it. That was apparently all it took for her fears and doubts to evaporate. She was once again caught up in him and her overwhelming curiosity as to why he affected her the way he did. There was also the strange sense of safety and comfort seeing him brought her. She didn't even know him. Not really. How was he doing this? Why was he doing this? What the hell was she getting herself into?

Because she was getting herself into this. There was no way she was turning back now. Not now that he was walking toward her with his blue eyes completely focused on her less captivating brown ones. God, what must it be like to have eyes like those? Did everyone he meet get caught up in them? How could you not?

Shit, she thought as she took a deep steadying breath, what was she doing? Was it worth the risk? Her mind flashed briefly to the suffocating feeling of water rushing in her car windows and the seat belt that just wouldn't unlatch and the visions of everything she hadn't done yet swimming around her. She'd promised herself then to not be afraid of risks. To live her life on her terms. To not let the fear of disappointing someone else hold her back. To never play it safe just because it was easy.

She wasn't going back on that promise now. Take the risk, she told herself. Make the choice. Get the answers to all of her questions regarding Wyatt Logan and his sudden appearance in her life.

He was in front of her then with an easy smile and an outstretched hand.

"Ready?" He asked.

God, she hoped so.

"Yes," she said as she placed her hand in his. She didn't gasp this time but she still felt it, the electricity. It was still there, tingling between their palms. He fiddled with his keys in his other hand as they walked. She'd left her car keys with Sherri, who'd agreed to drive her car back to Jiya's place for her. Sherri had given her a knowing smirk but had, mercifully, chosen not to comment.

Wyatt opened the passenger side door of his jeep for her but then remained standing there even after she sat down. He leaned against the side of the car, between the car and the open door, and met her eyes with a nervous smile.

"Look, I know you're still seeing this Dr. Nick-"

"Noah," she correct him with a grin. He rolled his eyes and shrugged in response. She chuckled and shook her head at him. He was getting Noah's name wrong on purpose, she knew it. He had a negative impression of Noah, that was her fault. She almost felt bad about that. Almost.

"I know you're still seeing him," Wyatt continued. "But, honestly, I'm not sure I care."

Her eyebrows rose in a questioning glance but before she could ask him to explain he continued.

"We just met and I only know a few things about you at this point, but I know myself and I know that there's a connection here that doesn't happen every day. So, while I'm not normally the guy who goes after the girl with the boyfriend, I'm not passing this up."

She wasn't sure why he was explaining this to her. He certainly didn't need to. She never once had the impression that he regularly pursued women in relationships. The question must have shown in her eyes because his nerves gave way to a confident grin.

"Just wanted you to know because, well...," he sentence trailed off but his eyes stayed trained on hers. "I'm not in this for the thrill or the risk." His nervousness from earlier was all but gone now as he spoke again. "I'm in it to win it."

His grin turned crooked and almost impish as he shut the door in the face of her slightly stunned expression. What did that mean? He was in it to win it? To win her? To beat Noah? Both? Her cheeks were heated and she knew she was blushing. When was the last time someone just told her their intentions point blank? Never. That had never happened. Why was that so goddamn attractive?

God, she was in trouble. Wyatt Logan was trouble.

It had been a long time since she'd had any trouble. Maybe that was just what she needed, she thought as Wyatt stepped into the driver's side and started the car. Maybe he would be what she needed.

She inwardly cursed herself. She was getting ahead of herself again.

Live in the moment, Preston. Just be. Don't think.

Don't think.

The drive to the bar was so familiar to her. She knew the neighborhood well as it was home to her current apartment. The bar he parked outside of was one she passed every day but had never been inside of and, she wasn't sure what to make of this fact yet, was one block over from her and Jiya's apartment. That was a bit convenient. Or had the potential to be.

Don't think.

She started to open her door but Wyatt shook his head at her and chuckled.

"I don't think so," he told her with a grin. "I'm trained to be polite, remember?"

She quirked a brow at him and laughed. "You can't be serious? I can open a car door."

"It's not a question of can. I have no doubt that you are very capable of a great number of things," he said with a smirk. "It's a question of manners. You don't want me disappointing my Grandpa Sherwin, do you?"

She laughed again and shook her head. "Oh no, we can't have that." She removed her hand from the door handle and placed it back in her lap. "Fine, go ahead, soldier. I'll wait."

A moment later the door opened and Wyatt held out a hand to help her out of the car with wink and half of a smirk. "Ma'am," he said with a nod. She imagined that if this were a western he would have tipped his hat and the image made her giggle as he accepted his hand and stepped out of the jeep.

He released her hand as they walked and she almost said something but then she felt that same hand on the small of her back, protectively guiding her into the bar, and she decided she liked that just as much.

Noah had not opened her door for her, probably because she beat him to it, but he'd never insisted. He always held her hand as they walked into rooms and walked in front of her. She didn't realize till now that he did that or that it bothered her. It felt as though he were dragging her behind him, as though he were trying to tell the room who was in charge.

Huh. Was that what he was doing? Or was she giving it that meaning now that she was pissed at him?

Wyatt's hand on her back felt different than that. It felt warm and safe and as if his main concern was her comfort. Was it possible for a small gesture to have that much meaning?

They sat down across from each other and as they did Lucy finally took a look around the bar. It was a nice place, but not too nice. There were bottles lined up on a mirrored rack over the bar and sleek modern barstools. The booths were older and very sturdy. It was a combination of classic and new that she liked very much.

Their server came by and got their drink orders and then they were alone again.

"So, can I ask," Wyatt said hesitantly. He paused and then started again. "Can I ask what happened with your mother? You don't have to answer but it's just with what happened with...your boyfriend," he stumbled briefly over those two words before he continued. "And then with that guy Luke at the wedding, I'm curious."

Of course he would be, she thought. She would have been too. She nodded and then gave him a long thoughtful glance. She'd left some things out of her explanation earlier. Did she trust him enough to tell him? She thought about his "in it to win it" speech and realized she did. She did trust him. She'd just met him but for some reason she trusted him.

"I grew up idolizing my mother," Lucy told him after a moment of silence. He must have thought she didn't want to talk about it because he looked surprised when she spoke. "The way she talked about history was enthralling. She gave me all of these books about historical figures that were written for kids and I devoured them all. I wanted to be like her. She would talk about this plan she had. That I'd go to all the best schools, earn all these degrees, and take over her department at Stanford. The department she basically built from the ground up. As a little kid, all I wanted was to make her proud. I wanted what she wanted because every time I did something she wanted and did it well she acted like I was the most amazing daughter in the world. I loved having that attention from her."

She paused for a moment and smiled wistfully. Things were so simple as a child. Your world was so small. Sometimes she missed that. Wyatt didn't respond but he gave her an encouraging glance to let her know that he was listening. He understood.

"But then I got a little older. I had friends with different interests from mine. I started taking piano lessons and exploring music. I started liking boys. History was still interesting but I wanted other things too. Each time my mother acted like my varied interests were a betrayal or a disappointment. Every grade that wasn't beyond steller resulted in some form of punishment. I got a B minus on an Earth Science test in ninth grade once and she grounded me for two weeks. I couldn't take her looking at me like I was failing her so I just let what I wanted go. For the sake of peace and for the sake of seeing my mother smile at me like she used to when I was little. I followed her plan, step by step. I got into the undergrad program at Stanford, early admission. That was probably the proudest day of my mother's life, I think. Course I had no friends, no social life, but I thought that could come later. I thought college would be different. Besides, I had Amy, my sister, she's the best friend any girl could have so that made it okay," Lucy told him. She flashed him a small smile at the mention of her little sister. Aside from Celia, Amy was everything to Lucy. Her cheering section, her unconditional support. Everything.

"But college wasn't different, was it?" Wyatt asked knowingly.

Lucy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "No, college was worse. I thought I'd get a little separation from her. But she'd opted me out of the dorms since I was local, which meant I was still under her watchful eye. This time at home and on campus. I blew up at her about it one time. About how it wasn't fair that she expected me to live like a nun for the sake of my education. She laughed and called me dramatic. After that she started setting me up on blind dates with students she knew. Ones she deemed 'appropriate'. I guess she thought playing matchmaker would allow me to get 'having a life' out of my system or something. So, with help from Amy, I started resorting to subterfuge."

Wyatt grinned at her. "Subterfuge? Let me guess, you snuck out your window at night in a miniskirt and high heels?"

She quirked a brow at him and smiled. "No, Wyatt Logan, you never climb down a trellis in high heels. You wear sneakers and then put the heels in your purse."

He laughed and nodded. "Good to know."

"That's how I met Celia, by the way, she was a waitress at the bar I snuck out to all the time for open mic nights," Lucy told him. "After a week or so she asked me to audition for her band. They were looking for a new lead singer."

"And you got the gig," Wyatt said with a smile and a nod.

"I did and the subterfuge continued until Celia accepted a gig at a club close to campus and word got around to my mother," Lucy said with a sigh and a shake of her head. "She said it was the band or being a part of the family. I had to choose. School or music. That was our biggest fight. We screamed at each other all night long. I was tired of her plan, of everything. I wasn't her daughter, I was an extension of herself. Her legacy. My happiness didn't matter to her, just her stupid plan. It was exhausting carrying all of that on my shoulders and then not being able to blow off any steam. I had to live with that pressure all day every day. I hated it. I left and headed out to find Celia to talk. We talked until the early hours of the morning. I had tentatively decided to choose music. I was terrified and wavering and honestly I was afraid I'd cave the minute I saw my mother again," Lucy admitted. "But I had to tell her. I had to tell her right then. So I drove back home."

She swallowed thickly and closed her eyes. She hated talking about this next part. She absolutely hated it. But without it she wouldn't be where she was now. She wouldn't be be who she was now. Wyatt must have sensed her conflict because she felt his hand reach for hers and hold it tightly. He squeezed her hand to reassure her.

"Lucy, you don't have to keep going," Wyatt said softly. "Really, you can tell me whatever you want when you want. It doesn't have to be now."

He sounded so calm and so patient. Support and worry dripped over every word. That only made her want to tell him more.

"No, it's okay," she said as she opened her eyes and smiled weakly at him. "I want you to know."

He nodded but didn't let go of her hand.

"There was an oil slick, I didn't see it. Next thing I knew my car was sinking. Water was rushing in and my seatbelt wouldn't unfasten. I was certain I was going to drown. I was going to die. All I kept thinking while the water was filling up my car was that I hadn't actually done any living. I spent my life going through the motions, playing it safe. Being who someone else told me to be. There were things I wanted for myself. Dreams of my own. I'd always dismissed them as fantasies and caved to my mother's plans for me. I was going to die before I'd even had a chance to live," she said with a gulp and calming breath. She still had nightmares about that car sometimes. She was definitely claustrophobic. But she wasn't afraid of life anymore. She wasn't afraid to stand up for herself.

"What happened?" Wyatt asked when she didn't continue.

"A good samaritan," she told him. "They saw my car in the water and dragged me out. They saved my life. After that, any chance of going back to school, back to my mother, was gone. I couldn't stand the idea of never really living my own life. I wouldn't die with regrets. The paramedics called her and she showed up at the scene. I told her right away what my decision was. Do you know what she did?" Lucy asked as her eyes hardened and her smile turned bitter. "She left. She left me in the back of the ambulance with a blanket over my shoulders and one final lecture about what a waste I was. They took me to the hospital to have me checked out and the hospital called Celia to come and pick me up. I haven't spoken to my mother since."

Wyatt was silent for a long moment and she finally dared to look him in the eyes. He looked shocked, dismayed, angry. It was every emotion she worked through after her mother had suddenly disappeared from her life. She could relate.

"I am so sorry, Lucy," Wyatt said with a shake of his head. "I can't imagine...she really just stopped talking to you after you almost died in that accident?"

"She sends me a passive aggressive birthday card every year. She always includes an application to Stanford in the card with information on how she can still get me discounted tuition. Other than that, we don't speak," Lucy told him with a sad smile. "It is what it is. I've accepted it and honestly I'm probably better off. If she can only love the version of me that she wants me to be then does she really love me at all?"

"What about your dad?" Wyatt asked with a furrowed brow.

"He died when I was in high school," Lucy answered with a thick gulp. "He's the one who got me started with piano lessons," she gave Wyatt a small smile and blinked back tears that were threatening to fall. Not now. She'd dealt with all of this already. She wasn't going to cry. "I miss him every day. Thankfully, I still have my baby sister and I have the band. They're all the family I really need."

"Still," Wyatt said as he squeezed her hand again. "I know what it feels like to have a parent who should love you treat you like shit. It's not easy to get over. No one should have to go through that."

His dad, she guessed. He'd mentioned him earlier. "Thank you," she said quietly. God this was turning into a depressing date. "I'm sorry, I just brought down this whole evening-"

"No, don't apologize," Wyatt told her. "I'm grateful you trusted me enough to tell me. Really. And, given that information, I like Nick even less. If he knew that story then he should have come clean immediately. She hurt you, Lucy, and anyone who really cared about you would want to prevent that from happening again."

"It's Noah," she said again with a dry chuckle.

"Again, I don't care."

She laughed and took a sip of her wine. "Okay. Since we're sharing trauma," Lucy said with a sigh. "Anything you'd like to talk about?"

He searched her eyes for a long moment. She didn't know what he was looking for but he must have found it because she knew what he said next wasn't easy for him.

"I screwed up a marriage because I couldn't give up my career." He said it so plainly but she could see the pain flash across his blue eyes before he shrugged with feigned carelessness. "So, you know, there's that."

Her brow furrowed and she shook her head. "It takes two people to screw up a marriage, Wyatt."

He scoffed and shook his head. "You don't know Jessica. Before we got married she was the most patient and forgiving woman I ever met. She was so full of compassion and warmth. Being an army wife took a toll on her. So much of a toll that the only way she could be that person again was to get as far away from me as she could. I nearly ruined her because I refused to do something-anything-else."

Lucy brought her other hand over to rest on top of their joined ones, which caused him to meet her eyes. "Wyatt, I just met you and I already know that what you do is a part of who you are. It was a part of who your grandfather was. He raised you to help others. I can see it. He raised you to serve and protect others. To ask you to do something else would be like asking you to give up everything you are. I'm sure Jessica is lovely, but that's not fair to you. I meant what I said, it takes two people to end a marriage. Sometimes, relationships just don't fit the way we want them to. It doesn't mean it has to be anyone's fault. I can understand your guilt, but from where I sit...she hurt you just as much as you hurt her."

She meant it. She meant all of that. Everything she'd seen from Wyatt tonight indicated he was caring and considerate. When he'd spoken about his grandfather she'd seen a warmth in his eyes that indicated a deep love and respect. It was a positive relationship that influenced the very fabric of who he was. He wasn't a soldier for selfish reasons, she was sure of that. He genuinely felt a duty to protect people. She'd marvelled at Celia's ability to give up Dave to that life earlier today but after just one evening with Wyatt she understood a little better. When someone had the ability to care about others that much you were lucky to know them, to be a part of their life, for any amount of time you could get.

She was lucky he was giving her tonight.

He must have expected a different reaction because he shook his head at her with a look of disbelief.

He seemed to think he was the villain in his marriage and, for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why. Unless…

She remembered hearing her mother refer to her as a waste and she remembered how deeply she let that effect her confidence for a long time. Then she thought about Wyatt. She wondered how many fights he and Jessica had been through before it ended and what words had been tossed around carelessly during those fights.

God, did he really believe…

"I don't know who told you that you're a bad guy, Wyatt, or what they said to make you believe it, but they're wrong," Lucy told him. "You're not a bad guy. Far from it."

His blue eyes slammed into hers and he looked completely shocked. She worried she'd said something wrong. He downed the rest of his beer and then flagged their server down. He ordered two whiskies and then his eyes were back on hers. His gaze was intense and she was dying to know what he was thinking. Had she offended him? Had she assumed too much? Overstepped some invisible boundary?

She squirmed under his eyes as the server set down the whiskies. He pushed one toward Lucy and then downed his in one gulp. Her eyes widened but she took the hint and followed suit. It burned all the way down. She grimaced and fought back a cough. Damn, she really needed to get better at drinking the hard stuff.

He stood after setting the glass back down on the table and pulled her up from her side of the booth. Was this it? Was it just over? Had she said something so offensive that he couldn't be in her sight any longer?

As soon as she was on her feet, his hands went to her face and he cradled it gently between them. She gulped as his thumbs slid over her cheeks and his eyes came back to hers. The affection and relief they held surprised her, but not as much as what he did just a split second later.

His lips covered hers and she froze for a brief moment. No, she hadn't said anything wrong, she realized. Apparently, she'd said something right. Something very very right. Her arms went around his middle and she pulled herself closer to him as the kiss continued. Her lips parted and he took full advantage. It had been a long time since she'd been kissed like this. He was kissing her slowly as if he wanted to savor every taste and texture her mouth had to offer. She felt dizzy, but in the best way. God, kissing Noah had never once felt like this. She knew she'd just downed a glass of whisky but she was certain this heady intoxication she was feeling had nothing to do with that whisky neat she'd just consumed.

No, that was all Wyatt.

He really was in it to win it and so far, she had to admit, he was succeeding.