That meant Scarlett had to be ready to make a lifetime commitment to him. To them. She wasn’t ready to do that now. Though he was positive of the outcome, she had to come to the same realization on her own.
There could be a lot of fun in the build-up, though.
He brushed his fingers along her cheek. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” Wynn glanced at his watch. “It’s almost one-thirty. I was too nervous to eat this morning.”
Her fingers lightly grasped his wrist. “Worried that I couldn’t pull off something insane?”
Looking deep into her eyes, he said, “I think you could accomplish whatever you put your mind to, Scarlett Corrigan.”
She blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. I’m surprised by the positive outcome. Rylon—especially under Mussfield’s leadership—is notoriously old school. It’s pretty remarkable those executives are willing to be shaken and not stirred.”
He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. “I do love a good 007 reference.”
Pulling away, he exited the Spitfire and she joined him. They entered the house and he tapped in the security code to silence the alarm. Scarlett brushed by him and traveled through the kitchen to his great room. He heard her gasp and was inordinately pleased.
Following, he stepped behind her as she looked out at the ocean and wrapped his arms around her waist, touching his cheek against hers. “You like my view?”
“It’s spectacular.” Her hands came to rest on his arms. Wynn’s lips pressed against her throat briefly and then he released her.
“Food first. Is a sandwich all right? I have some leftover meatloaf and a great crusty French bread.”
She turned to face him, her hands sliding up his chest. “I’m a sucker for a cold meatloaf sandwich. I used to beg Mom to make meatloaf solely to have leftovers the next day. Only Rhett and I liked it cold. Carreen and Suellen couldn’t stand it, which meant more for us.”
Wynn took her hand and led her back to the kitchen and indicated a barstool she could sit on. He went to the refrigerator and began pulling items out.
“I’ve met Rhett and Carreen. What about Suellen? Does she live in California?”
He noticed the annoyed look that flickered across her face. “Who knows? Suellen has been a lost child ever since Dad walked away. She was closest to him. Always made excuses when he came home drunk or missed showing up to a school play or one of our games. She took it hard when he left. Always thought he’d come back. Pretended she’d hear from him when we all knew he’d cut ties with us.”
Scarlett began cracking her knuckles, something Wynn had never seen her do.
“Suellen fell into one bad thing after another. Alcohol. Drugs. Shoplifting. A parade of bad boys in school and worse men after she dropped out. She drifted from man to man and job to job. Rhett bailed her out a few times—literally and otherwise. Mom put her foot down and told all of us we needed to practice tough love with Suellen. It worked for a while and she got her act together but it didn’t last.”
Scarlett pushed her fingers through her hair, moving it away from her face. “Suellen finally blew up. It was so ugly, Wynn, to hear vicious words spew from the mouth of someone you love. She told us we’d never see her again. She was through with all of us. I guess she meant it.”
“How long ago was that?” he asked.
“Almost eight years. She’s missed babies being born. Mom’s death. Suellen was always an odd duck. Not really connected to any of us after Dad made his great escape.”
“Has anyone tried to find her?”
Scarlett shuddered. “I haven’t. I know Carreen hasn’t. She’d already kept Suellen from being around her kids.” She hesitated. “I think Rhett may have tried a few years ago.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Just something Cassie let slip. Rhett never said anything, though. Either he found Suellen and she was so far gone he couldn’t help her or she was dead and Rhett chose not to tell us about it. We were already so upset with everything happening with Mom. I’m not sure Carreen or I could’ve taken more bad news.”
Knowing how much Scarlett valued family, Wynn knew it had been incredibly difficult for her to let go of this wayward sister.
“Enough doom and gloom,” she declared and slid off her stool. “What can I do to help?”
He sensed she needed something to keep her occupied and put her to work. Ten minutes later, the meatloaf sandwiches rested on toasted bread. He’d also pulled out a bowl of mixed berries.
“Want to take our lunch outside?”
Scarlett’s eyes lit up.
“Follow me.”
Wynn opened a set of French doors that led from the kitchen to a deck spanning the entire back side of the house. They made their way to deck chairs shaded by a large umbrella and rested the food on a table between them.
Slipping off his suit coat, Wynn loosened his tie before pulling it off and rolling his sleeves up. Scarlett kicked off her heels and also removed her bright yellow jacket. Her long, tanned legs drew his eyes for a moment as she sank onto the chair and stretched them out in front of her. Deliberately looking away, he took a seat and focused on his sandwich.
Her stomach gurgled loudly and they both laughed.
“I guess I’m hungrier than I realized.”
They enjoyed eating slowly, talking about everything from a new sushi place she’d recently dined at to his beloved Dodgers. He found himself thinking how much he enjoyed her company. Scarlett was interesting and opinionated and fun to be around.
She took the empty plate resting in her lap and set it on the table and stood. Her arms reached high into the air and he heard her back crack
