Yvette were already there. Nicklaus walked in behind Wyatt.
“Our other guests made it last night,” Nicklaus told them as they sat down with full plates.
“I met Robert in the gym,” Wyatt told them. “Seems like a good guy.”
“They’re wonderful.” Yvette reached for her juice. “His wife and I were abducted together a few years ago. It bonded the four of us in a way few other things could.”
“Wow.” Madi’s eyes were wide. “Abducted? Because of who you were?”
“Yes and no. It wasn’t long after Nicky and I were married. They hadn’t been married long either. Really, it was Robert’s father-in-law doing the abducting, because of some legal action they were taking against him. I just happened to be along for the ride.”
It didn’t seem to bother her. Maybe because it had been a few years? Wyatt didn’t think it could have been easy to get over.
Talk turned to other things, and the third couple didn’t join them for breakfast.
Finally, the four of them separated to get their suits on and make their way to the upper deck. The temperature had been turned down from “hot tub” level to “warm enough so it’s not cold and we can stay for a while” level.
Madi wore a fairly conservative one-piece under her cover-up when she emerged from the bathroom. Wyatt wore a t-shirt with his board shorts.
He sat in one of the chairs. “Do you want to talk before we go? Can you at least tell me what you’re thinking?”
She shook her head. “I’m still not sure what I’m thinking. I didn’t sleep well last night, but we’re married, which means we should sleep together physically, even if we’re not sleeping together metaphorically yet.”
“I appreciate that much.”
She sank to one of the other chairs. “I don’t know that I need to forgive you. I’m not a hundred percent sure the trespass was against me. I understand the argument about why it is. I’m your wife. I’m the only person you should sleep with. You knew better but did it anyway. Does that mean you need my forgiveness? Or forgiveness from the women you slept with when you weren’t married to them? I don’t know. I presume you confessed to Christ, which means He’s already forgiven you.”
Wyatt nodded. “That was the first thing I did, more or less.”
“So I don’t know how I feel or if you need my forgiveness. If you think you need it, you’ve got it.”
That weight started to lift again. “Thank you.”
“But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to kiss you and fall into the sack together, no matter how much physical attraction we have.”
He watched as she took a deep breath.
“For now, that means things continue as they are, and we talk again after the filming ends permanently.”
He nodded again. “That’s all I can ask for.” He stood and held out a hand, which she took, and helped her to her feet.
Wyatt pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her, noticing her hesitation before she reciprocated.
It would take time, but he believed they’d get there.
They had to.
Because he’d realized this was it for him. Wyatt was falling head over heels in love with his wife, and he would do whatever it took to make things work.
18
Five of them spent time in the cooler hot tub then enjoyed lunch on the top deck. Robert’s wife wasn’t feeling well so she’d stayed in their cabin. Madi managed to keep a smile on her face, though it wasn’t what she wanted to do. She wanted to be alone, to try to figure out what she thought and felt about Wyatt and his confession.
The men decided to play a game of cards while Yvette and Madi went to the movie area to watch something from HEA TV.
“You have a movie coming out soon, don’t you?” Yvette asked as they settled into their chairs and the princess poured them each a glass of wine.
“In a couple of weeks,” Madi confirmed, taking her glass. “It was filmed in my town last summer. My youngest sister is in a couple of scenes. My middle sister’s husband is the hero.”
“How fun!” Yvette shifted as movement in the corner of Madi’s eye caught her attention. “Lizbeth! Are you feeling better?”
The other woman took a seat and closed her eyes. “Some.” She glanced at Madi then back at Yvette. “We think I’m pregnant.”
Something in her tone made Madi hold back on the congratulations.
“How far along?” Yvette asked, more subdued than she likely should have been.
“Not far. A few weeks.