Free Two Nights with His Bride by Kat Latham Page B

must think we’re idiots.”
    “Not in the least. I understand you live in a worldwhere people screw each other over for no good reason. That’s what worries me. I want to be sure Jared’s not the kind of guy who would do that to Nancy.”
    Polly snorted. “Jared is all about Jared. He’ll take great care of Nancy as long as she takes great care of him.”
    “Polly!”
    She glared at Faye and Ruby. “Screw you guys. You stole my chocolate. Plus, I have good instincts about people. Wyatt’sbarely taken his eyes off Nancy since we arrived, so it’s obvious he cares about her.”
    A twig cracked on the edge of the clearing, and Wyatt’s blood ran cold as he turned and met Jared’s murderous gaze.
    The actor shuttered his initial reaction almost immediately, but Wyatt had no doubt he’d wanted to hurt someone badly. Whether that someone was Polly or Wyatt himself, Wyatt wasn’t sure.
    Nancy,on the other hand, turned red as a cherry and kept her horrified gaze on Polly, who shouted, “What the hell is he doing here?”
    “He came to surprise me. Surprise!” Nancy said lamely. Every inch of her tense body communicated her discomfort with Jared’s unexpected arrival, but for some reason she apparently hadn’t told him to leave. Or, if she had, she’d been overruled. Considering it sounded asthough Jared had traveled through the night, Wyatt couldn’t blame her for backing down. As bad an idea as Jared’s surprise had been, every man had done something stupid for love at least once in his lifetime, and no man would appreciate having his grand gesture rejected—especially in front of others.
    Not that Wyatt pitied the man. He might if Jared had showed an ounce of awareness that he’d crosseda line. Or if he hadn’t smothered Nancy with a kiss that looked more punishing than passionate. Or if he hadn’t smacked her ass right in front of him or shown a dozen other signs of being a creep with the potential to hurt her.
    That bothered Wyatt the most. The guy had the potential to hurt her—and she was going to marry him.
    “Jared, it’s a bachelorette weekend.” Ruby stood and braced her handson her hips. Sadly, she didn’t kick him in the nuts, the way she had in her dreams. Wyatt would’ve paid good money to see that. “Girls only, in case that wasn’t clear from the billion times I told you before.”
    “That’s what I thought, too, but obviously not.” Jared jerked his chin in Wyatt’s direction. “Besides, Nancy wants me here. Don’t you, Bunny?”
    Wyatt’s hands clenched into fists. What ahorrible position to put her in. Before she could answer, he cut in. “I’m afraid I can’t let you on the boat unless you have the right safety gear. If I’d known you were coming, I could’ve brought some.”
    “That’s all right. Nancy and I are going to stay here and spend some time on our own.”
    Nancy’s face fell as she stared up at her fiancé in disbelief. “Wh-what?”
    “Well, you wouldn’t want togo off and leave me here all alone, would you? When I’ve traveled all this way to see you?”
    Wyatt’s chest went so painful he thought it might burst open. The manipulative son of a bitch.
    “Jared, it’s my bachelorette party.”
    “And I’m your husband-to-be.” He gave her a wounded look. “I had no idea it would be such a big sacrifice for you to spend the day alone with me. You used to drop everythingto spend time with me. So, what? Now that I put a ring on it, you don’t want to make the effort anymore?”
    The furtive, humiliated glance Nancy shot him made Wyatt get to his feet. “Listen—”
    “I’ll stay behind. Jared can have my gear.” Faye laid her hand on Wyatt’s arm and squeezed, a silent message to shut up. “Rafting’s not really my thing.”
    “Actually, I brought my own.” Jared patted Nancy’sbutt. He turned to Wyatt and explained. “The first film I directed was called Crimson River. You might not have seen it. Very art house. Doubt it came to any