AN: Okay, I had a couple questions come up in the reviews that I feel need answered… 1. The ending is NOT going to be the same as the previous version (for those of you who don't know what that means, I'm sorry)… 2. Jamie and Wyatt share the same dad—the former Mr. Quintin. The affair took place during Alice's and Mr. Quintin's marriages, but neither of their spouses were willing to divorce due to the number of dollar signs behind Alice and Mr. Quintin's names.

* * *

Ten: Back to Square One

"I didn't think she was ever going to pick a set," I groaned as I kicked off my shoes and trudged to the couch. I collapsed onto the cushions, burying my face in a throw pillow. My feet were screaming in agony after being trapped in a new pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos all day. Clearly a stupid idea.

Alice was a sweet woman, she really was. And her attempts at getting Wyatt to agree to propose when she saw fit, well, that was entertaining. But after two hours searching for new wedding bands was just plain cruel for the soul. She was the kind of person you took in small doses. I now understood why two years wasn't enough for Jamie and Wyatt.

"Next time she visits, we're going to say we're unavailable—on vacation in Cabo or something," Wyatt agreed, lifting my ankles to sit on the couch with me. He replaced my feet, taking on in his hand and massaging it for me. I had been hissing complaints to him the entire time, but 90% of them concerned my feet.

His hands expertly massaged the sore muscles of my feet as I lay there, and for a moment, I felt like we were a real couple. A happy couple who had just survived a visit from the in-laws, the hubby promising it would never happen again and the wifey next to tears over the experience. Well, it was an exaggeration, but the feeling was all the same.

"So what are you making for dinner?" I asked him, having shifted position so I could look at Wyatt. My fury that lasted the entire week had finally disapated in the wake of Alice, and so I felt compelled to extend the olive branch first.

Wyatt looked at me, an eyebrow raised. "Don't you me what are we making for dinner?"

I snorted. "I'm kitchen retarded. I basically wash dishes and boil water, that's it. You're the one with a culinary background."

He sighed. "What do you want?"

"I don't care, what would Alice want?"

"Food I'm not taking the time to make."

"How much time do we have, anyway?"

He looked at his watch. "A few hours, why?"

I grinned. "Do you think she'd notice the difference if we just ordered in dinner?"

He grinned back. "She may have expensive tastes, but she wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a home-cooked meal and a delivered one."

I laughed as I closed my eyes, enjoying the soothing feel of his hands on my still angry feet. It took a lot of effort to be mad at Wyatt; it was easier being nice, as much as I hated to admit it. Maybe under different circumstances our relationship would be different—like friends.

Or more.

I dismissed that thought quickly. No, definitely not more. While it may not have started off with us having a mutual dislike for each other, it certainly wouldn't have been a love at first sight deal either. Even if I were always nice to him, he'd be an ass just to be an ass and I would react just as I always do. There would be no room for love there.

At the moment, at least. My rogue thoughts were starting to annoy me.

"What are you thinking about?" Wyatt asked, his hands pausing their work. I opened my eyes to look at him briefly. His face, from what I could tell, was open. Maybe he had taken my schpiel about dropping the act seriously. Or maybe this was just a passing moment and he forgot everything that I had said or done that day.

You know you want to ask him.

Ask him what?

About the kiss, stupid.

Why would I ask him about that? It would only make things awkward if I did. Neither of us had mentioned what happened that day, and we were both fine. So what if I was curious about why he kissed me back? Stupid questions like that didn't deserve to be vocalized.

"Why did you kiss me?"

While stupid questions like that didn't deserve to be vocalized, that didn't mean that the thinker wasn't inherently stupid and would ask them anyway.

Wyatt blinked in surprise. "What?"

I blushed. "I mean, why did you kiss me back? You know, the day you moved my stuff here?"

Comprehension dawned on Wyatt's face and he looked away. I knew it. He was regretting it. I couldn't understand why I felt so disappointed with that, even though I had already assumed that he did regret it, which was why he didn't say anything before. It was only natural for him to—

"Why did you kiss me in the first place?" he asked, interrupting my stream of rejected thought. In all honesty, I wasn't necessarily prepared for such a question. There really wasn't a reason why; I just did.

"I don't know," I replied, blushing furiously again. "I guess… well… I guess because I wanted to."

Standing in front of a stadium full of people naked was nothing to how vulnerable I suddenly felt. I should have kept my mouth shut. I didn't need to know how he really felt—that didn't matter! We were just pretending to be a couple, that's it. It didn't matter that I maybe, barely, in all probability felt something real for Wyatt—I mean, that was completely impossible! I had only been around Wyatt for a little over a week! How can a person go from total resentment to attraction in that much time?

I pulled my feet back and stood up. I had to put an end to the awkward. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm thinking right now. I shouldn't have asked such a stupid question." Moving to head upstairs to change into something a little more comfortable than the jade dress I was in, I didn't make it past Wyatt's legs when he grabbed my hand and pulled me into his lap. I didn't even have a chance to ask him what he was doing since his lips were doing an excellent job of distracting me. He started at my mouth and then moved down to my throat, then my collar bone. Even when my lips were free, I couldn't formulate a sentence, so I gave up and made to reciprocate.

And ended up on the floor.

"Holy fucking shit. Are you okay?" Wyatt asked as he stood up and helped me off the floor. Apparently Wyatt was so caught up in what he was doing, he forgot that if he moved his legs, I was going to fall.

"I'm fine," I muttered, pulling my skirt down. "Either God is trying to tell us something, or He just got bored and decided to be funny." Wyatt chuckled before leaning in to kiss me. It was different than any of his other kisses; this one was gentler, softer, and just as irresistible.

"It's probably a good thing He intervened," he murmured. "I need to get that food ordered before Mom decides to show up early or something." He leaned in again, nuzzling my neck this time.

"You never answered my question, you know," I pointed out to him, enjoying the feel of his lips against my neck.

I felt his smile against my skin. "I know."

I rolled my eyes. "You're not going to answer, are you?"

Wyatt's lips found a sensitive spot just under my ear, making me inhale sharply. "Maybe, maybe not. I think there are more pressing questions than why I kissed you back."

I found myself pushed against the arm of the couch, slightly seated as Wyatt continued brushing his lips across my throat and collarbone. His fingertips trailed along the contour of my thigh, slipping under the cover of my skirt, and making me hold my breath. Halfway up my calf he paused and retreated, the teasing driving me crazy.

On the verge of just throwing him onto the couch and obeying my desires, I took a sobering breath and pushed him back a little.

"And what questions are those?" I asked him. If I focused on forming words, I wouldn't lose control. The goal was to remain in control.

Wyatt smirked. "Like, what does this do to your qualms about the sleeping arrangements?" I made a face at him. He would be smug about this recent development. "Better yet, what will this do to your reputation for hating me with a passion?"

"I think I get your point," I muttered. "I thought you were going to order food, asshole."

* * *

"Wyatt, darling, this is simply delicious!" Alice exclaimed for the fiftieth time as she finished off her pie. "Natalie, dear, do you cook?"

I shook my head. "I'm pretty much incapable of anything outside of boiling water."

Alice laughed. "We are two of a kind, Natalie. I'm just as useless."

I laughed with her before standing up and starting to collect the plates. Dinner hadn't been too bad; like Wyatt had predicted, Alice didn't have a clue that the meal she was eating arrived twenty minutes before she did. Jamie acted as a conversational referee, keeping the topics away from anything that involved marriage. Though, once conversation teetered on the brink of children, but I managed to redirect it to Alice's favorite city to live in.

"Mom, Dad, why don't we head into the living room? You still have to tell me how your trip to Sydney went last month," Wyatt suggested, leaving me and Jamie to deal with the dishes—much to Alice's dismay.

"I really feel I should help Natalie," she insisted.

I forced myself not to balk. "Oh, don't worry about it Alice. It's my way of paying Wyatt back for all the cooking," I replied, taking the dishes and practically running into the kitchen with them. Jamie followed me with the rest of the plates, grabbing a dish-towel.

"I'll dry," he offered with a smile.

I returned his smile. "Thanks."

He shook his head. "No, thank you for putting up with my mother today. I completely understand if you avoid being seen the rest of the weekend."

I laughed quietly and shook my head. "I couldn't leave the two of you like that," I replied. "I'd feel so guilty."

Jamie stared at me. "Are you nuts? If I could, I would leave Wyatt to deal with her every time she visits, but she always insists that we both be there—together. It's like she knows she's psychotic."

"Well, in that case, I'll make sure to hide out at Madison's for the rest of the weekend."

Jamie chuckled. "Good idea. Wyatt will get over the betrayal eventually." He paused for a moment, looking at me curiously. "You know, you two seemed a lot… friendlier at dinner, for lack of a better word."

Fighting the blush was futile.

"Really? I guess once I'm in the act, I'm in it."

Jamie seemed to accept my answer. "I can understand that. I keep forgetting that you're new to this whole double-life thing. I have to say, you seem like a pro."

I shrugged. "I guess when you've lied as much as I have in my life, pretending to be something you aren't isn't as difficult as one would think."

"Maybe that's why I suck at it," he mused. "The others always kick my ass at poker."

I laughed. "I'm sure that's not the case. You just get really bad hands."

"That's what I keep telling myself, but I'm pretty sure it's impossible to get that many bad hands."

I laughed again, handing him the last dish and taking off the gloves. Wyatt was still with Alice and Harry in the living room, and I had zero motivation to join them.

"Isn't there anything else that needs washed?" Jamie muttered.

"Yeah, seriously." I sighed. "I guess it's time to join them."

"I don't know that my ears can take much more."

"Yours? You've had years of training, years to build up a sort of immunity. My ears feel like they're going to start bleeding soon."

Jamie just sighed and led the way into the living room. Alice was in the middle of a very animated story about her troubles with a Parisian store clerk and Harry was starting to doze off. I sat on the arm of Wyatt's chair, my intrigued smile plastered back on my face as I attempted to tune out Alice.

"… So I finally got the French bastard to give me the shoes for half the ticketed price!" she finished. She looked at her husband, a pout on her face. "Oh darn, I guess it's time for us to go, now that Harry has started to fall asleep."

Alice nudged the poor man in the stomach, jolting him awake. "Huh? What? Of course!" he spluttered. Alice rolled her eyes.

"Calm down, Harry," she told him. "We're leaving now."

The words must have given Harry the extra energy need to leap up from the couch and hustle to the door for the coats. Alice simply shook her head as she rose, Wyatt and Jamie rising as well to bid their mother goodbye.

"So I will see the three of you tomorrow for lunch?" Alice asked, her eyes hopeful. I was about to say that I would have to decline due to an engagement with a friend, but Wyatt stepped in.

"Actually, Mom, I won't be here the rest of the weekend due to a business venture in LA," Wyatt lied smoothly. "And since Natalie is also my personal assistant, I'm going to need her there with me to keep me on time. I'm terribly sorry."

Alice sighed. "Fine, I'll just say goodbye tonight then." She pulled Wyatt into a tight hug before kissing his forehead. "The next time I see you, there had better be a ring on this girl's finger, got it?"

Wyatt laughed nervously. "Sure, sure."

Alice dashed over to me, squeezing me with an amazing amount of force. "You keep in touch, dear, okay? It was so lovely to meet you. I'm glad Wyatt has finally found the right girl."

I could only nod, thanks to the still overwhelming scent of Chanel on the woman. She released me, hugging Jamie quickly before taking her coat from Harry and following Wyatt to the door. When they were out of sight, I sank into the chair Wyatt vacated with a relieved sigh.

"Thank. God."

Jamie nodded his agreement as he collapsed onto the couch, putting his feet up on the coffee table. "I still don't know how Wyatt's dad managed to sleep with her and not suffocate from the Chanel fumes."

"I think he mentioned something about their encounters usually beginning with a session in the shower before moving onto the bed," Wyatt suggested as he re-entered the room. Jamie's face contorted.

"Ugh! Thank you for the very unflattering image of my mother—your dad… GROSS."

I laughed tiredly before looking at Wyatt, who seated himself on the couch. "So, what are we really doing the rest of the weekend?" I asked him. As I mentally replayed the words in my head, I realized it could have been construed two ways, and blushed.

Wyatt grinned, knowing exactly why I was blushing. "Well, I'm not sure what you had in mind, but according to a text I just got from Adam, there's been a change in one of the missions," he replied before checking his watch. "I should probably head over there now and talk to him, see what the timelines look like now."

Jamie sighed. "I guess I ought to go with you, just in case the client tries to get ahold of me the rest of the weekend."

Wyatt nodded. "Probably a good idea. Natalie, you just stay here, okay? Don't wait up, I might be late."

I shrugged. "Fine with me. Maybe I'll be able to get a few decent hours sleep while you're gone," I agreed. "You snore."

Jamie laughed while Wyatt shot me a look.

"I don't snore."

"Then you have major stomach issues because there is constant sound coming from your side of the bed every night."

"I don't snore!"

I stood up, making my way to the stairs. "Whatever you say, babe."

My feet stopped moving as my brain registered what I had just said. I really needed to fix the brain-mouth malfunction.

"Babe?" Wyatt drawled.

"Wyatt," Jamie warned.

Shit.

Wyatt chuckled—no, cackled. "Wanna run that by me again, babe?"

I looked at him over my shoulder. Must stay calm. "No, I think I'm okay," I replied coolly. "I thought you had a meeting to get to? Wouldn't want to be late."

"No, definitely not, babe."

I made my way up the stairs, doing my best to ignore him. "You know, that's going to get old."

"Think so, babe?" Wyatt asked, following me up the stairs.

I breathed heavily through my nose. "Yes, I do think so."

"Whatever you say, babe."

"You have until the count of three to shut up and leave," I warned him.

Wyatt smirked. "Or what, babe?"

"One."

"You know, you're rather cute when you're angry."

"Two."

Jamie sighed from downstairs. "You don't really understand the meaning of 'Just walk away' do you, Wyatt?"

Wyatt's smirk got bigger. "What now, babe?"

I gave him a smile before wrapping my arms around his neck. Brushing my lips against his, I brought one leg up to his hip provocatively. "Call me babe again," I whispered, the dare masked by the husky tone of my voice.

"Whatever you want, babe," he murmured against my lips.

I smiled smugly. "Dipshit."

My well-placed knee rammed up into his groin. Wyatt gasped before haunching over.

Jamie snorted with laughter. "You shouldn't complain," he chastised between laughs. "We both warned you it was a bad idea."

I took a step back, sighing. "Jamie, you might want to get him some ice," I said, leaning over the balcony rail. I looked at Wyatt, who was glaring at me with a red face. I opened the door to the bedroom, returning his glare with a cool gaze. That would teach him to underestimate me.

"I think I'll sleep on the couch tonight."