"This is where we keep the family and plantation records," Wyatt said, leading the way up the stairs to the second story as he showed Beth around the house. Katherine had taken her stuff to a room as soon as they arrived, knowing exactly where she would be sleeping. The question Beth had, was would it be the same room as Wyatt?

The room with the records was on the front side of the house. It must have been a bedroom at one time, but now there were framed photos covering the walls that weren't covered in bookshelves. The fireplace mantel held pictures and artifacts, there were rugs scattered across the wooden floors, a long table in the center of the room was covered in books and rolled up maps, and there were a few armchairs by the window that overlooked the street below.

Beth felt like a kid in Disney Land as her eyes drank in the beauty of it. She immediately walked to one of the books on the table and opened it, being pulled back into the past in an instant. Beth didn't know how long she looked at the book, but Wyatt clearing his throat pulled her out of her trance.

"Sorry," she blushed.

He smiled politely at her. "That's why you're here, but if you stay with me a moment longer, I'll show you to your room."

Beth nodded, closing the book gently and following Wyatt from the room and across the hall. "You'll be staying in this room," he told her as he opened the door on a room that belonged on a 19th-century movie set. There was a massive four-poster bed in the center that was so high it had a step stool at the base. Everything was covered in jewel-colored velvets, and there were pillows everywhere.

'You're kidding me? This is where I get to stay?" She couldn't hide her grin.

"Yes, I thought it might be your style," he smiled as he watched her walk around touching everything.

"You're a very tactile person, aren't you?" Wyatt asked as he watched her run her hands over the velvet drapes that were tied to the corner of the four-poster bed.

"Yes, my mother was always telling me to stop touching things as a kid." Beth walked over to the window and looked at the street below.

"There's a bathroom at the end of the hall," Wyatt said, ignoring Beth's comment and leading the way back into the hall. "Are you hungry? I thought the three of us could grab some lunch somewhere?"

"No, thank you." Beth shook her head. "I'd rather get started." She looked over her shoulder at the door to the room that held the archives.

"Can we bring you anything back?" he asked with a twitch of the lip.

"No, I'll be fine until dinner," she assured him, practically jumping from foot to foot in anticipation.

"Katherine!" he called, and Katherine's head popped out of a door at the end of the hall. "Are you ready to go get something to eat?"

"Sure," she said, emerging from her room and closing the door behind her.

"Let's go. Beth wants to stay here and get started." Wyatt turned and started down the stairs.

"Have fun!" Katherine called over her shoulder as she followed Wyatt down the steps.

Beth moved back to the room that held the records and walked to the window, watching the street below as Wyatt and Katherine emerged from the house. He held the car door open for Katherine, saying something that made her laugh before he shut it. Then, as if sensing Beth's gaze, he looked up at the window and caught her watching them.

Beth knew she should have drawn back and tried to make it less obvious that she was watching, but as soon as her eyes caught his, she was lost. Wyatt didn't look away either. He let his gaze wander over her face for a minute in an almost possessive way, and Beth felt her heart lurch at his look.

When Beth's phone rang, it broke the spell, and she reached in her pocket for it as Wyatt turned his back and walked around to the driver's side of the car. Beth looked down to see her mother's name on the screen.

"Hey Mom," she greeted as she watched the car pull away from the curb.

"So, you want to know all about Wyatt Ramsey?" Alice Stevens said, getting to the heart of the matter right away as she usually did.

"Who told you that?" Beth asked, attempting to keep the tone of her voice amused.

"Bryce told Grace about Mave's phone call, and Grace told your father, who told me." It was the family phone tree at work. 

"Why didn't Aunt Grace tell you directly?" Beth fell into one of the armchairs, kicking off her shoes.

"I was in class, but don't try to distract me. Do you like Wyatt?"

"Why is everyone in the family bound and determined to have me in love with every single man I meet?" Beth asked with a roll of her eyes. Although, this time, it might be true.

"So you don't like him?" Alice sounded disappointed.

"Not as much as Mave does." Beth rested her head against the back of the chair, hating that she was lying to her mother, but this wasn't something she was willing to share. She knew her family, and if they caught a whiff of romance, they would be like a dog with a bone.

"Mave is in love with Sammy; we all know that. She has been since she was able to walk." It was true Sam Evers Jr., aka Sammy, was an old family friend that Mave had adored for as long as anyone could remember. The only problem was Sammy was clueless.

"He goes by Sam now, Mom. He's almost a doctor." Beth smiled.

"He'll always be Sammy to me, but what about Wyatt?" Alice prodded.

"What about him? He seems to be a very nice but reserved man. I don't know him all that well." Beth shrugged, hoping the sentiment would carry through to her voice.

"Mave said the two of you took an overnight trip to Charleston. She has high hopes for romance." Alice tried again.

"But what Mave doesn't know is that Wyatt brought his girlfriend along as well." It wasn't really a lie, Katherine could be his girlfriend.

"He did?" Alice squeaked.

"He did, and they just left for a cozy lunch for two, leaving me in the most magnificent room full of wonderful documents." Beth stood and walked towards one of the maps, running her fingers over the aged paper.

"Well, I'm disappointed. I like Wyatt." Alice sounded upset.

"Mom, you hardly know him! How long ago was he your student?" Beth chided.

"About fifteen years ago, you would have been about ten. I remember thinking then that if you girls were just a little older, and he a little younger, he would have made one of you a good boyfriend." Alice sounded wistful.

"Mom!" Beth couldn't help but be a little shocked by her mother's outrageous statement.

"What! You're not ten now!" Alice said defensively.

"He's still ten years older than me," Alice shook her head, wondering why she was objecting to her mother's thoughts. She didn't disagree with her, but it sounded good that she did.

"Your father is almost ten years older than me, and it's worked out well. Men take longer to mature. I'm still waiting for your father to grow up."

"I'm glad you like Wyatt, and I agree, he is very nice," Beth conceded.

"But there is nothing there?" Alice sounded disappointed, and for a moment, Beth wanted to tell her everything, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. However, she didn't want to lie either. "Are you and Dad going to make it out to the movie set while we're here?" she asked, changing the subject.

Alice was silent for a moment, and Beth thought she had given the game away, but thankfully Alice took the bait.

"Probably not, but you'll both be back in New York soon, and we'll get together when you're here. You know that Mason cast Lily as Mave's mother, right?" Lily was another family friend who used to babysit them all when they were kids.

Great! Beth thought with a silent moan. That would mean Lily would be spying on her for her mother. What was it they said, forewarned was forearmed. "That's great! I haven't seen Lily in months. Maybe she'll have something good to report on Wyatt and Mave." The words almost stuck in Beth's throat.

"I know you, Bethy. You don't fool me, but I'll let it go for now." Alice used Beth's childhood nickname. "Your father and I wanted privacy to work through our relationship as well. Not that this family gave us that, but I'll try to do better for you."

"Honestly, Mom. There is nothing there, I promise." Beth said it and meant it. Wyatt hadn't shown one hint of interest in her.

Then she shivered as she remembered his look from moments earlier. Maybe he had shown a little, but he still left with another girl.