“That’s understandable.”
He knew if they were face to face, she probably wouldn’t have been able to open up to him, so for the first time, he was grateful he couldn’t touch her. As much as he’d love to hold her, he sensed Maura was right—Tenley spooked easily.
“Her boyfriends were pigs, always leering at me, especially when I turned thirteen and started developing.” She sounded more clear-headed now, as though thoughts of her childhood were enough to sober her up.
“Did they ever try anything?” He knew she had two older brothers to protect her, but they were presumably teens at the time. No match for full-grown men with wandering hands.
“No, but they said things they shouldn’t have, which made me feel dirty. I got my brother to install an extra lock on my bedroom door so whenever I was home alone with my mom and one of her men, I locked myself in my room and didn’t come out. Not even to eat. I always said I had homework. I think they were happier to have the place to themselves anyhow.”
“At least you were safe,” he muttered, thinking it must have been brutal to grow up that way.
“We lived in a trailer. Did I tell you that?” She laughed uncontrollably, though he couldn’t see the humor in her story. “I know what you’re thinking—trailer park trash, right?”
“No, I wasn’t thinking that.” There was nothing trashy about this woman. She was strong, resilient, and incredibly brave as far as he was concerned. “Where you live doesn’t define who you are.” He’d lived in tiny apartments and run-down houses growing up. Now he lived in a big-ass house surrounded by acres of land. He was still the same person, just with a different address.
“Really? Where do you live?”
He’d always been proud of his house, since it was a result of his hard work and determination to succeed, but hearing Tenley’s story just reminded him of the disparity in the world. He didn’t feel so good about his life of excess anymore. The big house and toys were great, but they weren’t the most important thing. Having someone to share it with, maybe someone like Tenley, was the ultimate goal.
“Before you ask me where I live now, you should ask me where I lived growing up. We’re not that different. Our lives aren’t that far apart, you know.” He wanted her to know that she could tell him anything, that he would never judge her, no matter how harshly she judged herself.
“Really?”
“Really. I had a younger brother and sister. Like I said, my mom died when I was young, and the old man was blue collar, through and through. He did the best he could to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, but we had to grow up when our mama died. We were pretty much on our own after that. It wasn’t his fault. He had to work to support us.”
Rowan rarely opened up about his childhood, mainly because he knew a lot of people had it worse than he did. Sure, his mother had died when they were young and that sucked, but they still had their dad and each other. They didn’t end up in the system or homeless, like a lot of kids who lost a parent.
“I really like you,” she whispered. “Talking to you makes me feel good.”
“I feel the same way, baby.” The more he learned about Tenley, the more he wanted to know about her. She yawned, making him smile. “You should get some sleep. You have to work in the morning, right?”
“Ugh. Yeah, I do.”
“Take a couple of aspirin and drink a couple of glasses of water before you go to bed. It’ll help.” When she promised she would, he asked, “You think you can get away for lunch tomorrow?”
“Um, I should be able to. I have classes at nine, eleven, and three. So maybe around twelve thirty?”
“Perfect.” He would have rearranged his schedule if he had to, just to see her. “Text me the address, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Rowan?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I’m glad you stopped by tonight.”
“Me too.” I smiled. “Sweet dreams, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter Five
Tenley was questioning whether she should call Rowan and cancel their lunch date when Stacey approached the front desk. She bumped hips with Tenley, grinning.
“Where’d you crash last night, girl? Please tell me it was with Rowan.” She rounded the desk and took up her post in the high swivel chair. “And if it was, I want every single detail. Don’t even think about leaving anything out.”
“I stayed with Walker,” Tenley said, tucking her phone into the pocket of her hoodie.
“Huh.” Stacey tried to appear unaffected as she asked, “How is your brother?”
Tenley hated that her roommate was another one of Walker’s casualties. She was a good girl who gave her heart too freely. She’d tried to warn Stacey about her big brother, but she was convinced she’d be the one to change him. Ha! Tenley didn’t think a woman alive could convince her brother monogamy was the way to go.
“He’s okay,” she said, retying her ponytail. “Busy with work, as usual.”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen him in here lately.”
Which told Tenley she’d been looking for him. She didn’t like to get all up in her friend’s business because that would make hers fair game, but she couldn’t let her waste any more time expecting Walker to come around. Sometimes Stacey had to be reminded she wasn’t put on this earth to be some man’s doormat. Even if said man was Tenley’s brother.
“Girl, you need to forget about my brother. I love him and all, but trust me when I tell you he’s not worth your time.”
“It’s just been hard to get him out of my head.” She sighed. “I didn’t think it would be. I mean, I knew going in that he didn’t want a relationship and it was fun while it lasted, but—”
“You thought he’d change his mind and decide he wanted more?” She’d heard that same story too many times. Both of her brothers were players, and the women they dated thought befriending Tenley would help their cause. They soon found out she couldn’t care less.
“Something like that. I know it’s dumb. How many times did you warn me, right?”
“You’re a beautiful girl. Guys ask you out all the time. You need to go out with one of them and forget about Walker.”
“Maybe I should go out with your other brother,” she teased. “That might get Walker’s attention.”
“I don’t think so.” Tenley honestly didn’t think Walker would care, but her brothers subscribed to the “bro code.” If one of them hooked up with a female, she was off-limits to the other.
“Look who just walked in,” Stacey said, sounding a little breathless.
Judging by her reaction, Tenley thought it might have been one of her brothers until she turned to see Rowan walking toward them. He looked badass in faded jeans, motorcycle boots, a tight black T, and colorful ink snaking up his powerful arms.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, bending to kiss Tenley’s cheek. “How’re you feeling today?”
She knew he was referring to her hangover, which the aspirin and water hadn’t prevented. “I’ve been better. In fact, I was going to call you about lunch. Maybe we should make it another time? I’d be lousy company today.”
Stacey cleared her throat, reminding them she was there. Tenley watched Rowan’s eyes travel to her, and she waited for the usual reaction. She was a petite blonde with baby blues and natural Cs. Most guys got one look at her and forgot about every other woman in the room. Apparently, Rowan wasn’t like most guys though. His eyes didn’t linger on Stacey for more than a few seconds before he returned his attention to Tenley.
Huh. Score one for him.
“Rowan, this is my roommate, Stacey.”
He smiled, accepting her outstretched hand when she stood. “It’s nice to meet you, Stacey.”
“You too.” She bit her lip, winking at Tenley. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.”
Tenley scowled at her, not wanting Rowan to know they’d been talking about him. She wanted to play it cool, to let him believe that he was an aft
erthought to her, though the airplay he’d been getting in her head was a little disturbing.
“Good to know,” he said, smirking with a sidelong glance in Tenley’s direction.
“Are you still working out?” Stacey asked, waving at a regular who asked her out every other month. “If so, you’re welcome to join us.”
“I’ll be back at it hard core next week, getting ready for spring training,” he said, ignoring his cell phone when it buzzed. “But I prefer to work out at home when I can. Thanks for the offer though.”
Stacey gave her roommate an approving look. She knew how much Tenley liked when a man didn’t treat his phone as his most important appendage. “Any chance you’d cop us a couple of tickets to your home opener?”
“You’re a baseball fan too?” Rowan asked.
“Definitely.”
“You got a boyfriend?”
Tenley didn’t know where the hell he was going with this, but if he was smart, he’d think twice before hitting on her roommate right in front of her. It’s not like she owned the guy. But her roommate? Come on, that had d-bag written all over it.
“Uh no,” Stacey said, sounding hesitant as she stole a glance at her friend. “Why?”
He chuckled, obviously sensing the reason for her hesitation. “I thought you might like to meet a friend of mine. Ace just broke up with his girlfriend, and he’s been moping around—”
“Ace Phillips?” Stacey asked, unable to hide her excitement. “Your second baseman? You really think he’d like me?”
Tenley nearly groaned, wanting to bang her heavy head on the counter. Why couldn’t Stacey learn that the only way to keep them coming back for more was to play it cool and act as if you didn’t care?
“Why wouldn’t he like you?” Rowan asked, looking amused. “You’re a beautiful girl. And if you’re a friend of Tenley’s, I know you wouldn’t go all fan-girl and start stalking him.”
“Do women really do that?” Tenley asked, ashamed on behalf of her gender. “Stalk you guys?”
“You’d be surprised,” Rowan said, laughing. “I had to have gates and a security system installed at my house. And I’ve had my unpublished number changed three times in the last year and a half.”
“Bitches be crazy,” Stacey said, making us both laugh.
“So is it okay if I give my buddy your number?” Rowan asked Stacey. “If you guys hit it off, maybe the four of us can go out for dinner?”
“I’d love that.” Stacey groaned when the phone rang, cutting her off. “Sorry, guys, duty calls. It was nice meeting you, Rowan.”
***
Since Tenley didn’t want to be cooped up in a restaurant and wasn’t very hungry, they’d grabbed some sandwiches at the deli and headed to the park for lunch.
“Your roommate seems nice,” Rowan said when they were sitting on a bench, watching a young mother push her twins on the swings.
“She is,” Tenley agreed, unwrapping the cream-cheese-and-lox bagel she’d ordered. After taking a bite, she set it back in its wrapper. Since she burned so many calories every day, she could get away with eating more than most men, which was why Stacey made her pay for two-thirds of their grocery bill. “But she gets in over her head with guys sometimes.”
“How?” Rowan took a huge bite out of his sandwich—rye bread topped with a chicken breast and veggies.
“She was dating my brother not long ago and—”
“Walker?”
“Yeah.”
“Shit. He won’t be pissed that I’m trying to set her up with my buddy, will he? I don’t want any trouble with your brother.”
“Trust me, he’ll probably thank you. He thinks Stacey’s a sweetheart, but she got way too serious for him. She started getting territorial, wanting to know where he was going, who he was with, why he didn’t call…” She shrugged. “I told her that would never work with him, but she didn’t want to listen.”
“So he cut her loose?” Rowan polished off the first half of his sandwich even before she’d taken a second bite of hers.
“Yeah. I’ve warned her against coming on too strong, especially with guys like my brother. In my experience, the best way to play it is to come off like you don’t care.”
“Is that your strategy?”
She realized she’d said too much when he stopped eating to stare at her, waiting for her answer. To buy herself some time, she took another bite of her sandwich and took an inordinate amount of time to chew and swallow. “What makes you think I have a strategy?”
“It’s pretty obvious you try to keep guys at arm’s length. Is it because you don’t want to get too close, you’re afraid of getting hurt, or just because you want them to think you don’t care?”
“I don’t play games,” she said emphatically, more than a little offended he would think she was anything other than a straight-shooter. “You’ll know exactly what’s on my mind, whether you like it or not.”
“Good to know.” They ate in silence for a few minutes before he asked, “Ever been in a serious relationship?”
Tenley knew this question would come eventually. It always did. But she was never prepared to answer it. She hated lying, especially to Rowan, but the truth was too risky. “We’ve all had our hearts broken, haven’t we? I’m no exception.”
“In other words, you don’t want to talk about it?”
Smart man. “Something like that.”
“Will you tell me someday?”
“Maybe.” Never.
“You ever think about what it would be like to have that life?” he asked, his eyes drifting back to the young mother who was now standing over her toddlers as they played in the sandbox.
“Kids?” Her eyes drifted to the flash of gold on the other woman’s finger. “A husband?”
“Yeah.” His blue eyes were bright with curiosity as his gaze lingered on Tenley’s face. “Ever thought about it?”
Once. “Not really. I don’t think I’m cut out for that life.” In fact, I know I’m not. “How about you?”
“No, I’m not looking for a husband either.” Rowan grinned when she elbowed him in the ribs. “Kids might be nice though.”
“You’re not going to tell me you’re one of those big, tough guys who turns to mush when you see a baby, are you?” And why did she find that prospect sexy as hell?
“Guilty as charged,” he said, raising his hand. “My little sister has a two-year-old, and I’m like putty in her pretty little hands. Anything she wants, she gets.”
She leaned her shoulder into his. “Aww, isn’t that sweet?”
“Don’t tell anyone,” he teased. “I—”
“Tenley? Is that you?”
She turned to see a customer she’d hooked up with a couple of times approaching, wearing a sharp suit and shades. She’d always thought he was sexy in a button-up, conservative way, but compared to Rowan, he just looked… vanilla. While Rowan was double chocolate fudge with sprinkles.
“It’s great to see you,” Andrew said, leaning in to kiss Tenley’s cheek when she stood to greet him. “It’s been a while.” He glanced at Rowan, who’d stood as well. “Hi.”
“Hey,” Rowan said, giving him a quick once-over.
“Rowan, this is my friend Andrew. He’s a regular at Walker’s place.”
Regular might have been a bit of a stretch. He’d come in once a week since they met two months ago. That was one month after Matt the asshat cheated on her, and she had been looking for someone to soothe her bruised ego. Andrew was the perfect man for the job. They had a good time together, in and out of bed, and neither one of them had had any expectations.
“Nice to meet you,” Andrew said, shaking Rowan’s hand as he narrowed his eyes. “You look familiar. Have I seen you at the bar?”
He’s clearly not a sports fan, Tenley thought.
“I doubt it,” Rowan said, slipping his arm around Tenley’s waist. “I just started going there recently. Though I do intend to spend a lot more time there now.”
&n
bsp; His meaning was clear—he wanted to keep an eye on her. She resented that he thought he had the right to “stake his claim” as if she were his for the taking.
Taking a subtle step away from him, she cleared her throat and smiled at Andrew, who looked confused by the interaction. “You haven’t been in lately. Been busy with work?”
Andrew and his sister each managed one of their father’s luxury car dealerships, which he claimed was more fun than other work since exotic cars were his passion.
“Yeah, I’ve tried calling you though.” His gaze drifted to Rowan. “I guess I don’t have to ask why you didn’t call me back.”
She didn’t want Rowan to get the impression their arrangement, whatever it was, was already exclusive, so she touched Andrew’s arm. “Sorry, I’ve been swamped too. Why don’t I give you a call in a day or two? Maybe we can grab some dinner?”
“I’d like that.” He grinned before leaning in to kiss her again. “I’ll talk to you soon. Nice to meet you,” he muttered to Rowan before walking away.
“What the hell was that?” Rowan demanded, planting his hands on his hips before turning to face Tenley. “You make a date with another guy while you’re out with me?”
His voice carried, and he’d already attracted the attention of a few kids playing with their parents and an elderly couple walking a small dog on the path, though he seemed oblivious.
“Would you please keep your voice down?” She was used to dealing with aggressive men, which meant she didn’t back down. Ever.
“Why would you want to go out with that loser?”
“You don’t know anything about him.”
Tenley knew it was his stupid male pride talking, but she hated people who made snap judgments. She’d had people looking down on her all her life. First because she was “trailer park trash,” and later because she struggled in school and fell in with the wrong crowd. She’d developed a thick skin and rarely cared anymore if people stared at her ink or trash-talked behind her back, but once in a while, someone said or did something to set her off in defense of a friend. Like now.
Sweet Spot (Summer Rush #1) Page 5