What Makes Us Stronger (A Well Paired Novel Book 3)

by Marianne Rice

  They stood nearly eye level with each other, her on the top step, Ty one step lower. She was tall for a girl. Five nine in flats. When she used to wear heels all the time she’d clear six feet easily.

  “I’m good,” he whispered, his eyes following her tongue as she darted it out to lick her lips.

  “Okay.”

  She watched as he closed his eyes and sighed. His face was strong and defined, his features strong and sharp as if molded from granite and speckled with a day’s growth of facial hair. His dark brows sloped downward in a serious expression, almost as if he were in pain. Realizing she was staring, she fumbled in her pocket for her keys and unlocked her door.

  Once inside, she held the door open and waited for him to take the last two stairs. His muscled legs moved slowly as if they were anchored with cement blocks, or Ty was incredibly tired.

  “You’ve probably had a long day too. You don’t have to spend your evening fixing my dryer. I’m sure you have plenty of other things to do.”

  “I don’t mind.” Ty didn’t look at her as he brushed past her and made his way toward the bathroom.

  “Okay. Um. Do you need anything? Tools or...?” He’d turned his baseball cap backward and was already crouched on the floor fiddling with the dryer.

  “Do you have tools?” A genuine grin spread across his face turning it from handsome to holyfreakingcow.

  “Sort of.”

  “Sort of?” He cocked a brow, and she had to lean against the doorframe for strength. When he was relaxed like this, with his hat on backward and his boyish grin taking over his face, she forgot about how standoffish he’d been and sunk a little deeper into her Ty fantasies.

  Sipping, or rather gulping, the rest of her wine, she came up for air and nodded. “I have a toolbox of sorts.”

  “Of sorts.”

  “You keep repeating me.”

  “I’m just trying to understand what you’re saying.”

  Yeah. She didn’t have a clue either. Toolbox. Yes. “I have a hammer and a screwdriver.”

  “Anything else?”

  “A tape measurer.”

  “A tape measurer.”

  “You’re repeating me again.”

  Oh, that grin. It crinkled little lines around his eyes that she wanted to lick. No. Not lick. That would be inappropriate. Kiss. Maybe just touch. Look. She could look and not touch.

  “All I need is a screwdriver and a socket wrench.”

  “I have a screwdriver.” Needing to get away from the heat of Ty, Lily jogged to her kitchen and scrounged around her junk drawer for it. Smiling in victory, she raced back to the bathroom and held it out for him.

  “Is it a Phillips?”

  “Who?”

  “Or a flathead?”

  “It’s a screwdriver.”

  Ty chuckled and hopped to his feet. “Let me see.” He took it from her, their hands skimming across each other in the exchange. “It’s a Phillips. But I don’t need it.” He handed it back to her.

  “You said—”

  “I came prepared.” He winked and pulled out two tools from his back pocket.

  “I’m assuming the other is a socket wrench?”

  “You’re a fast learner.”

  “So what’s the Phillips thing?”

  Ty touched the end of her screwdriver and pointed it toward her. “See the X? That’s a Phillips. A flat head is just that. Flat. The next time you see a screw, pay attention to the indent in the top. It will determine which one you need.”

  “Why don’t they make all screws the same?”

  “Are you sure you really want to know?”

  “Why? Is there some secret men are keeping from women?” Lily crossed her arms over her chest, forgetting she had a wet spot until her arm came into contact with it.

  “Hardly. But it dates back to the fifteenth century. It’s an interesting story, if you’re into carpentry and how things are made.” Lily scrunched up her nose. “I take that as a no.”

  “Maybe some other time. I really need my dryer fixed.”

  “I’ll get right on that.” The smile left his lips, and he turned his back to work on the dryer.

  “I didn’t mean to sound so... bossy. I just meant... I’d like to hear about it some other time, maybe.”

  “The history of screws really isn’t that interesting.”

  Now she’d hurt his feelings. Not wanting to sound like she was using him for his repair services, she thought of a way to thank him.

  “Have you had dinner yet?”

  “No,” he grunted, his hands busy doing... stuff.

  “Me either.” She wasn’t one for asking a guy out, especially not Ty who’d paid little attention to her since they’d met and went from seeming interested to annoyed with her in a matter of seconds.

  Her culinary skills were less than stellar, which was why she relied on Lean Cuisine and take out.

  “I can order a pizza or something.”

  Ty paused, sliding his back along the yellowing tile until his face came into view.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “You’re giving up your Thursday night. And you gave up your morning last week. It’s the least I can do.”

  “Well then. Sure.” He slid back around and banged on the machine.

  Once again, she didn’t know what she did to offend the man. He was harder to read than War and Peace, which she had been forced to read in seventh grade.

  Realizing their conversation—if she could call it that—was over, Lily pushed off the doorframe and went to retrieve her phone. There were no missed calls or texts, which she’d grown accustomed to. Two years ago, a silent phone meant freedom. Peace. Serenity.

  Now, however, she looked forward to group chats from the girls. With Hope away on her honeymoon, the texts were minimal. They were holding out for next week’s book club when they’d grill Hope about newlywed bliss. They had bets on how long the newly married couple would wait before adding to their family.

  Alexis and Ben’s Sophie had been walking for quite a few months, and there was a side wager when they’d have another as well. The betting pool wasn’t as big for them, though. Alexis was a tomboy and although she claimed to never want children, when Ben introduced her to his newborn daughter, Sophie stole her heart in seconds.

  Hope and Cameron, however, were destined to have a few more kids. Being a mom wasn’t something Lily had thought much about. Her family had been all about business and wealth and social status. If having children helped, they’d be supportive. But if being pregnant and chasing around toddlers would interfere with business, there’d be no talk of it. Which was what her twenties was all about.

  Now that she’d hit thirty and was free from them, she could take the time to figure out what she wanted in life.

  Was it a family? Kids? The white picket fence she’d read about in so many novels and seen in the Lifetime movies? Maybe. But to have those, she’d need a man.

  And the man down the hall didn’t seem like he was interested in anything other than sex. He hadn’t crossed the line, but she could read the hunger in his eyes, saw the way his jaw clenched when they’d accidentally touched. And then he’d push away as soon as they started to have a conversation.

  Talking wasn’t Ty’s thing, and she refused to be a toy to be played with in the bedroom and forced to shut up and look pretty the rest of the time. Been there. Done that.

  Not wanting to brood about her past, she scrolled through her phone for some local pizza places. She didn’t go out much, other than to the Sunrise Diner and The Happy Clam. The book club hung out at the bookstore or at Alexis’ place, and more recently, Hope’s new house. Other than that, Lily was a homebody.

  Since Crystal Cove didn’t have any pizza places, she looked up the number for one in Woodbine, the next town over. Not knowing what Ty liked, she ordered a large veggie. Screw him if he didn’t like his vegetables. Part of her hoped he didn’t.

  Making sure she had her wallet in her purse
, she slid into flip-flops and checked on Ty. While he may not be the most talkative or interesting person, she trusted him alone in her apartment. He had good stock: his parents were genuine, and his sister was... spunky. And he was honest and loyal. Otherwise, she’d be more hesitant at leaving Ty alone in her apartment while she went to pick up their dinner.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Ty’s head turned, and he squinted at her over his shoulder. “Leaving?”

  Not even a full sentence. The man was infuriating. “I’m picking up the pizza.”

  “Where?”

  “Does it matter?”

  Ty stood, his six feet something frame filling up the small space. Lily instinctively stepped back, and he scrunched up his face again. “I’ll go with you.”

  “I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

  “If you can wait five, I’ll be done.” He didn’t wait for her response and turned his back on her again, fitting the inner drum of the dryer back in the cavity.

  So he either wanted to spend time with her or didn’t want to be left alone in her apartment. Or something. She didn’t know and would never know. The man was closed up tighter than a clam unless he was talking about screws and carpentry stuff.

  Which was kind of a turn on.

  Lily chewed on her bottom lip as she watched the muscles in Ty’s back flex and bunch under his shirt. After a few grunts, a couple curses she’d heard him mutter under his breath, and a little more banging of tools, he sat back on his heels and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

  “That should do it.” He scooted the dryer back against the wall and hooked the heating vent then turned the knob.

  They both stared at the machine as it tumbled.

  “I don’t smell anything.”

  “Sounds good.” Ty pocketed his tools and brushed his hands across his jeans. When he lifted his head and his eyes met her, she spun around and left the bathroom. No sense in getting lost in his eyes if all he wanted was sex. And pizza.

  She locked up the apartment, and he followed her down the stairs in silence. Once outside, they both held their keys and Ty did that opened mouth thing again where no words came out.

  “I can drive.”

  “So can I.”

  “I’m assuming you’ve had your license since you were sixteen, so I’m sure this isn’t about showing off our driving skills, but more a showdown of sexism.”

  “Excuse me?” He turned his hat around so the bill shielded his eyes.

  “I’m not a damsel in distress. Just because you rescued, well, you didn’t rescue. My place wasn’t burning down; it was just some smoke. And my eggs. Well, I wouldn’t have burnt those if you hadn’t distracted me. And at Hope’s wedding. I didn’t really trip. I—”

  “Lily.”

  “I’m not an invalid.”

  “I never said you were.”

  Now she felt like an idiot, going on that tirade. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  She waited for the clanging around in her chest to settle down before apologizing, only Ty spoke up first.

  “Will you feel more comfortable taking two cars?”

  It wasn’t about being uncomfortable. Well, sort of. Sitting in an enclosed space so close to Ty, breathing in his manly, woodsy scent, and keeping her thoughts pure and clean were the problem.

  “We might as well since you live out that way. You won’t have to drive back into town.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  She hated sounding like a ninny. “You don’t mind what? Taking two cars or driving back into town?”

  Ty removed his cap and ran his hair through his hair. “I’m sorry if I offended you.” He tugged his hat on tight over his head again. “That wasn’t my intent. Just being polite.”

  Maybe she’d been too harsh on him. Her mind had done its usual trickery twisting words and intentions around. Letting go of the past wasn’t something she could easily do, yet Ty didn’t deserve her bitchiness. From what she’d heard from Hope and Mia, he had manners and was most likely acting like a gentleman.

  “I suppose if you’re dead set on doing the chivalry thing by driving, I’ll accept the ride.” She tossed her keys in her purse and watched that mouth. Those lips. They opened and closed and she swore his jaw ticked. Maybe he didn’t want to drive her but wanted to go separately. “Or not.”

  “No. It’s fine. Come on.” Without waiting for her reply, he hustled down the sidewalk and around the corner of the spa to his truck, which was parked on the side of the road. He opened the passenger side door for her and waited for her to reach him.

  Without saying a word, she hefted herself into the truck and waited for him to close the door. She did a quick inspection of the cab. It wasn’t littered with takeout wrappers or trash. The back seat was fairly empty as well. A clipboard and some rope on the seat and a five-gallon bucket filled with carpentry looking stuff on the floor.

  “Do you mind if we stop at my place first?” Lily lifted a brow. So much for the chivalry. They were back to pizza and sex now. “I need to let out my dog.”

  “Oh. Sure.”

  A dog. Of course he had one. It was a good thing Ty didn’t have a personality or he’d be the perfect guy, and her heart would be at risk of needing some major therapy.

  He started up the truck and cracked the windows. “Feel free to roll them up or down.”

  Ty was hot. He had a body that even Sports Illustrated wouldn’t photoshop, a smile that was rare, but when he shared it, holy hot between the legs. And then there was the family loyalty thing. The manners. And the dog.

  If only he knew how to carry a conversation, or seemed interested in getting to know Lily.

  It didn’t take long to reach his house. She’d never been before but had an idea where he lived. Her listening may have perked up when Mia and Hope talked about him. He turned down a dirt driveway, the oak and maple trees providing a shady canopy until it opened up to a cute little country cape-style home.

  “Not what I was expecting.”

  Ty quirked his head to the side. “No?”

  “I figured you had a sprawling log cabin by the lake. Something more... woodsy.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you.” The edginess to his voice was her fault. She offended him. Again. Ty jumped out of the truck and slammed the door behind him.

  “I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” She scrambled out of her seat and hurried after him. She’d caught up to him on his front porch as he fumbled with his keys.

  “I’ll be right out.” Ty slipped inside and literally closed the door in her face.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE WOMAN HAD TY IN knots. He couldn’t get a read on her. Besides being elusive and mysterious, there was sexual awareness he’d never witnessed before, which he hadn’t expected from Lily.

  Closing the door behind him, he squatted low to pat his dog behind his ears. “Hey, Meatball. Sorry I’m so late. Let’s go out back.”

  Meatball was is in no hurry. He never was. Legs too short and a belly too fat, his bulldog didn’t do much besides sleep, drool, and fart. When he’d brought him home from the shelter four years ago he was a feisty guy. For a bulldog. But lately, he’d been a big grump, not wanting much to do with Ty.

  Just like the woman on the other side of the door. He felt bad about closing the door in her face, but if she was going to judge him for his simple lifestyle, she could stay out on the porch.

  For two years now he’d tiptoed around her. Normally when he entered her space her bright eyes would cloud over and lower, as if she were incredibly shy or possibly afraid of him. Not of him, of men.

  She kept to her spa except when his sister or Hope or one of their other friends dragged her out to the bookstore or to dinner. With a town as small as Crystal Cove, and a sister as nosey as Mia, if Lily had entertained any men or was into anything wild, he’d have heard. Hell, the whole town would have heard.

  It wasn’t like he
spent every day in town. Days were spent wherever his jobsites were. Lately, that had been in Lincolnville refurbishing an old Victorian right on the ocean. The Sea Salt Spa and Seaview Drive weren’t exactly on his way, yet he’d driven into town to pick up a coffee and muffin at the diner on his way to work each morning.

  It wasn’t because he was hoping to catch a glimpse of Lily. He knew she’d be inside her spa or upstairs in her apartment. He pictured her getting ready, naked and wet in her shower stall in her bathroom, her silky lingerie littered on the bathroom floor.

  He opened the back door and waited for Meatball to stroll down the stairs and out onto the back lawn. He was particular about where he did his business, a private dog to say the least. Ty kept an eye on him as he sniffed the perimeter of the property and waddled down his doggy path in the woods.

  His dog took his time sniffing around, checking out the plants that he’d sniffed four thousand times before.

  “Come on, Meatball. Find a tree and mark it.”

  “Meatball?”

  Ty jumped at the sound of Lily’s voice behind him. Slowly he turned and took in her natural beauty. Creamy white arms crossed and tucked under her chest, and long legs showcased in fitted white pants that stopped above her ankle. The pale blue of her shirt made her eyes pop even more against her alabaster skin.

  His hands twitched at his sides and he stuffed them in the pockets of his jeans. “My dog.” He pointed toward the woods with his head.

  Lily padded across the lawn and stood next to him. He did his best not to inhale too deeply and turned his head away to avoid being intoxicated by her.

  “You named your dog Meatball?”

  “No.” She lifted that perfectly shaped eyebrow at him. Again. She did that a lot. “Delaney did.”

  “Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed and her face softened. “Does he need to go for a walk? I don’t mind waiting. Or bringing him.”

  Ty snorted. “Good luck with that.”

  “You don’t think I can handle your beast of a dog?”