“Thought the place on the edge of your ranch was your solitude.” I step up and onto the dock.
He winks. “Ah, you’ve been paying attention. I think you like me.”
Tyler’s arms wrap around me from behind and he kisses his way up my neck making me burn all over again. I stare out over the water and my eyes follow the ripples.
“It’s so beautiful here.”
“I thought you might like it here, or at least that was my hope.” Tyler slides to the left to stand beside me. He twines our fingers together. My entire body warms at the simple touch.
“You wanna jump in?”
“Not yet. I think I want to sit here and soak up some sun.”
“You got it.” Tyler walks over to his bike and pulls a bag out from a place I didn’t even know that you could store stuff.
I busy myself with the task of laying out my towel and stripping down to my bikini.
Tyler drops his bag onto the towel. “I’ve got water and snacks. Hope you like pretzels and trail mix.”
“I love both.” I lather up with sunscreen and he strips down to a pair of red swim trunks. Tyler Nichols walks with purpose and a bit of sexy swagger. He’s doing everything to make me fall for him. Everything feels . . . right.
“What no speedo?”
He laughs. “Uhm, not since I can ever remember.”
“How’d you find this place,” I ask, twisting the cap off a bottle of water.
Tyler bends and then sits beside me on the edge of the dock. Our feet dangle and swing off the edge. “By accident, one day when I was out on my bike.”
“Were you with a girl?” I ask, feeling a pang of irrational jealousy twist in my gut.
He eyes me. “Nope, I’ve never brought anyone here. When Ava and I were stuck in the house, there was this calendar in the attic. I used it to teach her about the months, days of the week and stuff. One of the pictures was a lake that looks a lot like this one, except no dock and there were giant rocks that sat along the shoreline. Told Ava I’d take her swimming there one day.”
There’s an edge of pain in his voice. It’s real. It’s raw. And I want to take it away.
My heart sinks and I reach for Tyler. “You miss her so much.”
“I do,” he admits. “Today would have been her birthday.”
I close my eyes at his admission swallowing down the ache. “You want to tell me a little more about her? What do you think she might be like today?”
A wide smile spreads across his face. “Well, I have a feeling that she’d be a cat lady. We had a few cats back at the house. They ate better than us most days. Although, I always wanted to set them free. Not because I didn’t care, just thought they deserved better.”
My chest blooms with an ache for this kind man. He lived through hell and still managed to think of others. I’m in so much trouble.
“It’s been nice having a pet around. Oliver is a good little companion, he’s got me thinking of adopting. But I feel bad because of the hours I keep.”
He bumps my shoulder with his. “I’ll send you daily cat pics of Harley. Guarantee he’ll make ya smile.”
Back to the reality that our separate lives are worlds apart. I push down the thoughts and return my focus to the here and now. The sunshine is warm and the breeze is perfect. The day reminds me a lot of Reed and Sage’s wedding day, which feels like a lifetime ago.
Tyler stands. “Whew, girl, I need to cool off.”
“You go on. I’ll be right here.”
His tongue darts over his bottom lip and his eyes meet mine. The way his eyes search mine has my heart doing back flips.
Tyler launches off the dock jumping feet first into the water. Seconds later he’s coming up for air and shaking the water from his brown hair. His hands run down his face as he kicks backward away from the dock.
Why are you so damn handsome? Why are you so flipping nice? Why are you making my heart beat wildly in my chest?
Tyler swims back toward the dock. The muscles of his forearms pop against the water as he glides toward the ladder. He climbs out, running both hands through his damp hair.
Shirtless and wet, Tyler stands before me looking like a sex god. His swim trunks are plastered to his body and they dip low showing off the lines at his waist. You know the famous “V” lines that make girls’ tongues roll out of their mouths like cartoon characters.
A stab of desire hits me right in the chest. I’m considering having my way with him on this towel.
He picks up his towel, dries his legs and arms and I watch in complete fascination. “You got your eyes full there, Haven?”
I nod slowly as my teeth sink into my bottom lip. Tyler walks toward me and despite the fact that his skin is slicked with water I can feel the heat of his body. His body looms over mine as he sits beside. Then his mouth is on me.
Licking. Sucking. Tasting. Taking. He’s warm, velvety and big.
His blue eyes are dark. Hair soaked and wild. I reach out and pull him closer. He tilts his head and guides my body down until I’m lying flat on my back. I can feel his heart throbbing against my chest. Beating for me.
“Tyler,” I moan his name.
Tyler’s mouth is soft and hungry against mine, surrounding me with skin and warmth, he settles his weight on me. “Will you be coming home with me tonight?”
“Mhhmm, yes,” I say.
The ghost of a delicious smirk plays on his lips. “Good.”
He kisses me, it’s soft and slow as if we have all the time in the world. We don’t, that is evident. But I like it regardless. I push the ticking time clock out of my thoughts and lose myself in our kiss.
I can’t have Tyler forever, but I’ll take tonight and the rest of the time we have together.
Tyler
I’m up early on Friday morning and running my best pace yet. It’s a good bet that Haven is the reason for my mood and my motivation. Being with her has me on cloud nine. I’m feeling lonely without her here this morning.
Work had me tied up late into the night and then there was a problem with the oven at the restaurant. Needless to say, it was a long day and Haven and I agreed to hit up the festival tonight.
My head is clear and there might even be a pep in my step that wasn’t there before. I chuckle to myself and hope that I’m not turning into a sappy guy whose insides are gooey like syrup over a girl. Fuck. I must be on a runner’s high or delirious with thoughts like that.
Screw it. So what if I am that guy?
The sky is dark and the wind whips through the trees. There’s a storm brewing and it looks like a nasty one. I can see my house in the distance, I know I’ll beat the rain.
Kane Brown’s “Thunder in the Rain” blasts in my headphones. My thighs and quads ache as I push myself on the last mile in a mad dash for my house. I see my mom’s car parked in the driveway.
That’s odd.
I jog toward the house. Mom comes flying out the storm door.
When I stop short of the porch, I tug my earbuds out. “Mom, what’s up?”
Her hands steeple in front of her face. “Oh no, you haven’t heard the news.”
My hands land on my hips and I pace a small circle trying to calm my heartrate. “What news?”
“Oh, Tyler.” She clasps her hands together. “So, you haven’t seen the paper?”
“Mom, I’ve gotta shower and get on over to the office. Spit it out.”
“The Journal ran an article about you,” she rushes out.
I shake my head as raindrops hit my skin. “Did someone send in a complaint about the restaurant and now there’s a scathing piece on the community page?”
“Son, do you really think I’d drive over here at this hour of the morning for that?”
Shrugging, I step up onto the porch and usher my mom inside. “Okay, just tell me.”
We walk into the kitchen and I pull a water bottle out of the fridge. “It’s a story about who you really are . . . were. Someone found out and they printed the st
ory. Right down to the details about how you started up the restaurant in your late sister’s honor.”
I blink away the red spots that mar my vision and the bottle of water drops from my hand spilling everywhere. Harley let’s out a loud meow. Mom has the roll of paper towels in her hands heading for the mess.
Standing in my kitchen, I just stare at the stove. My pulse pounds and there’s a buzzing in my ears. Aside from my parents, the only person I have told is Haven.
My palms land on the butcher’s block. This makes no sense.
“You okay, honey?” she asks, taking a step toward me.
I inhale and exhale sharply. My heart’s cracking and splitting into fragments—the part that I’ve reserved for Haven is falling into the pit of my stomach. The black abyss.
“I’ll be okay.” A sharp sudden surge of anger clutches my heart.
I blow out a breath and my phone buzzes on the tabletop. Glancing at my screen, I’ve got six missed calls, two are from Jace and three from Maria. The other is from Haven.
My fingers tighten around my phone. Spearing a hand through my sweat soaked hair, I answer the call.
“Jace, hey.”
“Boss, the restaurant,” his voice cracks. “The parking lot’s filled with news trucks and reporters. One person is here all the way from Evansville, Indiana.”
I stalk toward my counter and unfold the paper. Front fucking page. The Friday morning special edition for the festival that kicks off tonight.
Goddammit. This was planned. That’s the only explanation.
“Tyler, what do you want to do?” Jace asks.
“You tell them ‘no comment.’ Business as usual. I’ll handle the rest.”
“You got it, man.”
I end the call and scan the article. My phone vibrates again, another call, this one from Sawyer. I don’t take it.
My mom places a hand on my back. “What do you need?’
Looking up at my mom, I say, “I don’t know. What I do know is that I gotta call the police and get those news trucks off my property.”
“You want me to stay?”
“Nah, you go on home,” I tell her. “Actually, there’s something you can do for me. Tell Dad I won’t be coming into the office today.”
“Okay,” her voice is barely audible. She wraps her arms around me and holds me tight.
When Mom leaves, I call up the police station. Turns out they’ve already sent someone over to the restaurant.
I fire off a text to Jace: What’s the situation? Have they left, yet?
Jace: Some have, others aren’t being as cooperative.
Me: Okay thanks.
Jace: Is there any truth to the article?
I let out a deep breath and relax my shoulders. Jace has been my friend since I opened The Saffron Kitchen. No point in keeping the truth from him.
Me: It’s true.
Jace: Glad you got a new start in life. I’m sorry that Jenna Rae printed the article.
Jace: How’d she find out?
My fingers hover over the screen as I formulate my response.
Me: I honestly don’t know.
Because I don’t know, not really. I need to look Haven in the eyes when she tells me why . . . if she did this.
Me: I got some work to do.
Jace: Don’t worry about things here. We got it covered.
Me: As usual.
My hip rests against the counter. “Haven, tell me that you didn’t do this to me.”
Haven
“Haven, open the door,” Maybelle shouts and pounds her fists against the wood.
“Hold on,” I yell. “I’m coming.” I unlock the door and Maybelle pushes her way inside. My hip crashes into the counter. “Come right in.”
“Have you seen this morning’s paper?” she asks, holding it up in her hand.
I shake my head and shut the door. “Nope, I don’t think Sage gets the paper.”
Maybelle trots to the kitchen table and unfolds the paper to the front page. “Read it for yourself.”
Rubbing my hip, I shuffle over to the table. My eyes roam over the headline: Tyler Nichols Finds New Life After Childhood Horror.
I gasp and my hand covers my mouth. “Maybelle! Who did you tell?”
She stares at me. “Okay, I knew you’d think it was me, which is exactly why I came straight over. I didn’t do this, I swear on my life.”
Jenna Rae wrote the article. Interesting. My eyes devour every word and I just can’t believe what I’m reading.
“Did Tyler mention that he was planning on sharing his story?”
“I . . . I honestly can’t believe this,” I say. “As far as I know, he wanted his past to stay buried.”
She drops into one of the chairs and blows out a deep breath. “Wow, just wow.” She levels her gaze to me. “Are you worried about Tyler?”
“Well, of course I am,” I answer. “I don’t know if he was blindsided by this or if he had a change of heart to share this as a feel-good story for the masses.”
I’m confused as hell. I think after all the time that the two of us spent together he would have clued me in. Or maybe it’s a bullet point in the highlight reel for whatever this is between us. I’ve known him less than a month, I’m not privy to all aspects of his life.
My cheeks heat and waves of nausea creep up. I take a seat across from Maybelle.
“You gonna call him?”
“I already did,” I admit. “I called earlier when I thought he might be back from his run. But it wasn’t about any of this, obviously.”
“Hmm.” She toys with the edge of the paper. “Maybe he’s pissed off and thinks that you did this.”
I glare at my cousin. “That’s helpful.”
She glances at her phone. “Oh shit, Amber Lynn Houser, her hubby Donnie’s a cop, apparently there are news trucks parked at The Saffron House. They’re trying to get them to leave.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “Then this wasn’t a planned piece, at least not by Tyler. Someone got a hold of this information and went to the paper.” I stand and walk to the coffee maker.
I need something stronger than caffeine, but coffee will have to get the job done.
“You want a cup of coffee?” I offer.
“I can’t,” she says and stands. “I gotta go help your daddy and mine set up the Cardwell Bourbon tent for the festival. You should come down later.”
I pour a cup of coffee. “I was planning on going to the festival tonight. I have plans with Tyler. I need to talk to him.”
I swipe my phone off the counter and try calling. After four rings the call goes to voicemail.
“No answer, huh?” Maybelle frowns.
“I think he sent me to voicemail.”
She crosses the kitchen. “That’s not necessarily a bad sign. He might have people at his house. You know what, I bet he’s trying to sort some stuff out . . . Hell, he’s got enough money to bring Jenna Rae and the paper to their knees. I know this isn’t easy, but give him some time.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” I chew the inside of my cheek.
“I hate to leave you, but I gotta go.”
I nod and walk her to the door.
“I’ll text ya later,” she says and gives me a quick hug. “Try not to worry.”
What Maybelle said makes a lot of sense. Tyler will get back to me when he can. Meanwhile I’ll busy myself with breakfast and take a shower.
Then Tyler will call me.
And I keep telling myself until the sun dips behind the clouds and Tom Selleck’s face appears on the television screen. Blue Bloods. Donnie Wahlberg, Tom Selleck and I are hanging out on a Friday night.
I look at my phone for the billionth time. Nothing except a few exchanges with Maybelle and Beatrice. Beatrice reminding me to check my email when I have the time.
Beatrice: Don’t read anything except my daily report. Then you go back to enjoying your vacation.
Despite my shitty mood her text makes me smile.
&nb
sp; My stomach rumbles and I think about having some cereal. I think about a lot of things. I think until I’m falling asleep, then Oliver’s paws pressing into my stomach has me upright.
“Oh, hi there,” I say, scratching his head. “How’s your night going?”
He jumps off me and stalks to the kitchen. Headlights splash across the wall and my heart pounds in my chest.
“Tyler,” I mumble and scurry to window. “Nope, not Tyler. Brant.”
My heart falls and dips and then I open the door—my brother has a six pack of beer, a pizza and a bottle of white wine tucked under his arm.
I shake my head. “Wow, this is quite the party.”
“Mom sent me,” he says. “I guess the guy you’ve been seeing made some headlines today.”
“Yeah, come on in,” I say and take the pizza from his hands. “How’d she know I’d be here and not at the festival?”
He eyes me and cracks open a beer. “It’s Mom, she’s got a sixth sense for these things.”
I laugh and grab two plates from the cabinet. “Right, like she and Dad didn’t walk all over the festival peering into each tent looking for me.”
“Well, I think Maybelle may have clued them in at the tent today.” Brant digs into the pizza box and grabs two slices.
I pull a wine glass from the cabinet and then uncork the wine with Sage’s ancient corkscrew. Damn, should have gotten her an electric one for her wedding. Brant’s moving onto his second slice before I’m even seated at the table.
“Okay,” he says, before gulping down his beer. “Maybelle thinks that you or she might have tipped someone off about this guy’s real identity. She has other conspiracy theories, and she’s on the war path.”
My eyes narrow. “What do you mean by war path?”
Brant takes a bite of pizza. “Our cousin is hell bent on making Jenna Rae reveal her source or sources. Maybelle had her cornered by the Houser’s barbeque tent today. Threatening to pour some teriyaki glaze over her head if she didn’t confess.” He lets out a loud chuckle. “Jenna Rae’s dad and Chief Argenti had to break it up. You should have seen Maybelle, she was primed and ready to fight.”
I shake my head and laugh. “I bet that was entertaining.”
“For sure.”
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