by LuAnn McLane
Unable to answer, he dipped his head and kissed her softly, tenderly. When he tasted a warm, salty tear, he was completely consumed with emotion. These intense feelings were foreign territory, frightening and yet exciting. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, but he worried that it was too soon and so he refrained, but just barely. Damn, but he wanted to go over to the balcony and shout it to the rooftops. Ty knew that Jessica was coming around and slowly letting him in, but the tremble in her lips beneath his told him that she was still vulnerable and that he needed to be patient and wait for the right time to declare his feelings.
So instead, he kissed a moist trail down her neck and over the soft swell of her breast. When he swirled his tongue over a dusky pink nipple, she gasped and threaded her fingers through his hair. Ty licked and sucked until she arched her back, pushing her breast deeper into his mouth.
“God!” When Jessica gasped, Ty caressed her other breast, tweaking her nipple between his finger and thumb. “Your mouth is . . . mmm . . . is . . . God . . . magic!”
“Jessica, I can’t get enough of the way you taste . . . the way you smell. Mmmm, I want to explore every inch of you.”
“Then be my guest and do it,” she offered in that husky voice that drove him nuts.
“I do believe I will take you up on your kind invitation,” he said with a grin. He loved that she was being playful, but he wanted to tell her that he didn’t want to be her guest. He wanted her permanently.
He loved her natural approach to sex. No toys, lotions, or potions—well, unless you counted being tied to the bed. Just . . . skin. And, oh, how he loved her body. Her curves were meant for sliding his hands and tongue over. They had just made love, but she was getting him aroused all over again.
Amazing.
Ty slid one hand oh, so lightly down Jessica’s torso to her inner thigh and then back up again until she shivered beneath his touch. Gooseflesh rose on her skin, and her nipple puckered beneath his tongue. He repeated the action, coming closer and closer to her mound, teasing and exciting them both.
“Ty, you are driving me wild,” she whispered, and arched her hips.
“Is this what you want?” he asked, and then sank his middle finger into her silky, warm heat.
“Yes!”
“You are so wet.”
“For you. Again. Kiss me!” she pleaded, and so he raised his head and captured her mouth with a long, hot kiss. He savored the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest, and she caressed his back, his shoulders, and shoved her fingers into his hair as if she couldn’t get close enough or ever stop touching him. Ty had never felt this kind of earthy passion and he knew why. He loved her. The thought exploded like confetti in his head, and he had to bite his tongue in an effort not to tell her. With a groan, he withdrew his finger and parted her legs. “I need to be inside of you,” he said, and then thrust deeply into her sweet heat with one long stroke.
“Ty . . .” she said, but when he thrust again, she hooked her legs around him. “Oh, God . . .” she moaned, and matched his rhythm, loving him, kissing him wildly. And when she arched her back and cried out, it sent him over the edge with a hot rush of intense pleasure that ripped through him and shook him to the core.
“Jessica . . .” Ty stayed there, buried deep, with his forehead resting against hers. His heart pounded and his body throbbed and he couldn’t find the words to express how he felt. He wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly, wanting the night to last forever. Neither of them spoke. It was as if words couldn’t capture the moment.
Ty eased from inside her body and kissed the top of her head. It suddenly occurred to him that in his fit of passion, he had forgotten to slide on a condom, and he swallowed hard. He thought about saying something, but didn’t want to ruin the moment or alarm her. Besides, at her age, what were the odds that she would become pregnant? But truth be known, the image of her carrying his child brought on a shot of fear, and then an excited rush that made his heart beat faster. Still, he should say something. “Hey,” he said softly, “in the heat of the moment, I forgot to wear a condom.”
“Oh . . .” He felt her tense slightly.
“I’ll be more careful, but I’m not worried.” His answer seemed to relax her, and he rubbed her shoulders until the tension melted away. Ty smiled, thinking that if Jessica was pregnant, it was meant to be and he would marry her without a qualm. In fact, he had paused by the jewelry store at the mall just yesterday, thinking he might buy a bracelet or necklace, but found himself glancing at engagement rings. It was just a glance, but still. . . .
When Jessica moved, snuggled closer, and sighed, Ty realized that she was sound asleep. He shook his head. It was no wonder. They had been making love for more than two hours, and she had worked a full day on her feet. She had to be exhausted. The thought had him cradling her close and wondering what he could do to pamper her the way she deserved.
Opening day was right around the corner, and they were both busy as hell, but there had to be something he could do to give her a much-needed break. Ty closed his eyes and vowed that when the baseball season was over, he was going to take a beach vacation and whisk her away with him, even if he had to kidnap her sweet little butt. He grinned, thinking that Madison would surely be his partner in crime.
Her warm breath tickled his skin, and although the lovemaking had been incredible, there wasn’t anything better than having Jessica sleeping in his bed with her legs tangled with his and her cheek resting on his chest. He kissed her head once more before tugging the covers up over them. His lips curved up into another silly, sleepy smile. Nothing could match this feeling. He felt goofy and giddy, and yet a warm sense of peace settled over him as his eyes got heavy with sleep. This, he thought, is what life is all about.
Ty woke up to something tickling his face. He frowned and brushed at his cheek and encountered something soft and silky. He opened his eyes and then smiled. Golden blond hair clung to his pillow and to the stubble on his cheek. He picked up a lock and brought it to his nose and inhaled the light floral fragrance.
Hot damn . . .
The sheet and covers were pooled at Jessica’s waist, and Ty thought the delicate slope of her shoulder was beautiful. When she moved, the sheet slipped farther, exposing the feminine curve of her waist and flair of her hip, making him want to pull her close and bury his face in her hair while he caressed her bare skin. The thought made him instantly hard.
And then he sneezed.
“Eeek!” Jessica squealed and rolled to her back.
“Sorry,” Ty said, but he really wasn’t, since her breasts were now exposed for his warm, appreciative gaze.
“Wait.” Jessica blinked at him in wonder. “Is it really morning?”
Ty nodded toward the window, where fingers of sunlight were reaching through the small gap between the drapes. “It’s fairly early so the sun is just coming up, but yes, a new day has dawned. Are you surprised?” Ty asked and ran a fingertip gently down her cheek.
“Yes . . .” She nodded slowly. “I can’t remember the last time I slept all the way through the night.”
“Really?”
She tugged the sheet up and played with the edge. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Unable to not somehow touch her, Ty reached over and wound his finger around a lock of her sleep-tousled hair. “Why do you think you suffer from insomnia?”
“It’s not insomnia exactly. Oh, I crash after a hard day’s work, but I’ve become such a light sleeper.” Jessica was quiet for a second and then said, “It started after Madison was born. All she had to do was whimper and I’d wake up.” She plucked at the edge of the sheet. “I was so young and so scared that something would happen to her in the dead of the night that any little movement or noise would wake me.” She shuddered, but then smiled. “Sometimes I’d just stand there by her crib.”
“I bet you never let her cry.”
“No,” Jessica admitted softly. “I wanted my sweet baby to know how
much I loved her and that we would be okay, even though I was scared out of my skin. Love for your child should be unconditional,” she stated firmly, but with an emotional tremble that had Ty leaning over and kissing her forehead.
“You are absolutely right, Jessica.” Ty looked down at her lovely face and couldn’t understand how anyone could abandon her. Oddly enough, he could identify with her pain. Ty had often felt neglected by his cheating father, who cared more about his career and personal pleasures than his wife and son. “I couldn’t agree more.” He wanted to ask more about her parents. Who in the hell could be so coldhearted that they would turn their backs on their only child and grandchild?
“I was so afraid and yet so determined to somehow, some way, make a good life for Madison. Of course, Aunt Myra helped a great deal. I couldn’t have done it without her. Oh, boy, I was still a child myself.” She shook her head. “It’s hard for me to believe that she and my father are siblings.”
He waited for her to continue, and when she fell silent, he said, “Well, from what I can see, you both did a magnificent job. Madison is a lovely, bright, talented young lady. She lights up a room when she walks in.”
“Thank you. She’s always been my top priority.”
“But now you need to take some time for you, Jessica. And your daughter agrees wholeheartedly.” He lightly tapped her cheek. “You have earned it.”
“I have been,” she protested. “After all, I’m here,” she added with a shy smile.
“It took some major-league doing.”
“Old habits die hard,” she answered with a sigh. “And the restaurant business is killer. You have to love food to even think of staying in it. But that being said, I really do understand what you’re getting at. Madison is an adult engaged to be married. Aunt Myra has moved in with Owen, and she says she is happy living in blissful sin, but I just bet they up and tie the knot. As you already know, Olivia and Noah are gag-me happy, and while I am so thrilled for them all, I fully admit that I have bouts of loneliness here and there.”
Ty brushed a golden lock of hair from her face. “Believe me, I understand. When your life is dedicated to one particular thing, it’s difficult to change your focus.”
“You mean baseball?”
Ty hesitated but then gave her a wry grin. “In some ways, but not really. I was actually talking about myself.” He tapped his bare chest. “Me, myself, and I were pretty much all I had to worry or be concerned about. I didn’t realize how good it felt to care about something other than my own success or well-being until I ended up here in this little town. Waking up with a sense of purpose sure feels good. I know Noah feels the same way, but he grew up here. I didn’t expect to care so much, but I do,” he said, and he wasn’t talking only about the town.
“I’m glad,” Jessica told him, but then angled her head. “I’m sorry that I misjudged you, Ty. And I certainly try not to be judgmental for any reason. I know that Olivia did much of the same with Noah. I guess we think of celebrities as being something other than human beings. You seem so bigger than life that I guess people are envious of the piles of money you make.”
“Hey, my reputation was of my own doing. I don’t blame you, but thanks. It means a lot to hear you say that,” Ty said, but then shrugged. “I got paid way too much for the ability to hit and catch a baseball and to have my mug on boxes of cereal and bottles of sports drinks—that’s for damn sure. And I’m certain at times it went straight to my big old head. But, in truth, I never cared much about the money.” He shook his head sadly. “It sure never made me or my mother happy. We didn’t give a rat’s ass about the huge house we lived in or the luxury car we rode in. All we ever wanted was my father’s love and devotion.” He inhaled deeply. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so fired up.”
“Hey, you’re preaching to the choir. My aunt Myra struggled all her life to keep the diner going, and yet she always had a joke to tell and a smile on her face. My parents had all the money in the world and were flat-out miserable.”
Ty shifted his weight on the mattress. “Well, I can tell you this: I loved playing over in the middle-class neighborhoods with my friends more than in the gated community where we never even knew our neighbors. At my house everything was quiet, and over at my friends’ there was . . . life going on. You know?” He looked at her, and she nodded. “Families grilled outside and kids played games. The pools were aboveground, but everyone splashed and had fun. The music was loud and the laughter louder. Perhaps that’s also what convinced me to settle down here in Cricket Creek. I simply like it here.”
“We’re glad that you did,” Jessica said, and while Ty would have preferred that she had said I instead of we, he was touched by her admission. “I thought you might be bored in a small town,” she added casually, but her eyes were serious. “And leave as soon as your investment was secure.”
Ty leaned over and kissed her. “I’ve been anything but bored, both on a personal and professional level. I’m really excited about this ball team, Jessica. I’m taking my role as general manager to heart.”
She lowered her gaze. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Hey, don’t be sorry. I want you to feel as if you can tell me or ask me anything. Okay?” When he tucked a finger beneath her chin, she nodded.
“I’ll try.”
“Good.”
She reached over and placed her palm on his chest. “I know you’ll be a great coach and the players will respect and look up to you.”
“Thank you,” he said, and meant it. He really wanted her to believe in him, and her comment felt good. “One of the things Noah and I have talked about was bringing some pride and integrity back to the game. We’ve told these kids that they’re representing the Cougars and this town and should carry themselves as examples to this community.”
“Good for you, Ty.”
“And as much as we want to have a winning season, we won’t do it at the expense of the health of any player.” He inhaled and blew out a slow breath. “There are some parents and coaches who don’t get that concept. Look, I want to win as much as the next guy, but it blows my mind when coaches or even parents put a kid at risk.”
“I guess Logan Lannigan is a prime example.”
“You’re right, Jessica. And to me he’s still just a kid. I hope we can bring him back even better than he was before his surgery. I just hope he can keep his head screwed on straight. I did have a good talk with him, and I was impressed. He might act all big, bad, and cocky, but I’ve got his number.”
She gave him a slow smile. “Ah. I bet he reminds you of yourself.”
Ty chuckled. “You got that right.” He was pleased that she was beginning to know him so well. “But, hey, you know as well as I do that success at this level doesn’t come without cost. Most restaurants don’t survive. Most players never make it to the big leagues. But to have a shot, you have to work your tail off.” He smiled. “And you certainly do.”
“Yes, but most of the time I love it.” She got a faraway look in her eye and then added, “Funny, but my mother loved to cook.”
“Did you learn from her?” Ty asked casually, listening closely. This was the first time Jessica had ever mentioned anything this personal about her mother.
“Yes, a little bit.” Jessica lowered her eyes and toyed with the sheet once again. “My mother didn’t get the chance to cook very often, since we had a chef on staff at the house.” She paused, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “But every little once in a while, when my father would be out of town on business, Mom would send Chef James home, and together we’d make something simple but fun, like grilled cheese, a BLT, or meat loaf. Those foods became a comfort to me, and I treasured those nights.”
“I understand. It was an altogether different atmosphere when my dad was out of town or at spring training. My mom and I had nights just like those when I was a little kid. Those meals we shared in easy companionship were special to me too.” He smiled at th
e memory. “Wow, I never thought about it until now that my love of food stemmed from those happy nights. Jessica, we have a lot more in common than I realized.”
“Yeah, I guess we do.”
Ty nodded. “We were both only children that were meant to feel as if we had to be perfect by overbearing fathers. God, I would never be that way to my own kid.” He shuddered. “Ugh. I hate to admit it, but I’m glad that my mother finally had the courage to leave the jackass. Hearing her cry was the worst.” He looked at Jessica and thought to himself that he couldn’t imagine ever doing or saying anything that would bring her to tears. He’d rather chew glass. “So, when did you decide you wanted to go to culinary school?” he asked, and unable to keep his hands off her, he picked up a lock of her hair and rubbed the softness between his fingers.
“I used to sit at the kitchen table and do my homework when I was a kid. I loved watching Chef James prepare meals. After I begged and pouted, he started letting me help. First it was simple stuff like tearing lettuce and snapping beans, but then suddenly I was learning to whisk sauces and season soups. I was hooked. And then it all came together at Aunt Myra’s diner. I combined Chef James’s sophistication with my mother’s down-home cooking. Aunt Myra recognized my talent and pushed me to go on.”
“So Wine and Diner is the perfect combination.”
“It was a big risk in this economy, but Cricket Creek embraced Madison and me when we needed it the most. I’m happy to be living here and giving back. Not only was it the right decision, but it has given my beloved aunt the ability to enjoy Owen and still keep the diner open. She has worked so hard.”
“And so have you.”
“I’m not the only one.” Jessica smoothed a hand over his shoulder and down his arm. “Cricket Creek needed the stadium to revive downtown. Noah has gotten some well-deserved props, Ty, but you deserve lots of credit too. And give that silent partner a hug from me when you see him.”