Jake opened his mouth, then slammed it shut. That wasn’t true, he knew she wasn’t fourteen. She was—
“She’s not, you know.”
“Not what?” Jake snapped.
“Fourteen.” Reed shrugged as he unloaded a freshly cleaned set of glasses, steam filling the air from the open industrial dishwasher—Jake’s latest upgrade to The Bar. “Why can’t you see that?”
“I know she’s not fourteen. She’s twenty-one.”
Reed cocked an eyebrow. “She’s twenty-two and some change.”
Twenty-two? Jake slumped onto a barstool and met his friend’s gaze. “She’s just a kid.” Right?
“Who are you trying to convince?” Reed popped open a Budweiser and handed it to Jake.
He frowned at the beer.
“You haven’t slept yet, and you don’t look like you’re going to until you’re good and drunk.”
No arguing that. Jake chugged the entire bottle in one long pull, then looked at Reed. “She’s Colby’s little sister, man.”
Reed sighed. “I know, bro. And if he were here, I’d let him kick my ass into next Tuesday. But he’s not. And she’s a grown woman.”
Jake glowered. “Don’t do it again.”
“For you or for Colby?” Reed’s eyebrow shot up.
Jake ran his tongue over his teeth, squinting at his friend. “Just don’t do it again.”
Reed lifted his hands in the air. “Hadn’t planned on it, buddy.”
Good. Jake slammed the bottle down and stormed out the back.
Chapter
Seven
Tamryn’s stomach hadn’t stopped aching, and she’d chewed her poor cuticles to bleeding, but she stepped into The Bar at five o’clock on the dot for her shift. Jake would never look at her the same way again and, frankly, she couldn’t decide if that was bad or good, and this in between feeling sucked. She’d tried to reach Luce all day, but without any luck, which meant Tamryn was on her own. Her heart ached almost as much as her stomach, and for heaven’s sake, if that wasn’t enough, she felt like she’d delivered a baby last night.
Eyes burning from lack of sleep and too many tears shed, she went through the motions, taking orders, delivering drinks, chatting up customers who were in the mood for connection, all the while avoiding Reed’s watchful gaze—which took every ounce of energy she had.
When the bar quieted down during the eight o’clock lull, when folks either left for dinner or hadn’t yet made it to the bar after dinner, and Jake still hadn’t shown up, Tamryn slipped outside and walked over to the building next door. She still had her key, so until Jake revoked her privilege, she wanted one last look at the space she’d had and lost long before she could even start bringing her dreams to fruition.
As she approached the empty storefront, a commotion sounded from inside. She paused at the slightly open door, tilted her head and listened for more noise. Heart beating rapidly, she waited. Had someone broken in? She should go get Jake, but she wasn’t ready to see him.
Quietly, she poked her head in, curiosity getting the better of her.
Engulfed in a cloud of dust, Jake danced back and forth across the floor, broom in hand, shirt off, and headphones on. The vacant space had been completely transformed since this morning—boxes had been moved, mirrors cleaned; the shelving along the walls had been emptied and organized. A large trash pile sat off to the side of the back door.
So this is where he’d disappeared to all day.
Tamryn inhaled a ragged breath through her nose, allowing herself this private moment to watch Jake. His back glistened with sweat, and his running pants sat just below the rounded tops of his cheeks. As he swept and spun, the muscles of his back worked and relaxed, and Tamryn found herself holding her breath as she studied him.
Jake stopped, chest heaving, eyes on Tamryn, and hauled his pants up with one hand, then pulled his earbuds from his ears.
She blushed, quickly searching for something to say, anything to explain why she was just caught staring at his ass, but nothing came to mind. Her throat was thick, her breathing heavy, and all she could think about was touching him.
He grinned. “Well, come in then.”
Tamryn stepped inside, surveying the area as she approached him.
Jake’s eyes widened, brightening with excitement. “Oh, check this out!” He darted into a small room in the back right corner and flushed a toilet, reemerging with an even wider smile. “The plumbing works.”
“So I hear.” Tamryn’s voice was soft, her throat thick with emotion.
Jake frowned. “For your customers,” he prompted. “You know, the singing customers.”
Tamryn shook her head slowly, words escaping her. He hadn’t taken away her key, or revoked permission to utilize the space. Instead, he’d spent the day getting the storefront ready for her.
Jake stepped toward her, his crooked grin returning, emphasizing his dimple more than usual. “I know, I know, you didn’t want my help. But I couldn’t very well let you clean this place, TB. What kind of gentleman would do that?”
Tamryn smiled, heart racing. “It’s amazing. Thank you.”
“It’s the least I could do, after…” Jake frowned, searching her gaze, then grinned and brushed his knuckles across her shoulder. “I’m sorry about earlier. Your sex life is none of my business. Maybe I’m a bit overprotective of you…”
“Thanks, Jake.”
“What are big brothers for, right?”
Frowning, she dropped her chin, eyes downcast. Big brothers. God, she was so stupid. Even after catching her literally having sex, he didn’t see her as anything but a child. A little girl. An annoying kid sister.
If seeing her in the nude, completely exposed, didn’t change Jake’s view of her, nothing would. Time to let that dream die.
“Hey now, why the long face? You still sore at me for earlier?” Jake ducked, trying to meet her gaze. “Look, TB, I’m sorry. I acted like a real jerk. Your sex life is none of my business, okay? I’m sorry. Honest.”
Tamryn’s eyes welled up, so she closed them, wishing the tears and the agony away. Every second with him grew more unbearable, the room closing in on her. A tear dripped down her cheek.
“Hey, hey, TB? What’s wrong?” Jake grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. “Why are you crying?”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing, I just…”
He swiped his thumb across her cheek and her heart broke into a dozen more pieces from his tender touch. The tender, delicate touch of a loved one, not a lover.
A brother.
Shaking her head, she whispered, “I have to go. I’m sorry.” She turned on her heels and ran, not stopping until she was safe in her own room, door locked, and pillow over her head. She cried into her mattress, wishing the action would dislodge the ache and longing from her chest, wishing she could open her mouth wide enough to scream her feelings away.
Because living with this ache, this need…was becoming more than she could handle.
A muffled knock paused her crying, and she listened to see if she’d imagined it. Lifting her pillow, she looked at the door.
Another knock.
“Who is it?” She failed at hiding the waver in her voice. Please don’t be Jake.
“It’s me,” Reed whispered. “Can I come in?”
“Oh God,” Tamryn groaned, shoving the pillow over her head. “Go away.”
She really didn’t need to be reminded of her indiscretions right now.
“I’m coming in.”
“No.”
“Hope you’re dressed.”
Tamryn sat up, glaring at the door as it opened.
Reed smiled. “Not that I haven’t seen it before?” He raised one eyebrow.
She belted her pillow at him. “Not funny.”
With a grunt, Reed caught the pillow, pulling it to his chest with a frown. “Too soon?”
“You think?”
“Everything okay?”
Tamryn lau
ghed. “Nope. But what else is new?” Fresh tears formed and spilled from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks.
Reed sat down on the bed, side-eyeing her. “You know, before last night, we were just friends. Really good friends. I hope I didn’t ruin that.”
Tamryn whipped her head up, and Reed met her gaze, alarm widening his eyes. “You?” she spat. “You hope you didn’t ruin that? God, Reed, I was there too, remember? I’m not some child you did something to, okay? You’re as bad as he is!”
“Whoa, wait, I’m just saying I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you, okay?”
Tamryn stood, fuming, and threw her hands to her hips. “Take advantage? Maybe I took advantage of you, did you ever think of that? Maybe, just maybe…ooh, I know! Maybe I waited until I could see that you were really hurting over Gennie, and that’s when I zoomed in for the kill. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you.”
Reed smirked, his lips twitching on the smile he fought. “So, now you’re a predator?”
Tamryn straightened, and jutted her chin out. “Maybe I am.”
Laughing, Reed tossed the pillow at her face, but too much fury coursed through her veins to be playful. She swatted the pillow aside, then stepped toward Reed and bent at the waist, setting one hand on the tops of each of his thighs. Glaring, she held his gaze for a few long beats, and sucked in a deep breath. “You fucked me last night, Reed, with your mouth, your hand, your dick, and you still think I’m a child. No wonder Jake can’t see me as anything but. You’ve been inside me and still see pigtails and pimples.”
Reed stood, gripping her by the shoulders. “I see a beautiful woman who is desperately in love with my best friend. You were in pain last night, Tamryn. I should not have slept with you.” His gaze dropped to her lips, then her chest, as if staring straight through to her heart, the source of her pain, and he sighed. “You are not a child, Tamryn, you are my friend. I should not have taken advantage of your pain.” Meeting her eyes once more, Reed smiled. “Trust me, Tamryn Baker, you are anything but childish.”
Tamryn’s cheeks warmed and she looked away, unable to stare into eyes that regarded her so earnestly. Reed knew her better than most, and his unfiltered honesty was so much more than random words from some guy she’d had tequila sex with.
“Look at me.”
With his words, Tamryn was reminded of last night, and heat pooled deep in her body. She swallowed hard, then met his gaze.
“If you weren’t in love with Jake, and I wasn’t so hung up on Gen, well, I’d spend every day convincing you just how damn sexy you are.”
Tamryn licked her lips, her attention falling to his mouth as the memory of his lips on her flooded her brain. She didn’t have feelings for Reed, and she was pretty damn sure that was mutual, but sex with him had promised to be mind-blowing. She could attest to that having only had a taste.
Reed chuckled, releasing her. “You’re trouble.”
Tamryn smiled. “Me?”
“Uh, yeah.” Reed stepped back. “I don’t want to get my ass kicked by your boyfriend again.”
Tamryn laughed, then sighed, the mention of Jake clamping down on her heart like a vice. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Damn that Jake Johnson.” Reed sat down on the bed, then patted the spot Tamryn had been occupying earlier. “If he only knew.”
“Well, even if he did, I think he’d be more appalled than anything, since, you know, I’m his little sister and everything.”
Reed leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. “Man, I wish Colby was here.”
Tamryn snorted. “Yeah, because then you would have had two guys punching you last night. Squad goals.”
They both laughed, and Reed reached one arm out. “Come here, little Baker.”
Tamryn snuggled down into Reed’s body.
“I’m sorry I made you feel like a child.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m used to it.”
“It’s not okay, and I really never wanted to make you feel that way. I just wanted you to know that your friendship matters to me. More than the sex.”
“It would have been good sex.” She nudged him with her shoulder.
Reed’s body shook with a chuckle. “Like I said, trouble.”
“Fine. No sex. I’ll just return to celibacy and wait for Prince Charming to get his head out of his ass.”
“Sounds like a plan. Celibacy is good.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m going to help you build the bakery.”
Tamryn sat up, turning to face him, her eyes wide, and her pulse kicking into full speed. “What? You remember?”
“You heard me. I’m gonna help you. And of course I remember. Jeez, Tam, I didn’t black out last night, you know.” He winked. “I’ll build the display cases, do the heavy lifting, drive you into town for anything you need, whatever. I’m in.”
Tamryn tilted her head and cocked one eyebrow. “Behind Jake’s back?”
“Why the hell not? What’s he gonna do?”
Tamryn looked pointedly at the bruise that ran up one side of Reed’s jaw.
“Ah heck, that’ll heal.” Reed grinned, and Tamryn joined him, her heart soaring with hope.
Maybe The Bakery next to The Bar wasn’t such a bad idea after all. And now, with Reed’s help, maybe it might actually happen.
Chapter
Eight
Standing in the center of what would one day be the customer waiting area of her bakery—should everything go as planned—Tamryn grinned from ear to ear. She’d completed painting the walls last night, a muted pink on top, and a gingham wallpaper beneath the chair rail. Well, the chair rail wasn’t installed yet, but Reed promised to do it as soon as the paint had dried.
Jake hadn’t stepped foot inside the storefront since he finished cleaning the vacant shop two weeks ago. Tamryn and Reed had been able to get quite a bit done, but an air of sadness hung over their progress. Jake hadn’t only stayed away from the empty storefront; he’d avoided Tamryn and Reed completely.
Occasionally Tamryn would hear him clunking around in his bedroom, and she’d stand in the hallway, her hand poised to knock, just waiting for that one little ounce of courage she needed to confront him. So many times she’d imagined cornering him in his room so he couldn’t sneak out the back and avoid her. Again. She rarely caught an actual glimpse of him, and when she did, their conversations were short and to the point. One word answers with limited eye contact, if any, and he made it quite clear that he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
Could he really be that disgusted with her?
Running her hand along the wall, she shook her head. What would happen when he finally stepped inside and realized what she’d been up to? The further along she travelled on this journey, the more her stomach sank. Had this been a stupid idea? Would he flip out because she created a bakery behind his back?
Before the whole Reed thing, she’d felt like she knew Jake well enough to do this, knew he’d love the idea and be proud of her for taking the initiative. But now? Anxiety had made itself at home around her heart, a prickly blanket of doubt that wouldn’t allow her a full breath.
Tamryn sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Well, what do you think, Colby?” She closed her eyes, picturing her brother walking through the store, trailing his fingers along the wall, inspecting her paint job. He’d comment about a spot she missed, even if it didn’t exist, or tease her about the blush pink paint and gingham wallpaper combo. He’d run his fingertips over the top of the industrial equipment and smile, but then goad her for the ancient age of her kitchen, free appliances or not.
And then he’d turn around, a smile from ear to ear and those deep blue eyes sparkling.
She focused in on the memory of those eyes as she imagined his words. “I’m proud of you, little Baker.”
A tear slipped from her eye, and she quickly swiped it away, pushing the image of her brother from her mind. If she focused too long, he’d tell her how royally she screwed things up between Ja
ke and Reed.
She sniffed, swiped at her cheeks again and took a deep breath, then locked up and hurried next door to start her shift.
Stepping inside The Bar, the familiar scent of weathered wood and the faint, lingering scent of booze greeted Tamryn, reminding her of him, though a quick scan confirmed Jake wasn’t here. He’d never stayed away from The Bar this long, even back before he’d taken over ownership. Jake lived for this place.
With her heart in her throat, she surveyed the room, assessing tonight’s crowd. Her eyes landed on a group of guys in the corner, and she grinned as the dark-haired soldier in the middle met her gaze.
“Well, hot damn,” he drawled, his familiar megawatt smile lighting up the room. “If it isn’t Tammy Baker.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Charlie Morris. As I live and breathe.” She bit her lip to fight a wild grin as he stood, stepped out of the booth, then strolled across the dancefloor, his Levis and cowboy boots just as perfectly worn-in as she remembered, the denim snug in all the right places.
He peered down at her, brown eyes sparkling. “You look better than I remember.”
“Same.” He’d grown in the past four years.
Charlie picked her up in a fierce hug and spun her around in a circle.
When her feet landed back on the floor, his arms still around her waist, Tamryn leaned back, placing her hands on his chest, smiling widely. “You look great, Charlie. When did you get back?”
“Just last week. I got a place with Roc.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder and Tamryn followed the motion, smiling at Charlie’s two best buddies, Steven and Rockford “Roc” Hughes. The brothers hadn’t gone far, just off to college a few towns over, but Tamryn hadn’t seen them in months. Charlie, however, had been gone since right after graduation, continuing the longstanding Morris tradition of joining up right out of high school. “We’re staying right outside of town, the old Mills’ place?”
Tamryn met his gaze, stomach fluttering as her cheeks warmed.
He focused in on the blush. “Ah, so you do remember.”
She pushed him gently. “How could I forget?”
Whiskey Burned (Flawed Heroes Book 2) Page 5