Tempting Tim: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Romance (Billingsley Book 4)

by Melissa Ellen

  “Thank you.” I threw my arms around him, giving him a bear hug that he struggled to free himself from. He broke free just after I pressed a kiss to the side of his head, much to his displeasure. The smile that had broadened on his face told me he truly didn’t mind it. I was glad to see him in a better mood.

  “I guess I should go,” Ricky said as he stood from the couch. “Dad’s expecting my help this morning before the service starts. Tell Tim I’m sorry for barging in so early and that I’ll catch him later.”

  “Will do.”

  “You’ll be at church?” Ricky asked as he reached for the doorknob.

  I held the door open as he walked outside. “As if I have a choice,” I teased.

  He stopped and turned to face me on the front porch, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Later, Sis. And…thanks…”

  “Anytime. I mean that. Day or night, call me,” I said, hoping he heard the sincerity behind my words. All I wanted was for Ricky to know I was here for him. I gave him one last wave as he drove away, then closed the door.

  My phone rang in the distance from where I’d left it in the kitchen. I checked the caller ID as I lifted it from the counter. Bobby. I sighed, hitting decline. At some point, I needed to talk to him and make things clear, leaving no room for misinterpretation. No matter how many times I’d told him already, he wasn’t listening because it’d always been in the heat of the moment. It’s a game we played way too often in the past. I’d blow up and give him the silent treatment until he groveled for an unidentified amount of time. Normally, until he wore me down and I’d conceded my anger.

  He needed to know things were different this time. But right now, I had a different man on my mind who I wanted to talk to. The conversation with Bobby would have to wait.

  16

  Tim

  It’s nothing.

  They were simple words. Two simple words that were causing my mind to spiral out of control and the blood in my veins to pump faster. My muscles were tense as I kept my hands busy, an attempt to keep them from clenching into fists the way they wanted.

  Being her rebound was something I’d considered already. I’d made the decision to ignore that thought because at the end of the day Conley was worth it. Everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours wasn’t nothing to me, though.

  It’s not like I was expecting her to profess her love for me or anything. Saying it’s new, I’d get. Had she only been saying that to keep the status of her and Bobby’s relationship under wraps, I would’ve understood. But she’d told me she was going to tell Ricky the truth before I stepped outside to give them some privacy, so what did it matter if she’d told him about us?

  I didn’t intend to eavesdrop. I’d opened the screen door of my back porch to look for some tools I’d thought I left inside. That’s when I heard Ricky ask about us and halted. When she hadn’t replied immediately, I couldn’t seem to force myself to move. Once she had, I quietly closed the door and stayed outside.

  My thoughts were in a tailspin as I continued hanging the small globe lights I’d bought to string up in the rafters of the pergola. The screen of the back door opened. Conley walked through and descended the porch steps in my direction.

  “Tim, this looks amazing,” she said with awe in her voice as she looked around my backyard for the first time.

  Being outdoors and working with my hands was one of my favorite things to do when I had the time. It’s why my house and yard were immaculate. A southern belle’s dream home. It was picturesque and had gardens that rivaled those you found in the pages of a Southern Living magazine.

  She stopped a few feet from where I stood high in the air on the ladder.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, fastening the last end of the string lights to the cedar joist before making my descent.

  “The only thing missing is the vegetable and herb garden,” she teased, wrapping her arms around my waist as soon as my feet touched the ground.

  I gave her a half-hearted smile, loosely holding her in return.

  “Hey…what’s wrong?” Her brows pinched together as she stared up at me, her eyes scanning my face, trying to get a read.

  “Nothing,” I lied, using that stupid word that felt like a heavy weight on my chest.

  I hated that I said it not only because of the mere reminder, but because the lie felt like acid. I’d made her promise we wouldn’t lie to each other anymore. Yet, here I was. I convinced myself my hypocrisy was justified, though. Nothing good would come from admitting I’d eavesdropped. It was also highly probable I was overreacting, having been high on life—on Conley—yesterday and this morning, making me think she’d been feeling the same way as me. Obviously, I was wrong.

  Reaching behind my back to break out of her hold, I forced another smile and took a step back. “How did things go with your brother?” I asked, folding the ladder up. If she’d noticed the distance I was putting between us, she’d decided not to comment on it.

  “Good. He’s heartbroken about Mia, but I think he’ll bounce back in no time.”

  “Glad to hear. Sucks for him, though. I know how hard he worked on that performance for her.” I also knew more than a little something about unrequited high school love. I knew what it felt like to watch the girl you had feelings for be with someone else. I lifted the ladder, then walked toward the shed where I kept it stored. I leaned it against the side wall before turning back to Conley.

  She’d stuffed her hands in her back pockets as she watched me. “Are you sure you’re okay? I know my brother showing up here kind of ruined the moment, and if I wasn’t running late now for church, I’d for sure say we pick up where we left off.”

  The concern on her face had guilt sinking like a boulder in the pit of my stomach. I was being crazy…and ridiculous…and a myriad of other undesirable adjectives. If things were ever going to progress with us, then I needed to let what I overheard go. The only thing I could do at this point was make her see why things between us were so much more than nothing. After striding back toward her, I wrapped my arms around her. She returned the gesture, tilting her head back to look up at me. “Everything is fine,” I assured her. “Not gonna say it doesn’t suck that your little brother cock blocked me, but I get it. You two needed that.”

  “Thank you for understanding. He said he was sorry, by the way. And I will totally make it up to you on his behalf.” Her face broke out into a smile.

  “How do you plan to do that?”

  “I’ll make you dinner on one condition…”

  Not exactly what I’d had in mind, but I’d take it. “You’re adding conditions when trying to make it up to me? Don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to work, sweetheart.”

  Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink at the endearment. She attempted to hide her blush with the narrowing of her eyes and the pursing of her lips. I lowered my head and took those lips in a long, hard kiss. She moaned a little as I pulled away. It was short but potent enough to make us both wish we could pick up where we left off before PJ and Ricky interrupted. “What’s your condition?” I asked.

  “We have dinner here. Your kitchen is much bigger than mine.”

  “That’s not the only big thing that I have.” I gave a small thrust of my hips, grinding into her to drive home the point.

  This time, she rolled her eyes with a small laugh. “Your game needs some work.”

  “You like it. Admit it.”

  “Nope. Never,” she said through another giggle as I tickled her side.

  The smile on my face was huge as I squeezed her tighter and dropped a quick kiss on her head. “You want me to pick anything up from the store for this dinner?”

  “I got it covered. Besides, I’ve seen your shopping prowess”—she poked me in the chest — “and it’s about as bad, if not worse, than your game.”

  I smacked her lightly on the ass for her little verbal jab. “Hey, anyone could’ve gotten held up in the chip aisle. I bet Wes purposely forgot them just so he could pawn
it off on me.”

  “Hmm,” she mused. “I’m having a hard time believing that.”

  I chuckled. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this light and the urge to laugh so much with anyone. “So, when is this dinner you’re cooking me?”

  “Well, I wish I could say tonight, but I have dinner with the family. How about Monday?”

  “I’ve got to work late. I’d ask Melanie to cover closing, but I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

  “Okay then…” she trailed off, attempting to hide her disappointment.

  We both knew finding a free night would be difficult. As nice as it was having Melanie behind the bar, I couldn’t ask her to close every night. She was still learning many of the mixed drinks, and if I was completely honest, I wasn’t ready to turn over the reins to anyone.

  “Let me talk to Melanie, but Wednesday shouldn’t be a problem,” I said in an effort to put a smile back on Conley’s face. It worked.

  “Sounds good.” She lifted to her toes, her hands lacing behind my neck. “It’s a date,” she said and planted a kiss on my lips. Before she could pull away, I deepened the kiss while running my hands along her sides to grip her hips. She pressed her body firmly against mine and it took everything I had not to scoop her up and carry her to my bed.

  Before I could make good on the thought, I pulled back, not wanting to make her late. “Tell your parents hi for me?”

  “Orrrr…you could tell them yourself…” she trailed off, probably knowing her invite was a long shot.

  “No can do. Wes is already waiting for me at the river.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll call you later,” she said while slipping out of my grasp and walking off. I snatched her wrist, tugging her back to me before she was too far away.

  “No phone calls. Come back here when your dinner is over,” I demanded. Her eyebrows raised slightly, but she didn’t protest. She nodded her assent, giving me another peck before slipping from my fingers once again. I watched her every step of the way. She threw me one final, flirty look over her shoulder before disappearing from my view completely and into the house.

  I shook my head with an unstoppable foolish grin as I walked to the garage to grab my fishing gear. That woman would likely be the death of me. But I’d still die in love with her for reasons I couldn’t even explain.

  Damn. I roughed a hand through my hair at the thought. I loved that woman. I loved her sass and the way she challenged me with it. The way she could make me smile even when I didn’t want to.

  The admission to myself shouldn’t have been a surprise. I’d always been in love with Conley Logan. I’m not sure I ever fell completely out of love with her. It’s why when we’d finally crossed the line from friends to more, her word to describe us had me flipping the hell out. One thing was for sure, I wasn’t letting her get away this time.

  “The kegs are swapped out with exception of the Coors Light. It’s still half full, so if it empties before you close, just tell people we’re out. If they give you trouble, you call me,” I informed Melanie as I strolled behind the bar coming from the direction of the walk-in fridge.

  “Got it, boss.”

  “In fact, if there’s any trouble at all, you call me,” I demanded.

  Melanie’s head slanted to the side as her eyes slightly rolled with annoyance. She continued to slice the lemons and limes into wedges as she spoke. “This isn’t my first time closing by myself.”

  Maybe not. But she wasn’t exactly experienced yet. Despite her confidence in herself, which I liked, I still had some reservations about leaving her all alone. It had less to do with her and more to do with issues of my own. The bar had been my entire life for too many years for me to walk away easily and leave it in the hands of someone else. I wasn’t sure how my dad had done it. The day I took over he was excited, and never once looked back.

  “Besides, it’s a Wednesday night,” she added. “We aren’t exactly hopping on Wednesdays.”

  She’d be right again. Our busiest days have always been Thursday through Saturday. That didn’t mean something couldn’t come up, though. I told her as much before she shoved me lightly out from behind the bar, a less-than-subtle dismissal. “Go on. Enjoy your night off with Conley.”

  I planted my feet at the mention of Conley, halting us both. “What makes you think we’ll be together?” I turned to face her.

  “Oh, please.” She waved her hand as if shooing a fly. “You two aren’t fooling anybody. Least of all me. Which is exactly why I already planned to open for you in the morning.”

  “Mel—”

  “Nope,” she cut me off before I could protest. “No arguments.”

  I crossed my arms, leveling her with a playful glare. “Put you behind the bar a few times and already you think you’re the boss.”

  “What’s that saying? Dress for the position you want, right?” She shoved at my chest, gently pushing me toward the exit.

  “Fine. But like I said any—”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Get out of here already.”

  I made to leave, then stopped once again. “Hey, Mel?” She looked up from where she’d already resumed her task of cutting the fruit. “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, boss.” She gave me a slight smile. “It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me.”

  I nodded in response, wanting to tell her she owed me nothing, but I knew she wouldn’t listen. Instead, I took off before either of us could change our minds.

  I strummed the chords to the tune in my head while humming the words that had been playing on repeat, working out the rhythm. Hearing the rumbling engine of Conley’s vintage bug pull into my driveway, I set my guitar aside. I flipped off the game I was half-watching on mute and stood from my couch. I walked out the front door to help carry groceries if needed, only to find her ass in the air. I wiped a hand over the smile on my face, then rubbed over the scruff on my jaw as I took in the scene. She balanced on one foot, the other lifted slightly off the ground with the remaining half of her body bent over at her waist and reaching inside the driver’s window of her car.

  A gentleman would offer to help her in this situation. I’ve never once claimed to be one of those. Instead, I admired the round firmness of her ass in skin-tight jeans. The moment was over too fast for my liking when she finally stood upright holding her phone in the air, exclaiming to herself, “Gotcha!”

  Why she hadn’t just opened the door to snatch her phone from wherever it was in her car was a mystery. Pointing that out to her was on the tip of my tongue when she spun to face me, tucking the device into her back pocket. But the words disintegrated as I stared at her.

  Maybe some men liked their women in fancy heels and dresses. Not saying I didn’t. But there was something about a woman who could look as beautiful as Conley Logan in a simple tank, jeans, and beat up white Converse. She was a natural beauty, something that seemed to be getting rarer these days. Her long, dark hair was down, the soft curls tumbling over her shoulders. All I could think about was wrapping my hands up in them and tugging to expose that silky column of her neck I couldn’t get enough of. Turned out it was a trigger spot for her too. She nearly came undone every time I pressed my mouth against it.

  She snapped her fingers in my face. “Tim? Did you hear me?” She heaved a fabric grocery bag higher on her hip, her head cocking slowly to the side as she studied me.

  I hadn’t heard a thing she’d said. I wasn’t even sure when she’d moved from the car to mere inches in front of me. Wiping all previous thoughts from my head, I answered, “Yep. Is this everything?” I took the bag from her, feeling like a dick for having been thinking with mine instead of helping her like I’d meant to do. It seemed I’d never be rid of the need for her. And that was fine by me.

  She looked at me curiously and then grinned, shaking her head as she looped an arm through mine. “You heard nothing I said, did you?” she asked as we walked toward the house.

  I chuckled. “Not a damn
word.”

  “What?” Conley asked with a quick glance my direction, no doubt having felt my heated stares from across the kitchen.

  I’d been watching her as she worked, after she’d repeatedly refused my help. Once again, I felt the urge to take her on the spot. She’d slipped off her shoes and made herself at home as she moved around my kitchen with a sexy confidence, like she owned the place. And hell if my mind hadn’t drifted down that road—Conley living here with me. For the second time in a matter of days, I was once again getting ahead of myself. It was too soon to be having those thoughts. But I couldn’t help feeling like I’d waited my whole life for this. For her. For us. Probably because I had.

  I crossed my arms where I stood leaning against the counter, giving my shoulders a shrug. “I’m just surprised you know your way around the kitchen. Figured personal chefs had pampered you all these years.”

  “Only on the road,” she admitted. “At home, I cooked. I enjoy it. And it…” Something flashed across her face, making her pause.

  “It what?” I probed.

  “Nothing. It’s stupid.” She shook her head in dismissal.

  “Tell me.”

  I waited while she silently gnawed on her bottom lip and continued to chop the vegetables for a stir-fry. She moved with a quick proficiency, her knife skills rivaling that of a seasoned chef. “I don’t know… I guess it made me feel useful. Like I had something to bring to the table. Literally.” She laughed it off, but wasn’t able to completely hide the doubt in her eyes. “There aren’t many things I’m good at.”

  “There’s lots of things you’re great at.”

  She glanced over at me with an incredulous look.

  “I’m serious. You’re not only a talented artist, but you're smart. You were double majoring at the University of Texas, one of those being a business major.”

  “You remember that?”

  “I remember a lot of things.”