Chapter 19—Kicking it Away

Tyler stared out the window at Lavender’s house. Usually she was home by mid-afternoon. She cooked an early Sunday dinner for the brothers’ at Homer’s house. Those old goats couldn’t stay up much past seven thirty.

Behind him, Derek read a sports magazine on his tablet. Murphy ignored them both and stared mindlessly at the TV as some reality show droned on and on while he stroked Coug. Not only was the asshole alienating his team, he’d sucked the cat into his web. Tyler should’ve stuck with dogs. Dogs were loyal. Cats were opportunists.

The rest of the guys had gone whale watching and would meet Murphy at the ferry landing. Tyler couldn’t wait to get rid of the jerk. How they’d managed to avoid beating the shit out of each other, only the football gods knew.

Derek put down the iPad and stood next to him. After a long silence his rat bastard cousin got to the point. “I’ve never seen you like this before. You need to get over it, Ty.”

“Get over what?” Tyler stared straight ahead and ground his teeth to the roots.

“Ryan.”

The word hung between them, binding them together in mutual pain while driving them apart. Tyler said nothing. He glanced at Murphy, but the guy had the TV cranked loud and no way could he hear them.

Derek sighed and leaned his forehead against the windowpane. Finally he straightened and faced Tyler. “Hey, his death ripped my heart out, too, but it’s time to let go and move on. Ryan wouldn’t want you like this.”

“I should’ve dragged his mother back. I should’ve offered her a shit-ton of money she couldn’t refuse. I didn’t because I wanted her to do it for Ryan, not the money.” He met Derek’s kind eyes. “You know what? Ryan saw through me. No one sees through me. He did. When he was lying there in that hospital bed, he told me he loved me. I remember every word of what he said next: ‘I was wrong. You do care. About people.’” Tyler’s strangled voice sounded like someone else’s. “Oh, God. I don’t deserve all the good that’s come my way. What the hell have I done with it? Any of it? I’ve squandered it away. Wasted it on my own selfish pursuits. Good people like Ryan make a difference in people’s lives. I don’t. I use people and throw them away.”

“You’re finally growing up. That party boy/asshole role isn’t easy to hide behind, is it?”

Tyler didn’t even bother arguing or playing the tough guy. His cousin stared out the window at the bay, having said his piece. Tyler’s entire body ached as if he’d played a brutal double-overtime game—only the game was life, and he didn’t have a clue how it would end.

“Lavender is good for you.” Derek’s words came out of left field. He studied his cousin over the rim of his beer glass. “I like her.”

Tyler snapped his head around so fast a sharp pain shot up his neck. He reached up to rub the affected area. “So what? You like everyone.”

“I like her, too.” Murphy walked up beside them. “But I don’t understand what she sees in a fuckhead like you.”

“Guess what, assholes. I don’t give a shit about your opinions. Or anyone else’s for that matter.”

“Bullshit, and you know it. It’s all an act, Ty. This is your cousin you’re talking to, your lifelong best friend. I know what’s under the hood of that hard skull of yours. Why don’t you date her? Take her out? Treat her like a real girlfriend?”

“Yeah, she deserves to be more than your fuck buddy.” Murphy added his unwelcome two cents.

“She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t even like her outside of the bedroom.”

Derek threw back his head and laughed. “Coulda fooled me. You love how she calls bullshit on you, argues, pushes your patience to the limits.”

“Why would I love that?”

“There’s no figuring how your messed-up mind works. I can only guess because she’s a challenge, keeps you guessing, while Cass only challenged you in bed and spent your money.”

Derek hit too close to a truth Tyler hadn’t admitted to himself. He didn’t like to be the last person clued in on something, especially when it pertained to him. “Are you two packed? The next ferry leaves at five thirty p.m.”

“Trying to get rid of us?”

“Damn right. Especially him.” Tyler pointed at Murphy, who’d already gotten bored with the conversation and returned his attention to flipping channels on the TV.

Derek just grinned, way too immune to Tyler. “Not a problem. We’re tired of your company anyway. You’re just jealous because the brothers like me better than you.”

“Take them with you, too, would you?”

“What and deprive you of their company? I don’t think so.”

“Damn, I need to get off this fucking island.” Tyler ran his hand through his hair, considering his options. He didn’t like any of them.

“You’re not a prisoner here. Just pack up and go.” Murphy grabbed another one of Tyler’s good beers and leaned against the bar.

“And let El and the dufus brothers get this place? No effing way.”

Derek watched him like a man who knew him too well. “Make them a deal. Sell it and split the profits. Homer knows a good Realtor.”

“Homer is a Realtor.”

“Let him sell it. Then everyone’s happy. They have money, and you never have to come back here again.”

Tyler didn’t answer. He clamped his jaw shut, not certain if Derek truly believed he should sell the place or if he was needling him.

His cousin took a step closer and stared at him. Really stared. “I know that look.”

“What look?”

“You don’t want to sell this place. It means something to you.”

“Like hell. I’m not a sentimental fool like you. Unfortunately, the economy’s too bad to get a decent price for it right now.”

“Yeah, sure.” Derek wasn’t fooled. “You’re a sentimental fool, Tyler Jackson Harris.”

Tyler refused to meet his gaze. A month ago, he’d have sold his family’s legacy in a heartbeat.

Now? Well, yeah, he still would, given the right offer, just like he’d sold his soul one too many times.

* * * * *

Lavender stared at Tyler standing in her doorway. His big body filled up the entire doorframe. The rain dripped off the rim of his Stetson, puddling on her miniscule, saggy front porch. He wore a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes, butt-hugging jeans, and his cowboy boots. Damn, but the boy did look hot. Sexy hot. Scalding sexy hot.

“So, cowboy, looking for a rodeo?” She cast her come-hither look his way.

His eyes darkened as a slow, sexy smile changed the harsh landscape of his handsome face. “I hear you’re a champion bull rider, darlin’.”

“You heard right. And I hear you’re a champion bull.”

“Comparisons between the size of my boys and a bull’s have been made on occasion.” He pushed past her into the small living room and tossed his hat on a chair. Turning, he stepped into her, filling up every square inch of the room with his presence.

“Show me.” She stood on tiptoes and scraped her teeth across his jaw.

“Keep that up, honey, and we won’t even make it out of the chute.” With a heavy sigh, he put his hands on her shoulders and held her away from him. “I’ll take a rain check. First, I’m taking you out to a nice dinner.”

“You’re taking me out?” In the two months he’d been on the island, he’d never asked her out for a measly cup of coffee, let alone dinner. Of course, she didn’t care because she didn’t like him.

“Yeah, I’m taking you out.” His crooked smile melted her heart. She spread her palm over his chest. He covered her hand with his then wrapped his fingers around hers and lifted her hand to his mouth. His kissed it, palm up, gentle and careful. His sweet reaction turned her on more than any of the raunchy, headboard-banging sex they’d had to date, and that was saying a lot. A damn lot.

“Why?”

“I’m hungry and I don’t like to eat alone.”

“I have to think about this. Where?”

“The Partridge Inn.” Those dark blue eyes pinned her down and rendered her breathless.

She swallowed and struggled for her voice. “Are you serious? That place is expensive. They don’t have prices on the menu.”

“Don’t worry. I think I can afford it this once.”

Lavender studied his face. He looked away, shuffled his feet, seemed almost embarrassed. His behavior was completely out of character. “I still don’t get it. Why?”

“Because—Because I don’t want you to think that you’re just a good lay to me. You’re a damn fine lay. Besides, a good argument always whets my appetite.” He still wouldn’t look at her.

“Fine. I’m all for a free gourmet meal.”

“I hope you’re hungry.”

“Hungry? I’m starving. I haven’t eaten all day. I’ve been weeding that damn vegetable garden. Give me a few minutes to take a shower and clean up.”

“Sure.” He sank onto her couch and started flipping through the channels.

Not caring how anxious she appeared, Lavender vaulted over a pile of clothes on the floor and dove into the bathroom. Clothes flying, she turned on the water and stepped into the combination tub/shower. She couldn’t believe one little date with a man she’d been sleeping with for a month could affect her this much, but it did. Not only that but it made her day.

The hot water ran down her face, sluiced across her naked body. She closed her eyes and let it flow. Tyler asked her out. Sure, she’d be stupid to think this date meant anything beyond this island, but she didn’t care. She’d live for the moment and deal with the painful aftermath down the road.

Lavender picked up the bar of lavender-scented soap—was there any other kind?—and started to soap her body until it was stolen from her hand. She groaned as Tyler pulled her against his hard male body.

“I guess dinner can wait.” Her mumbled response faded into the mist of the shower.

Tyler lathered up her stomach, upward to her breasts, and across her shoulders, taking his damn sweet time. She leaned back against him and closed her eyes. The heat of the water combined with the heat of his body until she didn’t know where one started and the other ended.

He ran his hands back down her body. Pushing her gently against the wall, he soaped up her back and ass, sliding his hands between her legs and rubbing her thighs. Lavender flattened her hands against the wall and slid her feet back a few steps. She spread her legs and bent down. Water streamed down her back and funneled off her erect nipples.

“Someone wants some cock.” Tyler slid those masterful fingers up the insides of her thighs.

“Duh.” She sputtered on a mouthful of water.

“How bad do you want it?” His hips pressed close behind hers. His dick tickled her crotch. He reached around her body and caught her tight nipples in his fingers, teasing her, driving her out of her mind. Capturing each taut nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he squeezed, hard, until she whimpered for him to stop or go or, hell, what the heck did she know? She just wanted more.

“Bad. Really bad. I want you.”

“Yeah? Show me.” One big hand slid between her legs. She shuddered. His index finger slid with ease into her wet pussy. He pumped his finger in and out as she pressed her pussy against his hand, angling for him to hit her sweet spot. He pushed another long finger inside her and took her fast and furious with his fingers. She shattered like a china cup on a slate floor. Just like that. No prelude. Just a weak-willed body, weaker knees, and a quivering pussy.

A few seconds later, his big cock powered into her in one swift, hard stroke, no time for recovery. He filled her completely. Thoroughly. Incredibly.

Hands gripping her hips, Tyler held himself there, as the water ran down both their naked bodies. Lavender fought to regain control of her spiraling emotions. No such luck. She’d lost her sanity the second he’d set foot in the shower.

He pushed high and hard into her. Touching her in those places only he could touch her, which she’d begun to realize had nothing to do with the size of his cock or how full she felt with him buried inside her.

Hell no, it went deeper than that. Deeper than anyone had ever touched her, physically and emotionally.

Tyler Harris had her number. If only she had his.

He started moving in and out of her. His motions were controlled and constricted, as if he knew he’d snap at a moment’s provocation. Her fuzzy brain whispered something about a condom, but she’d gone past caring minutes ago. Then he held her from behind when he let himself go. His cock jerked inside her. He withdrew and rammed back into her. Hands pinching her nipples, he rode her hard and rough, until his body spasmed, and his release came.

Together, they leaned against the wet shower walls, chests heaving, sanity slowly returning, bodies weak but satisfied.

“I didn’t wear a rubber,” he panted.

“It’s okay, I’m on the pill.” She squinted at the wet wall but couldn’t see straight.

“Why the hell didn’t you ever mention that before?” He relaxed against her.

“I don’t know.” She did know. Doing it without a condom seemed more intimate. She felt his seed inside her, felt it dripping from her wet slit, knew he’d left a part of him with her.

She’d never had sex without a condom before. Never in her life. But then, she’d experienced a lot of firsts with her arrogant jock.

Straightening, he smacked her ass, and she yelped. “Get ready for dinner.”

On that note, he exited the shower and left her alone to get ready. Lavender slid down the wall and buried her face in her hands. She’d given him something tonight, and he hadn’t a clue regarding the significance of her actions, the kind of trust it invoked.

But Lavender knew.