Chapter 25—The End Run

Tyler stared beyond Outlaw Bay to the churning waters of Hazard Channel as he had countless times in the past months.

His brain didn’t register the beauty as his thoughts focused inward.

He hated being the bearer of bad news, hated seeing the hurt and pain in Lavender’s eyes. He couldn’t recall dealing with a weirder situation, and he’d had some doozies over the years. For all these years, she’d blindly believed her mother. Now she was faced with a traumatic truth that destroyed all she held to be true. How did a person come to terms with that? His heart broke for the woman he’d come to know and lo—

Love?

Tyler slammed the brakes on that thought.

Cass had been a fixture in his life for years, yet he’d never called what they had together love. In fact, he’d never told Cass he’d loved her, not even when he sorta proposed. Could he have fallen in love with Lavender, an obnoxious, pixie-sized woman with a passionate temper and fire-red hair? Hell, if he stuck around her much longer, he’d have major back problems from bending down all the time. Her head barely came to his midsection. A wicked grin slid across his face. Of course, her height did have its advantages.

Oh, yeah, they enjoyed each other’s company in and out of bed. The bantering between them made life exciting and unpredictable. She kept Tyler on his toes. They had a lot in common. Animals took up a soft spot in both their hearts. Come to find out, Lavender was actually a sports fan, too, and quite knowledgeable, even though she denied her interest in them, especially football, every step of the way.

Last night had thrown him off his game completely. He’d bargained for some down-and-dirty sex and had not been disappointed. Somewhere in all the grunting, sweating, thrusting, and sliding, a seed of compassion took root. He didn’t quite know what they’d planted, only that even as they screwed each other’s brains out, this thing sprouted and grew, leaving him wrapped in a blanket of warm contentment for hours afterward.

When he finally came down out of the stratosphere and regained his senses, he attempted to convince his brain—both of them—the entire thing had to be a fluke, a by-product of mind-blowing sex and nothing of substance, not like the utter devotion he’d witnessed over the years between his parents.

Still, he conceded Lavender had given him something special. He was bound and determined to give as good as he got.

In a few days he could leave the island for good, head back to the city with all its excitement and bustle. He had things to do and places to go.

His gaze settled on the bay and the channel beyond it, the same bay his great-great-grandparents sailed into many years ago and decided to stay. They’d raised their children here. They’d laughed, loved, and cried here. Hell, they’d even bootlegged whiskey here back in the prohibition days. And they’d buried their dead here. Oh, yeah, he’d found the headstones of the small, overgrown family cemetery a week ago. He wondered about the people buried there. What would they think of his plans to destroy his legacy? Their love of this place was coded in his DNA. His decision to sell had been simple three months ago.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat. Once he returned to Seattle and his old life, he’d gain some needed perspective.

But for now, he wasn’t in any hurry to move back to the mainland. Lavender’s birthday was coming up, the same day his ninety-day-exile ended, a weird coincidence not wasted on him. He wanted it to be special, one last hurrah before they parted ways, and they had to part ways. Tyler hated long-distance romances. He needed his woman available when the urge struck and not on some island in the middle of fu—effing nowhere.

Still…

Crap. Was this how love felt? This inexplicable need for another person, to be so close that even when physically separated she was still there? In his heart?

Tyler pressed his forehead against the cool window, striving to clear his head of all these contradictory thoughts. As a man schooled in snap decisions, he’d never been this conflicted. He’d figure out his future when the moment presented itself, and trust his instincts. They’d served him well in the past. But for now, he had some planning to do for a birthday she’d never forget.

He knew exactly the perfect present. She may not appreciate it at first. But if he knew his Lavender, she’d thank him later, once the smoke cleared. Her initial reaction wouldn’t be pretty, but he was a big guy, and he’d handle it, even if he couldn’t handle five geriatric men with no manners and an orange tabby cat.

Speaking of the devils themselves.

Tyler sighed as Homer and Jim sauntered into his den. “Don’t you two know how to knock?”

“Why should we knock?” Jim squinted at him and mistook the cat for a pillow. Yowling in protest, Cougar slid out from under Jim, shook himself off, and glared at the old man over his shoulder.

“So for what reason did you break into my house this time?” Tyler adopted a long-suffering expression normally reserved when addressing his sisters.

The two men looked at each other, as if they’d forgotten why they were harassing him. Tyler waited them out as they consulted with each other in whispers.

Finally Jim turned back to him. “We want you to keep this place.”

“Really?” Tyler suppressed the urge to laugh and had no clue what he found so funny.

Homer ran a hand over the now-finished banister, gleaming with a fresh coat of varnish. “I can offer my services to oversee the renovations.”

“Okay, but why?”

Again that quick look between the two men. “We like you. This island needs some young blood, as does Twin Cedars. The Harrises have long been a fixture around here. It’s time for the next generation to pick up the torch.”

“You make it sound like an Olympic event.”

“Restoring this place might as well be.”

They’d get no argument from Tyler on that point.

“Artie had a method to his madness when he left the place to you. He knew if he forced you to stay here, you’d fall in love with it like he had, like your grandfather and your father had. And like all your ancestors before them.” Jim bent down to study the banister more closely. “Wasn’t this orange?”

“Lime green,” Tyler corrected.

“If he’d left it to us, we would have sold it or lost it. It would’ve been bulldozed. Artie didn’t want that, but he couldn’t afford to restore it, either. You can.”

Could he afford it? Yeah, probably if he handled his money better, played five more years, quit wasting his life on parties, women, and material stuff that didn’t make him feel any better.

Tyler didn’t react on the outside, but on the inside, he staggered backward as if punched in the gut.

He couldn’t sell Twin Cedars.

It needed to stay in his family for generations of Harrises to come. His sly old uncle had known exactly what he was doing when he’d written the ninety-day requirement into the will. Uncle Art knew him better than he’d known himself.

“So you guys want to help me out with renovations?”

“Well, when we have time. The Widow Chandler’s been giving me the eye. At my age a guy goes for the bird in the hand.” Homer winked at him and slicked back his hair, preening like a peacock in the antique mirror hanging on the wall.

“She’s not giving you the eye; she’s giving me the eye.” Jim pushed him out of the way to squint at the mirror, even though Tyler doubted he could actually see his reflection.

“It’s me she’s sweet on. What would she want with an old coot like you?” Homer pushed back and postured in front of the mirror, flexing nonexistent muscles in his skinny arms.

“You’re both old coots.” Tyler settled the argument, or so he thought. No such luck.

Both men ignored Tyler and continued their arguing over who would win the favors of some blue-haired old lady. Tyler cranked the sound on the TV and settled into his chair, listening to the sounds of home.

Tyler grinned, finally grasping the true value of the important things in his life. Things he’d denied himself in the past as being unworthy. Things money couldn’t buy. Putting his heart on the line scared the crap out of him, but he’d handle the fear and be a better man for it.

His uncle would approve, along with Tyler’s dad.

* * * * *

Bundled in a heavy sweatshirt, Lavender leaned her head on Tyler’s broad shoulder. The dock rocked gently underneath them as the current from the incoming tide pushed against the floats. A thick quilt protected them from splinters and offered some cushion from the wood planks. Stars twinkled in the night sky and frogs croaked cheerfully in a nearby pond.

A crisp breeze scented the spring air with a combination of fir trees and salt water. A bottle of wine sat between them, along with two glasses. Tyler draped his arm across Lavender’s shoulders. The gesture seemed casual, but a niggling feeling warned Lavender it was more than that.

She saw herself sitting here with this man on this dock through all the seasons until their hair turned gray and their wrinkled faces attested to the happy life they’d led together.

In her wildest dreams.

She recognized an illusion when it bit her in the butt. Her recent battles with Tyler regarding her parents opened a void between them and rammed home the impossibility of anything lasting. Despite the inevitable hanging over them, she embraced the moment as if it might be their last, because some intuitive part of her understood it was.

Even though she’d fallen in love with the loveable asshole.

In a few days, he’d leave her and her shattered heart for the mainland and his old life. She’d stay here and dream of things that could’ve been and never would be. And she’d do so without regrets because a life without risks wasn’t much of a life at all. She’d cherish every moment they had together. Tonight the beauty of the islands weaved its magic around her heart. The moon’s soft glow bathed them in a golden light. Breathing life into their doomed relationship, she’d cherish this fleeting moment in her life forever. Tyler sipped his wine, seemingly content to just be and not ruin the spell with shallow words and unrealistic promises. His body warmth flowed through him into her, keeping her cozy on this cool spring night.

“Are you going back to football?”

“I don’t know what else to do.” He stared out at the water, but a muscle jerked in his jaw, betraying how conflicted he still was on that subject.

“Tyler, do what you love for the right reason, or you’ll no longer love it.” She touched his strong jaw with a finger and let it bump along his ever-present stubble. “What’s the reason you play football, Ty? Is it the money, the fame, or something else?”

He mulled her question over for a minute, as if trying to figure out the answer. “I’ve never wanted to do anything else. It’s always been football as long as I can remember. When I was a toddler, I slept with a football. When I was in junior high school, I watched every game I could on TV. My dad and I would analyze every play, every move made by a quarterback. In high school, I knew I wasn’t just good, I was one of the best. Call me arrogant, but a top-level athlete better be arrogant on the field because once you get to the pros, everyone’s operating with essentially the same skill set and athletic ability. The other 90 percent is mental.”

“And that’s been your problem. The mental.”

“Yeah, lately. Since Ryan.” His voice sounded choked, as if a vise squeezed his heart.

“Tell me about Ryan.” She entwined her fingers with his.

Tyler tensed and stared out at the water. He blew out a long breath, seemed to consider his options, then answered. “I never let myself get involved, especially with kids. I get tons of requests to see kids, especially sick kids. I usually find time but keep it on a superficial level. Ryan wasn’t superficial, and his death made me question everything I’d ever believed about myself. When my life is over, can I honestly say I’ve done my very best and used the tools and talents at my disposal to make other people’s lives richer? Would this world be improved because I’d been in it for a short time? But I’m off subject. You asked about Ryan.”

Lavender nodded. He gripped her shoulder tighter.

“Ryan was a high school quarterback and a good one. Derek got to know him through Mitch.”

“Mitch?”

“His wife Rachel’s brother. Mitch coached the kid in high school, an up-and-coming star. Several months before his senior year, Ryan was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live. When he was pretty much wheelchair bound, his mother, a local barfly and worse, skipped out on him. None of us knew he was living alone until Ryan fell out of his wheelchair and couldn’t get back up. He called Derek to rescue him. After that, Mitch took Ryan in. The team adopted him. The players’ wives took turns keeping an eye on him during the day and the players hung out with him in the evening. He became everyone’s little brother, especially for Derek and me.”

“I didn’t know. I mean I’d heard about Ryan, but I didn’t how involved the team was with him.”

“He was the little brother I never had and always wanted. I got pretty attached to the kid. He asked me to find his mother so he could say goodbye to her. I found her stripping in Vegas. She refused to come back.” Tyler’s voice cracked. He rubbed his hands over his face. “The team was just walking off the flight after winning the division title, next stop the Super Bowl, when we got the call. Ryan was in the hospital for one last time. He wouldn’t make it out. Derek and I raced there, as did the rest of the team. The kid died a few minutes later. I got to say goodbye to him. He told me he loved me and that he saw through me, that I did care about people. I didn’t know how to take that. I felt like a fake. I died that day, too, but I pushed through the next two weeks in a haze, a man on a mission. I swore we’d win the Super Bowl for Ryan or die trying. I’d never wanted anything that badly in all my life.”

Tyler looked at her, his eyes misty with unshed tears. He shook his head, as if still in denial Ryan had died. “I think I used all my try in that game, because after it was over, every ounce of emotion drained out of me and left his big, empty hole nothing could fill. Not football. Not friends. Not women. Nothing.”

She opened her mouth to talk but he held up a hand to silence her. Tyler faced her, taking both her hands in his. He stared at her as if he’d never really seen her before. Tenderness shone in his eyes and left her light-headed. “Until I met you.”

Lavender choked with sadness and pride for this stubborn, wonderful man. “Tyler, I—”

“No, listen. At first, you flat-out pissed me off, but at least it was something. Then there was the lust. Now that was really something.” He almost smiled. “But somewhere along the line it became much more than that. More than I bargained for. You gave me back a piece of what was missing. You made me see that even though I don’t put my life on the line, I can still make a difference. I can influence people. I can be the man my father always wanted me to be. You did that for me. You gave me purpose.”

“I’m happy for you, but I didn’t do it. You did for yourself.”

“No, you showed the way, like a beacon in the night. You’re good for me. I like having you around.”

“This ends when you leave the island.” Lavender held her breath, prayed for an argument from him, a declaration of how much she meant. He wanted her in his bed and to be his companion, but love didn’t enter into it. She couldn’t be with him on a long-term basis if he didn’t love her. She needed much more from him than he was willing to give, because somewhere in the past few months she’d fallen in love with him despite her best intentions, and denial no longer made the feelings go away.

It was what it was.

“We don’t have to end it.” His hopeful expression almost changed her mind, but she stuck to her guns.

“No, you were right the first time. We’ve been down this road before. It won’t work for many reasons. Let’s start with location and end with us. I’m not sure I’m in a place right now to make life-changing decisions. Too many are being made for me. I need time, space to think about stuff, come to terms with it.” Even as she outlined all the reasons it wouldn’t work, she hoped he’d convince her it would, but he didn’t.

Tyler focused his gaze back on the water. The moonlight reflected off his handsome face, which seemed to have turned to granite once more.

Lavender buried her face in his tense shoulder and wished life could be different, that somehow a little island magic could survive and show them the way.

She didn’t know how that could be possible.

* * * * *

Tyler sighed and tucked Lavender against his side. He closed his eyes and let his intuition make the decision. The answer came through loud and clear. He wanted to keep Lavender in his life. For how long, he didn’t know.

He thought he loved her but couldn’t say the words. Not yet. Not until he was sure.

Sure, he’d resisted and been the one to insist their relationship had to end, but this wouldn’t be the first time he changed his game plan when the pending outcome didn’t work for him. He didn’t want to let her go. He’d been stubborn and stupid. For once, he’d take the emotional risk and lay it on the line tomorrow night on Lavender’s birthday.

Fate dealt him an odd hand. What better way to celebrate the end of his exile and the beginning of something new than to give Lavender the best gift he could think of and one money couldn’t buy? He couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. She’d steered him back onto the right path. He’d give her the one thing she wanted most.

Tonight was theirs. Tomorrow night belonged to their future. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Oh, she’d be pissed, but she’d get over it. It’d all work out because he’d make it work out, just like he’d made the team win games by carrying them on his back. He was a strong guy. He could handle it.

Since nothing he said seemed to come out right, tonight he’d show her how much she meant to him in the only way he knew how.

Lifting her chin with a finger, he stared down at her. The sadness in her eyes struck him like a blow to his heart. She’d accepted their fate, He hadn’t and wouldn’t. Not without a fight.

He brought his mouth down to hers. Soft and gentle, he moved his lips across hers. With featherlight kisses he tasted her, breathed in the lavender scent surrounding her as it mingled with the fresh scent of the islands. Scents he’d never forget. They whirled around him like a magical spell, absorbing his cynicism and creating a soft layer of comfort and belonging. He hadn’t belonged anywhere in a long time, but he did here.

Water lapped against the pilings of the dock and rocked them gently. She opened her mouth, and he accepted the invitation. When she tried to ratchet up the desire, he held back. Tonight wasn’t about animal lust; it was about tender, sweet emotions. Holding her face between his two hands, he took his time tasting her lips, exploring her mouth, teasing her tongue. She pressed against him, wanting more just like he wanted more. Just not the kind of “more” she assumed he wanted.

He’d lower his defenses, show her how much she meant to him, because the words wouldn’t do his feelings justice.

Tyler laid her down on the blanket, pushed up her sweater, unhooked her bra. Freeing her nipples, he bent to the task. She moaned underneath him as he slowly kissed his way from her neck to her nipples. Like a connoisseur of fine wine, he took his time. Her soft skin felt like satin against his tongue. Her sweet scent filled his nostrils and gave him a heady thrill. Closing her eyes, Lavender wriggled and threaded her fingers through his hair. She tried to push him into something harder and faster, but not tonight. Nope, tonight was all about slow and easy.

Tonight was about them.

Tyler sought her mouth, his kisses gentle yet powerful. She held him close. Her legs wrapped around his waist. Her heels dug into his butt. He floated on a cloud somewhere, as the dock swayed. He slipped his tongue in her mouth and explored the moist recesses.

Sliding his hands down her sides, he fumbled for the button on her jeans, unfastened it, and pulled down her zipper. She helped him out by lifting her ass off the blanket and pulling her jeans down those shapely legs of hers. He slid her underwear off and sat back on his heels. Damn, but she was a fine sight in the light of the moon.

She gazed up at him. Her eyes sparkled with a sheer joy of living. His lips kicked up into an answering smile.

“You next.”

Tyler nodded and shucked his own jeans and underwear in a single move. He lowered his body over hers and slid into her with excruciating slowness. He set a leisurely pace, determined to keep it gentle and show her what tender really felt like. He controlled his breathing at the same pace as his measured thrusts. Her walls hugged his erection, milked it, coaxed him to go faster. Tyler resisted. He stayed with the pace he’d set. Almost completely out then slide back in with deliberate, unhurried strokes. Then he’d hold himself deep inside for a beat. Or two. Or three. And start the process all over again.

He strummed her body with sensuous music like a well-played violin. He stroked her in places he’d never tried before. Her body told him all he needed to know. A thin, silken thread joined them, united them. One mind. One body. One mind-blowing natural high.

Oh, man, he’d never felt such a connection to another living being. Not like this. Her breathing became his breathing. Her needs were his wants. Her body mirrored his body. Their blood mingled and flowed in each other’s veins.

They clung to each other, heading to the stars and beyond. As he thrust a final time, and his release followed, he took her with him. They floated away, wrapped in bliss and contentment.

This was it, that thing his parents had together for so many years, that piece of life he’d assumed would always elude him. Yet here it was.

With Lavender.