Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) (16 page)

She’d never had to reconcile the hardened business man she’d read so much about and the kind gentleman who focused on pursuing her while getting every door she ever walked through. Her palms grew sweaty, and she reached down, running her hands along her jean-clad thighs as her uncertainty intensified.

~~~

“What the hell happened this morning?” Ty finally asked. He patted himself on the back for not yelling, but his hands went to his hips, showing his mood, and he made his way through the shop room, stepping around several pieces of equipment while moving toward her.

“I figured we did…” He watched her flush as words didn’t come easily, and she began moving her hands, motioning wildly for whatever the hell she couldn’t say. “You know what I’m trying to say. And now it’s over.”

“And why would it be over?” he asked, realizing for the first time that she’d strategically put the stupid worktable between them. He watched as she opened her mouth then closed it, only to open it again. Nothing came out. Ty started around the table to get closer to her, and she moved away from him, circling the other way. That had his brow furrowing. This woman drove him insane. The hot and cold she kept putting out was like whiplash, and after last night, he was done trying to figure her out. Whatever kept her away needed to be dealt with or put aside. He was tired of this game. “We both know last night was more than just a stray fuck.”

He watched her balk at his choice of words, confirming what he already knew; Kenzie didn’t just sleep with any guy who came along. Last night mattered.

“I’m not in a place to make it anything more than just sex.”

“Yeah, right. I’m pretty sure you don’t just do random sex. I’m betting it’s been me and that fucked up ex in your bed; no one else,” he tossed out, hating the fact she could try to belittle what they’d shared last night.

“That doesn’t change the facts. It’s not a good time for me. It needs to be what it was and nothing more,” she said, and Ty moved toward her again. When she did exactly the same as before, he changed his course, and dammit, if she didn’t too. His blood began to boil as he stopped dead in his tracks, placing both palms on the table, staring down at the wood, forcing himself to calm down and think.

Okay, so this secret she held was bigger than he’d thought or at least bigger to her than he’d considered. No amount of making her comfortable seemed to ease her into talking and he had to start a dialog in order to know what the fuck was going on.

“Why isn’t this a good time for you, Kenzie?” he asked carefully, lifting his head to stare her in the eyes.

All she did was stare back at him with worry and begin to shake her head no, so he tried again, taking a slow step toward her, but she rounded away from him. “I’m a mess. You don’t want in this. I promise.”

“No, you’re not. I’ve seen messes. I live with them every day. You aren’t a mess. Whatever problem you have, just tell me. I guarantee I can help,” he said, still moving toward her.

“We’ve only known each other a week. Why in the world would you want to help me?” she asked, her scared gaze still focused on him, her feet keeping pace with him around the table. “God, Ty, normal guys would love the out I just gave you.”

“I have meaningless sex all the time, Kenzie. I don’t need an out because I always do what I want, but last night was different. It mattered to me, and I think it did to you too. I want to see what this is between us,” he tried to explain, forcing his voice to calm. Damn, it was hard to do. He really wanted to rage and demand she stop playing games with his heart.

“We said no commitments!”

Ty stopped moving when he watched her stomp her foot in frustration.

“Have I asked for one?” He waited for her to answer. When she didn’t, he continued, “You liked last night. I know you did. And it freaked you out and you took off. I think it’s not the sex that bothers you, but you haven’t ever felt what you did last night, and it scared you.”

“It didn’t scare me,” she said defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest. That eased some of his anger. Her beautiful, indignant pose guaranteed he’d hit the nail on the head with his assumption.

“Yeah, it did and it scared me too. I’m just not willing to throw it away because I don’t understand it,” he explained. All of the anger he’d experienced since finding out she’d left his house this morning began to fade as he stared at her. When he started to move toward her, she darted away again. “For God’s sake, stop moving, Kenzie. You’re running away from me all the damn time, and I just can’t figure out why.”

Surprisingly, she did stop, and he didn’t hesitate; he went straight for her. When he got within arm’s reach, he drew her closer. She extended a hand, placing it on his chest in a move designed to keep space between them, but he wasn’t going to let that happen. He pulled her forward and wrapped both arms around her, hugging her tight. He’d wanted this since he’d woken this morning. “I seriously hated waking up alone.”

Though her body remained stiff in his arms, she finally turned her head to rest her cheek on his chest. “I’m not good at all this. I did freak a little bit.”

“More like a lot,” he replied, running a hand down the length of her ponytail. He recognized this as a pivotal relationship moment, and it didn’t matter what she said, there was an unspoken commitment given last night. “Stop running from me. When you get nervous, come talk to me—no matter what I’m doing. Wake me up if you have to. We’ll figure it out. Got it?”

“Okay,” she said quietly into his jacket. They stood there silently for several long moments with him holding her tightly, but the fisted grip she held his jacket with spoke volumes.

Ty lifted his hand into her hair, tugging the ponytail holder free to let her hair hang loose. “You know, you’re gonna have to tell me what’s going on with you.”

“That’s what my mom said.” Kenzie sighed and finally looked up at him.

“Your mom’s a brilliant woman,” he teased, giving her a smile when he stepped back and fanned her hair out around her shoulders.

“She’d love to hear you say that,” she said and rolled her eyes before pulling away. He tracked her movements as she walked around the shop. She seemed lost in thought.

“This is your work space where you make the chairs?” he asked, trying to find some common ground that didn’t involve sex. When Kenzie stayed quiet, he leaned back against the worktable and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are we gonna be weird now?”

“It seems weird,” she said honestly. She stood across the room, staring openly at him. He figured that was a good sign.

“Then stop. It’s not strange to me at all. I stormed out of the house and drove about halfway here before I remembered the leftovers for lunch. Since I still have all the food at my house, I went back and got them for you. We could heat it up and share if you’re hungry,” he suggested, pushing away from the table and coming to stand about two feet from her, praying she took the bait. He didn’t want to fight. He wanted to spend time with her. God, she had his head all fucked up. Not ten minutes ago he was breathing fire; now he just didn’t want to leave her side.

“You brought me food?” she asked, her face changing into something softer.

“I did. I’m a pretty nice guy sometimes. You should get to know me,” he said and went for the door. When he passed by her, he took her hand, pulling her along with him. “Let’s go get it. It’s lunch time.”

“We didn’t use a condom,” she said, walking beside him.

“Any chance you’re on the pill?” he asked, cutting his gaze toward her. It wasn’t like him to go without one. Actually he never had, but he was in way over his head last night. Not an excuse for his actions, merely a statement of fact. It hadn’t occurred to him until the drive over this morning that they’d ignored protection all night long.

“I am for other reasons. I still wanna use a condom.”

“I’m tested regularly. It’s part of my contracts now,” Ty added, just to reassure her. Kenzie intertwined their fingers about halfway to the Jeep.

“I’m sorry I freaked out.”

“Me too. I was dreaming about some really great good-morning sex. It took me a while to realize you weren’t still in the bathroom. Totally ruined my good vibe,” Ty said, chuckling a little when he looked over to see her blushing.

She was absolutely precious and relief struck him hard. Thank goodness he’d been able to save this. He didn’t want to lose her.

“Ah, Kenzie. I’m in so much trouble with you.”

The man had absolutely lost his mind, and in return, completely won her parents over—like that had ever even been in question. For approximately the last three hours, they sat side by side on her parents’ old sofa watching television with them. Ty seemed genuinely happy, even adding to the plot-twist discussion of many of her parents’ favorite TV shows. He filled each commercial break with story after story about one of the actors they were watching or something funny that happened on the set. Ty charmed them so completely that her mom decided to pull out a family favorite—the frozen Ms. Smith’s apple pie—and served up hot pie and ice cream at the late hour of nine o’clock at night…on a weekday.

Shockingly, Ty fit so well inside their home it was hard to reconcile him to be the man who had just appeared on a commercial counting down the days to the series premiere of
Titan’s Fall
. When the advertisement started and Poseidon rose from the sea, Kenzie turned her head back and forth between the screen and Ty, trying to find the common ground between the actor and the man.

“Well, I should probably go,” Ty said when the commercial for the ten o’clock news came on. He pushed forward, placing his empty plate on the coffee table before getting to his feet.

“You don’t have to leave,” her mother said as her father pushed the footrest under his old recliner. Neither of her parents really moved to get up, but their focus turned to Ty as he extended a hand to Kenzie and brought her to her feet.

“I’ve been here all day. I’ve worn out my welcome,” he said, keeping Kenzie’s hand as he pulled her along with him past the coffee table and through the living room.

Surprisingly, that was partially true. Ty had spent all day and most of the evening with her and her family. He’d eaten both lunch and dinner there. Hung out inside the store until they did decide to close early. Then he got a full tutorial from her father on the step by step process used in making her chairs. They even packaged Braden’s chairs, getting them ready to ship off to the Bryants. Ty added a note that they were really a gift from him—he found that hilariously funny and laughed about that for hours.

“Kenzie, walk him out, dear,” her mom said when they got to the kitchen. That made her smile because her mom had done everything in her power, all day long, to give Kenzie and Ty some privacy.

“Good night, everyone. Thank you for letting me intrude on your day,” Ty called out from the back door.

“Come back again,” her pop replied from the living room.

“I’ll be taking you up on that offer.” This time Ty pushed open the back door, extending a hand to her. She took the porch steps down and started for his Jeep that was now parked in the driveway. It seemed the cold front might have been more of a fast moving cool off. The temperature hadn’t changed much since this morning’s dip, but since she hadn’t worn a jacket outside, she lifted her palms to rub over her arms as Ty jogged up behind her. He scooped her up around the waist, drawing her against his chest.

“If you’d come home with me, I could keep you warm,” he said, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck. They were still walking awkwardly forward, and she couldn’t help but laugh. After lunch, when things truly seemed back to normal with them, anytime Ty got her alone, he developed very skilled octopus hands. Nothing ever dissuaded him.

“I have to be here in the morning to unload the truck,” she said. Ty pulled her in closer, rolling his hips into her ass, his rigid length grinding into her.

“I need you, Kenzie. I could have you back first thing in the morning,” he said and shoved one hand under her shirt, moving his fingers beneath her bra to cup her bare breast. They’d come to a stop in the yard as the arm around her waist tightened and he buried his face in her hair.

She couldn’t help the sigh. Kenzie dropped her head on his shoulder and indulged for a moment in the sensations he provoked. She looked up at the overcast sky, thankful the cloud cover kept the moonlight away. “You’re gonna have me back at five o’clock? I’m not sure a pampered guy like you has seen five o’clock in the morning for a while.”

“I’ll have you know you’re absolutely right, but I’d get up for you,” he whispered against the shell of her ear before nipping the lobe with his teeth. His skilled hand kneaded her breast, drawing her nipple into a tight bud before moving to the other side. She could feel the instant pool of desire forming between her legs. God, she wanted him so bad.

“Are you wet for me?” he whispered quietly and breathily against her ear. He began to work his fingers inside her jeans. As much as she needed him to touch her, he’d have her stripped and naked on the lawn if she wasn’t careful. “Did you hear me? I’d get you home, I promise.”

Lost in a daze, Kenzie forced herself to look around. He’d managed to move them toward the shadows of the house, closer to the garage. He’d absolutely get her off right here just to prove to her that she wanted him. She had to stop.

“No, that’s silly,” she finally answered and tried to step away. In a sudden move, Ty threw her off balance, flipping her around. He was right there to catch her, wrapping both his arms around her, holding her against his chest.

“Come home with me.” Deep need laced his voice.

“Not tonight. I think I’m too easy for you,” she said, which directly contrasted with everything her body wanted her to do. She could see he’d planned to argue until seconds later he barked out a laugh right in her face.

“You’re anything but easy,” he said and shook his head, laughing again. “Okay, I won’t press for tonight if you’ll agree to go with me tomorrow night to that country and western club we found in Gatlinburg. We can spend the night in town and come back the next day. Say yes…” he said, lifting his eyebrows and nodding.

“Like dancing? I haven’t been dancing in years…” She winced.

“Good. That way you’ll hold on tighter to me when we move. Say yes,” he said again.

“What time would we have to leave?” she asked, really just trying to buy time. Dancing. Was that a good idea? She really wasn’t that coordinated of a person.

“Late afternoon, early evening? Whenever you can swing it.”

“What would I wear?”

“Clothes,” he offered, and that made her laugh. “Honestly, I’m guessing jeans. It’s all I really have to wear so I’m hoping that’s it. If not, we can stop and buy something more suitable.”

“Okay, but you really need to know I’m not a very good dancer.”

“That’s fine. It’s more about spending time with you, that’s all.”

“I’ll text you for sure after I talk to my mom.”

Clearly, Ty wasn’t very good at accepting no as an answer. He bent his knees and dipped his hands lower, caressing across her ass until he cupped both her cheeks then drew her in closer. “Say we’ll go even if we have to come home tomorrow night.”

“All right, I’ll go,” she said, laughing at the hopeful look he’d developed.

“Good. Now come to my Jeep with me. I don’t wanna feel you up out here,” he said teasingly.

“You’re terrible,” she said, using both her hands to push against his chest until she broke free of the hold. He didn’t let her get too far. Ty was a toucher. She’d never had that before in her life, but she liked being drawn close to his body as he wrapped an arm around her waist and walked toward the Jeep.

“No, not terrible. Just a man completely taken with a woman,” he said quietly several seconds later. That caused her heart to trip with excitement until she remembered where she’d heard that line before.

“Wait. Did you say that in a movie?” Kenzie came to an abrupt halt. “I think I watched you say those words the other night in
Over the Moon
.”

Ty laughed solidly now and used the arm behind her back to get her moving again. “I think I liked it better when you didn’t watch my movies.”

“Yeah, I bet. I think I need to watch all your movies to catch more of this in the future,” she said and purposefully slowed down in order to make him work at getting her inside that Jeep. It was the least she could do.