Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) (22 page)

“You think I care?” he asked incredulously. “You do. I can see it in your eyes. Let me set you completely straight. I don’t give a fuck about that, Kenzie. I would care if that gossip was hurting you, but for me, I couldn’t give a shit.” He went straight for her, dropping down on one knee as he took both her hands in his. “I can’t imagine the pain you’ve been through.”

Stunned silent, all she could do was stare. When he’d spoken of Jason, the vengeance in his voice combined with the care he’d used in handling her was almost too much to understand. Without question, she’d truly believed Ty would cast her aside. Heck, he absolutely should be creating distance, but he wasn’t.

The sting behind her eyes caught her off guard. Dang, she was going to cry. A tear formed, building enough strength to slip down her cheek as she stared into those extraordinarily kind eyes.

“Don’t cry,” Ty said, lifting a thumb to her cheek, caressing away the tear before he cupped her neck, drawing her forward for a tender press of his lips. “Come with me.”

Ty pushed back on his heels, rising in one fluid motion. He pulled her up with him and clasped her hand tightly as he dug his cellphone from his jeans pocket. “You remember Braden from the cookout?” He glanced at her, waiting for her nod before he continued. “Braden’s my attorney. His firm handles all of Reed’s legal concerns, too. Are you up to talking to him?”

“Why?” she asked. Ty began working his phone, moving toward the kitchen.

“Between Bray, Reed, and I, we’ve got connections. We have to know people that can help you with this situation,” he explained, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table, dropping her hand as he continued walking, pacing now around the kitchen table as he thumbed through his phone.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” she started, staying on her feet, trailing behind him.

“You didn’t.”

He’d answered her a few times like that and just continued doing whatever she didn’t want done. Kenzie drew in a deep breath, weighing her frustration. That might be the first annoying thing she’d ever thought about this man. When she formed her argument and started to speak, Ty cut her off and his focus shifted to his phone.

“Bray, man, you busy? Do you have a minute to Skype?” There was a pause with Ty staring out across the kitchen, into the backyard. “Cool, give me a minute. I gotta find my laptop and turn it on.” Ty lowered the phone, pointing to the chair for her. “Give me a second. You gotta talk to him. Sit down, babe.”

He was being somewhat cryptic, and she had no idea what he was thinking. Ty came back with a laptop and a cord. “I haven’t plugged this in since I’ve been here.”

He quickly placed it in front of the chair he’d pulled out, plugged it into the closest electrical outlet, and booted up the computer. Ty dragged another chair closer, and she finally took the seat. The glorious numb feelings of earlier began to fade, and a severe vulnerability slid into its place. “Do you have the information on your attorney?”

“Yes, I’m not sure I know the telephone numbers. You have my cell,” she said.

“He just needs the name.” Skype came up automatically, and Ty worked the keyboard until Braden’s face came on the screen.

“I see Grizzly Adams still lives strong and well. Hi, Kenzie, he still being good to you?” She smiled but must have looked worse than she realized because Braden leaned toward his screen, taking a closer look at her, and began to frown. “What’s going on?”

“I need your services. Kenzie’s gotten herself in some trouble, and I need you to work your magic, buddy,” Ty answered for her.

“No problem. I’ll do whatever I can. I can’t stand to see that look on your face, sweetheart.” Bray turned away from the screen, getting up from where he sat. She heard a door shut and he was back, a pad of paper and pen in his hand. “Start from the beginning and let me know what’s going on.”

She took a deep breath, looking over at Ty. He looked so serious.

“He’s safe, I promise.”

On that oath, she started the whole story over again.

The conversation with Bray took about forty-five minutes. His buddy was remarkable at adding enough compassion in his questions to keep Kenzie talking. For him, he just sat there quietly, staying totally pissed off. He’d figured she’d been abused and that was heartbreaking on its own, but he had no idea of the rest. In what world would anyone believe this woman would be involved in anything as dirty as her ex-husband’s lifestyle? McKenzie Stanton was goodness. She radiated a wholesome, positive energy with every breath. He couldn’t imagine what she’d gone through or how she had managed to maintain the decent kindness of her personality. Only then did he notice Kenzie sitting smaller than normal in the chair. Her skin was pale, her back slightly hunched with her hands locked together in her lap.

She was anxious and embarrassed. He’d been so caught up in his own anger that he’d missed the obvious signs. Ty reached over and put a hand on hers. With his other hand, he hooked a finger under her chin, turning her toward him. When her eyes came to him, the intense trepidation in her gaze took his breath. He immediately scooted closer while cupping a hand at the nape of her neck, drawing her to him.

“I can get involved in this, petition the court to take over the case, but I have an idea. Hang on. Let me talk to Prescott. Being here in Texas, he runs in these circles. Give me a minute.” Braden left the screen and his end went quiet. The silence added to the heavy tension already in the room.

“Kenzie, I’m sorry you had to go through all this,” Ty said, trying for compassion through his haze of pissed off irritation. His hand moved to her head, pulling it down to his shoulder.

“It’s hard talking about it. Harder than I realized.”

“I bet. It’s hard hearing. I can’t imagine living through that hell,” Ty said, rubbing the top of her arm with his palm.

“Can you take me home after Braden comes back?” her voice was small and incredibly insecure.

“If you want, but I don’t want you to leave. Stay here with me tonight. I want you here,” he said, angling his head for a better look at her face.

“Ty…” Kenzie started, lifting her head. “You can’t be hanging out with someone like me. It’ll complicate your life. Look at that magazine today; they’d go nuts.”

“Does that worry you more for you or for me?” he asked gently, hoping she didn’t take offense to that question. He already explained he didn’t give a shit, but she’d been through hell, and if anyone got a hold of this piece of information, he could see the possibility that the media could blow this up in their faces.

She looked completely confused.

“For you. Why for me?” she said, blinking at him.

“Because you’ll then be plastered all over those tabloids with me,” he explained. If it was possible, her face paled a little further.

“That would be terrible,” she said quietly, searching his face. “But my life’s ruined already. Who’s ever gonna hire me again? A social worker who couldn’t see what was going on in her own house.”

“I don’t know, Kenzie, but I know a lot of people that could help you get a job.”

“Ty, we’re having a few weeks’ affair. That doesn’t mean you’re supposed to take me on for life,” Kenzie explained reasonably. All Ty could do was stare back at her. She still didn’t get it. How in the world had she still not understood where he was coming from?

“I’m not gonna be done with you after a couple of weeks. Beautiful, I’m into you.”

“Did you not just hear what I said in there? You can’t be into me. What if I’m going to jail?” She shoved out of her chair, putting distance between them. Ty immediately followed, moving her chair out of the way before going after her.

“We can help in that, Kenzie. I can help you, but honestly, based on everything you said, you aren’t guilty of anything more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” The absolute panic was back on her face. As he came toward her, she moved around the center kitchen island.

Great, they were back to this again.

“This is very serious. You can’t make light of it. I don’t have anything. All my credit cards are maxed out because I didn’t have a job and they made me stay in Texas with nowhere to live. I cashed everything in to get out of jail, where I may be going back to if they ever get around to having a trial. Why would you want to deal with any of that? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Did you not hear what I just said?” he asked, getting a little frustrated when she moved in the opposite direction, away from him.

“You’re just not getting it. I can’t do this with you, Ty. I’m an emotional basket case. We’ve already gotten way too complicated for a silly little vacation affair,” she said, throwing her arms out in shear frustration.

“As much as I hate to break up this moment, I think you two need to have it with me not listening,” Braden shouted, drawing both their attention back to the computer on the table. In a voice reserved for the courtroom, Bray continued, “Kenzie, come back over here. Take a seat.”

She instantly abandoned the fight and left him standing there as she went to her seat. He moved much slower, not wanting to upset this tentative truce she’d just placed between them.

“I talked to Reed. I need to verify this information, make sure it’s on the up and up—not because we don’t believe you, Kenzie, I just need to make sure your ex continues to pay for what he’s done. In essence, I need to get my ducks in a row, but in saying that, Reed’s willing to call in a favor and he knows who he can call. Bateman, he says you owe him.”

“That’s fine,” Ty said, coming to stand behind Kenzie’s chair.

“I don’t have any money to pay you,” Kenzie started, and both he and Braden cut her right off.

“I’ll take care of the cost,” Ty said.

“It’s on the house,” Braden answered at the same time. “So let me get off here. I should know something by morning. You two can assume your previous position. If memory serves, I believe Kenzie was rounding to the right, and Ty you were directly across from her about to change course to the left in hopes of tricking her.”

“You just had to be a dick, didn’t you?” Ty reached out to the laptop lid.

“Expect anything less?” Bray called out as Ty shut the lid, closing the connection. In the same move, he caged Kenzie in, not letting her out of the seat as he spoke, his lips close to her ear.

“You’ve been through a lot today. Too much for one person, but please stop making light of what we have. And stop pushing me off as the same kind of man you married. I’m not him, Kenzie.”

“Ty…” she started to say, but he wrapped both arms around her, pulling her back against the chair.

“Shhh. I don’t want the one-night stand you think I do. I’m crazy about you. I’ve known it since the minute I pointed that knife at Cole when he saw you standing outside my front door. Please, open your heart to me. Stop shutting me out.” Kenzie turned as far as she could in the tight hold Ty had on her.

“I’m not sure what you want from me?” The tears in her eyes were his undoing. He moved, bending at the knee, pulling her into his arms. She didn’t fight him, instead wrapped both her arms around his neck, casting her gaze down as she placed her forehead on his.

“You aren’t ready to hear the answer to that, but I know if you’d stop guarding your heart so closely, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. We’re too in sync. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” Her eyes closed, but she didn’t move away.

“I haven’t either. I think it’s what scares me the most. When you leave, I’m all alone again,” she whispered with hurt in her voice.

“Then come with me. Nothing’s keeping you here,” he said, moving his head so she could better see the sincerity in his eyes.

“The courts are keeping me here. I’m not allowed to leave the area. They said they’ll make random stops to check on me.” The deep sadness in those blue orbs had him lifting her chin until she looked him in the eyes.

“Kenzie, you did nothing wrong. Braden’s the best of the best, and if Reed can’t get you out of this… Well, I can’t imagine that’s even possible. If they can’t handle this, I’ve got a plan B we’ll start next.”

“You give me hope, Ty. That scares me, too.”

“I get that, so let’s stop talking about it until we hear from Braden again.” On a need to find a happier place for Kenzie, Ty rose and looked around the kitchen for anything to help change the subject. “Are you hungry?”

“Not at all. I’m tired, though. All this on the morning after you got me drunk…” she said, her face tilting up to him, a tentative smile hitting her full lips for the first time in hours. “I should probably go to bed.”

“You got yourself drunk,” Ty said, rolling his eyes, tapping a finger lightly on her nose. “Wait, this morning it was the swine flu…”

“I do have the swine flu. You should be ashamed for putting me through all this with such a debilitating disease,” she scolded sweetly. She was cute and funny, but did look exhausted.

“Stay here and rest,” Ty suggested, and of course she was going to start to argue, but he placed two fingers on her lips, stopping her words. “Seriously, I’d rather you be with me. And if Bray needs information, it’s easier for you to be here to answer his questions.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He pulled her up off the chair, linking their hands together. It amazed him how such a simple act as holding her hand centered him. His grip tightened while walking her toward the bedroom, not giving her a chance to reject his offer. Within a couple of minutes, he had her reasonably undressed and in his bed.

“Thank you for taking this all so well,” she said, looking up at him. He ran an index finger down the side of her jaw, caressing the soft skin until he reached her lips. The amount of emotional overload since he walked inside this house was settling on him, too.

“Sleep, Kenzie.” Ty began kicking off his shoes and pulled his T-shirt over his head. He reached for the blanket, crawling in beside her for no other reason than he didn’t want to leave her. Already fast asleep, Kenzie slept like a rock.

~~~

Ty walked down the hall to his bedroom like he’d done at least twenty times throughout the evening to check on Kenzie. Each time, he went as far as the door, listening to her deep even breaths. She’d been asleep for the last six hours with no sign of waking anytime soon.

The phone in his back pocket vibrated the moment he pushed open the door to get a visual. Since she’d confessed that horrible story of her life, Ty had gotten all caveman and that only got worse with each minute that ticked by. Instead of looking in on her, he quickly dug his phone out of his back pocket and moved stealthily back down the hall toward the kitchen. He accepted the call with a swipe of the finger to get the damn thing to stop making noise, but didn’t speak until he made it to the back porch.

“Hey,” Ty finally said, shutting the door behind him.

“What took so long?” Braden asked.

“She’s sleeping. I didn’t wanna wake her. What did you find out?” he asked, stepping to the edge of the deck, close to the ledge.

“I needed time to check out her story.”

“I trust her, Bray,” Ty said defensively. He’d never asked the guy to investigate anything. Why had he wasted that time?

“You should. Listen, Prescott’s fully involved. He’s making some phone calls now. He’s got several connections in this case. I see the easiest way to end this would be with the prosecution. Reed seems to think it’s not a problem. I’ll give him some time. Her public defender’s a douche. I can take over the case, no problem, but Reed’s working on getting it dismissed, so it might not be necessary.”

The tension that had coiled in his gut since this afternoon began to ease. “Thank you.”

“He also wanted me to tell you that he told you so,” Bray tossed out.

“I’ve always hated when he’s right. I’ll have to hear about this one until he dies,” Ty said, shoving a hand inside his front jean pocket. The wind had picked up, coming in from the North, adding a bite to the already brisk temperatures.

“Yep. Pretty much. Okay, I’m out. You took my whole evening. Overtime’s gonna be double,” Bray teased.

“Make it triple time. You deserve it. And a tip. What’s twenty-five percent of zero?” Ty shot back, grinning now. His buddies always made life a little better. “Hell, I’m feeling generous. Make it a fifty percent tip.”

“Hey, listen, on to more important things. Don’t let her forget to ship those chairs. I’m missing Christmas with the parents this year. They don’t know that yet, and they’re all jazzed about Lara’s pregnancy. I need to represent. It’s the last chance I got at beating Prescott.”

“Where’re you going?” Ty asked, knowing that whole family dynamic better than anyone. They all competed against each other at helping to make Linda’s life better without actually driving home to spend time with her.

“Sri Lanka. Berlin models. They’re half-brothers. How could I miss that?” he asked as if there were no other option.

“Oh, that’s real holiday-oriented,” Ty said, staring out into the night.

“Depends on your perspective, man.”

“She’s got the chairs boxed up. We did that the other day. Shipping’s scheduled. Call me when you know something. I gotta go.” Ty disconnected that call and checked the time. Who knew how Kenzie would feel about this, but it was already past nine, and he knew her parents expected her home tonight. He pulled up his contacts, found her mom and dad’s home phone number, and pushed send. Her mom answered on the first ring.