Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) (7 page)

“That’s because you were so focused on me you couldn’t quite wrap your head around him. It’s understandable. Anybody want another beer?” Cole said, getting up, taking the long way around to the kitchen in order not to get too close to Ty.

“Steaks are almost done,” Connor called out from the grill.

“We’re eating out here. Is that good for you?” Ty asked, rising. He should have brought out all the plates and utensils while he was waiting on her to finish in the bathroom.

“Sure. But I’m probably not gonna eat. I’m a vegetarian.” And again, like every few minutes with his guys, all eyes turned toward her.

“We’ve got a pot of beans. No meat products in there, right, Connor?” Ty asked.

“Not even a hint,” Connor confirmed.

“Okay, I’ll be back. I’ve gotta get the plates and things and I’ll grab the beans,” Ty said. Kenzie started to say something, but Reed stood, cutting her off.

“I’ll help.” Reed tried to be a normal guy, but more times than not, it didn’t work for him. He just didn’t do things like help in the kitchen, not if there was any possible way out. With so many moments of stunned silence, he could tell this was turning into one of those nights they would all laugh about years from now. Ty winked at Kenzie and followed Prescott inside, passing Cole on his way back out.

The layout of the kitchen took some time to get used to every time he came. Opening and shutting cabinet doors, Ty searched for the collection of disposable plates and utensils he remembered seeing. He found the oven mitts needed for the cast-iron pot of beans still warming on the stove and tossed those toward Reed. In the last cabinet, he found the rest of what he was looking for and then reached for a roll of paper towels.

“This all I need to grab?” Reed asked, sliding each mitt on. He shoved the spoon on the stove inside the dish. Ty stuck the paper towels under one arm, and placed a box of disposable silverware on top of the paper plates. Thoughts of Kenzie kept him completely preoccupied, and he glanced out the window every few seconds to keep an eye on her. “What are you doing out there?”

“What’d you mean?” Ty asked, trying to split his thoughts between the task at hand and the beauty that seemed to steal all his reasonable thought.

“With her. What are you doing? You have a girlfriend,” Reed said. He actually set the pot back on the stove and stood there glaring at him.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Ty shot back defensively. Those incredibly confusing words coming from “use ’em and lose ’em” Reed Prescott effectively pulled all his attention to the guy standing in his kitchen staring him down. Oh yeah, he could definitely read judgement in that gaze.

“You know, this isn’t my business at all, and at first out there on the porch, I thought it was cool to see you all into her, but she’s not from your world, Bateman,” Reed countered in that same hard tone.

“Your woman wasn’t from yours either,” Ty added and dumped the items in his arms back on the counter. The guy in front of him looked very much like Reed, but seriously, there was no way his lifelong best friend would stand there and school him on the boundaries of dating.

“I didn’t date world-renowned beauties with a new one on my arm every few months. My love life came from cheap one-night stands.” There was a pause in Reed’s words that had Ty cutting his gaze back out the window.

He watched Kenzie talking to Braden. From this angle, she looked more relaxed now. Maybe some of the tension she’d held on to was slipping away.

“What are you gonna do with her?

“I’m just interested. I don’t have a long-term plan. I just met her. Why the hell do you even care?” Ty shot out, still watching her.

“She’s hiding something,” Reed said cautiously.

“What makes you say that?” Ty whipped his head toward his friend, brows snapping together. He got that she was nervous, but most women who were not in the business were anxious around him. It was his job to ease that fear, show he was just a normal guy.

“Look at her body language. Did you hear how she answered questions about herself? Everything she said was vague, and the first chance she got, she turned the topic off herself,” Reed said, coming closer to him and now they both looked out the window at Kenzie. He remembered the battered women’s donation and the pain crossing her face at the mention. He’d thought she might be holding herself together, but Prescott could be right. She may be hiding something.

“Huh…” he finally muttered.

“Did you think she was just overwhelmed with you?” Reed asked from right beside him, his tone a little condescending.

“No, of course not,” Ty started, before stopping mid-sentence. This was Reed, and out of all the guys, he was closer to him. They shared the commonality of both being a little fucked up from the circles they ran in. “Okay, well, I kind of did. But what you said reminded me about the money from the chairs being a donation.”

“A donation to what?”

“Abused women.”

“Well, there you go. Not rocket science there, buddy.” His words dripped with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes dramatically. “All I’m saying is you need to be careful. Once I started digging, there was a lot to find. For me, it was too late to do anything more than jump in and help.”

“What? Are you saying you bit off more that you wanna chew?” Ty asked defensively.

“Absolutely not. I love her. I wouldn’t change anything, but you aren’t as fucked up as me. I’ve got my own baggage to bring to the table. She has to accept a lot of bullshit to be with me. You’ve got some solids that I don’t have.” Reed looked at him expectantly, as though waiting for him to digest what had just been said. When Ty gave no acknowledgement that he might understand what the hell Reed meant, he finally continued, “My point is, when it’s bad, I can see how bulldozing your way in, then washing your hands of it, could make it worse. Look, keep the facts in mind. She’s a beautiful, smart woman living alone with her parents in the mountains with a public servant degree that she’s not using. Something’s not right.”

“I just met the woman, Prescott. I’m not trying to marry her. I just want to spend some time with her,” Ty said, defensively. He wasn’t trying to put a ring on her, and besides, so now that Prescott had a woman, all of a sudden he was an expert?

“Yep, you’re right. So ignore me.” Reed slapped him on the shoulder and went back to the beans. “For me, one look was all it took. I fought it…for about a minute, now look where I am.”

“You seem happy,” Ty said, picking his things back up and trailing behind Reed as he headed toward the back door.

“More than your wildest dreams, but like I said, I don’t travel the world with beautiful, willing women on my arm every day. Lara would never stop me from doing that, but it would make her insecure as hell.”

At the door, Ty managed everything in one hand and went around Reed, turning the door knob, but stopped before pushing the door open, trying to understand because Reed wasn’t letting this go. So because of his career, he couldn’t have a date or two with a normal, everyday kind of woman? He was stuck with women who were more ambitious than even he was when he first started in this business?

“You want me to back out and let Cole have a shot?” Ty whispered urgently, and his brow furrowed at the anger that came with his words. No way. Prescott could jump in a lake before he let that happen. Reed busted out laughing.

“You’re hardheaded. No wonder we get along so well,” he said between fits of laughter, and that irritated Ty beyond anything else. Ty pushed open the door and walked out, not caring anymore if Reed could handle the door and the huge pot of beans in his hands. Let him figure it out.

After watching her eat a very small plate of beans and finishing off a bottle of water, Ty decided he’d have to get some healthy food selections in the house if he ever hoped to have her back. And, boy, did he hope she’d be back, but maybe not until the guys left because this territorial thing growing at an enormous rate inside him made zero sense.

Kenzie relaxed some, probably more to Bray’s credit than anything else. In the process, she’d manage to sell two of her handmade chairs to him. She was actually quite the saleswoman. In the exchange, Bray used his cell phone internet connection and worked out the details of shipping, had boxes and packing supplies sent to her as well as scheduled shipping pickup, all on his dime. Bray had an ulterior motive, stating he’d be the clear favorite at Christmas this year for picking such a unique gift. He’d happily upped the bar for both his brother and sister.

Only after all the wheels were in motion and two hundred dollars cash was given to Kenzie for the chairs did Reed remind Bray that he’d always be the true winner by giving them their first grandchild, and that honor seemed to make Reed ridiculously happy.

The dynamic of the guys’ easygoing comradery appeared to soothe Kenzie, probably because they were a comfortable group to be around. Ty sat close by, but stayed out of the conversations. He liked the relaxed Kenzie, and she seemed to tense when he spoke. Having no idea if that were a good or bad thing, he also decided that piece of the puzzle would best be discovered later. He genuinely liked her being there.

“I should probably go,” she said quietly, turning toward him.

“Let me grab my keys,” he said, rising from the patio chair. She followed, and like they’d all been taught from a very young age, his buddies rose when she did. Those Southern manners were alive and well in this crew.

“It was nice meeting you all.” She started her goodbyes, and he left, going to his bedroom for his keys, wallet, and cell phone. Under normal circumstances, he lived by that phone, but out here in the wilderness, he’d only brought it along for the GPS. He’d have to spend more time here to learn all the twist and turns of the mountains roads.

When he left the room, he started for the back porch, but caught a glimpse of her standing all alone by the front door. “I thought I’d wait in here. It was getting cold out there,” she said as he pivoted around and came toward her.

“You should’ve said something. We could’ve eaten in here.”

“This was the first night with your friends. I shouldn’t’ve even stayed. I certainly shouldn’t have made you all come inside. I know more than anyone how much guys love their wide open spaces,” she said.

“We see each other throughout the year. We could’ve come inside, no problem,” he said, opening the front door for her. Kenzie stepped out and took the porch steps down, but paused at the bottom step, clearly not sure which vehicle to go to. He followed behind her, stopping abruptly when she did, enabling him to place a hand on her back, guiding her straight ahead to the circle drive.

“I could call my mom,” she offered, hesitating again, looking back over her shoulder with concerned eyes. With her upturned face and the soft light from the moon, all he could do was stare. She was truly a naturally beautiful woman, but also seemed genuinely considerate. The combination was a heady mix, and he could feel the solid tug at his heartstrings. She was reeling him in and seemed to have zero clue of the power she held.

“Nah, it’s too late for them to be out, and I wanna drive you home. I never get to do these little things.” Ty moved around her to open the passenger door. When she finally walked forward and went to pull herself up into the seat, he reached out, took her arm and hip to help her inside. Absolutely, he didn’t need to do that. She was strong and athletic, but since he had wanted to touch her all night long, now that he had the opportunity, he took it before tucking her inside and shutting the door. Once in the driver’s seat, he pushed the key inside the ignition and asked, “I think I saw you going into the house behind the store. Is that where you live?”

“You’re observant,” she responded, and he started the vehicle. Their current close proximity had him realizing what might be off between them tonight. She wasn’t looking him in the eyes. Instead, her gaze landed somewhere between his nose and his chin. He dipped his head until their gazes connected, and those beautiful blue eyes startled. He smiled brighter at the telltale sign. She was into him, just like he was into her.

“There you are. Your eyes are amazing and that blush is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Ty said, holding her gaze until she finally rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat.

“You’re too charming. You say that’s Cole, but I think it’s probably you,” she said, buckling her seat belt.

He laughed a little, glad she was still relaxed. Her hands were in her lap, her long legs together, but bent to the side, angling her more toward his side of the truck. He wanted to believe she’d done that on purpose, but he suspected it was more an oversight than a body-language clue of potential attraction.

“I’m glad you think I’m charming,” he finally said, waggling his brows as he put the Jeep in first gear.

“No wonder you were voted the Sexiest Man Alive. You have a way of making a girl feel special. Where do you live?” she asked, not even understanding a small fraction of the magnitude of reassurance her words held for him. He’d been so uncertain tonight whether to pursue her. In this small exchange, she seemed to be giving him a giant green light.

“I live in New York City right now. Moving to Hollywood with a relocation of the show when I get back. Actually, they’re in the process of moving me now. Do you live around here?”

“I was born and raised here. I left for a time, but came back about a month ago. But you travel a lot with movies, right? You don’t stick around one place for too long,” she asked.

“I travel quite a bit. I think I’ve worked more than my fair share over the last few years,” he admitted. He took the first corner and slowed the vehicle down. The twists and turns along with the tunnel of large trees created an intense darkness that made the road tricky to navigate.

“I was trying hard to remember what I read about you.” Her voice sounded a little guilty. “I don’t watch a lot of television, but I thought I read you were about to be married or something like that…”

He barked out a loud laugh at that. “No, not at all, and the first rule is to never believe anything those tabloids say.”

“What? You mean the astronaut didn’t really bring home the alien baby from Mars?” she looked his way, shocked. He moved his eyes back and forth between her and the road. Her pretty face was lit up with a giant grin.

“So you have jokes. I should have known that quiet thing you were doing was all pretend,” he said, shifting gears when they got on a straight patch of pavement. “Do you have a boyfriend I’m gonna have to battle in order to spend more time with you?” he asked in that same teasing tone.

Apparently that was the wrong question to ask. Her demeanor instantly changed. She lost that bright smile and some undefinable emotion crossed her face. Well, hell, it must be bad like Prescott thought. Maybe he should have asked that question hours ago. “Don’t tell me you have a husband? You aren’t wearing a wedding ring.”

Her left hand clenched closed in her lap. “No. No boyfriend, no husband. I’m divorced.” There was pain in her words.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I was young and too naïve. I was an easy target.” Okay, well, the pain wasn’t from a sense of loss of a relationship. That seemed good… Right?

“Wanna explain that one?” he asked.

“Not really. What about you? I don’t remember that you’re married. So no girlfriend or fiancée?” she asked, clearly changing to subject.

“Nope. Not at all. Single and ready to mingle,” he teased.

“Oh lord!” She laughed, a light chuckle that seemed to touch straight through to his heart. Her attitude changed again, and he watched her do a dramatic eye roll.

“What? That didn’t wow you over to my side?” he asked, laughing along with her.

“I’ve never been a pickup line kind of girl. They make me laugh.”

“So, let me see… You’re saying this isn’t gonna work for me? Are you from Tennessee, because you’re the only ten I see?” Ty asked in his best Southern accent.

“Oh God, stop! No more please,” she said, laughing solidly now. Unfortunately, even driving slower than normal, they got to the grocery store way too fast. He reluctantly pulled inside the parking lot. The only light was attached to the front door of the store; the rest was too dark to see if there might be a driveway to the back of the house.

“You never really answered. You live here or do we go somewhere else?”

“No, here’s fine. I can walk around. I had fun tonight,” she said, quickly unbuckling the seat belt then reaching for the door handle and pushing it open before climbing out. “I’m sorry we interrupted your night…”

Ty put the Jeep in gear, killed the engine, and then opened his door.

She glanced back at him through the car. “What are you doing?”

He stepped out of the Jeep, turned, and stuck his head back inside. The overhead light framed her pretty face. “I’m trying to impress you with my gentlemanly manners. I’m walking you to the door.”

The blonde hair went flying as she shook her head no. “You don’t have to do that. It’s too dark. I walk around all the time. I know where to step.”

She didn’t make anything easy for him. On that thought, Ty shut the door on her arguments, walked to the hood of the vehicle, and stopped, standing there waiting. She sighed and finally shut her door. “You don’t have to do this. I’m really okay.”

“I heard there are bears up here,” he said, which was technically true, but had no bearing on his decision at all.

“They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.” Which was exactly his thought, but no way would he validate that statement and deny his own argument.

“Yeah, I’m not so sure of that. Which way?” Still several feet away, she pointed around the building, the way he’d gone earlier today. She walked ahead of him and he followed. The air was crisp, but he wasn’t cold at all, and as they walked, his eyes adjusted so that he could see the gentle sway of her hips with each step she made. That was another interesting thing about her. She had a natural grace that the women in his life paid thousands of dollars to learn how to achieve.

“It’s dark. Be careful. The concrete’s a little broken up right here,” she said, and he continued to follow until he saw the house with the porch light on, meaning he’d stalled long enough. Deciding she was probably a dinner-date kind of woman, he almost laughed to himself as he asked the words he hadn’t uttered since his last few dates in high school.

“How about having dinner with me?” Had he even asked that question in the proper way? Should he have eased into it more? The women who ran in his circles were usually drunk or stoned anorexic actresses who never seemed to eat and were a sure bet. Saying things like “hey, wanna read lines” really meant let’s get drunk and fuck.

She stumbled, and he quickly moved forward to try to prevent the fall. She caught herself seconds before he reached her, but in a strong what-the-hell moment, Ty followed through, catching her even though she technically didn’t need his help anymore. He tucked an arm around her waist and drew her up against his chest. She was a solid thing, had to weigh more than she looked. As her gaze hit his, he stared down. A myriad of expressions crossed her lovely face until one of surprise finally stuck and she pushed away quickly. He watched as she took two or three steps backward.

“You all right?” he asked, his voice low and husky even to himself.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about that. I’m gonna go inside,” she said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder, stumbling again before turning toward the house. Since they were still a little distance away from the back door of the house, he followed.

“That wasn’t really a no, but definitely not a yes. Why don’t you give me your number, and I could call you. We could talk about it,” Ty suggested, dropping his hands inside his walking shorts pockets, adjusting the full-fledged hard-on he’d developed after holding her in his arms and then fished his cell phone out.

“I don’t have a cell phone,” she confessed quietly and rather sweetly. She was on the back porch steps now, with her hand reaching up to the door.

“Really? Seriously?” Ty asked in awe.

“Well, no. Technically, I have one, but I keep it turned off,” she admitted as she opened the back door.

“Then turn it on and tell me the number,” he suggested. He palmed his phone and opened the contacts. “I’m gonna be honest. Not a lot of people have this number. I hope you keep it to yourself.”

“Why do you want to have dinner with me?” she asked with the screen door partially open between them, with him still at the bottom of the steps. It seemed like a barrier placed between them, maybe done on purpose.

“Isn’t that common practice for a first date?” he answered teasingly.

“A first date?” she asked a little too loudly. A look of horror wrinkled her pretty brow. “Why do you wanna date me? I’m not into one-night stands and completely not interested in having any kind of relationship right now. And even if I was into either of those things, you date the most beautiful women on this planet. Why in the world would you wanna date me?”