by Cathryn Fox
“I was in grade seven.”
“Of course you were.”
“I tugged her ponytail and she threw her backpack at me. We both landed in detention. She was so pissed. Man, that girl hated me.”
“What did you do to change that?” She blinks up at me, like she senses a fun story coming on.
“See,” I say, wanting to entertain her. “I knew she had the hots for Jayden Barkhouse.”
“Okay…”
“I told her, if she had a boyfriend like me, a guy a good girl like her probably shouldn’t be seen with, that would make Jayden take notice of her.”
“Did it?”
“Yup.”
“So, circle back for me. How did you end up with her if you were just pretending to be her boyfriend?”
“Pretending was the best part, Haven. We got to kiss and touch in public, and in detention, we did a whole lot more than that. She started getting into trouble more and more, so we could hang out together in detention.” I wink at her. “Fun times.”
“Oh my God, Tyler. You are so bad.”
“Hey, I had a service to offer.”
She laughs, hard. “Yeah, you’re a real entrepreneur.”
“Lucky for you, right? I started understanding this pretend relationship thing at a very early age.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “Yeah, lucky for me is right, and what a hardship for you, huh?”
“Not a hardship at all,” I say and kiss her hand.
“What ever happened to Carly?”
“She married Jayden.” I can’t help but laugh when I blow on my knuckles and say, “I’d like to believe it had something to do with all the things I taught her.”
“You should hire yourself out.”
“Hey, I’m not a gigolo. My actions were purely altruistic. I like helping others, for no other reason than the fulfilment it gives me.”
“Yeah, you do and while you might not have been a great student, you’re one hell of a teacher.”
“You mean in bed, right?” I tease.
She laughs. “Ah, I realize you wanted to take me fishing, I didn’t know it was for compliments,” she teases and takes my face into her hands. “But yes, Tyler. You’re a great teacher and not just in bed. Those kids in your class adore you.”
For no reason, other than the need for the connection, I lean into her and plant a soft kiss onto her mouth. Our lips linger, and warmth and intimacy arc between us, a strange new shift in the air. My heart beats that much faster, and my blood pumps a little quicker as a peculiar need tugs at something deep inside me.
“All right, let’s get fishing, but there’s one more thing I have to show you.” I point. “Look over at that cluster of stars.”
She follows my gaze. “I see it.”
“Any idea what it is?”
“Nope,” she says.
“That’s called Solomon’s Pentagram,” I tell her. As she follows the cluster of stars with her finger, I add, “That protects you from danger.”
She puts her hand on my stomach. “I thought you were the one who was going to protect me from danger.”
“You’re right,” I say with a laugh, and we both look up again in time to see a shooting star.
“Oh my God, Tyler, did you just see that?”
“A shooting star. Quick, make a wish,” I say and slam my eyes shut. Haven goes quiet beside me and I can’t help but wonder what it is she’s wishing for. Me? Well, I know what I want. I’m ready to settle down with a family of my own. The wish I made was that it was with the one person who was made for me. My heart misses a beat when I inch one eye open and see that Haven’s lids are still pinched shut. They finally open and a wide smile lights up her face.
“You should always wish on a shooting star,” I tell her. “Gram always told us that since we were little.”
“Did your wishes ever come true?” she asks.
“I did get that bicycle I wanted when I was seven.” We both laugh at that, and I run a soft strand of her hair around my finger.
She exhales a contented sigh. “Are we supposed to keep our wishes a secret?”
“Yeah, we are,” I say, even though I’d like to know what’s going through that beautiful head of hers. I could probably guess. Haven wants to discover who she really is, but she doesn’t need a shooting star for that. No, I’m the man she needs for that because she might be a famous movie star, but things aren’t all sunshine and roses for her. It can’t be easy walking through life not knowing who you are or what you really want.
“When I was little, I used to see quite a few shooting stars out here on the lake,” I tell her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before.” She blinks dark lashes over blue eyes that glisten in the moonlight. “Do they have a special meaning?”
I nod. “It’s an omen that you’re on a good path.”
She goes quiet for a moment, her lips quirked at the corner. “I like that, Ty.”
“Do you think you’re on a good path?” I ask her.
Her head drops, and she toys with the line on the fishing rod. “I hope so.”
“Do you want to just stay like this or try fishing?”
She sits up. “Fishing, of course. I can’t wait to reel in a big one.”
“Didn’t you already do that?” I ask with a wink.
“My God, that ego of yours!” She laughs. “I’m so glad you can back it up.”
Laughing, I remove our blanket and grab our gear. I open the toolbox and pull out some spinning bait.
“They don’t look like flies.”
“That’s because tonight we’re just going to cast. We’re not fly fishing.” Her mouth twists, and as I get our rods ready, I take a minute to explain the differences and the different techniques. “So you see, there’s quite a bit of skill involved in fly fishing, and we can’t really do it from this boat. Another time though, if you’re really interested in learning.”
“I’m interested in trying everything at least once.”
“Okay,” I say, and flick my rod to release the line. “Did you see how that was done?”
She nods eagerly, and releases her line. “Perfect, fast learner.” She beams at the compliment, and we both go quiet for a very long time, lost in our thoughts as a comfortable quiet surrounds us.
We listen to the sounds of nature as the sun’s long rays glisten on the lake. She shuffles beside me, breaking the quiet. “Tyler?”
“Yeah.”
“Tonight was perfect. The best night ever.”
Everything I feel for this woman comes crashing over me and I take an unsteady breath. “It’s about to get better?”
“Yeah, why?”
I gesture with a nod to the tight line on her rod. “You just caught a fish.”
14
Tyler
I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen Haven so relaxed as she helps herself to a big scoop of potatoes, and tries to listen in to all the conversations going on around the table. This is the second Sunday night dinner she’s had at our place, and she’s growing more and more comfortable with my family. She says something to Kylee, and gives baby Jesse a smile as he sits on Kylee lap as she feeds him purred carrots. He spits it out, and Haven just laughs as it lands on her blouse.
She wipes it away like it’s nothing and I’m glad that she’s not upset by it. For the last few days, we’ve been both working on the set, and at night back at the cabin, we’ve been going on the boat, which she loves, and falling into bed together every night. Tonight, however, I have something different planned for us.
Oh yeah, since things don’t get started until later in the day for her, tonight we’re doing something fun, something she missed out on during her childhood and I can’t wait to surprise her. Later this week, I have other things planned. We’re still discovering all her likes and dislikes, inside and outside of the bedroom, and I’m having fun watching her blossom. It’s a goddamn tragedy that she has no idea who she really is inside. All I know is I l
ike this girl when she’s with me. I like how she trusts me, puts herself in my hands, understanding I don’t want anything from her, and this is not about tit for tat.
The best part in all this is that Haven has not received one single threat since she’s been here with me for this couple of weeks, and I haven’t noticed any strangers lurking about, or following her around.
“How are you feeling, Summer?” Haven asks my sister-in-law as she pushes away from the table and puts her hand on her stomach.
“Indigestion,” she says, and Sean jumps up and grabs the diaper bag. He roots around inside and pulls out some meds for Summer. “Thank you,” she says.
“When you have kids,” Kylee says to Haven. “Let’s hope you don’t get it as bad as Summer does.”
“The Owens boys give everyone indigestion,” Summer says with a smirk as she chews on some tablets.
“Hey, I resemble that comment,” Jared says and takes a big bite of roast beef. Haven laughs, and under the table she puts her hand on my lap, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Oh, Tyler, when your mom was pregnant with you, she suffered dearly,” Gram says.
“Yeah?” I say. “I didn’t know that.”
“That’s the middle child for you,” Carter says with a smirk. “Causing trouble just to get attention, even before birth.”
I glare at my cousin as he sits there with a smirk on his face. “Um, weren’t you the middle child too, Carter?” I ask.
He throws his hands out. “Right, so what I mean is it takes one to know one.”
I just shake my head, and put my hand over Haven’s to give it a little squeeze. “Dude, you’re the one with issues,” I say, and while I’m right, I can’t deny that we have all been facing our own demons since coming home, some sooner, some later, but with Dad’s presence all around us, it’s hard to bury the past. On the road and in the cage, it was a hell of a lot easier.
As Carter mumbles something under his breath, an insult to me no doubt, Gram passes around a basket full of rolls fresh out of the oven.
“So delicious,” Haven says. “Jace, if you gave cooking lessons, I’d take them,” she says and a ridiculous bolt of jealousy that I really wish I didn’t feel zaps through me.
Jace smiles at the compliment. “I’ve actually been thinking about opening my own restaurant. Blue Bay could use some fine dining. Been looking at space downtown, actually. The old fire station would be a perfect location for me, but I haven’t approached town council about it. I’m not about to take it out from underneath Tyler.”
Shit, I didn’t know that. “I’m hoping to find a new place, a space better suited for a gym,” I say, a sudden, new sense of urgency about me. With Jace wanting it, I need to find something sooner rather than later. I don’t exactly need to be downtown, but I don’t want to be too far out either. Some of the kids walk, bike and skateboard to the gym. A few months back, an old fish processing plant was torn down. The land went up for sale, and before I could even think about putting in an offer—I would have had to take a substantial loan, something I’ve been trying to avoid—someone snagged it. I’m not sure what’s going up there. I think the owner is renovating himself, considering we’re the biggest construction business in town and weren’t approached.
Gram beams at him. “Jace, I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She turns to Haven. “Did you know Jace has his own cookbook?” She jumps up and disappears into the other room as I consider the new space I want, and how much it would cost to properly fit it for a competitive club. The guys would help put it up, and costs wouldn’t be that high. It’s the land and the equipment holding me back.
“This is the second Sunday dinner you’ve cooked for me and I didn’t even know that,” Haven says, and stares wide-eyed at my cousin. Her gaze jerks to me and pulls my thoughts back. “Why didn’t you tell me that, Tyler?”
“Look at that.” I shake my head and laugh. “We were just talking about Carter and me being the middle child, and somehow conversation shifted to Jace’s accomplishments.” I feign insult and cross my arms over my chest. “Talk about being ignored.”
“Right, buddy,” Carter says with a grin. “Summer, you’d better stop at two. We don’t need any more middle children.”
“Oh, poor Ty,” Haven says. “Doesn’t get enough attention.” As everyone laughs, she gives me a wink that lets me know she’ll be making up for that later. We continue to talk, and eat, and joke around the table, and I don’t miss the way Carter keeps glancing at me, like he has something on his mind.
After our meal, Jace presents us all with apple crisp, and Haven is definitely going to pay for all the moans of pleasure she keeps making. She turns her attention to Jamie, and asks about his tattoo business. She listens intently as he tells her all about it, and she asks about his tattoos and the meanings. I love how she’s interested in my family, and how they have all brought her into our circle, treating her like she’s one of us. I did tell her that my family was hers for while she was here, but it’s clear how much she loves this, craves this kind of normalcy.
Once the dessert has been devoured, Haven helps Summer with Devon, and I find Carter. We both step outside and crickets chirp around us and we sit on the front porch.
“Something on your mind?” I ask.
“Yeah, actually,” he says and scrubs his chin. “You asked me to keep my eyes open for anything or anyone strange, and there was this guy I didn’t recognize him from the cast. He looked like he was in his late teens, baggy jeans, black ball cap. Anyway, he was scoping out Haven’s trailer.”
My stomach squeezes. “You got a good look at him?”
“Pretty good. I don’t think he’s a local. I went to approach him, but when he saw me coming, he took off.”
“On foot?”
“Yeah, through the trees, and down to the ocean. He was fucking fast, and it was obvious I frightened him, which tells me he was up to no good. I was about to chase him, but Mason flagged me down. Needed some design changes made.” He puts his hand on my tense shoulder. “Sorry I let you down, cuz.”
I look at the long driveway. I still have an hour or so before I have to bring Haven to the cabin for her surprise, and dammit, I want to talk to this kid. It could be nothing more than some punk wanting a glimpse at the gorgeous movie star, or it could be more. “Want to hit Winchester’s, ask around?”
“Is this something you should talk to Officer Walker about?”
I glance over my shoulder to make sure we’re alone. “If I have to, I will.” I know I promised Haven I wouldn’t go to the cops, but if this guy was trespassing, Walker should know about it. Christ, Summer almost ended up dead from her secrets. I’m not going to let anything like that happen to Haven.
“Let’s ride our bikes. Scare the little motherfucker straight if we find him.”
Carter grins. “People should know better than to fuck with any middle child.”
As his bark of laughter curls around me, I push to my feet. “I’ll let the others know we’re taking a quick ride.”
Inside the house, I walk through the rooms until I find Haven. She has baby Jesse in her arms and he’s drooling all over her. She has a huge smile on her face, and my throat squeezes. That baby looks good on her. She said kids didn’t fit into her lifestyle, but what if she changed that lifestyle?
What the fuck am I saying?
Haven is here for the shoot, and deep down has no idea who she is or what she wants. Why I’m suddenly envisioning a future together here in Blue Bay is beyond me, and fucking ridiculous. As if feeling my eyes on her, her head lifts, and the warmth and softness in her eyes messes with my ability to think. I stand there a beat longer, just staring at her, until Summer clears her throat.
“Are you just going to stand there looking like the village idiot, Tyler,” she teases, with an-all knowing smirk on her face. I really wish my sisters-in-law couldn’t read me so well.
“Carter and I are just taking a quick ride. Are you okay here
until I get back?” I ask Haven.
“She’s perfectly fine,” Kylee says. “Now go. We have some more girl bonding to do, and I haven’t finished telling her all the stories from your childhood.”
I shake my head. “Don’t believe anything they say,” I warn Haven, who is looking at me with concern in her eyes. It’s not like me to leave her alone, and I can just imagine what’s going through her head right now. “Just a quick ride,” I say to assure her. “You’re in good hands.”
“Of course, she is,” Summer and Kylee blurt out, and even though there are eight guys, and two male kids in this family, there isn’t enough testosterone to go up against either of those women. I laugh, thinking what it would be like if we added Haven to the mix. The three of them would be a force, that’s for sure.
I turn to go, and Summer says, “You can kiss her goodbye, Tyler. We won’t look.”
I shake my head. Summer and Kylee are as bad as Gram, always trying to marry me off. My boots scuff the floor as I cross the room, bend down and place a kiss on Haven’s mouth, and not because they told me to, but because I want to. Little Jesse makes a fist and whacks me on the head, then grabs a fistful of my hair, like he’s trying to shove me away.
“Jesus,” I say.
“No swearing around the kids,” Kylee warns.
“Right, shit, sorry.” Kylee rolls her eyes as I try to remove Jesse’s sticky fingers from my hair. “I guess he wants you all to himself.” I give Haven a wink. “Smart boy.”
A warm pink flush moves into her cheeks. My God, she looks so damn adorable it’s all I can do to keep myself from hoisting her over my shoulder and dragging her upstairs, caveman style.
I put my mouth close to her ear. “See you soon.”
The girls all go back to chatting, but I don’t need to turn around to know Haven’s eyes are on me, watching me until I’m out of her line of vision, and I like that. I like how she focuses in on me, like I’m the only one in the room.
Outside I find my cousin on his bike waiting for me and I hop on mine. It’s a nice night for a quick ride. I follow him down our long driveway, and we pass the movie set, and head toward Main Street, not so busy this time of night. Most of the vacationers are at their barbecues, or enjoying the cool ocean. We head toward the cottages and glance around. When we fail to find the kid, we stop at Winchester’s.
