by Lena Hart
Then there was Gloria. She had no doubt that the older woman would welcome her in, but Mya didn’t want to be in the awkward position of explaining how she had let her father’s home collapse into such a deplorable condition—or have her ask why she hadn’t gone to Guy first.
Gloria had asked her once before what happened between them and Mya had given her default answer.
It was complicated.
That left their town’s only bed and breakfast, which was the closest thing to a motel in Cedar Bend. And staying there would raise even more questions Mya wasn’t prepared to answer.
Recognizing her limited choices, she called Gloria.
“Mya, honey, I was wondering when you were going to call me. I spoke with Guy earlier and he told me you’d arrived today.”
“He did?” Mya wondered if he’d also mentioned her brief stint at the jail. “What else did he say?”
“Not much else. He’s excited to see you back.”
“He said that?”
“In so many words.”
Mya frowned. The way Guy had turned his back on her at the station proved exactly how he felt about her. Unfortunately, Gloria wanted to hear what she wanted to hear.
“So how are you settling in?”
Mya sighed and explained in limited detail the situation she found herself in. “Needless to say, I can’t stay here. Not until I can get someone to check out what kind of repairs are needed.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t realize it was in such bad condition. We had that terrible tropical storm last summer. I’m sure that only made things worse.”
Mya glimpsed up at the house. The large crack running just below the roof stared back at her like an ominous smirk.
“Gloria, I really hate to ask, but could I stay with you for a few days? Just until I can find another place to crash?”
There was a short pause before Gloria spoke again. “I’m sorry, honey, but I’ve had Guy’s old room renovated into a mini gym. Well, it started off that way. Now it’s my storage room. You wouldn’t be comfortable here. But Guy has plenty of space. Have you asked him?”
Mya’s hand tightened around her cell. “No, I don’t think—”
“Call him, dear. I’m sure he wouldn’t have any problem taking you in. Now I have to run. It’s crochet night tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you!”
Gloria hung up before Mya could get out another word. She stared at her phone, stunned. If she wasn’t mistaken, she would have sworn Gloria had purposely rushed her off the phone.
With one last glance at the house, Mya released a small sigh of resignation and started her car. She didn’t know how Guy would react. He could very well tell her to leave.
That was a chance she would just have to take.
Besides, she had to face him again sometime soon.
Why not tonight?
* * *
Guy pulled up next to the Jeep Wrangler in his driveway and muttered a curse. On his patio, sat Mya perched on a mountain of luggage. It wasn’t a hard guess as to why she was here. He’d driven past her father’s home enough to know the condition it had fallen into. But there had been nothing he could do about it. Now she needed a place to stay.
But why him? Did she just enjoy driving him crazy?
Guy got out of his truck and stopped in front of the low steps. There was no way he could have her near, much less under the same roof with him.
“Mya, you can’t stay here.”
“Why not?”
Guy gritted his teeth. “You know why.”
She pushed away from her bags and came to stand at the top of the steps, directly in front of him. “How are we supposed to work on our marriage if you keep pushing me away?”
“There’s nothing to work on. I told you that. We should have annulled this sham of a marriage years ago.”
The moment you left for England.
“If that’s what you wanted, why didn’t you?”
His mouth snapped shut. The unexpected question took him off guard, but it wasn’t something he hadn’t thought before. He’d given himself a mountain of excuses before, but it all boiled down to the fact that he had always held out hope. He’d wanted to believe that she would realize her mistake and come back to him. He’d had countless fantasies about her just like this. Waiting for him… Coming back to him…
But a long time had passed since that delusion, and eventually the fantasies had faded. He’d stopped pining for that moment, accepting the cold reality that she had left him and was never coming back.
Mya came down one step and stood only inches away from him. She took hold of his hand, and he stiffened as her soft palm brought back memories he wanted to forget.
“I think you didn’t do it because you still love me and you want us to work.”
Guy stared into her warm maple-brown eyes as indecision warred inside him. He did still love her, damn it. But he also knew they were too different to ever be able to work. He needed someone who was certain of herself—someone who wouldn’t run away when things got a little tough.
He pulled his hand out of hers. “You should call my mother. You’ll be more comfortable there.”
Moving around her, he bounded up the short steps. She followed closely behind him.
“I did call her. She doesn’t have room for me.”
He ignored her, quickly working the front door lock.
“Guy.”
At her forceful tone, he stopped short. His hand stilled on the doorknob, but he didn’t turn around.
“Please. I have nowhere else to go.”
His lips tightened. Of course she didn’t. Because of her neglect, her father’s house was in shambles. The few times he’d driven past it had been a harsh reminder of how little thought she must have given any of them.
Yet, as usual, she was looking for him to rescue her. But if she thought he would go on pretending as if they were in a real marriage, she would be sadly mistaken.
Guy pushed the door open then went to grab her bags.
“You can take the guest room in the back. For tonight.”
* * *
Mya rolled into a tighter ball on the full-size bed, trying to ward off the chill in the cold, drafty room. Sleep eluded her—not because she couldn’t seem to get warm enough, but because the man she loved was only a few feet away from her.
Yet he might as well be an ocean away.
She hadn’t expected him to put her in the guest room, but then again, she shouldn’t be surprised. The only thing that gave her hope was knowing he still did love her.
He hadn’t denied it when she’d brought it up to him, and from the way he hesitated when she confronted him, she knew he was stubbornly fighting his attraction to her.
He had ignored her most of the evening, spending most of his time in his bedroom, while she had tried making herself comfortable in this cold room.
But there was no getting comfortable. She was freezing and miserable, and no adjusting of the thermostat would push the heat to the back room where she slept.
After an hour of the discomfort, Mya got out of bed and went searching for something heavier than the thin sheet that was doing a poor job keeping the chill out. But this wasn’t her home, and she realized she didn’t know where something as simple as blankets were.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered.
She didn’t understand why she had to act like a stranger in her husband’s home. The need for warmth propelled her to action, and before Mya could reconsider her next move, she found herself padding down the hall to Guy’s bedroom.
The bedroom they had spent their first night as husband and wife.
Mya slowly turned the knob and waited until her eyes adjusted to the dimness before she made her way to the bed.
Guy slept on his stomach, his tousled head turned toward her. She stood there for a moment, taking in the beautiful sight before her. She liked him this way. His guard was down and he appeared less formidable without the scowl that seemed t
o attach itself to his brow whenever he looked at her.
Mya pulled back the covers and climbed into bed beside him. His heat was magnetic, and she cuddled closer.
She didn’t have time to savor the moment, however, before he jerked awake.
“What the— Mya?”
“Yes?” She forced nonchalance in her voice, even though her heart was racing. Would he demand that she get the hell out of his bed? The same bed she’d lost her virginity.
“What happened? What’s wrong?”
At the obvious concern in his voice, she couldn’t help but smile. “I think the heater’s broken in the guest room. I got cold.”
He didn’t say anything for a heartbeat, as if he was processing her words, then he reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.
A soft glow illuminated the room and she could see him clearly. His jaw was covered with a day-old beard. With a low groan, he fell on his back and rubbed a hand over his face.
“I’ll look into it this weekend. Do you want me to grab the space heater?”
Mya propped herself up and leaned over him. “You don’t have to. This bed is big enough for the both of us.”
He removed his hand from his eyes and stared up at her, his moss-green eyes guarded. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why?”
His jaw tightened. “You know why.”
“Is it because you won’t be able to keep your hands off me?”
The muscles in his jaw flexed again, but she didn’t need his words to know she was right. His silent response was answer enough.
She placed her hand on his bare chest and leaned down lower. “What if I don’t want you to?”
He covered her hand with his and tightened his grip. “Mya—”
Moving with an impulse that surprised her, she kissed him—kissed him in the way she had anticipated since she’d driven into town. Slow and lingering… Her lips moved over his until he relaxed under the pressure. She kept her lips fitted against his, remembering their shape and savoring his taste.
He brought his hands up behind her neck, and for a moment, she thought he would push her away. But to her surprise, he flipped her onto her back and moved over her, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, welcoming his hard warmth pressing her into the soft mattress.
Memories of their first time together flooded her, and a different kind of heat began to wash through her. He’d been so gentle with her, yet the passion between them had still burned bright.
What she would give to have that moment again.
Cupping her breast, he molded his palm around it, gently squeezing her as he kissed down the length of her neck. A soft sigh of pleasure escaped her.
He sucked gently at the sensitive flesh at her throat before moving down the soft curve of her shoulder. Desire licked its way up Mya’s heated body, and her sighs soon became fervent moans.
Suddenly, Guy froze above her and pulled back the thin strap of her camisole. “What’s this?”
She was so immersed in the tidal wave of pleasure that it took her a moment to register his question. Mya blinked up at him, but his gaze was transfixed on the tattoo on her shoulder blade.
“They’re feathers.”
“I can see that. But…why?”
She shrugged. She could understand his surprise. Small town girls didn’t go out getting inked, especially not on such a visible area of the body.
“I got it because I liked it. It reminds me that I’m not a caged bird anymore.”
He went rigid above her, and she was surprised by the sudden change in him.
“Was the idea of marriage to me so bad?”
His gruff words struck her to her core.
“Oh, Guy. It wasn’t ever about you,” she began, placing her hand lightly on his cheek. “I just—”
He pulled away from her touch and rolled out of bed. “You can sleep in here. I’ll take the other room.”
Mya watched as he left the bedroom, her heart sinking. She curled onto her side, trying to suppress the frustration and misery that threatened to consume her.
Six
“Ma, she can’t stay with me.” Guy pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the pressure that was starting to settle there.
“Then where do you want her to stay?”
“I don’t know. She should have thought of that before she showed up.”
“She didn’t just ‘show up.’ Mya’s been planning to come back for three months now. You would know that if you had bothered to talk to her while she’d been away.”
Guy ignored his mother’s pointed comment. “And in all that planning, she couldn’t bother to secure a place to stay? Or had she really expected me to just welcome her back with open arms?”
“That would be nice. Remember how very close you two were, before you started dating? I don’t understand why you’re being so hard on her.”
“I’m not. I’m simply saying that she can’t live with me.”
His mother sighed. “So you’d let her stay in that old house, which is practically falling apart? Or should she go live with her old friends… Then again, that would only fuel the gossip about you too.
Guy frowned. What gossip?
“I suppose she could stay at the shop, but the accommodations would be quite uncomfortable. And unpleasant.”
“I know what you’re doing, Ma. But I’m serious. She can’t stay with me.”
“Can’t you do this for me, then? Your only mother. I’m not asking you to marry her. Just give her a place to lay her head.”
Guy tensed at those choice words. His mother may not be asking them to get married, but she was asking for something far more impossible. Last night was a testament to that.
How was he supposed to keep Mya at arm’s length if just the sight of her made him want to give in to her spell? He needed to figure out the endgame to their situation, and fast.
Last night, he’d almost lost his control, with the feel of her soft lips and warm body pressed beneath him. Even now, his shaft lengthened just thinking about her touch. If he let her stay, he was only inviting trouble—not only to his piece of mind, but also his heart.
“Ma, I can’t. Things between me and Mya aren’t the same. It’s best if we just keep our distance.”
“What happened between you two? You don’t tell me anything anymore, and ever since Mya left—to be with her mother, I might add—it’s like you have this big chip on your shoulder.”
Guy’s grip tightened around the phone. He wondered, if he told his mother the truth right now, would she think he was still being unreasonable?
Who was he kidding?
He wouldn’t tell her anything. She would be pissed—and hurt—that not only was she not involved, but that he had kept it from her these past two years. Besides, he couldn’t see his farce of a marriage continuing much longer, so there was no need to upset her.
“You can stop wondering about us, Ma. It’s old history. Now if you—”
“Old, ha! You’ve been pining for Mya for the past two years, and now that you have a chance to be together again, you’re practically pushing her away.”
Silence fell between them. Had he been so obvious? Guy had tried to bury himself in his work, hoping to forget her, hoping to put his wasted energy longing for her into better use. Like serving and protecting his town.
His mother’s weary sigh was distinct over the phone. “How did I ever raise you to be so stubborn?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Ma. You never had someone walk out on you like she did me.”
There was another deep silence before his mother spoke again. “How dare you say that? Do you forget how your bastard father abandoned us?”
“That’s different.”
“Why? Because we weren’t married? That didn’t mean I loved the bastard any less.”
“I mean that—” Guy caught himself before he could let the words slip out.
I mean you were never deserted on your wedding night
.
His mother’s voice softened. “Guy, please reconsider. Mya’s a good girl and she needs you. Besides, she’s here to help me. You should be falling over your feet, begging her to stay.”
“I think I’ll skip that part,” he said dryly.
“And now that she’s back, you’ll have someone to take to Eric’s wedding,” Gloria continued, ignoring him. Then she added tersely, “I can’t believe you let Eric Benson get married before you.”
Guy bit back a retort. The thought of his friend’s upcoming wedding reminded him of Eric’s party this weekend—and Mayor Powers’ unexpected invite to his function next Friday. As reluctant as Guy was to attend, he knew he would have to make an appearance at the mayor’s dinner party.
Maybe having Mya near would turn out to be useful after all. Guy was tired of the mayor shoving his daughter in his direction and putting him in the awkward position of turning the young woman down. With Mya at his side, the mayor could finally stop trying to start something that wasn’t there.
“Fine. I’ll let her stay.”
“That’s my boy,” his mother practically gushed. “I knew you would do the right thing. And you’ll see. This will be good for you both.”
“Don’t get too excited, Ma. This is only temporary.”
“Yes, yes. But while you’re together, maybe you can finally work out whatever issues you two are having so I can finally get some damn grandbabies.”
The line was abruptly disconnected and Guy could only stare blankly at the phone.
* * *
Mya walked down the path toward her father’s plot, vaguely remembering it from the album of pictures that had been shoved in front of her during the worst time of her life. She reached the low headstone and was disheartened to see the dirt and bare branches that had gathered around.
“Oh, Daddy.”
With a low sob, she fell to her knees and began brushing away at the dirt and fallen leaves. Mya placed the small bouquet of flowers she had brought with her over his plot and sat back on her haunches.
Her heart ached still for her father, but she needed to be here. The last time she had been at her father’s gravesite was during the funeral. She had been surrounded by faces she couldn’t remember. The only person she had been aware of was Guy. He had been by her side the entire time, his warmth and strength a comfort she desperately needed. He’d been there from the moment they had called her to the hospital—and the night they pronounced her father dead.
