Reckless (Nashville Nights)

by Cheryl , Douglas

  He chuckled. “Let’s just say I’m playin’ the field.”

  “How’d I know you were gonna say that?”

  His genial smile slipped when he looked her in the eye. “Ty told me everything. What happened two years ago and again last night.”

  She took the plastic lid off her cup. “I’m not comfortable talking to you about this. I understand that you’re trying to protect your brother, but he’s a grown man. He can take care of himself.”

  J.T. leaned back, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “You’re a straight shooter. I admire that.”

  She sensed the veiled compliment was leading into a warning so she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

  “Fact is, I think you made the right call, going to see the doctor this morning.”

  Ty really hadn’t left out a single detail, a matter she intended to discuss with him later. “Again, I have no intention of discussing that with you,” she said, trying to remain calm.

  “You don’t have to. When I stopped to think about it, I realized if you had been trying to trap him you wouldn’t have to gone to those lengths to rectify the mistake you two made last night. You would’ve just hoped like hell that you got pregnant and sprung it on him when it was too late to do anything about it, sorta like Abby did when she told him about Mel. She knew my brother was a stand-up guy and if he knew a woman was carrying his baby, he’d insist on marrying her, whether he loved her or not.”

  Trying to appear unaffected by his words, she took a sip of her herbal tea. She hated herbal tea. The flavor of the tea, mixed with J.T.’s words, made her want to retch.

  “Anyways, I guess this is all a moot point now, right?”

  She nodded her head, not meeting his eyes.

  He reached across the table to touch her hand. “Listen, I’m sorry if I acted like a jerk earlier. If you and my brother want to be together, you’re right, that’s no one else’s business. I just don’t want to see him get hurt again.” He squeezed her hand to draw her attention to his face. “So if you’re not interested, best to tell him now. Don’t lead him on. He doesn’t deserve that.”

  She cleared her throat, trying to push words past the lump that had formed. “You’re right, he doesn’t.”

  He stood, pushing his chair back. “Good, I’m glad we cleared the air. Now, what can I get you to eat?”

  She shook her head. “Actually, I’m not very hungry after all.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ty was planning to kill J.T. when he got his hands on him. The fact that he had corralled Avery the minute she walked in the door told Ty that had been his plan all along. He appreciated his family’s concern, but his relationship with Avery was already precarious. The last thing he needed was J.T. saying or doing something to put more distance between them.

  After he’d had time to cool off, he realized Avery had been right last night. She made the responsible decision, thinking with her head while he’d allowed his heart to lead him.

  “We got some great shots today, Ty,” Andrew said, smiling. “I think Avery will find at least half a dozen she can use.”

  Ty heard the outer door open and Avery and his brother walked in, carrying several paper bags from the corner deli. She looked tired, distraught, scared. Ty was definitely going to kill his brother.

  “Are we done here, Andrew?” Ty asked.

  He set his camera down on a nearby table. “We are and not a moment too soon. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m starving.”

  Avery smiled and held a paper bag out to him. “I guess we arrived just in time, then, didn’t we?”

  He grinned and accepted her offering. “You are an angel.”

  “J.T., can I have a word with you outside?” Ty asked.

  “Sure,” J.T. said, setting a bag and tray of cups down on Andrew’s desk.

  When they were down the hall and out of earshot, Ty said, “What the hell did you say to her?”

  J.T. shrugged, looking guilty. “I just told her I thought she made the right call going to the doctor and that if she wasn’t serious about you that she should cut you lose.”

  Ty slammed his brother against the wall, knocking his cowboy hat off as he fisted his cotton shirt in both hands. “What the hell gives you the right to mess with my life?”

  “I’m just lookin’ out for you, man. You’d have done the same thing in my situation.”

  The rage slowly seeped out of his body. He knew J.T. was right. He would have done the same thing for any one of his brothers. He slowly released his brother. “I just don’t want to lose her, man.”

  J.T. gripped his shoulder. “Ty, I hate to say this, but I don’t think you ever had her in the first place.”

  Ty glared at him. “I think the fact that she slept with me last night proves that she’s into me. Avery’s not like you, J.T.. She’s not into recreational sex.”

  “I didn’t say she was. Tell me something. Has she ever told you she’s ready to make a commitment?”

  Ty knew where this was going and he wasn’t ready to acknowledge the fact that Avery may not be ready for the kind of relationship he wanted. He chose to believe she just needed more time to come around to his way of thinking. “Look, we haven’t known each other long, but she’s really starting to open up to me.”

  “You’re not answering my question. Has she or has she not told you that she’s ready for the kind of relationship that you seem to want?”

  Ty didn’t even have to think about it. He knew Avery’s position on relationships. Even without Abby as an obstacle between them, he couldn’t be certain Avery would allow him to get any closer than he had last night and in his mind that wasn’t nearly close enough. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her. He wanted to know what made her laugh, what made her cry, her plans for the future.

  His brother was right; he’d been acting on impulse, rushing to get her into bed, instead of trying to build a solid foundation of friendship that would allow their relationship to succeed over the long haul. His marital status wasn’t likely to change anytime soon, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t use that time to make Avery fall in love with him.

  “You’re right,” Ty said, sighing. “I’ve been pushing too damn hard. It’s just that no woman has ever affected me the way she does.”

  J.T. chuckled as he bent to pick up his cowboy hat and settle it on his head. “I can certainly see why. She’s hotter than hell.”

  “I’m serious, man. When we hooked up a couple of years ago, it felt like I’d been hit by a Mack truck. I knew there was something different about her. Then I woke up and she was gone. You don’t know what that did to me,” he said quietly.

  J.T. shook his head. “I remember.”

  “No, I mean it. I thought about her constantly for months. I kept hoping she’d show up at Jimmy’s. I just couldn’t believe it had been one-sided that night. I was so sure she felt it, too.”

  “I guess she did,” J.T. said, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. “Otherwise, what happened last night would never have happened.”

  “That’s just it,” Ty said, feeling frustrated and confused. “I know she feels it, but she’s got a ten-foot brick wall built around her and she doesn’t want to let anybody in.”

  J.T. grinned. “We always were good at scaling fences, bro. You think you still got what it takes?”

  Ty chuckled and shook his head, appreciating the fact that he had his brother to bring levity to what seemed like a grave situation. “Yeah, I know I do.”

  “Then why are you wasting time talking to me? I think you’ve got some work to do.”

  Ty extended his hand. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

  J.T. laughed and took his hand, pulling him in for a back-slapping hug. “That’s what brothers are for. I know if the situation were reversed, you’d have my back.”

  Avery stared back at the images of Ty and her heart sank. She could see his face on album covers, music videos, and magazine spreads. It wa
s only a matter of time before he began his new life and he would leave her behind.

  Had she been crazy to risk pregnancy, thinking she was strong enough to raise a baby on her own, without his help? She knew that was her only option now. She’d intended to tell Ty about her decision regarding the pregnancy, if in fact she was pregnant. But after her conversation with J.T., she knew that wasn’t an option. Ty had a career to build and a new life to live, one that didn’t include being saddled with a girlfriend and newborn baby.

  Ty and J.T. came back into the room talking and laughing. “So, did we get what we needed, boss lady?” Ty asked.

  “Yeah, these are great,” Avery said, trying not to focus on her visceral reaction to the man. “You’re a natural in front of the camera.”

  He grinned. “Glad you think so.”

  She was struck by the fact that her opinion seemed so important to him. He seemed to want and need her approval. She mentally chastised herself for jumping to conclusions. He was probably just grateful he didn’t have to sit in front of the camera for another three hours, trying to get that elusive shot. “Ty, do you have some time this afternoon? I’d really like to work on that press kit.”

  “I’m all yours until 7:00.”

  “Really? Got a hot date tonight?” She tried to pretend she didn’t care, but the thought of him with another woman ate her up inside.

  He looked at her as though her suggestion was outrageous. “What? Hell no, I’ve got to meet Luc at his place. He wants to go over some songs for the new album.”

  “I see.” She checked her watch. “Okay, that should give us enough time. Let’s head on over to my office now.”

  “Good thing I brought my own truck,” J.T. said. He extended his hand to Avery. “I’m glad I finally got to meet you. I was beginning to think you were a figment of my brother’s overactive imagination.”

  Avery smiled and accepted J.T.’s hand. “It was nice meeting you, too.”

  He winked at her. “Sorry I gave you such a hard time.”

  She shook her head and grinned. “No problem. I’ve got a thick skin.”

  He inclined his head toward his brother. “Listen, if you decide this guy isn’t man enough to satisfy you, you know where to find me, right?”

  Avery felt the blush creep up her neck, knowing that Andrew was hanging on every word. “I, uh...”

  Ty shoved his brother. “Get the hell out of here. Isn’t there a bull waiting to trample you somewhere?”

  J.T. laughed and saluted Andrew. “Nice to meet you, chief.” He grabbed his brother’s chin. “You are a talented man if you could make this ugly mug look good.”

  Andrew laughed. “Glad you stopped by, J.T. It was nice to have a little comic relief in the studio for a change.”

  Ty rolled his eyes. “Yeah, he’s a goddamn laugh riot.” He shoved his brother toward the door. “I’m gonna help Einstein here figure out where he parked his truck.”

  J.T. laughed and raised his hand in the air as Ty shoved him through the door.

  Andrew pointed at her, laughing. “Aha, so there is something between you two. I knew it.”

  She shook her head, pretending to be confused by his assumption. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Like hell you don’t. I could’ve cut the sexual tension in here with a knife.” He removed the camera hanging around his neck. “If you’re not sleeping with that guy, I’ll open that window and hurl this camera at innocent pedestrians.”

  She laughed at his dramatic threat. “Okay, so we’re sleeping together. It’s no big deal.”

  Andrew stroked his silver goatee. “No big deal, huh? I’ve known you a long time, Avery. This doesn’t seem like the kind of guy you usually go for.”

  She tried to distract herself with the images on the computer screen, but watching Ty’s gorgeous face flash in a heart stopping slideshow did little to ease her torment. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t know. He’s seems different, more serious somehow.”

  She continued to fixate on the screen. “Serious how?”

  “I don’t know. Guys like Trey and Luc were out for a good time. Everybody, including you, knew that. It seems like Ty might be looking for something more.”

  “How would you know?” she asked, refusing to face her friend. “Did he say something to lead you to believe that?”

  “It wasn’t so much what he said as what he didn’t say.” Andrew reached around her to pick up a framed photograph on his desk. Andrew’s wife and two little girls were wrapped in his arms, smiling at the camera, looking happy and achingly beautiful. “He was admiring this photo and I saw it in his eyes. This is what he wants.”

  Avery tried not to look at the photo, tried not to imagine herself and Ty in a similar photo with their own babies. She couldn’t allow herself to go there. “If that’s what he’s after, he’s wasting his time with me.”

  Andrew put his arm around her shoulders. “You sure about that? He seems like a great guy.”

  “He is, but he’s not the guy for me, Andrew.” She froze when she heard someone clear their throat. She closed her eyes when she heard cowboy boots echo across the wood floor.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Ty said quietly. “I forgot my keys. I’ll meet you back at your office, Avery. Thanks again, Andrew.”

  He’s not the guy for me. He’s not the guy for me. He’s not the guy for me. The words echoed in Ty’s head like a mantra when he got in his truck and gunned the engine. He cranked the tunes and maneuvered the traffic on autopilot as he thought about driving past the city limits sign. He wanted to find a dark little honkytonk and drink until he passed out in his truck.

  He didn’t want to think about Avery or babies or his divorce or how many people were counting on him. He didn’t want to think about the fact that he wasn’t the right man for her. Those words sliced deep.

  The signs had been there all along. She walked out on him once, made no attempt to contact him after their one-night stand, and had been cold and reserved in the days since they’d reconnected. He had been a fool to think he could convince her to feel for him what he felt for her.

  He gripped the steering wheel as he pounded the brakes at a red light. He was so tired of looking like a fool. If she didn’t want him, then the hell with her. He’d find someone who did.

  He pulled into the parking lot of her upscale office building and eased his truck into a spot. He cut the engine and stared up at the building, wishing he didn’t have to go in, wishing that fate hadn’t brought Avery Collins back into his life.

  He opened the door, but before he could set foot on the pavement, she was there, crowding his space.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and settled herself between his thighs. “I’m sorry you overheard my conversation with Andrew,” she said, kissing his lips gently. “And I’m sorry about last night.”

  He wanted to be strong, to pull away, put some distance between them, but he was defenseless where this woman was concerned. Instead of pushing her away, he pulled her closer. “Did you mean what you said to Andrew?” he asked.

  She bit her bottom lip, her eyes sliding down his chest. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I’m just so confused, Ty.”

  He chuckled, not amused in the least. “I know how you feel, darlin’.”

  “Maybe we need a little distance to sort things out,” she suggested, looking up to meet his eyes. “Maybe when you’re on tour with Trey...”

  He hated the thought of putting distance between them. He wanted to get closer, not give her an excuse to push him further away. “Luc wants you to come on the road with us, to set up the radio interviews and local television spots.”

  She shook her head. “I know.” She raked her hands through her hair. “God, this is such a mess.”

  “It doesn’t have to be.” He gave in to the urge to kiss her, losing himself in the erotic sensation of his tongue probing her sweet mouth. When they finally broke apart, he was brea
thless and fully aroused. “Don’t make things more complicated than they have to be. You want me; I want you. Let’s do something about it.”

  Her eyes fell to the front of his jeans and she grinned. “You mean right now?”

  “Your place is only a few minutes from here.” He gripped her waist, holding her firmly between his legs. “Come on, Avery,” he whispered, kissing her neck. “Hop in. I need you, baby. Right now.”

  She looked torn, confused, and definitely interested. “What about the press kit?”

  He grinned against the smooth column of her neck. “You can take notes in bed.”

  She smacked his shoulder. “I’m serious. We’re on a tight timeline. We’re never gonna get any work done if we keep hitting the sheets every time we see each other.”

  He growled, wanting nothing more than to hit the sheets every time he saw her. Her lush little body inspired all kinds of naughty thoughts, making music and his career the last thing on his mind… unless it helped his cause.

  He brushed her hair off her neck so her ear was exposed to his lips and he started singing a sexy ballad in the low, raspy baritone that routinely reduced women to molten lava.

  Her head lolled back and her eyes drifted closed. “Oh God,” she whispered. “That is so not fair.”

  He sang low and intimate, for her ears only, a song about making love until the morning light.

  “Okay,” she said finally, gripping the back of his head. “I give up. You win. My place, now.”

  He laughed and jumped out of the truck to open the passenger’s door. “I thought you’d see it my way, darlin’.”

  She scowled and crossed her arms as she waited for him to open her door. “You may have won, but you don’t fight fair,” she said, pouting.

  He couldn’t resist smiling at her, though he knew she wouldn’t appreciate it. “I don’t care how I win, as long as I get what I want, and baby, I want you.”

  She stuck her tongue out and jumped in the big truck, unassisted.

  He took the opportunity to smack her round bottom before she planted it on the leather seat, eliciting a little squeal. He leaned inside the cab and stole her breath with a mind-numbing kiss. When he finally let her come up for air, he said, “Honey, if you stick your tongue out at me it best be because you’re prepared to put it to good use.”