Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2)

by Rylie Roberts

  “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.

  Chapter 5

  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 f
orth 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?”

  “Okay, there were a lot of questions right there. I’m not sure where to start,” Ty said, gripping the side of the screen door and pushing it farther open as he took the steps up that separated them. From this position, the door couldn’t just slam shut in his face with her clear irritation.

  “Goodnight, Ty,” she said and started to turn away. He reached for the door knob, grabbing it before she could push open the back door and make her escape before they talked this out.

  “I don’t normally have to ask women out. I might be rusty, and I’m not entirely sure why everyone’s moving us into relationship status tonight, but I saw you and thought you were pretty. Then I listened to you tonight, and you’re smart, funny, and easy to be with when you’re not bowed up tight like you are right now. I’m here for several weeks. My buddies leave in a couple of days. Have dinner with me. That’s all I’m asking,” he said, coming up another step, putting them on the same step which forced Ty to stand close and made Kenzie crane her neck in order to look him in the eyes.

  Several seconds passed before she responded. “I’m not moving us into relationship anything. Le
t’s see how you feel about a date when your friends leave.”

  “All right, I’ll interpret that to mean we’ll have dinner on Monday night,” he said boldly, smiling when she didn’t rebuke him right away. “Now, why don’t you charge that phone of yours and give me your number.” He hadn’t been this close to her all evening.

  “Let’s see if you still want it tomorrow.” Her arms came up, crossing over her chest, and she stepped as far from him as she could get on that little step, backing against the opened screen door. There was defiance on her face. She wasn’t giving an inch.

  “We’re going into the woods tomorrow to camp. Wanna come? Protect me from the bears?” That finally made her laugh, changing her face from deep concentration, back to a thing of great beauty. He blinked, realizing he always wanted to see her with a smile on those lips.

  “No, not at all.”

  “You don’t have to give me your number, just agree to a simple dinner. I’ll have you home early.”

  “We don’t really have any place that I eat at around here,” she said.

  “The diner’s good…” he started, but stopped and followed her direction. She shook her head no, so he did too. “Then Gatlinburg. We could go there. I just worry about being spotted, but my beard will be thicker by then. We should be okay,” Ty reasoned quickly. He could wear the ball cap and vanity glasses. Surely he could pull it off.

  “How about lunch? I need to go by the health food store,” she suggested.

  “Right. Vegetarian. Okay. Lunch. How about Monday?” he asked again. She was practical, which was funny, probably not meaning to be, but that made it even better. He really enjoyed her company.

  “What about your friends?” she asked.

  “They’ll be heading out. Besides, they’re fine on their own,” he said and waited. Several seconds passed, again with so many emotions crossing her face until she smiled. He took that as a yes.