Mission Happy (A Texas Desires Novel Book 3)

by Rylie Roberts

  “I missed you,” she said, moving her head to breathe in the scent of his delicious cologne before pressing her lips to the skin right underneath his ear.

  “You have no idea,” he mumbled back with a moan when she sucked his earlobe into her mouth.

  ~~~

  “Please go with me,” Julie pleaded the second Connor stepped out of the shower. Well, stepped out didn’t quite describe it. Her bathroom was Ty-level great. The shower was open to the room with Julie sitting on the sink counter, watching him bathe. It was late afternoon, maybe early evening, and a yawn slipped free as he reached for a towel, drying himself off. They’d made love, slept, then made love again until her phone interrupted their nice, relaxing afternoon. Apparently, Julie had a late call this evening. He learned that meant she had work. They hadn’t even left the bed before she’d immediately started in on him, wanting him to tag along with her tonight.

  “I could use some coffee. Something to eat,” Connor said, scrubbing the towel over his face. In theory, during the intensity of missing her, he’d worked through the head issue of being there with Julie, but he wasn’t entirely sure he was ready to face her world head on. That Ty-level crazy media crap just didn’t sit well in his gut. He was more than willing to let Julie navigate that without him until he got on firmer ground.

  He ignored the voice taunting him with a laugh, making it clear that he’d never be ready for all that mess.

  “I’ll call down and get you coffee. I’m sure there’s food downstairs, but they’ll have a complete buffet at the studio. They’ll have everything you like. Roast beef, ribs, all those guy foods. It’s a primarily male-driven set. You can eat there and see what I do. I won’t be there long, and I’ve missed you, Connor,” Julie said, gripping the edge of the counter when he walked forward. She puckered her lips and looked cute as hell. He couldn’t resist leaning over to kiss her.

  “Babe,” Connor started, trying to find a way to let her down easy. He tossed the damp towel on the counter beside her, before reaching for a new toothbrush Julie had laid out for him. He began brushing while watching her jump off the side and come toward him. She placed both her soft, slim hands on his back, before circling to his waist. He could feel her cheek resting against his skin. Man, he liked the intimacy of that move. He finished, then his arm went to her hands, keeping her there while he carefully reached for the towel to wipe his face.

  “Please go with me. We go through security. No one’s allowed on set, and if someone snaps our picture along the way, the world will know we’re solid,” she said very reasonably and kissed his shoulder. Her face lifted, cocked slightly to the side, staring him in the eyes through the mirror. “Please.”

  “I didn’t even think about the pictures of you and me,” Connor said, staring back at her until he crinkled his brow. Damn, she was hard to say no to. He narrowed his eyes, taking her all in. His woman was beautiful, all clean-faced and hanging all over him. He let out a deep sigh. Shit, no question, he was going. Damn. He broke from the hold and headed back to the bedroom for the clothes he’d worn earlier. “I need to get my clothes from the truck. I don’t have a lot to wear.”

  “Blue jeans and a T-shirt’s fine. I’ll go get it,” she said, patting his ass as she walked past.

  “It’s heavy,” he said, holding his jeans with both hands, stopping as he lifted one foot to shove inside.

  “I’ll manage and I’ll get your coffee,” Julie said at the door. She twisted around, beaming back at him. “Thank you. I want my friends to meet you. They’ve heard all about you.”

  When he was completely alone, he stood there nude and tossed his jeans on the rumpled bedspread as he took a closer look around the room. Actually, her bedroom was more a suite of rooms about the size of his apartment. Everything she needed was right here in this space. Technically, she never had to leave for anything. There was a small kitchen area that looked virtually unused, a sitting room with a huge television, and then her bedroom. He’d seen hints of decorations when they’d spoken through Skype, but nothing had prepared him for the contemporary decor. He’d expected shades of pink with loads of flowers, yet that wasn’t the place at all.

  He took a seat on the bed and considered a bigger problem while taking an inventory of the clothes he’d brought. He suspected his wardrobe was sorely lacking. He’d have to work on that soon. The chirp of his phone had him reaching for his jeans, pulling his cell out of the back pocket. A text from Cole. Swiping the screen, he opened the message to find a picture of his parents. Of course, Cole would capture that exact moment he told them about Julie, the incident, and his military problems. Cole had captioned the photo, telling him to call home. His parents were tan, in summer clothes, and truly looked shocked. That made him laugh, until he spotted that damn chair back in his parents’ living room. He scowled, realizing Willis must have put the thing back instead of tossing the torture device in the burn pile like he’d asked.

  “Here you go. A coffee tray’s on the way up. If you need anything, pick up that phone, and just say what you need. You’ll get it right away,” she said, dumping his duffle on the bed, then pointed to the phone on the desk nearby.

  “Am I staying in here with you, then?” he asked, reaching for his bag. Julie rounded the bed toward him, her sweet smile crossing her face as she came to stand in front of him.

  “I’d like that, Connor,” she said, anchoring one knee on the bed before reaching for his shoulders to help position her on his lap. He abandoned the bag, hoping something may have changed and they were staying in after all.

  “This’s a lot to get used to,” he said, placing both hands on her hips, drawing her closer as his dick started to stir. It seemed he’d never get enough of this woman.

  “It’s not though. I’ll show you around tonight or in the morning, but there’s an office just for you through that door.” She pointed to a door behind him. He didn’t turn away, his gaze staying trained on her as she hooked a thumb the opposite direction. “I have a private balcony that has stairs leading down to the swimming pool. The swim house is right behind it. Tina’s been out there, but you could move in there and she can come into the house if you really don’t want to be in here with me.”

  “Tina lives here full time?” he asked.

  “Her house is being remodeled, but I suspect she’s here because of my stalker. My whole family worries about me.”

  “They should be concerned.”

  Connor decided they must not be going to her work after all and twisted Julie until she was flat on her back underneath him. Irritatingly, right as he reached for her jeans, someone chose then to knock on the door. Now on all fours, he looked up as Julie scrambled out from under him and rolled off the bed.

  “You get dressed. I’ll get the door.”

  Damn! Connor pushed back off the bed and reached for his duffle bag before stalking toward the bathroom with an unsatisfied erection.

  “Give me a second,” he grumbled, looking down at his hard dick that showed no sign of giving him a break. Just great.

  “Take your time. My closet’s in there. I cleared things out of the way for you,” she called out. He closed the door behind him while grabbing his rigid cock in his hand and tightened his hold. The bathroom had zero privacy. Any second, he could be caught jacking himself off. Mind over matter. He’d gotten control of his desire before with Julie, he could do it again. Connor stopped in the middle of the bathroom, willing his lust to ease. Yeah, it didn’t work. He’d just have to go with it. He tossed the duffle on the sink and started digging through his clothes for anything suitable to wear.

  Thirty minutes later, Julie had confiscated the car keys, saying her insurance company had lifted her driving restrictions, and she had chosen her sporty little convertible to drive. She aggressively weaved in and out of the over-the-top downtown Los Angeles traffic, hell-bent on getting wherever they were going in record time. Connor had his seat belt on, his coffee mug held out between his parted thighs to keep the slosh
ing off his clothes. He braced his other hand against the dash while he scanned between the side mirror, watching Bruno’s car directly behind her, and then back to the road in front of them. Anxiety rolled through him, gravitating to the pit in his stomach. His sweet angel had turned into a demon on the road. He could see Bruno looked angry as hell, valiantly trying to keep up with Julie. Connor gave an internal prayer, swearing if he ever made it out of this car alive, he’d never ride with her again.

  “Screw you, ass hat!” Julie called out, forcing her vehicle into a space not near big enough to allow for a car. Since their convertible was open, as with most of the cars on this road, he was certain the guy she just took over had to have heard his angel. When he looked back, he saw the double bird flying over the top of the guy’s windshield. He couldn’t find it in his heart to be mad at such an insult. He shared in that completely fucked feeling.

  “Calm down, babe,” Connor said, trying for a soothing tone, but afraid he sounded a little frantic.

  “Connor, these people drive like maniacs. It’s the reason traffic’s always so bad around here. There’s no reason to be going twenty miles an hour at this time of day. I mean really.” She aggressively explained her point while turning her head back and forth between the road and him, until someone pulled out in front of her, causing Julie to slam on her breaks while throwing her hands in the air. “See? Fucker!”

  And there went her middle finger salute.

  Taking a deep breath, Connor made a decision. He spoke calmly, but clearly, leaving no room for argument. “Pull over, Julie.”

  “What?” she asked angrily, zooming around the driver the first break she got. Now she tossed her middle finger up as she drove by.

  “Pull over to the curb. Right now,” Connor said, pointing to the right side of the road.

  “Why?” she asked accusingly. Only after looking at him and seeing his firm resolve did she jerk the wheel to the right, finally coming to an abrupt stop. Julie threw her hands in the air and turned her body fully toward him. “What?”

  He didn’t say a word. Connor just opened his door, got out, and tossed the liquid from his coffee cup away from the car. At the same time, Bruno maneuvered to park directly in front of them. He jerked open his door as Connor rounded the hood to the driver’s side of Julie’s car.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Bruno yelled, tossing his hands in the air as he stalked toward them. “Why do you do that every time you drive?”

  “Scoot over. I’m driving,” Connor said, ignoring her shake of the head and Bruno’s advancement.

  “I got this, Connor. We’re almost there.” Julie gripped the wheel, holding on tight. He continued to ignore her, pushing his foot inside the driver’s side of the car. Julie had no choice—either crawl over the console or be sat on. No more of this crazy woman on the road. He’d never seen anything like this before in his life, and the Lord knew he’d seen his fair share of crazy. “Hold on!”

  He paused midway to the seat as she wiggled over, first dropping her ass into the passenger seat, then awkwardly moving those long legs over. He continued his descent and had to reach for the controls to push the seat back as far as it could go, then he placed his empty cup in the small alcove in the back.

  “It’s six thirty. It’s rush hour, Julie. The traffic’s always bad,” Connor explained.

  “It’s not rush hour,” Julie exclaimed. “These people don’t know how to drive. If they’d just pick up the pace and be steady, it wouldn’t be so bottlenecked.”

  “Do you know where we’re going?” Connor asked a glowering Bruno, cutting Julie off mid rant.

  “Of course I know,” he declared gruffly.

  “I’ll follow you,” Connor said, pointing to Bruno’s ride. Julie just indignantly crossed her arms over her chest, clamping her mouth shut.

  Bruno rounded the car, bending over the passenger side door, pointing a finger in her face that she completely ignored.

  “No more driving for you. I’m serious.”

  Julie refused to look at Bruno, or Connor for that matter, her glare focused out the front window.

  For the next ten minutes, she didn’t speak and stayed just like that as he followed Bruno toward wherever they were going. It took time, but slowly Julie uncrossed her arms, her hands gathering in her lap. By the time they’d reached the studio entrance, she finally looked over at him.

  “I’m sorry. I get road rage,” she said quietly when they turned into the lot, and Bruno stopped, motioning with an arm out the window for him to drive forward, take a place in a line of cars idling patiently at what looked like a security gate up ahead.

  Connor nodded, keeping his head straight as he spoke honestly. “I thought demons had possessed you.”

  “I’m sorry. No one believes it when I tell them.” He could hear the sincerity in her voice, and, all in all, if this was her only fault, he could totally deal.

  “Is there anything else that triggers that?” he asked as the gate ahead of them rose, allowing him to pull forward to the guard shack.

  “Hey, Julie,” the security guard said, looking first at Julie, then at Connor. The guy’s face morphed a couple of times until awe overtook anything else as a fist extended. “You’re the sniper who just took those criminals down. That was badass.”

  Connor didn’t immediately lift his fist for a knuckle bump, instead he just stared at the guy for a solid minute before he nodded and halfheartedly touched his fist with the guard’s. How the hell did he respond to that?

  “Does he need a badge?” he asked, looking over at Julie.

  “Yeah. I need to add him to the set, too.”

  “You have the paperwork for that?”

  “No, do I get it online?”

  “Hang on. I’ll get it.” The guy went in his guard shack and came out moments later with a handful of papers, that friendly smile still in place. “Fill it out and drop it back by on your way out. I’ll make sure it gets entered.”

  Julie reached over Connor to take the paperwork. “Thanks, Mike. That would help.”

  “Here’s your temporary badge, sir. My whole family serves. I got a bum leg. Had some surgeries, so this is the best I can do,” he said, lifting his thumb toward the guard shack.

  Connor nodded again while taking the badge, clipping it to his shirt. When he looked up to find both Mike and Julie staring at him, he finally just nodded again. “That’s too bad.”

  The swell of emotion crossing Mike’s face had Connor taking a deep breath. Man, he wanted out of there. He knew what was coming next. This wasn’t his first time to stumble across an overzealous patriot. Yep, and there it went. Mike reached up to salute him. Connor had to forcibly resist the urge to roll his eyes and groan out loud.

  He felt stupid, but lifted his hand to return the guy’s salute. It seemed to please Mike as Connor watched his chest bow.

  “Can I take a selfie?”

  “You have to keep it to yourself until all our mess blows over,” Julie warned.

  “Of course I will!”

  The guy never got permission from Connor. He just leaned in, lowered his head, and pulled out his phone. Connor rarely took selfies and never by himself. He was startled to look up and see his face captured on the small screen. He didn’t even know phones could do that.

  “Get in here, Julia,” Mike said.

  Connor stayed stoic, but Julie leaned in right next to him, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and smiled brightly. She was so pretty. The security guard’s smile was bright and the picture was taken. Between Saturday night and now, he’d probably had more pictures taken than he’d had over the previous three years. He guessed this fell into the getting-used-to-it phase.

  When the gate finally lifted, he was able to drive forward. This time, he pulled aside to let Bruno pass him before following again. His Julie was back to normal as she leaned over the console and kissed his cheek. “You’ll get used to that, I promise.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said, doubtingly
.

  “You will. You might even smile in the future, except you look fierce when you scowl like that. I bet people love that face. It adds to the mystery,” Julie said as Bruno navigated around them. Yeah, that was what he was shooting for: mystery. He rolled his eyes then followed Bruno until he parked. When he started to turn into an empty space next to him, Julie pointed him closer to the door. “I have a parking space. It’s the first one.”

  She had the primo spot not ten feet from the studio entrance.

  “I also have a dressing room inside. If you get tired of watching us film, you can rest in there. It’s got a television and a large sofa. I’m excited you’re here,” she said, opening her door. Connor reached for the door handle, not responding as he pushed the button to raise the hood.

  “You don’t have to. Bruno’ll watch it. Come on inside. I want everyone to meet you. This is Ty’s old series. They all know you already because of how much he’s talked about you guys over the years.” She bounded out of the car, completely back to her sweet self. He took a deep breath and followed behind her. Bruno was at the door, holding it open for them. He didn’t say a word, but waited for him, slapping him good-naturedly on the back.

  “It’s the only time I’ve ever seen that side of her,” Connor said, slowing as he passed by.

  “Yeah. Figured you’d have to see it once to know not to ever let her drive. Sometimes I think she does it on purpose to keep from driving,” Bruno said, trailing in behind him.

  “Come on, Connor. I’ve seen the food spread. You’ll be happy. It ends with an ice cream bar.”

  The door shut behind him. Bruno moved to walk in front of them, checking the area out. Julie’s excitement was infectious, easing some of his apprehension about being there. Connor tucked his fingers in his jeans pockets and followed behind her.