“I don’t, Ty. That’s not what I meant. I heard the boys asking for a sleepover. Besides, they didn’t come all this way to spend time with me. They came all this way to spend time with you. I have to work, you have the day off, so go and enjoy. I’ll be right here tomorrow. Don’t give me that look,” she said when he scowled at her. “I’m giving you the day and the night to do whatever you want.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you, too, but we can’t always get what we want. And when I start quoting the Rolling Stones, it’s time for me to go.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.” When she tried to object, he said, “I’m walking you to the car, like it or not.”
She reached up on her toes and kissed him before saying goodbye to his family. When they reached the gravel lot behind a restaurant that had long gone out of business, he pushed her back against the driver’s side door, leaned his body in close, and angled his lips over hers. “I need to be with you, Jill. It’s been two days.”
“I know, I know,” she said between kisses. “This is crazy.”
“Why do they have to spend the night? I’ll be with them all day long.”
“They love you, Ty. And I’d imagine your mom and Bryce would appreciate a night alone. This is their vacation, too.”
He ran his hands up her sides and brushed her breasts. “I hate it when you make sense.”
“I’m nothing if not practical.”
“You’re beautiful, and tempting, and you smell really good.” He touched his forehead to hers. “I miss you already.”
“It’s okay if you miss me. I’m going to miss you, too.”
***
Ty stood in line with his mom for food at the rodeo’s covered fairgrounds. He nodded his head at a rafting guide he recognized from the Golden Rule standing in line for beer.
“I can’t believe they put kids on sheep,” Kerri Ann said. “Who knew that’s what mutton busting was?”
“I sure didn’t, but Jill said we’d like it.”
“It’s too bad she had to work.”
“I know, but she didn’t think it was fair for the workers with families to miss the rodeo.”
“She seems very dedicated to her job.”
“She’s not the type to half ass anything. If she’s going to do something, it’s going to be done right.”
Kerri Ann inched forward in line. “You know, Bryce and I bought that old cottage along the river in Sequoyah Falls.”
Ty stopped scanning the crowd and focused on his mother. “I heard. What for?”
“We’ve decided to open another restaurant. A fancy one.” At Ty’s lifted brows, Kerri Ann explained. “Why should folks have to go to Asheville every time they want a nice meal?”
Ty shrugged and let his mom continue. He knew better than to interrupt when she was trying to get something off her chest.
“So we bought that pretty little cottage. It’s structurally sound, it’s got three good sized rooms for intimate seating, and we thought we could have it open Thursdays through Sundays, when most folks want a nice evening out.”
“How do you plan to work both places?” he asked. His mom was running herself ragged between running The Pizza Den and raising his brothers.
“I’m going to need some help. I figured I’d have to hire someone from Asheville, but then we came here and met Jill.” She grabbed his arm and gave him a gentle squeeze. “I think your girlfriend would be the perfect candidate if you can talk her into coming back with you.”
“Mom…”
“I know it seems like I’m paving the way for you, but Bryce and I need some help with the restaurant. Your girlfriend has experience and the smarts to be a real asset.”
“I want her to come back to be with me, not because there’s a job waiting.”
“Tyler, a woman doesn’t pick up and move across the country for a job, certainly not for this job. If she comes, it’ll be for you, but this way she’ll have something to do when she gets there.”
“If I can get her there.”
“You will.”
Jesse walked up with Quinn on his shoulders. He plucked him off and plopped him on his feet by his mother. “What you been eating, boy?” Jesse asked. “Bricks?” He rubbed his lower back. “My back may never recover from hauling you around.”
“What are you doing putting him on your shoulders like that anyway?” Kerri Ann asked.
“Bryce lifted Brody up to see the barrel racing and Quinn wanted up, too. Believe me, it wasn’t my idea.”
“Next shoulder ride’ll be on mine,” Ty told Quinn. “The old man is getting too frail to carry a loaded six-year-old.”
“Mom, I wanna ride a bull when I get bigger.”
“Oh, brother.” Kerri Ann rolled her eyes. “I suppose you want a horse, too?”
“Can I?” His eyes lit up. “Can we get a horse?”
“Sure,” Kerri Ann said. “You can get a horse just as soon as I get a maid. How about that?”
Quinn looked up at Tyler. “She’s saying I can’t get a horse?”
Tyler squatted down and rubbed his hand over Quinn’s hair. “I think that’s what she’s saying.”
“Can you bring us a horse home, Ty? There’re lots of horses out here.”
Ty looked up at his mom. “I’ll try to bring something home. It won’t be a horse, but something just as wonderful.”
Chapter 32
Lyle entered The Tap at the end of the lunch rush and sauntered up to the bar. Jill was in a bad mood. She slammed dishes around in the bus bin with a scowl on her face.
“What’s up with you?” he asked.
“What does it look like?” She scanned the nearly empty restaurant behind her. “Meredith’s little girl is sick, so I was short a waitress and we were slammed. I’ll be lucky to have these dishes done by the dinner hour.”
“You doing dishes now?”
“No, but they can’t get done until I get them to the back.” She stopped piling plates into the bin and arched a brow at him. “Kitchen’s closed. If you want to visit, grab a bin from behind the bar and make yourself useful.”
“Nice to see you, too,” he grumbled as he got up and did as she said.
“So, besides the lunch mess, how are you?” He joined her at the large table in the back. “I didn’t see you at the rodeo.”
“Somebody had to work while everyone else had fun.”
“Why are you so cranky?”
“I’m not cranky.” To prove the opposite, she slammed the bin onto the table and began tossing dishes so carelessly he thought they might break. “How are you?” she asked. “How’s the book coming?”
“Slow. I keep having to stop and do research, which sends me off track. Plus, I’m in the running for a biography.”
“I didn’t think you wanted to write non-fiction?”
“Mom’s editor passed my name along to one of her friends who’s looking for a biographer for some young business phenom.”
“That sounds boring,” Jill admitted.
“It did to me at first, but here’s the best part. He’s –”
At the sound of a crash, Lyle followed Jill into the kitchen where Stevie stood staring at a potful of chili on the floor. “What happened?” Jill asked.
“I knocked it with my elbow and the whole damn thing spilled.” He lifted his feet and shook. “Got all over my new boots.”
Jill retrieved a mop from a storage closet and handed it to Stevie. “Good luck.”
Lyle followed her out of the kitchen after nodding at Stevie.
“I read your mom’s latest book,” Jill said as they grabbed new bins and went back out to the restaurant. “It was really good.”
“She’s already half way through the next one. I just can’t write that fast.”
“You will once you’ve been doing it as long as she has.”
“That’s what she says.”
“So,” he cleared his throat. “How are things with Tyler?”
>
Jill brought her gaze to his, her face a mask of suspicion. “Why do you ask?”
“I haven’t seen you around. Figured you’ve been busy with him.”
“I have. His parents are in town and his brothers and sisters are taking turns having sleepovers.”
“Hoping to make it into the rotation?”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Lyle. I’m ready to be the only one in the rotation.”
“Is this serious, Jill?”
She averted her eyes and dumped a bowl of chili into the bin. “It feels serious.”
“You know he goes home at the end of the summer.”
“Of course I know that. But that’s over a month from now.” She hefted the full bin in her arms. “I might be ready for him to go by then.”
“Jill.” Lyle placed his hand on her arm. “Who are you trying to convince? You or me?”
“Why are we talking about this? Why do you keep pushing and prodding me about him? Are you jealous?”
“No, but I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“You think he’s using me.”
“You don’t?”
“No. He’s not like that. What we have isn’t like that. I’ve spent all week with him and his family. We watched movies with the boys and I gave the girls a pedicure.”
“So what’s the end game? Have you talked about it? Has he ever brought up what happens when he goes home?”
Jill swallowed. “No.”
“Maybe you should,” Lyle suggested. “Bring it up, see what he says.”
“I don’t know.”
“You mean you don’t want to know.”
“Stop putting words in my mouth and stop putting pressure on me. I’m going to start nagging you about your book and see how you like it.”
“Okay, okay. I’m done for today.” He followed her into the kitchen, but when they came out, he didn’t pick up a fresh bin. He knew when he’d pushed her enough. “How’s the leg?”
“It’s good. I’ve decided to run in the qualifier in Denver in a couple of weeks.”
“I thought you were done?”
“I’ve been training on my own and I’ve shaved a couple of minutes off my time. I think I can do this, Lyle. I think I’ve got a shot.”
“Are you serious?”
“Serious enough to want to try.”
“Are you back with your dad?”
Her face fell and the scowl was back. “He’s training someone new. Some girl from New Mexico. He’s taking her to the qualifier.”
“You want to show him up,” Lyle guessed.
“I want to do my best. I’ve worked too hard for too long not to give it a shot.”
“What if you qualify?”
“I’m not going to play the ‘what if’ game. One race at a time.”
“You need a ride? I could do a little research in Denver.”
Her face turned pink. “Ty’s taking me.”
“Of course he is.” She was in way over her head and she refused to admit it. Trying to talk some sense into her wasn’t working. “I’d better go,” he said. “I’ve got work to do.”
“Good luck with that.”
***
Jill sat in her office staring at the spreadsheet she’d created for inventory. Despite the fiasco at lunch, things were under control. She got up and walked to the window. She was looking for Ty’s truck, or Ty’s boat, or anything of Ty’s. Seeing him every night and not being with him made her edgy and needy and as close to annoying as she’d ever been.
How had he turned her into a sex addict? She whipped around at the knock on her door. Ty popped his head inside and frowned at her empty desk.
“Hey,” she said.
His face lit up when he spotted her. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Without a word, he walked to her, turned her around, placed her against the desk, and ravished her mouth. She welcomed the invasion.
“Oh, God, Ty. I’ve missed this.”
“Does your door lock?”
“Yes, but…”
He reached over and snapped the lock in place. “Ty…”
“Tommy’s gone to Westmoreland. I just saw him pull out.”
“I know, but—”
He cut off her objections by drawing her shirt over her head. “I’ve got twenty minutes.”
“Ty, we can’t.” She pointed to the window. He reached behind and twisted the blinds closed.
“Yes, we can.” He unzipped her pants and groaned when he found her wet and ready. Something about the idea of doing it in the office, in the middle of the day when people milled all around them had her shivering in anticipation. “Hold on to me,” he said as he pushed her on top of the desk, freed himself, and plunged. He captured her cry with his mouth.
She gripped the edges of the desk and arched back, giving him access to her breasts. He used his teeth as he slapped against her again and again and again. She wasn’t sure how she’d explain the noises coming from her office, the screech of the desk against the floor and the slapping of flesh against flesh, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Hadn’t she just been brooding over not seeing him and lamenting her need when he’d burst into the office and met her demands as if he’d been summoned? He yanked her knees up and, with one final thrust, set them both free.
She sat up and tried to figure out if her legs would support her. She was still quaking and unsteady and a little embarrassed to be sprawled naked on her desk when he remained mostly dressed. Ty dropped his forehead to hers. “Jesus, Jill. I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait another second.”
“Don’t apologize. I was fanaticizing about pulling you into the storage shed and having my way with you.”
His eyes darkened and he gripped her head. “Don’t let me stop you. I love my family, but they’re killing me.”
“When do they leave?”
“Tomorrow.” He stepped back, tucked everything back into place, and gathered her clothes, but didn’t hand them to her. “You have no idea how sexy you look right now.”
She held out her hands for the clothes. “You’ve already had your way with me, Ty. You don’t have to use flattery.”
“You’re beautiful, Jill. You make me weak with wanting you.”
“Stop.”
“When they’re gone, I’m going to make love to you in every room of my house. I’ve got a full-length mirror in my closet and I’m going to show you how beautiful you are. How you look when you come.”
“Ty…”
“I know. I’ve gotta go.”
He kissed her and helped her into her clothes, running his fingers through her hair and planting a kiss on her nose. “That might get me through.”
“I’ll be here if you need me.”
With a grunt, he was gone.
Oh, boy. Jill gripped her chest and felt her heart beating a steady drum. If she couldn’t go a week without him, how in the world would she survive when he was gone?”
***
Ty dragged the last of Lita’s suitcases to the rental car. “Is this the last one?” Jesse asked. “Because if it’s not, I’m going to have to strap her to the top of the car.”
“She promised that was it, besides a small carry on bag.”
“Small my ass,” his dad mumbled as he hoisted her suitcase into the billowing SUV and held a hand to his back. “Son,” he slapped Ty on the shoulder, “a word to the wise. Women don’t pack light.”
“Speak for your own woman,” Bryce said as he wheeled out two medium sized suitcases and the boys followed with one each. “My woman is easier than yours.”
“Yeah,” Jesse agreed. “On just this one thing.”
“I can hear you,” Kerri Ann called from inside the foyer. “And we’d better get going if we’re going to make our flight.”
“Gather the troops,” Jesse shouted. “It’s time to get this show on the road.”
“I hope y’all had fun,” Ty said as they gathered around the cars.
“The boys haven’t stopp
ed talking about riding the horses and the four wheelers,” Kerri Ann said. “They can’t wait to get home and tell their friends.”
“I’ll email those pictures I took of us fishing,” Ty said.
“The girls miss you already.” Lita gathered Ty in her arms. “They love Jill and want you to bring her home.”
“I’m trying my best.”
“He’s set the bait,” Jesse said. “All he has to do now is reel her in. Nice and slow.”
“I’ve got a month to convince her she can’t live without me.”
“What if she won’t come?” Kerri Ann asked. “What will you do?”
“I don’t know,” Ty admitted with a clutch in his gut. “I really don’t.”
“She loves you, Ty.” Lita rubbed his arm. “I can tell by the way she looks at you.”
“I just hope love is enough. She’s got a lot going on. She’s running a qualifying race next week. I’m taking her to Denver. If she qualifies for the Olympic trials, she could be off on a quest that doesn’t include me.”
“Or she could be off on a quest that fulfills one part of her,” Jesse said. “Loving someone doesn’t mean giving up everything you want to accomplish with your life. Lita made big adjustments to live with me and start our family.”
“I’ve never regretted it.” She linked her arm through her husband’s.
“I’ll be asking her to make all the changes,” Ty said his greatest fear out loud. He’d be giving up nothing and getting the world if she moved across the country with him. “If she won’t move, I’ll have to consider my options.”
“Are you willing to do that?” Bryce asked. “Move out here? Make your life here?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’d have to consider it or I couldn’t ask her to do the same.”
Kerri Ann hugged him hard. “Work your magic. Talk to her about the restaurant. I don’t want you so far away.”
Chapter 33
Jill lay sprawled on Ty’s chest, her heart pounding, her body loose. “I loved your family, Ty, but I’m so glad they’re gone.”
“You and me both.” He rubbed her bottom. “I’m starving.”
She swatted his chest. “Is that all you think about? Sex and food?”
Mending the Line Page 19
