This whole idea just went from bad to worse. That didn’t keep him from opening his mouth and digging himself in even deeper.
“I’m not letting you take the bus. And not just because you don’t know where you are. The bus doesn’t even go near Jason’s. And if you did make it back to his place, you’d still have to wait outside. Now come on, hop in and I’ll give you a ride. Back to, uh, my place. Until Jason picks you up.”
He waited, holding his breath, until Jenny finally looked at him. Tyler breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her eyes were clear, no tears in sight. Had he been imagining it before? Maybe. But there was still a hint of sadness in the small smile she gave him when she hoisted the bag higher on her shoulder.
Unless he was imagining that, too.
“Are you sure it’s not a problem?”
“Yeah. Positive. I was just going to take a nap. You can hang out in the living room and watch television or something.”
She cocked her head to the side, studying him. He sensed her hesitation, her unwillingness to believe that she really wouldn’t be in the way, so he stepped back and pulled open the passenger door.
She still didn’t move, not right away. She kept watching him, her eyes seeing…what? What did she see? And what was going through her mind? Tyler had no idea but the look made him uncomfortable and he had to fight not to squirm under it.
Or was that just his own guilty conscience? Because yeah, the way she was looking at him? With her hair falling over one shoulder and those full lips pursed into a small smile? Jenny was cute. More than cute, actually. If it was anyone else, he’d be asking her for a date. More than a date. Hell, he’d be asking her to go back to his place, and not just to talk.
But this wasn’t anyone else. This was Jason’s sister. His teammate’s sister—which meant she was Off-Limits. With all capital letters. Period.
So yeah, he needed to stop thinking that way. Especially since he was taking her back to his place.
If she ever got into the car.
He opened the door wider and swept his hand out in a grand gesture, like he was offering her a ride in a splendid chariot or something. She tossed her head back and laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she stepped past him. She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, leaning in close enough that he could smell the faint fruity scent of her shampoo. The heat from her body brushed his and he nearly jumped back in surprise.
Not from her being so close, but from the way his own body reacted. The way his blood heated and his body tightened, the way his pulse kicked up a notch.
Fuck. Not good. So not good.
“You’re sure it’s not a problem?”
Tyler cleared his throat and nodded, wondering if his smile looked as stiff as it felt. As stiff as certain other parts of his body were turning. “Yeah. No problem.”
She leaned in closer and for one horrifying second, Tyler thought she was going to do something stupid—like kiss him. But she only squeezed his arm and offered him another bright smile before stepping away and climbing into the SUV.
He slammed the door closed, probably a little harder than he meant to, and walked around to the other side.
This was Jason’s sister. All he was doing was taking her back to his place until her brother picked her up. That was it. Nothing more than helping a teammate out.
Yes, that’s all it was. He was helping a teammate out, nothing more.
Now all he had to do was keep reminding himself of that—and keep telling himself that anything else was a bad idea.
Chapter Two
Jenny heaved a sigh of boredom and tossed the remote to the side. There was absolutely nothing on television worth watching. Not that it mattered, since she was afraid to turn the volume up past a barely audible whisper since Tyler was taking a nap.
She shifted on the leather sofa, turning her head so she could peer down the hall. The bedroom door was still closed. That didn’t stop her from thinking about Tyler spread out in his bed. It was probably a king size one, too. It had to be, with his height. Did he sleep on his side, curled up? Or maybe he slept on his back, with those strong arms and long legs spread out, taking up the whole mattress.
Did he sleep in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt? Or in the nude?
Heat filled her face and she looked away, as if she had been caught peeking. That didn’t stop the images of Tyler, naked and laying spread-eagle on his bed, from filling her mind. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the sofa, waving a hand in front of her face. She shouldn’t be thinking of him like that.
She shouldn’t be thinking of him at all. Hadn’t she learned her lesson this past year? That’s why she was here, living with her brother: to escape what had happened.
But Tyler was so attractive, how could she not think about him like that? Tall, with thick black hair that hung past his neck. A firm square jaw, its pure masculine strength emphasized by the dark scruff covering it.
Broad shoulders. Broad chest. Strong, large hands. Trim waist and lean hips. And his legs. Long, powerful. She’d had no trouble at all seeing how strong and muscled his thighs were through the soft denim of his jeans. And yes, she’d even managed a peek—or twelve—at his ass. Firm, rounded, muscular. Her fingers curled, tracing the imaginary line of his ass. It had been so tempting to reach out, to touch and squeeze and see if his ass really was as firm as it looked.
She opened her eyes and straightened with a small laugh. Wouldn’t that have gone over well? Tyler probably would have turned around and run off in the opposite direction if she had done that.
It didn’t matter. She could look—and fantasize—all she wanted, but Tyler was off-limits. Not just because he was one of her brother’s teammates, although that had a lot to do with it.
No, he was a hockey player. And Jenny had sworn off hockey players. She’d been burned three times before: once, when she was barely sixteen. That had been with one of her brother’s teammates, too, and look how that had turned out: she had thought she’d been in love. And maybe she had been—but he certainly wasn’t. The experience had left her heartbroken.
One would think she’d have learned her lesson all those years ago but nope, not her. She’d gone and done it again, two years later. Another hockey player, another heartbreak. Well, maybe not heartbreak—the relationship hadn’t lasted that long. She’d sworn right then and there that she was done. No more hockey players, period.
Except somewhere along the line, she must have decided that the third time was the charm. A little over a year ago, she got involved with yet another hockey player. This one wasn’t Jason’s teammate, but he did play in the minor leagues. Jason’s team had probably even played against him.
And it turned out that the third time was most definitely not a charm. Nope. In her case, it was three strikes and she was out.
At least she hadn’t fallen in love. Not really. If only she had been able to see how controlling the guy really was. How insecure and demanding.
How vindictive and spiteful.
But she didn’t see it, not until it was too late. And that relationship had been the worse one yet.
Worse than worse.
Rage swept through her, followed by mortification over what he’d done.
Slut.
Whore.
Jenny pushed the hateful words to the back of her mind, tried to pretend they didn’t matter. The relationship had ended—no, not ended, imploded—ten months ago. Ten months, and she was still feeling the repercussions. And she was so worried that it would never die down, no matter what she did. That’s why she moved down here—to get away from it all. Nobody knew her here, nobody except Jason and Zach. York, Pennsylvania, wasn’t like her small hometown in Maine where everyone knew everybody else. She could blend in here, disappear.
Try to forget.
But God, she hated it. Hated running away. Hated having to rely on Jason. Hated feeling like a burden.
Hated knowing that no matter where she went,
one tiny little mistake could follow her forever.
She sighed and drew her knees up to her chest. It didn’t matter how gorgeous Tyler was, or how much she was attracted to him, or even if she had a tiny little crush on him. She couldn’t allow anything to happen. Not that he was interested but still…no, nothing would happen. He was a hockey player.
And she didn’t have time for anything to happen.
Except she had all the time in the world, especially since she didn’t have a job yet. She had three interviews today at different stores in the Galleria: one for a sales clerk, one for a stock position, and one—the one she was most qualified for, the one she really wanted——for an assistant manager of a chain clothing boutique.
She’d settle for any of the positions from today—or any of the others she had already applied for. Anything, just to feel like she was doing something as she tried to take back control of her life.
So no—no matter how hot Tyler was, it was strictly a case of look but don’t touch. She didn’t think he was like Viktor but she couldn’t be sure because she didn’t know him that well. And she couldn’t trust her own judgement, not anymore. Not after what Viktor had done.
Except it had been ten long months and Tyler was so gorgeous. Would it really hurt, just to sample a small taste?
And oh God, what was she thinking? No, absolutely not. She could not think like that, couldn’t even afford to pretend to think like that. No matter how much—
She heard the muffled sound of footsteps against the thick carpeting and turned on the sofa, her eyes widening at the sight of Tyler shuffling up the short hall toward her. His thick hair was tousled, his lids half-lowered over dark, sleepy eyes. He paused and ran a hand over his broad chest, which caused the hem of the thin t-shirt to lift. Her mouth dried as she caught a glimpse of smooth skin pulled tight over the hard muscle of defined abs.
Smooth skin broken only by a thin line of dark hair that disappeared in the waistband of the loose gym shorts riding low on his lean hips.
Jenny blinked, her face heating as her gaze travelled down his sturdy legs, taking in the long muscles of strong thighs, lightly dusted with dark hair. Even his bare feet were sexy. Since when did she ever notice a man’s feet? Since never, that’s when.
She tore her gaze away, forcing herself to look anywhere else. At the generic prints scattered on the wall behind him. At the small dinette table with its two chairs and pile of mail sitting on top of a dark green placemat. At the television, its screen now dark because she had turned it off.
Anywhere except at Tyler.
Oh God, she was in so much trouble.
Look but don’t touch? No, she couldn’t even do that, not when the simple act of just looking made her want to do so much more.
She tightened her arms around her bent legs and prayed her thoughts weren’t showing on her face, especially when Tyler moved closer to the sofa and looked down at her, a sleepy frown on his face.
“Nothing from Jason?”
Jenny shook her head then reached for the phone next to her. She tapped the screen and tilted it toward Tyler. “No. Nothing. I called, left a few voicemails, sent him a few texts. Nothing. I don’t know where he is.”
Tyler grunted then stepped away from the sofa. “Why didn’t you watch some television?”
“I didn’t want to disturb you while you were sleeping.”
He grunted again then walked toward the kitchen. Jenny tilted her head back, her gaze falling on his tight ass as he disappeared around the corner. She jerked back and looked away, her face heating when he stopped and turned toward her. The frown reappeared on his face and she held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t say anything.
Hoping he hadn’t caught her staring.
“You want anything to drink?”
“Um—”
“Water? Tea? Juice?”
“Uh, water. Please.”
He grunted again, the sound a little hoarse and thick with sleep. Jenny tried to swallow back the laugh but it broke free. She clapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as they met Tyler’s.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re not really a morning person, are you? Well, not morning but a—I guess a wake-up person.”
Tyler stood there for a long second, his dark eyes fixed on hers. Then his lips curled into a full smile, the left side a little lower, a little deeper, as a small dimple appeared in his cheek. Jenny bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from sighing and shifted on the sofa, squeezing her legs tighter together.
Like that would help.
Look but don’t touch. Look but don’t touch.
Tyler seemed completely oblivious to the inferno of sudden need raging through her. He leaned against the doorway, his strong body relaxed, the smile still in place.
“Fifty-fifty. But yeah, I might be a little groggier than normal. I’ll be better after I do some yoga.”
Was her mouth hanging open in surprise? Yeah, probably. And wasn’t that such a great way to make a good impression? She closed her mouth and hoped she sounded nonchalant when she spoke. “Yoga?”
“Yeah. Yoga.”
“You actually do yoga?”
Tyler stepped into the kitchen, his voice raised so she could hear him. “Yeah, for about five years now. Helps me stay limber. Helps with my focus.”
He came out of the kitchen with two water bottles in his hand. He closed the distance, stopping to lean against the arm of the sofa after handing her one of the bottles. He uncapped his, took a long swallow, then smiled down at her.
“You’ve never done yoga before?”
Her? Yoga? She laughed and shook her head. “Uh, no, I haven’t.”
“You should try it. It’s very relaxing. Helps clear your mind.” He took another sip of water then capped the bottle. “Come on, I can show you some moves.”
Jenny blinked, not sure she heard him correctly. But no, she had. He was still standing there, his dark eyes twinkling as he watched her. “You mean now?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Why not? Because she was uncoordinated. Because all the athletic genes had gone to Jason. Because she didn’t want to embarrass herself.
She glanced down at the gray slacks and black sweater she was wearing, then looked back up and shook her head. “I can’t. I’m not dressed for it.”
“Your pants are loose enough and I’ll give you one of my t-shirts.”
Oh God, why did the thought of wearing one of his shirts send little shivers of excitement dancing through her? “I-I can’t. I’m not even wearing the right kind of shoes and—”
“You don’t need shoes.” Tyler stepped toward her and reached for her hand, tugging her from the sofa. “Just a few basic moves. Thirty minutes, tops, because I have to get to the arena for the game.”
Jenny thought about arguing, thought about tugging her hand from his. But she didn’t. She didn’t want to, not when his hand engulfed hers. Warm, solid. And definitely more thrilling than it should be. So she let him lead her back to the spare room, not surprised to see it filled with weights and other workout gear.
He dropped her hand and moved over to a small stand holding an audio system. He hit a button and soft music filled the room. No, not music. It was…Jenny wasn’t sure what it was called, just a subtle mix of some kind of instrumental music and the sounds of gently running water that reminded her of the one time she had gone for a massage.
Tyler tossed a grin over his shoulder then left the room, coming back a minute later with a shirt in his hand. He handed it to her with another smile. “Put this on and then we can get started.”
Jenny stood there, staring down at the shirt in her hand, wondering how this had even happened. She should say no. She could say no. But part of her wanted to try, wanted Tyler to show her a few moves.
But it wasn’t yoga moves she had in mind. And what she had in mind had nothing to do with needing to relax or focus.
She disappeared into the bathroom and quickly changed
out of her sweater. Tyler’s shirt was soft, holding the faint scent of laundry detergent and something else. His own scent? Another shiver went through her and she shook her head, catching her reflection in the mirror. Color filled her cheeks and her eyes glittered with excitement. Oh no, this was a bad sign. How could she be getting so excited over this?
Well, okay, she knew the answer to that. But she shouldn’t be. She needed to remember what Viktor had done, needed to remember why she came here to stay with Jason.
Remembering didn’t help, not when those memories were overshadowed with the image of Tyler’s dark eyes and dimpled smile.
Look but don’t touch. Look but don’t touch.
No, this was a bad idea. Such a bad idea. She needed to tell Tyler that she’d just wait. Maybe watch.
Or maybe even watching was a bad idea. Yeah, it probably was.
So she’d just tell him she’d wait in the living room. Then she could call Jason and tell him—
Tell him what? He couldn’t come pick her up, not now, not when he had to get ready for the game. Great. So how was she supposed to get home? The only other option would be for her to go to the arena then go home with Jason after the game.
Not exactly how she had planned to spend her night.
She frowned at her reflection in the mirror then left the bathroom, ready to tell Tyler she had changed her mind. But her mind went completely blank, her tongue stuck to the roof of her suddenly-dry mouth as she stumbled to a stop in the doorway.
Tyler was on the floor, his legs spread in front of him. He was bent at the waist, his chest practically touching the floor. It wasn’t him being bent over that made her heart slam into her chest. It wasn’t even the fact that he had shed his shirt and was completely bare from the waist up—although she was certain the heat filling her might have been from that.
No, it was the way his legs were stretched out to either side. Out wide to the side. Unnaturally wide, like some kind of acrobatic split. Thoughts whirled through her mind, none of them innocent.
What could a man that flexible be capable of doing in—
No. No, she could not think like that. She couldn’t. Absolutely not.
Playing For Keeps: A York Bombers Hockey Romance (The York Bombers Book 3) Page 2
