No Other Way: Sparks in Texas, book 4

by Mari Carr

  “You shouldn’t have?” Tyson’s confused tone proved he was as befuddled as Caleb. “What the hell are you talking about, Harley? I kissed you.”

  Her brows furrowed and it was obvious she believed she’d initiated the kiss. Caleb had been there, had witnessed the whole damn thing, and in truth, he didn’t have a clue who started it. As far as he was concerned, that part didn’t matter. What happened after was what mattered.

  That, and what happened right now. They were walking on paper-thin ice.

  “I reached out for you, Ty,” she tried to explain. “You guys had come there to comfort me and I took advantage of your kindness.”

  Caleb snorted. “Jesus, Harley. If anyone took advantage of the situation, it was us. You were mourning for your brother and we came at you like a couple dogs in heat.”

  She shook her head, but he cut her off with the wave of his hand. Rising from the recliner, Caleb walked over to her, perching on the edge of the coffee table and reaching for her hands. “Can we just say we were all in a bad place and we did something out of character, unexpected? Let’s accept that we’re all sorry and move on.”

  She smiled, the look so sweet, so Harley, that Caleb was hard-pressed not to use the grip he had on her hand to pull her into his lap and give her something else unexpected.

  “I’d like that,” she said. “I was so worried you guys would,” she shrugged, “I don’t know, be so afraid of me and my particular brand of crazy that you’d stay away. I can’t tell you what it meant to me when you showed up at Granddad’s house the other night. By the way, you got there about five minutes after me,” she joked.

  “It’s Maris, darlin’,” Caleb said. “The second you crossed the town line, the birds chirped out in Morse code to let us all know.”

  She laughed. “It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if they did, but I think we all know Eugene called his mother to say I stopped in for gas.”

  Tyson remained quiet as Caleb and Harley argued over who the bigger gossip was, Eugene’s mother or Tyson’s Uncle TJ. When his silence lingered too long, Caleb looked over, suddenly concerned Tyson wasn’t as willing to put the past away as he’d expected.

  “Ty?” Harley prompted.

  Tyson’s expression was strangely impassive, as if his friend was working overtime to shield his feelings. Typically, the man was an open book, compassionate, funny, honest. Caleb could read everything in Tyson’s eyes. Seeing nothing on Tyson’s face was slightly unnerving. “If everything is cool between us, there’s no reason you can’t move in here.”

  And just like that, Caleb realized that nothing was settled between them. They could understand the circumstances, apologize and forgive each other for their actions, but they couldn’t wipe away the end result.

  Caleb wanted to kiss Harley again. He wanted to do a hell of a lot more than kiss her. And he didn’t doubt for a second Tyson wanted the same.

  Glancing at Harley, Caleb felt a sharp stab in his gut as he saw the same desire in her face.

  Fuck. This whole situation would be easier if she didn’t want them. If she wanted to keep them in the friend zone. Knowing Harley shared the same hunger, the same lust…

  Caleb swallowed heavily, fighting to ignore the throbbing in his pants and how hard he had to tense his muscles to keep from moving toward her.

  “Tyson,” Harley began, clearly ready to launch into her arguments against that idea.

  Tyson didn’t give her a chance. “It’s a huge house, Harl. Four bedrooms, three and a half baths. It was too big for me when I bought it, which is why I invited Caleb to live here.”

  Tyson bought the house three months after setting up his practice in Maris following his graduation from med school. Caleb had told him he was a fool to keep piling on the debt—the guy had already been swimming in college loans—but Tyson said he was ready to start the next chapter in his life. And that chapter didn’t include him living with his parents.

  Caleb couldn’t fault that reasoning, especially not when Tyson said he could actually help him conquer some of the debt by renting a room until one of them found a wife and started yet another chapter. The house really was too much for one person. Or even two.

  But three…

  Three might be the perfect fit.

  Jesus. What was he thinking? He was as against this as Harley. Or…at least he should be.

  “Come here. I’ll show you.” Tyson took her hand and tugged her from the couch. They walked down the hall together, still hand in hand, as Caleb followed them. Tyson stopped just outside a closed door, and it was obvious this was the room his friend hoped Harley would move into. The one directly across the hall from Tyson’s room and next door to his. If his friend had any sense of self-preservation, he would have offered her the sizable loft upstairs, the one that put some distance between them and the object of their temptation.

  Up until that moment, Caleb had always considered Tyson the smart one in their group.

  So much for that theory.

  Tyson opened the door, revealing a treadmill, some weight equipment and a few boxes of Christmas decorations they’d been too lazy to lug back to the garage.

  It was clearly an extra bedroom they’d made the junk room. But it was a nice size and it had its own connecting bathroom, one that was rarely used.

  “You can have this room.”

  Harley looked around at the space to humor them, but she wasn’t about to give up the fight. “What about all this stuff?”

  Tyson was more than prepared to lob back every volley. “There’s room in the garage for all of it.”

  “But this is your work-out room,” she said.

  “Me and Cal have been talking about converting the loft into a real workout space. We’re going to move the treadmill and weights up there. Add a stationary bike or rowing machine, hook up a TV. Stuff like that.”

  They’d never discussed doing that. Not once. But Caleb didn’t correct Tyson.

  “The truth is, I was looking at the smaller, cheaper places on the west side of town. Until I get my new business off the ground, I don’t have a lot of money for rent.”

  Tyson tilted his head and let her know in no uncertain terms with his bored expression that was her weakest argument yet. “Rent is completely negotiable. Pay what you can afford. Or pay nothing at all.”

  “Tyson, I wouldn’t do that.”

  Tyson reclaimed her hand. “Why do you want to move away from the farm?”

  “I miss Johnnie. It was easier to put that feeling away in Florida because he’d never been there. At the farm, it’s like I see him in every room, I hear his wheelchair around every corner. It’s my home. It always will be, but I need to create something new, something different, for myself.”

  “Like the new business?” Caleb asked. She had mentioned it twice now, but Tyson had a one-track mind, only concerned about changing her living situation.

  “I want to open a music shop, give guitar and banjo lessons. I talked to Aunt Ginny about it. And Granddad. They both said they would go in as investors, help me set it up. I saved every dime I made working for my aunt in Florida, but it’s not enough. I told them I’d prefer to think of their investments as a loan, something I’d pay back. They agreed, but…” She smiled.

  “They only said yes to that so you’d go ahead with the plan. Neither one of them will take their money back.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I’m worried about. That, and what if the store fails before I can pay them back. It’s one thing to lose your own money, but to lose theirs… I couldn’t live with myself. Granddad tried to convince me the money was already mine, my inheritance and,” she swallowed heavily, “and the money I would have already earned if I’d gone to college and started a career.”

  Harley had sacrificed all of that to stay home to care for Johnnie. Gave up on pursuing job offers and earning her own money in order to help her family. Caleb knew her granddad, knew he was aware of everything she’d done, and appreciated that he now had a way to pay
her back.

  “I want to invest in the store too,” Caleb said, wanting to ensure Harley had a real shot at achieving her dreams.

  “Wait. What? No. That’s not what I was asking.”

  “I know that,” Caleb said, “but Maris needs what you’re planning. It’s pretty sad that Ty’s Collective is all this town has in the way of music. I’ll even join you in the venture, so you can add fiddle and mandolin lessons to the list of classes you offer.”

  “I like that,” Tyson said. “Count me in too. I don’t have a whole lot of spare time for lessons, but I’d love to contribute some funds.”

  Harley was shaking her head. “Did you hear what I just said? The store could fail. I’m not looking to take everyone I love down with me.”

  Tyson crossed his arms. “It’s not going to fail. I can already give you a list of names of people who’ve approached me over the past couple of years to ask for guitar lessons. Most of them are driving all the way to Douglas for their instruments and instruction. This is a great idea, Harley.”

  She stopped refusing when she heard about the potential interest. “Really? You think folks would come to me for lessons instead?”

  “You’re part of Ty’s Collective. Let’s face it, we’re Maris musical legends,” Tyson joked.

  “In his mind,” Caleb added, chuckling. “There are plenty of people in town looking for what you’d be offering. Trust me.”

  Their reassurances must have convinced her to move on with her plans. “Cool. Like I said, I’ve spent a couple of days looking at property, but there was a part of me that was still hesitant to sign anything or move forward. Now,” she bit her lower lip before her smile grew, “dammit, I think I’m going for it.”

  “Bugsy show you anything good?” Caleb asked.

  She nodded. “Yeah. There’s one place that might work. It’s a little bit off the beaten path, but—”

  Caleb cut her off. “No. Don’t sign anything yet. There’s a place two doors down from Logan’s shop that’s going to be open in less than a month. Jill Prescott is moving her beauty shop to a larger place on Hiatt Street.”

  Logan owned his own woodworking shop. He sold his creations in the front room while building some of the most amazing furniture in the back. Caleb and Tyson had purchased several of his pieces when they’d moved in here, including the cherry dining room set and the oak coffee table he’d just been sitting on.

  Harley’s eyes widened. “Jill’s shop is moving? She has one of the best locations on Main.”

  Caleb appreciated her excitement. Jill’s place was perfect for what Harley had in mind. Nestled between several other prosperous businesses and in the heart of the town, she’d be in a great position to lure in locals and tourists alike. “Yeah, but her clientele is well established and growing. She didn’t have room for another chair in addition to the three she had, so we found her a larger place to rent.”

  Harley grinned. “One of these days we’re going to pull out a map of Maris, and I want you two to highlight all the places your families own.”

  Tyson chuckled. “The Sparks’ family only owns the restaurant, the hardware store and the bakery. Cal’s family is hogging all the rest.”

  “Just hold off putting your name on any other place. I’ll call Bugsy in the morning and let him know we want the store on Main.”

  “We?” she asked.

  “Only condition that comes with landing that store is you let me invest.”

  Harley rolled her eyes. “Is this you playing hardball?”

  It probably meant he had the mentality of a teenage boy, but hearing Harley say the words “hard” and “ball” sent his mind straight to the gutter. “I just think the music store is a great idea. I really want to be a part of it.”

  She smiled. “Okay. I’d like that. It adds all sorts of pressure for me to succeed, but I can handle it, I guess.”

  “So it’s settled,” Tyson said. “You’re moving in here and opening your own business.”

  Harley flashed Caleb an exasperated grin before honing back in on Tyson. “Did you really think you could slip that by me so easily?”

  Tyson shrugged. “Hoped I could. Still haven’t heard any good reason why you shouldn’t move in here.”

  Those kisses. And what hadn’t happened after.

  Once the idea of what they’d missed popped into Caleb’s mind, it took root. Something told him his friends thought of the same reason as well. The kiss was a precursor and if the timing hadn’t sucked, if Harley hadn’t cut and run…

  Well, Caleb couldn’t help but wonder what would have come next.

  But none of them said it aloud. Harley and Tyson simply held each other’s gazes like middle schoolers in a stare-down…and then she sighed.

  “Fine. But I want a lease, and I’m definitely paying rent. How do you guys deal with groceries and stuff?”

  “We have a food fund.”

  She nodded. “Then I’ll chip in on that, and utilities and stuff too.”

  Outwardly, Caleb had watched the entire roommate conversation like a disinterested third party. Tyson hadn’t asked his opinion about her moving in and he hadn’t offered it. They’d been friends long enough that he could have come right out and said no at any point and they would have listened to his arguments, would have respected his feelings. But he’d pled the fifth, letting his silence be interpreted as his tacit agreement.

  Because he did want her to move in.

  Even though he knew it was a big fucking mistake.

  Tyson walked over and peeked into one of the boxes to see what was inside. “We can have this room cleared out by tomorrow night.”

  Harley laughed. “You don’t have to move that fast. I need to figure out furniture and stuff.”

  “How long will that take?” Caleb asked.

  “I don’t know. Not long.”

  “This weekend,” Caleb said. “We’ll move you in this weekend.”

  Now that the decision had been made, he didn’t want to wait. Maybe he’d sleep better with her under the same roof. He had to hold back the snort that thought inspired.

  Jesus.

  He had just basically insured he’d never sleep again.

  And for some insane reason, that thought didn’t bother him at all.

  Chapter Five

  Harley looked out across the packed barn and laughed. “I think we’ve managed to fit every single person in Maris into this place.”

  Tyson was tuning his guitar, getting ready to play their second set. He followed the direction of her gaze. “Yeah. Think we have.”

  Not quite two weeks had passed since her return and her life had been a whirlwind since then. Several of the pieces of her previous life had fallen right back into place. She and her father were still giving each other a wide berth, and she had fielded no less than a dozen phone calls from her mother, who once again longed to leave Art, the asshole. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. At least, as far as her parents were concerned.

  As for the band, she, Tyson, Caleb and Logan had gotten together several times to practice, and that was one piece she was glad to see return. When she looked back at her life, the times she was the happiest were when she was on stage with them, making music, escaping in the lyrics, finding their harmonies, creating something special.

  With Ty’s Collective, she could just get lost for a little while. The world drifted away and nothing mattered except the music. There was no denying it was the guys in the band who had kept her sane all these years…even though lately, two of them were driving her crazy in a good, horrible, constantly horny way.

  Despite Tyson and Caleb’s best efforts, moving her in with them didn’t happen as quickly as they’d hoped. In fact, they’d only just managed to move the majority of her stuff this morning. Tonight would be her first night in her new place, as their roommate.

  As far as life decisions went, that was probably her dumbest. And it annoyed her to recall the token resistance she’d put up. She s
hould have just said no flat out. No question, no debate, just no thanks.

  Instead, she’d given them a couple lame-ass excuses and then crumbled like a house of cards.

  How the hell was she supposed to live with Tyson and Caleb as just friends, just roommates? While she’d left town to mourn Johnnie, another big part of her had used that time to try to get over her infatuation, her sudden obsession, her complete attraction, her deep feelings. Jesus, she didn’t have enough names for what she felt.

  For her two best friends.

  So much for that. She’d been back in Maris less than an hour before they’d arrived at the farm. She’d run straight into their arms, and any hope she’d had that those kisses were a fluke or something she had built up in her mind faded. Now all she could think about was kissing them again.

  And again.

  And then doing a lot more than kissing.

  It would have been easier to dismiss the idea of sleeping with both of them as complete insanity if she hadn’t run into Jeannette, Diego and Luc at Sparks Barbeque three days ago.

  She’d popped in to pick up some lunch, looking forward to getting back into the local social scene. She had missed so many people in Maris, and it was pretty much guaranteed most of them would be at the restaurant. Mainly because a lot of them worked there. Harley had grown up with Tyson’s cousins, and she called them friends. While she had enjoyed the time in Florida, she had longed for some female companionship—with women her own age.

  Macie had been behind the bar. Two seconds after she’d walked into the place, she had found herself wrapped up in a huge embrace by the vivacious bartender. And then Adele. And then Tyson’s kid sister, Paige, and finally Jeannette, who’d come out of the kitchen when she’d heard all the loud squeals and laughter.

  Luc and Diego, Maris’ two hunky firefighters, were sitting at the counter. Jeannette, who had always been so shy and quiet, walked over to them, planting a sultry kiss on Luc and then an equally hot one on Diego.

  Macie had laughed at Harley’s shell-shocked expression, and then explained the threesome were an item.