Full Potential: (A Heart of Seeton Novel)

by L. J. Kentowski

  “Girlfriend, this is me you’re talking to. I know Steve Duncan, and he is not marriage potential, especially for you. You’d drive him insane.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means he’s an anal stay at home and read books to his cats guy and you’re a crazy, let’s ride the mechanical bull girl. There’s no way he’d be able to handle you.”

  “But what if I want to be a stay at home with the man and read to our cats kind of girl now?”

  Somehow, Riley managed to get that eyebrow up even higher.

  “Well, I could be.”

  “No, you couldn’t. You should be you. There are plenty of men out there who would love to be your potential if you’d give them half the chance. And by plenty of men out there, I mean here too, like in this bar…with an I Put Out t-shirt on.”

  “Oh, my God, Riles. We talked about this. Tyler is not potential. Not for me anyway.”

  “I’m simply saying he could be. He’s potential potential.”

  Jena drummed her fingers on the bar. “Just give me another martini, would you? I’d like to go back to celebrating if you don’t mind. Talking about my love life is like crapping all over this party.”

  “Fine, but you’re going to have to fess up to him one of these days.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Tyler’s one of the good ones, and he doesn’t deserve to be lied to. I’d be telling him the same thing if the tables were turned. Now, I’m going to make your drink while you sit here and think about your actions, young lady. When I come back, you’d better damn well have a smile on your face.”

  Riley left, and Jena did as she was told. She thought about the knee-jerk reaction she’d had with Tyler and felt like an asshole about it. Her friend’s lecture helped come to that conclusion, but it wasn’t the only reason. While she didn’t know Tyler well, her gut told her he really was one of the good ones. That precise truth made it harder to resist him, and she had to resist him because getting her heart caught up with someone who lived hundreds of miles away was not an option.

  Okay, so she’d come clean with him, tell him they could be friends, but nothing more. Being connected through Riley and Dax, they’d probably see each other for the rest of their lives. The contact was inevitable. She simply needed to make sure it stayed platonic.

  Glancing down the bar, she watched Tyler sitting with Dax and Wade at the other end. His gaze found hers and steeled before looking away. He knew she had lied. She needed to explain herself soon. Maybe tomorrow when they were both sober. She hoped Riley had an extra pair of big girl panties she could borrow for the occasion.

  Ivy Cole, Tyler’s cousin, blew in and plopped down on the stool next to Jena. “Hey, girl. I heard you were back in town. I’m glad you’re here.”

  Jena peeked over a shoulder, checking to see if anyone was behind her. The last time she was in town with Riley, Ivy wasn’t shy about her contempt for the two outsiders. The girl had a mother hen complex with Dax, and Jena had nearly come to blows with her for being so bitchy with Riley.

  “You’re glad I’m here?” Shit, she’d caught the Seeton repeater affliction.

  “Yes, you. I love Riley and all, but she’s driving me nuts with this wedding stuff. She had me trying on a bunch of bridesmaid dresses a few weeks ago, and by a bunch, I mean the entire store. Well, except for the fuchsia number with gaudy flowers poking everywhere. I refused to try that one on.”

  Jena laughed.

  Obviously, Riley and Ivy had come a long way. Despite how happy she was her friend had found someone to lean on while in town, Jena couldn’t hold back the green-eyed monster. It had always been the two of them working, confiding, laughing, crying, riding the tides of life together. Then she’d pulled the shitty compadre card and left Riley to fend for herself.

  And cue the guilt.

  Where was Riley with her drink? Maybe she’d bring two. Along with a shot.

  “I heard you guys found one,” Jena said.

  “Yeah, but she wanted to see what you thought before pulling the plug.”

  Crap, had she known Riley was patiently waiting all this time for her? She couldn’t remember. It was confirmed; she had to be the worst human being ever. Liar, shitty friend, loser with no ambition in life. Riles was right. She’d give Steve Duncan an aneurysm if they seriously dated.

  Jena put her head on the bar and groaned.

  “Hey,” Ivy said, tone soothing while she rubbed a hand on her back. “It’s not bad, really. I mean, I’m not a dress kinda girl either, but the one she picked out is pretty cool.”

  Twisting her head, Jena peered up. “It’s not that. I’ve been a terrible friend. I should have been here for her.”

  Ivy’s mouth pinched to the side. “Yeah, you should have.”

  There was the girl she’d met the first time around—blunt, with a side of brutal honesty.

  “Look, I don’t know what kept you away. I’ve heard rumors, but I learned long ago to go to the source for the truth. I also understand that shit happens, and you move on. You’ll never go forward if you dwell on the past. You’re here now, Jena, and that’s all that matters. So, pick your head up, leave the pity party, and woman up. Be the maid of honor Riley deserves. And if you avoided coming back because my douchebag cousin did something douchebaggie, say the word. I’d love to kick his ass again.”

  Jena straightened on her stool. “You kicked Tyler’s ass?” Why this surprised her, she didn’t know. Ivy seemed pretty badass.

  “Well, it was when we were kids, and I’m pretty sure he let me. But let’s just say, my aunt had to buy bags of frozen peas, and Tyler was walking funny for about a week.”

  “I knew deep down I liked you.” Her features softened as she met Ivy’s gaze. “Thank you. For everything. For being here when I wasn’t, and for this.” She waggled a finger between them.

  “Don’t mention it. Well, except for what I told you about me kicking Tyler’s ass. You can mention that anywhere and everywhere.”

  The two women were laughing when Riley came over and set a martini in front of Jena. “That’s what I wanted to see. Hey, Ivy, glad you made it. Beer for you?”

  “Yeah, I’ll take one. I can’t stick around long, though.” Her eyes darted in the direction of Tanner at the end of the bar by Dax, Wade, and Tyler.

  “Figured that,” Riley said, handing her a beer.

  Jena remembered Riley mentioning some tension between Ivy and Tanner a while back, but she’d never gotten the full story.

  “So, when can we go see the dress, Riles?” Jena asked.

  She straightened behind the bar, her eyes twinkling, and a cheesy smile lighting up her face. “Look at you, all ready to get right into the wedding plans.”

  “Well, yeah.”

  The three of them discussed further ideas to prepare for the upcoming wedding, which led to one of Riley’s infamous napkin checklists of things to do for the next week or two. Ivy left after a few beers, or rather when Jena noticed Tanner flirting with a blond at the corner of the bar. Riley went off to transfer the napkin list to an actual sheet of paper, and Jena was left sitting alone, milking what she vowed would be her last drink. Glancing over, she noticed Tyler and Wade still at the end of the bar. Dax, MIA, was probably in the back helping Riley with her checklist. Again, Tyler caught her gaze. This time, he held onto it while lifting a beer to his lips and chugging some down, seemingly daring her to be the first to look away, which she did because guilt told her to.

  “Face it, ladies. I’m older, and I have a fire crotch.”

  Jena’s head snapped to the side. Three women, all about fifty, sat a few stools over. Full beers waited in front of each of them, and another in line, as if they needed assurance their consumption would be steady and constant.

  “Please, you need to get with the times, Kasey,” the woman sitting in the middle of the three said. “Men like a woman’s fortress smooth and unguarded.”

  The one closest to Jena shook he
r head. “Well, it isn’t much of a fortress if you leave your drawbridge down all the time, is it Gillian?”

  Gillian backhanded the woman chuckling next to her in the arm.

  Jena downed the rest of her martini and stood, propping her purse on a shoulder. Overhearing the conversation was a clear sign she needed to put the night to rest. She was about to seek Riley out to say goodbye but realized Tyler was on a direct path to the backroom, so she decided to lean against the bar and wait until her friend returned.

  “You out of here too?” Wade had walked up from behind.

  She turned to face him. “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

  “Want me to walk out with you?”

  “Nah. I’m staying upstairs, so I don’t have far to go. Just waiting to say goodbye to Riley. But, thank you.”

  “Okay, well, no power-walking up there, or I’ll be forced to write you a ticket, speed racer.”

  “You got it, officer,” she said, giggling.

  His features warmed as he put a hand on her arm. “It was nice meeting you, Jena. See you around.”

  “Nice meeting you too, Wade.”

  Once he left, Jena stole a peek down the bar. Tyler’s penetrating gaze guilted her from several feet away. Granted the reproof was probably more in her imagination than in his watchful eyes, but it still had her hanging her head.

  Finally, Riley returned after several awkward moments of Jena standing like an idiot, checking her shoes. “Done for the night?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I’m tired. Guess I can’t hang with the party animals anymore.”

  “It’s the drive. You’ll be back to normal tomorrow. Give me a sec. I’ll walk you up.”

  “Please, Riles. I’m capable of walking a few feet on my own.”

  “Okay, well, come here.” She leaned over the bar, stretching her arms. Jena moved in, and Riley wrapped her up in a hug.

  “Oh, God, don’t squeeze too tight. I’m not feeling any pain, but I might throw up.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy you’re here.”

  “Me too.”

  They said their goodbyes, with plans the next morning to go to the bridal shop and see the dresses Riley had picked out.

  Jena made it to the upstairs apartment door and was fumbling with the key when she heard footsteps behind her. Fully prepared to throw a spinning roundhouse like she’d seen in the movies, albeit a really bad imitation of one, the timbre of the voice behind her froze all thoughts and movements.

  “Jena.”

  Shit. She wasn’t strong enough to face him, not after their close encounter in the bar, and definitely not with all the alcohol she’d consumed. But ignoring Tyler would make her even more of a bitch than she’d already been, so she took a deep breath and spun to face him.

  Big mistake, because it took less than a second for the seductive spell of his gaze to reel her drunk ass right in.

  ***

  Tyler had no intention of confronting Jena when he’d followed her from the bar. His ego had taken enough of a blow for the day. He’d only meant to make sure she made it into the apartment safely, but when he saw her dangle the keys near the door, her name blurted out of his mouth as if he couldn’t stand to see her walk away from him. He’d had no plans of what to say or do next until she spun around and stared back at him with eyes that held something more intimate than surprise.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I think we have some unfinished business, don’t you?” He took a step toward her. She took a deliberate one back, her heels hitting the apartment door.

  Breaking eye contact, she averted her gaze to the ground. “Now is not the time, Tyler.” Her words were breathless, and he knew it had everything to do with their close proximity. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, he affected her as much as she did him.

  Tyler eased closer and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I only want to know one thing. If you’re honest with me, I’ll go.”

  She pulled her lips into her mouth, gazing back at him as if contemplating her best plan of action while tempering a verbal assault. “Fine,” she said, closing her eyes. “What do you want to know?”

  “Did you think about me while you were gone?”

  She opened her eyes and stared, the internal battle apparent in the green depths.

  Content on waiting her out for a response, he let her riddle through it while taking in every single detail of her beautiful face. One way or another, he’d get an answer. What he would do with it, he hadn’t a clue.

  Jena’s gaze dropped as she sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Yes, Tyler, I thought about you, okay? I thought about a lot of things. Hard. And it’s exactly why I can’t do this with you again. I’m trying to be different now.”

  He searched her features. She was being honest with him, but there was something she was leaving out. The omission sat there between them like a giant mass of energy, charged and hovering, poised and ready to slam him right in the chest. He desperately wanted to find out what it was. “Why are you trying to be different? Because of Steve, the potential boyfriend?”

  “No…I mean, yes…I mean, that’s part of it.”

  She was a horrible liar. Did she know the corner of her mouth twitched right before a lie fell out? Or that her gaze fell? Did she realize how her rapid breaths heaved her chest to the point it nearly collided with his on every inhale?

  Maybe it wasn’t the lies causing her body to react that way. Tyler was more than happy to test the theory. Reaching up, he lifted a strand of hair lying on her chest and rubbed the silky tress.

  Their eyes connected.

  “I don’t believe you, Jena.”

  The pace of her breathing picked up even more, and he used that as a sign to push further by angling his head down toward hers.

  “Tyler, please,” she whispered.

  He smiled, satisfied with the effect he was having on her. “Please, what?”

  She inched her lips closer to his, making it his turn to breathe hard and fast. But his breath wasn’t the only thing she’d aroused, and as much as he would have loved to give the big guy what he craved, he wanted answers first.

  “Tell me the truth, Jena, and I’ll please you in ways the accountant couldn’t dream about. Steve isn’t your boyfriend, potential or otherwise, is he?”

  A strangled moan sounded from her throat, and Tyler was sure he had her, but then she squeezed her eyes shut, put her hands on his chest and shoved. “Damn it, Tyler,” she yelled, shaking her head as if reprimanding herself as much as him.

  He allowed her to push him back, but not far. “What?” Despite the cocky grin, he stretched his arms out to the sides, feigning innocence.

  Jena pointed a finger at him. “You know what. You can’t do that to me.”

  “Do what? Get you all heated up? I’m pretty sure if Steve had potential, you wouldn’t be anywhere near as hot for me as you are now. I barely touched you.”

  Jena’s face turned close to the shade of her hair, fists balled at her sides. “Yeah, well, Steve is a gentleman, and that’s what I need.”

  Tyler knew she was simply lashing out, but that didn’t mean her words hadn’t sideswiped his balls. “You think I can’t be a gentleman?”

  “Clearly.” She motioned toward his shirt.

  He glanced down, already knowing what she was referring to. With a tense jaw, he narrowed his gaze at her. “There are many ways to be a gentleman, Jena. I showed you a few of those the last time you were here, and by the way you were screaming my name, I’d say you were more than satisfied with them. I think you only need a reminder of the kind of gentleman you’re really searching for.”

  He inched toward her again, but she held up a palm to ward him off.

  “Just…back off, Tyler. I can’t think like this.”

  Ignoring her, he pushed against her hand. “Then don’t think,” he whispered. “Feel.”

  Jena did, sliding a palm across his chest. Then she stopped, her arm stiffenin
g. “I can’t,” she said, eyes clenched shut.

  “Have you had sex with him?” He had no right to know, but he asked anyway. For reasons beyond his man-sized brain, he was dreading the answer.

  “That’s really none of your business.”

  Her reaction was what he’d suspected. “No, it’s not, but tell me anyway. It’ll help clear up how much potential this guy really is.”

  “How does knowing whether we had sex tell you that?”

  “Because if you haven’t, I’m going to make sure he doesn’t stand a chance.”

  She huffed. “Why and the hell would you do that?”

  “Because I can,” he answered with a cocky smirk. “And because you refuse to admit you want me again.”

  He could practically see the steam rolling out of her ears. “Oh, you are so full of yourself, aren’t you? And what if I have slept with him already? Are you going to whip it out and start measuring?”

  Tyler chuckled, even though the thought of her with this other asshole was not something he found funny at all. “No need, sweetheart. Because if you have, your body’s reaction to me proves he’s got no potential for you.”

  Her lips pursed as she glared at him. “It didn’t prove anything. I’m tired, and I’ve been drinking. That didn’t count.”

  “Oh, it counts. But I’ll be more than happy to prove it to you when you’re stone cold sober. See you around, Jena.”

  While curious about her reaction to his promise, and yes, it was a promise, he turned and walked away before he let his lower half take control of the situation. As he strolled to his truck, he found himself surprised at the incredible drive he had to fulfill that promise. What was prompting it, he didn’t know—the challenge, his libido, pride. Maybe it was simply his ego. He did know he was more excited than he’d been about anything in a long time and couldn’t wait to get started. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be now. The only thing in store for him tonight was a date with his hand.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Jena woke to the ringing of a phone. She foraged for its location, and temporarily panicked over the unfamiliar surroundings before remembering she was crashed out on a sofa in the living room above Beckett’s. Grabbing the phone off the end table next to her, she rubbed her eyes as she answered.