Tyler

by Jennifer Ashley

  Jess brushed Tyler’s shoulder with her fingertips then kissed it, loving the smoothness of his skin beneath her lips.

  “You’re a beautiful man, Tyler Campbell,” she whispered. “And I’m going to marry you.”

  Not because she was giddy and innocent, as she had been with Cade. Not for security—Jess would start work on Grace’s restaurant in a few days with Karen, her salary dizzying her. Not for safety—Cade and Elijah had been denied bail that morning, and each was loudly trying to rat out the other, according to Ross.

  Jess would marry Tyler because it was her choice, because she wanted to be with him. His family was a bonus, but even if she’d met none of them, she’d decide to be with Tyler. He was fun, loving, handsome, charming, and amazing at sex. Why the hell wouldn’t she marry him?

  Plus, he liked her. Not Jess the bartender fending off bikers for him, or Jess the mom protecting her son, or Jess with her disease that needed to be managed. Tyler wanted Jess the woman. Just her.

  Tyler made a low noise in his throat, and his eyes fluttered open. He blinked when he saw Jess staring at him and then gave her a slow smile. “Hey there.”

  “Hey.” Jess returned the smile, and his eyes softened.

  Tyler stroked her arm, tracing her tattoos as he liked to do. “Where do you want to go on our honeymoon, sweetheart?”

  Jess hadn’t been many places other than Texas. “Hawaii?”

  Tyler considered. “We could do that. Adam tells me there are spots where we could be completely alone. Just the two of us.” He grinned. “We’d learn real quick whether this marriage will work or not.”

  “It will,” Jess said, knowing it in her heart.

  “Glad you’re not worried about it.” Tyler shook his head. “Neither am I. We’ll have some good times, sweetheart. Even if you’re two years older than me.”

  Jess widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Oh, wow. I guess I’m a cradle robber.”

  “A cougar,” Tyler said. “A hot one.”

  “That would make you my boy toy.”

  Tyler spread his arms. “Fine by me. Play with me, darlin’.”

  His cock stood high, his body inviting her touch, her lips, her tongue …

  Jess drew a ragged breath as she looked him over. “You’ll have to wear nothing but a tiny bathing suit all day when we’re in this secluded place in Hawaii.”

  “I will if you will.” His eyes glinted. “You have great legs.”

  Jess became wistful. “One doesn’t work very well.”

  Tyler sat up and wrapped one arm around her. “That doesn’t matter. I’ll hold you up.”

  Jess thrilled as Tyler curved over her to kiss her cheek, her neck, her lips. She ran her hands along his chest as she kissed him back, feeling his solidness, the steady beating of his heart.

  She moved her touch downward, over his unyielding abdomen to the wiry hair at his cock, but he raised his head, gently moving her hand away.

  “I need to be honest with you, Jess,” he said somberly. “You told me your life secrets. You need to know mine.”

  Jess’s pulse quickened, but she slanted him a teasing glance. “You mean you’re a sadistic man-eating black widow?”

  He gave her a flash of smile but shook his head. “About Lindsey. I want you to know the truth.”

  Jess’s teasing died away. “I know she was killed. I’m so sorry, Tyler. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

  “No, I want you to know.” Tyler sat up, keeping hold of her hand, his thumb rubbing the backs of her fingers. “Everyone figured Lindsey and me were madly in love. We were, sort of. We went together for almost three years, and decided we might as well get married once we graduated. It’s what you think when you’re seventeen—that you have to decide your life right then, and that’s it. But it isn’t. Not by a long way—you know that. Lindsey wanted to leave Riverbend. She wanted more.” Tyler let out a breath. “Except she didn’t tell me. I went on about us moving in at the ranch, me working with Adam and Grant. I was so excited. I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a wife and settling down. That would all be taken care of by Lindsey, and I could just get on with my life. I was a stupid shit.”

  “Focused,” Jess said. “So was I. I thought Cade would take care of me. I realize now I was looking for someone to replace my dad. Not in a weird way, but someone to watch over me and tell me what to do. It kept me from having to think for myself until it was too late.”

  Tyler nodded. “That’s what happened to me—I stopped thinking. I just assumed, took her for granted. Then one night she tells me she’s leaving with a guy she met in San Antonio, a guy she’s been seeing behind my back for months. They’re going to get married, she’s going to go to school and learn fashion design. I didn’t even know she was interested in fashion design. That’s how much we didn’t talk.” He looked regretful. “I was furious. Looking back, I wasn’t mad because she cheated on me. We’d been drifting apart, and I couldn’t figure out why. I was mad because she hadn’t told me. We’d been friends for so long, and she couldn’t tell me what she was truly feeling, or ask me how I felt about it, or for my advice. We shouted at each other for about two hours, and then she left. Jumped into her truck, raced off, went and picked up her guy who was waiting for her at the diner. They went down a back highway to San Antonio, and a semi swerved into their lane …”

  Jess stilled his lips with her fingers while she laced her arm around him. “Shh, don’t go on. Damn it, Tyler. I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  The sadness in his words tugged her heart, but that was all it was, sadness. That he hadn’t been able to help Lindsey, hadn’t been a good enough friend to her. He’d grieved for her, but not because he’d loved too deeply.

  “Everyone thought you were brokenhearted,” Jess said, understanding. “But it was guilt, wasn’t it? You thought it was your fault.”

  “Yep.” Tyler let out another long breath. “If I’d talked to her more, listened more, asked her questions, instead of focusing on my life, we could have agreed to break up, go our separate ways. We wouldn’t have had that horrible fight, I wouldn’t have said the things I said—most of which I don’t even remember. But we were trying to hurt each other. Maybe she wouldn’t have been so upset, her guy would have watched the road better …”

  Jess closed her fingers around his work-roughened ones. “That you can’t know. A lot of things came together at that moment, and none of it was your fault.”

  “I figured that out after a while,” Tyler said, his eyes quiet. “But it’s hard to get through your head, you know? Especially when you’re seventeen. Everyone thought I started chasing women to forget my pain, but the truth was, I thought I sucked so much at connecting, why should I bother to try? So I picked women who didn’t want to connect. Short relationships, not much emotion involved.”

  “And then you asked me to marry you,” Jess said, squeezing his hand. “And didn’t run when I said yes. I’d say that was progress.”

  Tyler looked into her eyes, his holding calm understanding. “Because right that moment, I realized why I never connected with Lindsey and didn’t try with other women. Because they weren’t you, Jess. I connected with you. I wasn’t bad at it after all. Before, it just wasn’t right, and something inside me knew that. Instinct, I guess. When you find the right one, it’s not like settling for someone because they’re familiar, or you’re going after a sensation to make yourself feel better. You know. You’re The One, Jess. So I had to ask you, quick, before you disappeared out of my life again.”

  Jess touched Tyler’s face, putting her heart into her words. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Tyler Campbell.”

  “And damn it, I love you, Jess.” He leaned to her, his breath brushing her lips. “Thank you for saving my ass.”

  “I couldn’t fight Elijah’s gang very well,” Jess said, remembering her struggle to pull the bikers away from Tyler. “And you wouldn’t let me take you to the
hospital. So for driving you to your hotel and dabbing you with a washcloth—you’re welcome.”

  The small curve of his lips into the charming smile turned her inside out. “Not what I meant.”

  Jessica could say nothing more. He’d saved her life too, taking it from bleak and unending and landing her in this brand new world. With him.

  Her tall, dark, sexy cowboy drew her into his arms. Tyler’s next kiss seared her, sending her back down into the pillows. He licked her mouth, then her throat, then her breast, rolling his tongue along the curled end of her tatt.

  “Love you, Jess,” he whispered, all pain gone from his voice, his kiss erasing the hurt from her as well.

  Tyler slid inside her, the love in his eyes opening her. Jess’s old fears dissolved in the Hill Country breeze that danced at the window, rippling the wind chimes. Tyler had set her free.

  She held on to him, and they rode together in the darkness, surrounded by beauty, the lifeline of family beyond these walls, and love.

  Epilogue

  October

  A perfect day for a wedding. October in Hill Country could be warm and dry and it was today, with blue sky stretching forever.

  Tyler turned from the arbor in the backyard, Ross next to him as a very proud best man, to watch Jess walking toward him on Adam’s arm. Her white gown hugged her figure, and her shoulders were bare, white flowers in her hair.

  Jess had debated whether to wear a gown that covered up her tatts, but Tyler had persuaded her otherwise. Her ink was part of who she was. The dress she’d chosen with the help of her new sisters-in-law and Karen showed off the colorful sleeve on one arm and the lines that curled up her other arm and around her collarbone, framing her neckline.

  She held a bouquet of pink roses, which she handed to Grace as Adam delivered her to Tyler and took a step back.

  The ceremony was short and sweet. The minister spoke the words, and Tyler repeated them, phrases he never thought he’d say.

  With this ring, I thee wed … To have and to hold … All the days of my life.

  Jess had tears in her eyes as Tyler slid the gold ring onto her finger, the one Ross had guarded with his life all morning.

  The ring fit her perfectly, shining next to the diamond one Tyler had bought her a few days after she’d said yes.

  A warm breeze blew around them, sending Jess’s skirt dancing, as the minister announced they were man and wife.

  Tyler snaked his arm around Jess and pulled her up for a long, long kiss. His brothers whooped and applauded, and the guests cheered.

  Tyler eased back and looked down at his bride. Her brown eyes were full of laughter and happiness, the fear and worry she’d carried since he’d met her erased. She was free to simply be Jess.

  As soon as they turned around, Dominic raced forward and flung his arms around both of them. Tyler bent down and lifted him, resting his new son on his shoulders. Cameras came up to take that picture, and then Tyler led his wife back down the aisle.

  Photos, hugs, laughter, then a feast under the shade of a white tent, and toasts. Tyler held Jess’s hand under the table, as though fearing she would disappear if he let her go.

  He looked around at his family gathered at the main table—Adam and Bailey with little Dale; Christina and Grant with Emma. No, wait—Grant was now chasing after Emma, who could move with lightning speed.

  Carter sat very close to Grace, Zach in his arms, Faith hovering protectively over her little brother. Though Zach had been born weeks before he’d been expected, he had thrived and was robust. And damn, that kid had lungs. He was going to be an astonishing man.

  Jess leaned against Tyler as Ross got to his feet and everyone looked at him expectantly.

  Ross raised his glass. “We’re here today to celebrate the marriage of my good-for-nothing brother, Tyler, and his radiant bride, Jess.” Laughter and applause. Ross turned to Tyler, tipping the glass to him. “But seriously, you’re looking at two people made for each other, meant for each other. Took them a while to find each other …” A ripple of laughter. “But Tyler was one lucky man. Of all the beer joints in all the world, he had to walk into hers. And got his butt kicked.” The laughter grew. “Lucky for him, Jess was on hand to save him. I guess she decided she’d better marry him and keep him out of trouble.” Cheers and applause.

  Ross waited for the crowd to calm. He was the last unmarried Campbell, the little brother who’d idolized Carter when he’d come to live with them, looking for someone to be his dad. Ross had grown into a competent man and a good policeman, ready to take on the world.

  “To my wild brother Tyler, and the gorgeous Jess,” Ross went on. “I’ve seen in the last months that they are crazy in love with each other, but they have enough love left over for their son and their family and everyone else. Long may they know happiness.” He lifted his glass higher, the champagne’s bubbles dancing. “To Jess and Tyler.”

  “Jess and Tyler!” everyone shouted. Mrs. Alvarez, sitting near the main table with her posse, wiped her eyes. So, to Tyler’s surprise, did Karen Marvin, touching a handkerchief delicately to her cheek. She was sitting with Kyle and Ray Malory, which worried Tyler a bit.

  Tyler turned and kissed Jess while everyone drank, which brought more noise from the guests.

  On his other side, Tyler’s mother seized his arm and reached up to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Tyler,” she said.

  Tyler gave Olivia a hard hug and a kiss in return. “You are very welcome.”

  He knew why she thanked him. His mom had been sure, when Lindsey died, that Tyler would never settle down and lead a normal life—whatever normal was around here. Jess had brought hope and love back to him, trust and happiness.

  A few well-meaning people had taken Tyler aside and advised him not to marry her because of her MS. She’d have to take care of that all her life, and it could become worse one day. Tyler had told them calmly that it was part of who she was, and he and Jess would deal with it. He wasn’t going to abandon her because she wasn’t in perfect health. They would live their lives, come what may. Together.

  Jess’s smile when Tyler turned back to her told him he had made the right choice.

  Tomorrow, they’d drive to Austin and begin their plane journey to Hawaii—with Dominic—for their honeymoon. Tonight, they’d sleep in Tyler’s apartment above the garage, not very romantic, but it was theirs. When they came home, they’d begin building a house on a piece of property adjoining the ranch.

  For now … they needed to ditch all these people and have some time to themselves. Tyler knew a contingent of his friends would station themselves outside the garage and heckle, and he’d like to get Jess inside and out of sight before that happened.

  First, they had to endure many toasts, drink, eat, and dance. Jess gave Tyler a look of trepidation when he led her to the middle of the cleared space, the band striking up a dance tune, but he held her competently in his arms. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d promised he’d never let her fall.

  It was Kyle Malory, in fact, who helped them escape. He got everyone going in a dancing contest, the band playing faster and faster to see who could keep to their feet, everyone plenty lubricated by that time. Mrs. Alvarez so far was winning. The lady had stamina.

  Kyle tugged Tyler to a flap in the back of the tent and slid them through.

  “You owe me one, Campbell,” Kyle said. “I’ll make sure Dominic gets back to the house with your mom.”

  Jess stepped to Kyle and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then a teasing look. “Thanks, Kyle. I might be sorry I met Tyler first.”

  Kyle laughed but flushed. “Yeah, sure, I am too. Don’t screw this up, Campbell.”

  Instead of giving his traditional rival a derogatory brush-off, Tyler only shook his head. “I never will. I’m not that stupid. You’re right, Malory. I owe you one.”

  He pulled Jess firmly away, and off into darkness.

  Tyler’s friends did show up later to heckle them, but Jess was already on the
bed beneath him, Tyler buried inside her. He was not about to stop for something as annoying as his friends below the window.

  “We’ll outlast them,” Tyler whispered. “No problem.”

  And they did. Jess was supple and warm under him, she holding him, all the empty spaces inside Tyler filling as he loved her. She wasn’t a passive, blushing bride. Jess rose to meet his thrusts, her groans blending with his, her climax and his exploding together. After the third time of this, Tyler noticed all was quiet outside. His friends had given up and gone home.

  They drowsed together, Tyler with his arms around the most wonderful woman on the earth.

  “Love you, Jess,” he whispered as he kissed her hair. “But you know that, right?”

  Jess turned to look at him, her lips temptingly near. “I think so. But I don’t mind you telling me. Every day—you’ll need to remind me.”

  “Have no problem with that.” Tyler kissed her mouth. “I love you. That’s for tonight.” Another kiss. “I love you. That’s for in case I forget to say it later.”

  “I love you too.” Jess’s smile faded. “I’m so happy, I’m afraid to do anything else. I don’t want this to go away.”

  “Oh, I can think of something we can do that’s just as good.” Tyler laughed softly. “This is just the start, darlin’. I promise you. We’ll be off to Maui and our condo, and watch Dominic have all kinds of fun. And at night, we’ll go to our room and see if we can’t have some fun of our own.”

  “That sounds … not bad.” Jess grinned as Tyler pretended to look hurt. “How do you feel about Dominic having a little brother or sister?”

  Tyler had thought a lot about it, in truth, ever since Jess had floored him by agreeing to marry him. He’d seen the change in Carter when he’d held his son for the first time, had seen the change in Adam and Grant when their kids came. Had seen Carter’s deep love for Faith, which had begun as soon as Carter had realized, at age eighteen, that the baby squalling in his arms was his. Carter had become a man at that moment, transforming from troubled teen to protective father in the space of a second.