Hammered (Blue Bay Crew #3)- Cathryn Fox Page 0,51
a complicated relationship with his dad, seems all the guys did, and it shaped him into who he is today. That’s not a bad thing. Gram was right, underneath it all, he’s a sweet boy, and I love a man with a soft heart. Probably because I grew up with one. Rock is all muscles and strength on the outside, but inside he’d do anything for me. It’s no wonder I gravitated toward a guy like Tyler. I just wish he and my brother liked each other. If we ever moved past a fling…
Whoa!
I quickly shut that thought down. Tyler and I do not have a future. He belongs here in Blue Bay surrounded by friends and family, and I belong… God, I really don’t know where I belong anymore. Do I belong in Hollywood? I guess my next movie is going to determine that, but dammit, I hate that I have such little control over my future. I want to have hopes and dreams like Tyler. I love that he’s setting goals, and wanting to build his own gym for the kids.
I make my way toward my trailer to gather up a few of my possessions, and when I enter, the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. I glance around. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, yet I can’t shake the strange feeling that I’m not alone. Knuckles rap on the door behind me, and I gasp and jump ten feet in the air. The door flings open, and Tyler comes inside. After a fast glance around, he puts his hands on my shoulders.
“Haven, what is it?”
“It’s nothing, really. I just had a strange feeling. I think I’m just spooked.” His head dips, those green eyes murderous and intense.
“Sit here,” he says and lowers me onto the sofa. He disappears down the narrow hall, checking the back-bedroom area. “All clear,” he calls out. “Did something happen?”
“No, I promise.” I roll my eyes at my own foolish behavior. “It’s just…have you ever had the feeling that when things were going good, you just know something bad is going to follow? It’s happened to me my entire life. I’m afraid to revel in the good, you know?”
He crouches down in front of me, his eyes hard, his hair a tumbled mess from working in the heat all day. “Yeah, I know what you’re talking about, but there are no strings attached here. Things can be good for no other reason than they are. Sounds to me like you had a lot of selfish people in your life, people who might have gone out of their way to ruin good things for you. You’re safe in here, and you’re safe with me. Maybe we really did scare off whoever was sending those letters. Maybe someone was just fucking with you and moved on.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I force a smile, and my stupid brain races. Is this his way of saying we don’t have to be together? Like other men, has he gotten what he wanted and is tossing me away like I’m a disposable coffee cup? Then again, I’m so closed off, expecting the worst in everyone, I never really open myself up. No wonder men leave. “That means we don’t have to pretend anymore.”
He briefly closes his eyes and exhales. When they open again, and lock on mine, I almost forget how to breathe. Beautiful is a word most used for a woman, but I can’t think of anything else to describe Tyler.
“That doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere, Haven. I hope I’m right and whoever was sending the letters backed the fuck off and is no longer getting his kicks from it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you out from under my thumb. Unless that’s what you want?”
“No,” I say quickly, probably a little too quickly. I don’t want to give myself away here, showing that I’m beginning to really like him. He smiles at my enthusiasm, and it puts me at ease.
“Good, now that settles it.” He brushes my hair back and places a tender kiss on my forehead. It melts the chill in my bones, and my God, I really wish my heart didn’t love that quite so much. “Do you still want to go fishing?”
I smile, a new lightness inside me as he offers me up something fun to do tonight. “I don’t know if I’ll like it or not,” I say, being completely honest. “The thought of putting a worm on