he asks.
“Do you always give one-word answers?”
“No.”
I laugh at that. “You’re the strong silent type, huh?” I say, hoping he can’t hear the arousal in my voice. Then again, a guy like him is probably used to it. Coming from the MMA circuit, he’s used to women throwing their panties at him. I am not going to be one of those women. Ever.
His hardened demeanor changes, and he offers me a grin that is so playful, so downright sexy and mesmerizing, it’s all I can do to stop myself from ripping my panties clear from my hips and tossing them at him.
No, no, no, Haven.
I am here to work, not to get involved with a local, no matter how good looking, and…sweet, he is. Really, beneath that rough and tough surface, I think maybe Gram was right, and he is a softie.
“You think I’m strong?” he teases.
All the tension from the day spills out of me and I laugh. “I think you’re something,” I say.
“You’re something too,” he responds when we reach the top step.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” He scrubs his face. “I’m just tired. I don’t know what I’m saying.”
I stretch out my arms and stifle a yawn, and his glance drops to take in my chest as I expand it. Holy shit, I’m not sure any man has ever looked at me with such desire in his eyes. Truthfully, most men don’t look at me—Haven. They see the movie star actress, the character I played. Then again, am I ever really myself anymore? Do I even know who Haven is, or what she wants, after all these years of pretending to be someone else?
I follow him to a room, and he stands back, gesturing for me to enter. I walk past him, my body brushing his, and I’m certain he just cursed under his breath. Is he feeling this ‘thing’ between us too? Could that be what Carter was picking up on?
He looks like he’s about to leave, and even though I should let him, I find myself saying, “Gram said there were eight of you. Cousins and brothers?”
“Carter, Ryan and Jace are cousins. They grew up with us after their parents died.”
I touch his arm. “I’m sorry, Tyler.” His gaze drops to my hand and I pull it back.
“Sean, Jamie, and the twins, Jared and Jacob are my brothers. I’m the middle child.”
I groan. “Ugh, the dreaded middle child,” I tease. “Did you feel left out?” His face drops, and my pulse jumps. Holy God, did I hit on a sore spot. I quickly try to backtrack. “Tyler, I was just—”
“Night, Haven.”
He turns and I say, “I…um…do you think I could have a shower first? I feel icky after my long flight.”
He scrubs his chin and angles his body. I study his strong profile when he says, “Yeah, sure.”
He points to the door to the bathroom. “Shower is in there, and you’ll find towels in the closet.”
I put my hand on his arm before he leaves and his gaze jerks back to mine. “Thanks Tyler, for this…and earlier.”
“No problem,” he says, his voice a bit gruffer. “Get some sleep.”
I watch him walk away, my gaze latched on his backside, pulled by the easy way he walks. The stairs creak as he descends and I back up, step into his room. A grin plays on my lips as I take in his space, and before I touch his bedding and run my hand over the sheets, I glance over my shoulder. I have no idea why I feel like I’m invading his privacy.
After a thorough inspection of his room, and the view of the lake out back, I grab my bag, toss it onto his bed, and pull out my pajamas. I hurry to the bathroom, shower quickly, and then climb between Tyler’s sheets, which smell freshly laundered. I close my eyes, secure in this room with all the big Owens boys milling about. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep, but then suddenly a crashing sound outside my window pulls me awake.
I sit up, and rub my eyes, not sure if I was dreaming or not. I listen for a sound, and something creaks outside my door.
“Hello?” I say, and glance at the clock. It’s well after midnight, surely everyone has gone to bed by now. Moving as quietly as possible, I reach for my phone, pad across the wooden floor, and press my ear to the door. Silence meets my ears, so I