Hero of Mine (8 page)

“M
OM
, I
TOLD
you, I'm on vacation, so you don't have to take Noah.” Dani stood in the kitchen just after five thirty in the evening, gripping the back of a chair to keep a rein on her temper. She'd taken Thursday to Thursday off for two straight weeks of fun with Noah and had even reminded her mom about it. Every other weekend, her parents took Noah; they told Dani it was so she could go out and socialize, but Dani suspected her mom hoped she'd finally take them up on dating one of the men they kept throwing at her.

“Well, I'm already here, so why don't you just enjoy? Sleep in, read a book . . . maybe call one of those numbers I gave you?”

“Mom . . . ”

“Really, Dani, I am sorry I forgot, but I drove all the way over here. At least let me take my grandson for the night. He loves spending time with his Mapa.”

By the way her son had his arms wrapped around her mom's leg, there was no arguing that point.

“Ugh, fine, let me go pack a bag.”

“No need, I've got everything. I bought more diapers this week and some clothes to keep at my house, so you don't have to do a thing.” Her mom bent over to pick Noah up, exaggerating a groan. “Oh man, you need to stop growing or Mapa won't be able to carry you anymore.”

Dani released the chair and walked over to give her mom a kiss on the cheek. She really was lucky that her mom genuinely wanted to spend time with her grandkid. “Thanks, Mom.” Laying a smacking kiss on her son's cheek next, she said, “Have a good time, handsome.”

“Say, ‘You, too, Mommy.' ” Leveling Dani with a serious expression, she added, “Really, Dani, why don't you go shower, put some makeup on, and go out with a friend? Be young for a night.” To her surprise, her mom patted her cheek. “You are such a good mom, but you aren't
just
a mom.”

Most of the time, Dani thought she was screwing everything up, but here her mom was, giving her praise.

Weird.

As Dani watched her mom buckle Noah into her car through the window, she ran her thumb over the screen of her phone, scrolling through the names until she landed on Tyler's.

It was a Friday night. He probably had plans . . .

Before she realized what she was doing, she'd tapped the call button.

“Shit.” Bringing the phone to her ear, she listened to the ring, whispering out loud, “This is so fucking stupid.”

“Sergeant Best.”

His deep voice sent a shiver along her skin, raising gooseflesh. “Hi, Tyler, it's . . . it's Dani. Noah's mom.”
Oh, geez, as if he doesn't know who you are.

“Hey, how are you?”

He sounded happy to hear from her, didn't he? “I'm good. How are you?”

“Great, just getting ready to leave work in a little bit.”

“Oh, well, I don't want to bother you. I know you're probably busy—”

“No, it's fine. What's up?”

Dani's mouth suddenly dried up, and she could hardly get the words out. “Well, see, my mom has Noah this weekend. Actually, she takes him every other weekend, even though I told her she didn't have to since I'm on vacation . . . ”
Shut up, you idiot
. “That's not important. I was just wondering, if you don't have plans, maybe you'd want to grab dinner and a movie with me?”

The line was quiet, and Dani looked at the screen, but he was still there. “Hello?”

“You've never asked out a man before, have you?” Dani could practically see his smile, and her cheeks burned.

“No, I haven't ever needed to. Most guys ask for
my
number, not just give me theirs.”

“Whoa, sounds like you're calling in my man card.”

Relaxing at the banter, she went to sit on the couch. “Maybe I am.”

“So, how about I try to earn it back by picking you up and paying?”

Fighting back the urge to giggle, she said, “I might be amenable.”

“All right. How about seven thirty? Give me a chance to go home, shower, and change?”

Thinking about her woolly mammoth legs, Dani said, “Let's make it eight.”

“Eight works. Just text me your address.”

“Okay, see you then.”

Dani ended the call and flopped back onto the couch, kicking her legs excitedly. When the dogs came over and started showering her with doggy kisses, she spluttered as she got back onto her feet.

Then the heavy lump of doubt settled in her stomach.

Looking at her dogs, she asked aloud, “Is this a really bad idea?”

Shasta sniffed, and Bella snorted.

Shaking her head, she raced upstairs and started tearing through her closet for something to wear, her stomach fluttering. It was the first time in almost three years she was actually excited about something that had nothing to do with Noah. That was okay, right? Her mom had told her that she wasn't just Noah's mother . . . she was also a woman.

Besides, it was just one date . . . with a hot, sexy man who radiated confidence and charm. Who rescued dogs and toddlers and loved his mama without it being a huge turnoff.

It was official: She had nothing to wear.

Oh God, she was in so much trouble.

T
YLER STOOD ON
the porch of the townhouse, double-checking the address Dani had texted him. He had to admit that he might have changed his shirt a couple times. This was actually his first date, besides his junior prom, but considering they'd never made it to dinner and spent most of the night in the backseat of his car, he wasn't really counting it.

He knocked on the door and heard Shasta's deep bark on the other side, followed by Bella's high-pitched howl.

“Coming!”

He smoothed a hand over his short, shaved hair just as she swung the door open.

“Wow.” Tyler's gaze roamed over the black sweater dress that hugged her body like a second skin, the cowl neck hanging off her left shoulder to tease him with the line of her collarbone. Her blonde hair fell smooth and straight just past her shoulders, and her eyes were outlined by dark shadows, making the green seem brighter.

With a husky laugh, she said, “This old thing? You're sweet.”

She stepped out onto the porch with her purse in hand and turned her back on him to lock the door. He noticed the white sales tag sticking out the back and smiled. “You planning on taking it back if the date doesn't go well?”

She reached up to where the tag was, and he narrowly missed getting smacked in the nose.

“Balls, I meant to take that off.”

“Did you just say ‘balls'?” Cracking up, he snapped the tag off and tucked it into his pocket. “There. I have to admit, that is the first time I've ever heard a woman use the term ‘balls.' ”

She turned to face him, and in the porch light, the blush on her cheeks glowed becomingly. “I tried to stop cussing once Noah was born, but I couldn't do it completely, so I made up my own.”

“Wait, you did not make up ‘balls.' ”

“No, but I figured it was okay to alleviate my frustration.”

“Isn't ‘balls' just as bad as anything else?”

“He doesn't know it's that kind of balls.”

Tyler chuckled. “Until he says it at school and someone enlightens him.”

“Please, don't take it from me. All the other bad words really are off-limits. Just this one.”

“You got it.” They headed down the steps toward his car, and Tyler grabbed the passenger door, holding it open for her.

Just before she climbed in, she said, “You know, you really should thank your mama for teaching you manners.”

“I'll leave that to you when you meet her.”

She gave him a startled look from the seat, and the moment her foot was in, he slammed the door. Cursing himself, he rounded the front of the car.

Why the hell had he said
that
?

He opened his door with a heavy sigh. “I didn't mean it like that. I was trying to be cute.”

Tyler glanced her way, catching her smile, and it nearly knocked him for a loop, it was so bright.

“Mission accomplished,” she whispered.

Fuck, he wanted to kiss her. To reach across the seat and grab her by the back of her neck. To mold his lips to hers and strip her down until she was naked and straddling him.

But no, this was different. It would be different.

Clearing his throat, he started the car and pulled out of her drive, heading toward Watt Avenue. “What are you in the mood for?”

“Anything, I am starving. Plus, I wouldn't mind a drink or two. Just to loosen up, you know?”

Jesus, was she trying to kill him?

“Cheesecake Factory or B.J.'s Brewery?” he asked.

“Mmm, Cheesecake Factory, but only if we can skip to dessert.”

Why did everything coming out of her mouth sound so dirty?

“Whatever you want.”

Suddenly, her hand was on his arm, squeezing it. “You need to lighten up. Am I making you nervous or something?”

Scoffing, he shot her a look of disbelief. “Hell no, I'm calm as a cucumber.”

“Really? 'Cause I think Mr. Big, Bad Ladies' Man is scared of little ole me.”

Gunning the engine, he weaved over and pulled into the Cheesecake Factory parking lot. He parked in the first available spot he saw, and as soon as he cut the engine, he turned to face her.

“I'm not scared of you.”

She leaned over the seat until she was mere inches from him.

“Prove it.”

D
ANI KNEW SHE
should not have had those two shots before Tyler picked her up, but she'd been a nervous wreck. After hauling ass to the mall to find something to wear and then speeding back to get ready, she was shaking. She'd actually cut her leg shaving. So, while she was drying her hair, she'd had one tiny shot of vodka and chased it twenty minutes later with a second one while she waited for him in the living room. It had warmed her up and eased the tension in her muscles.

Maybe a little too much. Because right now, she knew she was asking for it—every delicious, forbidden thing Tyler had to offer. From the moment she'd opened that door and caught his appreciative stare, she'd felt her old, wild self coursing through her body. She wanted to have fun and be daring, and most of all, she wanted Tyler to touch her.

Yet each time she was sure he was about to break, he backed away. Granted, the night had only just begun, but she didn't want to admit that beneath all the bravado and slight liquid courage, she was still a nervous wreck. Was afraid that once the adrenaline and alcohol wore off, she'd revert back to who she was now—cautious and scared.

As Tyler leaned closer, her eyes shut, and she waited for his lips to touch hers, but they never did. Instead, he kissed her forehead, and before her eyes even opened, he was out of the car and heading around to her door.

As she stepped out, slightly disgruntled, she asked, “What was that?”

“I'm not going to be goaded into kissing you, Dani.” He shut the door at her back and advanced, pressing into her as he stared down at her with heat in his gaze. “I know that you're used to being in control, worrying about everything that could happen. But tonight, I want you to let go and let me lead you.” He ran his thumb across her lower lip, and she was tempted to bite the tip. “I guarantee you, once you let me, you're going to have fun.”

Tyler took a step away from her, placing his hand at the small of her back as he guided her toward the restaurant door. Dani was still a little dazed by his forceful tone and embarrassed she'd come on so strong.

“If you wanted to lead the whole night, then why ask what I wanted to eat?”

“Because I don't care about where we are or what we do. I just want to be with you, but at my pace.” He held the door open for her. “And I want to take things slow.”

“You'd be the first,” Dani muttered as she passed through into the crowded, noisy lobby.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

T
YLER SAT BACK
as the waiter set down two plates, each with a beautifully dressed slice of cheesecake. Since they'd been seated, Dani had actually seemed to relax a little, less on guard and aggressive. He had recognized her attitude earlier for what it was: a defense mechanism. He had the same one, although his was set to indifferent asshole instead of sexual dynamo.

Still, he wouldn't be human if he said he wasn't tempted, but this was him, Tyler Wyatt Best, trying to be the good guy. To do the right thing.

Man, this shit was hard.

He watched Dani take a bite of her cheesecake, some kind of Oreo creation, and her eyes appeared to roll back in her head. “This is amazing. You have to try it.”

Picking up his own fork, he scooped up a hefty chunk and slipped it past his lips. “Oh man. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing.”

“Let's see.” Without asking, she took a small bite of his peanut butter cup one and licked her lips. “Mmm, yours is pretty good, too.”

“Maybe we should split them down the middle and share.”

“Hell no, you just about took half of mine with that bite of yours. The rest is mine.”

“Wow, I never knew anyone could get so possessive over a slice of cheesecake,” he teased.

She licked her fork. “Then they did not appreciate the scrumptious goodness.”

Taking a bite of his cheesecake, he moaned. “Keep your cookie crap. Mine's better, hands down.”

“To each their own.” She took another bite as she picked up her phone and started tapping the screen. “Do you know what you want to go see?”

“Definitely not a chick flick.”

She flashed a dirty look his way, and he dived back into his cheesecake. Then her face lit up. “How about this?”

She practically shoved her phone screen in his face, and as he took the phone and read the description, surprise shot through him. “You want to see a horror movie?”

“It's a thriller, and yes. I can't watch them unless Noah is at my mom's, and I hate watching them alone. Please.”

Shaking his head, he handed the phone back. “I said whatever you wanted.”

Secretly, Tyler wanted to veto the idea. With all of the violence and bloodshed he'd seen in real life, he had no desire to watch it for entertainment, unless it was created by dinosaurs or sharks. But he couldn't bring himself to crush Dani's excitement.

Tyler Best putting someone else's feelings before his own? Will wonders never cease.

An hour later, they sat in a nearly empty theater at the very back. The killer on screen stalked the girl about to get killed, hiding in the shadows. When he jumped out at her, waving his knife around so the light glinted off it, Dani screamed.

Tyler burst out laughing, shaking his head. “If these scare you so bad, then why are we watching it?”

“Because in controlled circumstances, I don't mind being scared,” she hissed. “As long as it isn't real.”

Tyler sobered, thinking about Rex and how scared he'd been that day. It was the only time in his life that he'd ever understood what
frozen with fear
meant.

He'd been patrolling the perimeter with Rex just after three in the afternoon. One of the other guys, Benjamin, kept BS-ing with him over the radio. He hadn't even been paying attention, hadn't realized what had happened until Rex yelped and the bulled tore through his knee, sending him falling to the ground. The shot had probably saved his life, but at the time, he'd felt trapped. Unable to move with the cascade of bullets whizzing over him.

He'd pulled Rex to his chest and held on, trying to stop the blood gushing from his dog's chest.

“It's okay, Rex. It's going to be okay.”
Grabbing his radio, he'd started screaming, “
Heavy fire, we are under heavy fire. Rex and I are hit.”

Of course, they hadn't made it in time to save Rex. They'd had to pry his dog's body from his arms so they could get him to the hospital. He'd spent the whole flight scared that they wouldn't make it or that he'd end up losing his leg. Hours of terror, and he'd never experienced anything like it since.

It was why he'd been happy to receive the position at Alpha Dog; the last thing he wanted to do was go back over there.

When Dani's hand covered his and she squeezed, he looked over, coming out of his memories.

“Hey, you okay?”

Shaking off the past, he turned his hand over and threaded his fingers through Dani's. “Yeah, I'm good.”

D
ANI TRIED TO
squash the giddiness racing through her as Tyler and she exited the theater holding hands. Most of the men she'd been involved with she'd met at parties and clubs. They hadn't been big on romantic displays or real dates. Tonight, Tyler had made her feel special and cared for.

And damn it, she really, really liked it.

“That was terrifying,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Glad I could make your night. Not really sure I'll ever get feeling back in my hand after you squeezed it so hard, but—”

“Oh, I'm so sorry.” Playfully, she brought their clasped hands up to her mouth and kissed the back of his. “All better?”

“Much.”

His blue eyes burned into hers, and her breath caught in her throat.

“Dani?” A voice from her past called out from somewhere in the background.

Jerking her gaze away from Tyler, she found herself facing Angel Ramirez. Her jaw dropped in surprise and horror.

So Noah's father was back from LA, and by the looks of him, things had definitely changed for the worse. His hazel eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed, as if he had allergies, but she was willing to bet it was drugs. His dark hair was greasy and lank, and his once muscular frame was now leaner.

Why the hell was he back?

“Well, I'll be. Damn, girl, you look good.”

Dani felt Tyler stiffen next to her as Angel's gaze slid over her from top to bottom.

“Thanks. I wish I could say the same.”

His eyes narrowed as understanding dawned. “Now, why you gotta be like that? You still mad at me?”

With a heavy sigh, Dani shook her head. “No, Angel, I'm not mad at you, but we need to be going—”

“Did you have my kid? Was it a girl or a boy?”

Dani scowled at her former lover, who was watching Tyler with a sly grin.

“It's really none of your business. You were the one who told me you wanted nothing to do with us. A couple hundred bucks, and you were done, right?”

“Hey, I was just curious—”

“Well, stop being curious, because it's not going to happen. You stay away from us.” With a light tug on Tyler's hand, she started to lead him toward the exits.

Angel's hand gripped her arm. “I'm not done talking, bitch—ow, fuck!”

In a move she hadn't even seen coming, Tyler had released her hand and grabbed Angel's arm, twisting it up his back until he was bent over in pain.

“Do. Not. Touch. Her.”

Tyler shoved him away, and as Angel stumbled forward, barely catching his balance, Dani realized that Tyler was standing in front of her like a shield, protecting her.

Placing her hands on his biceps, she squeezed them as she kissed his shoulder. “Let's just go, okay?”

Tyler put his arm around her, still positioning himself between her and Angel. Dani saw a security guard headed their way when Angel said loudly, “This isn't over.”

They kept walking silently until they reached Tyler's car. He helped her inside, and after he'd pulled back onto Watt Avenue, heading toward her house, he still hadn't said a word.

“He wasn't like that when I was with him.” Why the hell had she said that? Was she defending her choices or Angel?

She saw him nod, yet still he didn't speak.

“I'm really sorry that you had to get dragged into that tonight. I never expected he'd come back from LA, so I didn't think about this being his old stomping ground. I wasn't always the Queen of Common Sense, you know? I liked bad boys and parties, but when I found out I was pregnant with Noah, everything changed. I knew I had to do better, to be better.” She couldn't seem to stop talking, just kept filling the deafening silence. “It's why I haven't dated; I couldn't trust myself to make smart decisions. Was afraid I'd end up falling for a guy who was bad for me . . . bad for Noah.” He made the left turn onto her street, and finally, fed up with his stoicism, she cried, “Will you please just say something?”

After what felt like a lifetime, he spoke softly. “Is that why you asked me out? Because you think I'm a nice guy?” He parked in her drive and, shutting off the car, turned to face her. “That I'm not your usual type?”

Her heart slammed against her chest. “I asked you out . . . because I wanted to. I mean, you're so good with Noah, and I thought—”

“Forget about Noah, and tell me, how do you feel about me?”

Dani's heart lodged in her throat, and she tried to say something, but no words came out.

A bitter laugh escaped Tyler. “I am such an idiot.”

“Tyler, you don't understand—”

“I'm not a good guy, Dani. In fact, I am the last guy you should want your kid to model after. Tonight was essentially the first time I've ever just taken a woman out with no intention of sleeping with her. I don't go to dinner and the movies with women I am not related to. I'm an asshole who is only looking for one thing, and once I've got it, I don't call and I don't write. That's who you asked out tonight.”

Tyler was breathing hard, and the windows started to fog up around them. As Dani absorbed everything he'd said, she was even more confused about his behavior tonight.

“Then why did you go out with me? Why the big show of being a gentleman and not making a move?”

“Because I wanted to see if I could do it. Because since I met you and Noah, it got me thinking that maybe I've been missing something. But honestly, I don't know if I'm cut out for this . . . I don't know if I can be what you need.”

Despite every reservation, every warning bell going off in her head to cut him loose, she closed the distance between them and brushed his mouth softly with hers.

“You said you wanted to take things slow . . . Let's do slow.”

T
YLER COULDN
'
T BELIEVE
he'd poured his heart out like a pussy, and she'd kissed him for it. He'd told her he wasn't sure he could be a part of their lives, and instead of slamming out of the car, she'd done what he'd been dying to do all night.

Cupping the back of her head as she started to pull away, he kissed her back, sliding his tongue between her lips to deepen it. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as their mouths danced, teasing and tasting each other. Tyler's hand trailed down over her round bare shoulder to her waist and stilled, itching to move around and cup her ass, but no.

Ending the kiss, he chuckled roughly when she tried to follow him. “Hang on, baby, I can tell you right now that if we keep kissing like that, there will be nothing slow about what happens next.”

In the dim glow from the porch light, he could see the flash of red across her cheeks right before she released his shoulders.

“Do you want to come in for some coffee or something?”

Tyler didn't trust himself alone in the car with Dani; forget about her empty townhouse.

“I better not. I've got to be up early.” Reaching out for her hand, he asked, “Have you ever been geocaching?”

“No, what's that?”

“It's fun. Me and a few of the trainers from Alpha Dog are going to go tomorrow”—he glanced at the clock on his car—“well, okay, today. Do you want to go?”

“I have no idea what it even is, but I don't know. I wouldn't want to intrude.”

“If you were intruding, I wouldn't have invited you. It's mostly hiking and exploring while searching for containers filled with knickknacks. Like a scavenger hunt.”

“What's the point?” she asked.

“Like I said, it's fun. Plus, I'll be less likely to try for more than just kissing in a group. What do you say?”

She hesitated briefly, then nodded. “I'd love to.”

“Good. I'll pick you up at eight.”

“Eight?” He climbed out of the car at her little squeak and went around to let her out. “You know that is barely seven hours from now.”

“Then I'd better make sure you get inside and go right up to bed.” He stopped at the bottom of the steps while she climbed to the top.

“Seriously, eight?” She stood on the porch above him, unlocking her door. When she turned back around, her mouth open, he'd stepped up so he was standing right behind her and cut off whatever other protest she had with a hard, hot kiss.

When he pulled back, his voice was so low and gravely, he hardly recognized it. “I promise to make it worth your while.”