Twilight's Encore (3 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

Ty found an old blanket in the back of his truck, bundled it up and laid the kitten within the folds. It stared up at him with solemn gold eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t keep you. What am I going to do with a cat?”

Ty gave it a little rub behind the ear before starting his pick-up. “I’m hardly ever home. You’d be lonely.” He glanced down as he shifted into gear and noticed the tiny claws kneading the blanket. “And besides, you’ll ruin my furniture.”

A couple of minutes later he signaled and pulled into the Pine Bluff Supermarket’s parking lot. Being mid-day, the store wasn’t packed with shoppers yet. He should be able to get in and out without taking too long. Other than the one little mew, the kitten hadn’t made another sound but Ty still didn’t want to leave it alone for long.

“I’ll be right back. You protect the truck, okay, Tiger?” It stretched, gave a delicate little yawn and promptly went back to sleep. “Yeah, I thought not.” He left the cat to its dreams and strolled across the lot, waving to Jared’s mom as she turned from loading the trunk of her car.

“Hi, Grace, looks like you have quite a load there.”

She wiped a slightly shaky hand across her brow and smiled up at him. “You know the restaurant business, we’re always running short of one thing or the other.” She slammed the lid down on the trunk and bundled her jacket around her rotund frame. “I heard you gave that boy of mine a job over at the theatre. How’s he making out?”

Ty skipped over telling her of the accident, Jared could explain later. “It’s great to have him back in town. I hope he sticks this time.”

“Me too, son. Me too.” She played with the strap of her purse for a couple of seconds, the breeze teasing a few wisps of graying hair about her flushed cheeks. “It’s none of my business, and I probably should keep my trap shut, but with your history and all…” She sent him a mischievous look from her hazel eyes.

“Why don’t you tell me what it is, and we’ll go from there, okay?” Ty made a mental note to mention to Jared later that Grace wasn’t looking her usual chipper self.

“Most likely it’s nothing…”

C’mon Mrs. M
.

Ty cut a glance over his shoulder at his truck, half-expecting to see Tiger glaring at him through the windshield. This morning’s episode was just the latest in a string of bizarre occurrences. Yesterday his electrician, a guy who had worked with him for years, blew a gasket over some trivial shit and walked. Just like that. Good thing Jared had showed up for a job, because otherwise there wasn’t a chance he’d get finished before the big day.

“There’s a rumor floating around that Katy Fowler might be in town,” she murmured. “Your Aunt Tess was talking to Pearl over at the Rendezvous Hotel and she mentioned that Katy had booked a room. I know you two have history and just thought you should be aware.”

Wish he could say he was stunned, but that would be a lie. There are no secrets in a small town, only juicy gossip waiting to be discovered.

He decided to stop this particular rumor in its tracks. “Thanks, Grace. I appreciate your concern. And I’ve already seen her. She’s here to oversee the plans for her wedding, and of course make sure the venue is ready on time.”

He almost smiled at the disappointed look in her eyes. “I better get going. I found a kitten at work today. It’s in my truck and I don’t want to leave it for long.” He took her cart to wheel it back to the store, and then remembered, “If you leave that stuff in your car, I’ll stop around by the café on my way home and unload it for you.”

A warm smile made her cheeks puff up like little red apples. She waved a hand to shoo him away. “Bless your heart, don’t you worry about me. I have plenty of help. Are you going to keep the cat? I think Annie Campbell was looking for one to keep her old cat, Fitzroy, company.”

Even though he’d been planning on giving the kitten up, Ty’s immediate reaction was a resounding no. The little bag of bones already had a home, with him.

“Yeah, she’s mine. She’s kind of cute when she isn’t clawing me half to death.” He chuckled and carried on into the store.

~~~*~~~

Katy was tired and hungry by the time she dropped Jared home from the hospital. The stress of unexpectedly running into Ty had taken its toll. She’d anticipated seeing him at some point, but would have been happier if it had been on her terms. Instead, even though the theatre belonged to her family, she’d been the one left feeling like an interloper. Unwanted and out of place.

He’d changed. The ready smile and teasing remarks that used to charm her into his arms all those years ago, had been nowhere in sight today. He’d looked tired. Strained. There were dark shadows under his eyes and deep lines bracketed his lips.

Heat suffused her skin.

That mouth had mapped every inch of her body at one time. He’d been her first. The one no one else quite lived up to—not even Jeff, if she were honest with herself. Jeff was about as different from Ty as it was possible to be. Ty was light, with fair hair and complexion, Jeff was dark, half Native American, with black hair and swarthy skin. Where Ty was warm and caring, Jeff was often humorless and abrupt. But then his job was high-pressure like hers, so she understood. They were a lot alike; it’s what attracted her in the first place. Jeff knew she was as tied to her cell phone as he was and that sometimes their personal life would have to take a backseat. It worked for them.

She wasn’t anxious to go back to an empty hotel room, and decided to stop at the grocery store on the corner. It felt weird being back in her hometown and having to stay in a hotel, but her parents had sold their home when they moved to California.

A couple minutes later she pulled up near the doors and hopped out of the car, pausing to straighten her dress and smooth her hair. The old Mom and Pops store looked just the same as when her and Kyle had gone there as kids, anxious to spend their weekly allowances on the candy bins. She wondered if the same people owned it. She remembered them as kindly, with never a harsh word for the young customers invading their premises.

She entered with a smile on her lips, her thoughts full of happier times. But one glance down the aisle straight ahead changed that. Ty. What was he doing here?

She hesitated, not sure whether to duck back out or just hide in another part of the store until he left. Then another customer entered, brushing past her, and Ty looked up. She froze, caught in the icy cool depths of his eyes. Her pulse skittered around like a deer caught in a trap. Determined not to let him see her sweat, she hiked up her purse strap and sauntered toward him.

“Ty, I didn’t expect to see you here. That’s twice today. I’d almost think you had it planned.” Her steps faltered when she realized just where he was standing—in front of the condom section. She flapped a hand in front of her face, a futile attempt to calm her racing pulse and pink cheeks.

He eyed her embarrassment for an amused moment before leaning over and deliberately picking up a box of extra large—in his dreams—glow in the dark—really?—contraceptives. “Funny, that’s what I was going to say.” He dropped the box into the half-full basket he carried in one hand. “After all, sugar, I was here first.”

Her gaze helplessly followed the carton of Trojans. They landed on top of three cans of kitten food, various colorful toys, and some litter. Katy reached into the basket and plucked out a toy mouse. “Unless you’re into some kinky activities, Garrett, your cover is blown.” She pointed toward the shelves behind him filled with pet supplies.

He shrugged. “You’re the one who leapt to conclusions.”

She didn’t think he was talking about the condoms. There was no sense in bringing up the past; it could only dredge up the hurt all over again. Besides, she’d moved on, they both had if the size of that box was anything to go by. Desperate to get the picture forming in her head to disappear, Katy searched for a safe topic.

“So, whose cat are you buying for?” Then a horrifying thought entered her mind. What if he had a girlfriend? Or even a wife? She hadn’t heard of him getting married, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t happened. “Never mind, it’s none of my business. That basket looks heavy. I’ll let you get back to your…” she couldn’t help it, her eyes slid to the contraceptives, “shopping. I need to get going anyway.”

Katy whirled on her spiked heel, and was halfway down the aisle when Ty’s voice stopped her. “The kitten is mine, Katy. If you want to have a look, it’s in my truck right now.”

She turned, her heart lightened by his words. It was wrong, this desire to spend time with an old school flame. But after all, you couldn’t get much more innocent than a kitten, right?

Brushing aside Jeff’s stern countenance, Katy smiled, “I’d love to.”

CHAPTER SIX

This was so far past being a good idea, it wasn’t even in the ball park. Ty trailed Katy out of the grocery store, the kitty litter under one arm, while the condoms burned a hole in the bag he held in his other hand.

What the hell was he thinking?

The breeze teased the ends of her hair and carried the scent of autumn’s harvest to his starved senses. Peaches, pears, and apples—
yum.
Her white dress played homage to a truly world class heart-shaped ass. And the blood red soles of those shoes of hers were going to drive him around the bend. He could picture her on his bed, pink skinned and inviting, wearing nothing but those heels.

He coughed to clear a suddenly parched throat. She glanced around and he had to quickly move the bag so it would cover the bulge in his jeans. Ty pointed the way to his truck with his chin, anxious now to get this over with and escape from his self-imposed torture.

“It’s the white Dodge over in the corner.”

Katy nodded. “Good, you parked in the shade. It’s surprising how many people don’t think to do that when they have their pets in the vehicle.”

Then she got a glimpse of Tiger yowling from its spot on his dash. “Oh, Ty, she’s so tiny.” Those four-inch heels clicked into overdrive as she hurried to his truck and tried the locked door handle. “Open up, she’s scared, the poor thing.” Her hand flattened against the glass as if sheer willpower alone could let her inside.

Ty juggled his packages so he could drag the remote from his pocket. A double-click later all four doors were unlocked and Katy was leaning over his seat to reach the kitten. The back of her dress crawled into the danger zone, showing off her long, long legs.

Sweet hell
.

His brow broke out in a prickly sweat.

“C’mon, honey, I won’t hurt you. You’re so pretty, yes you are. Come here, sweetheart.”

Ty muffled a groan. Katy’s crooning just about did him in right there. He wasn’t sure how Tiger held out, because if she used those words on him in that husky, sexy tone… he wrenched open the back door and dumped the groceries on the floor. A long, deep sigh later he closed the door, placed his hands on Katy’s waist and gently moved her aside.

“Here, I’ll get her.” He climbed into the four-by-four and scooped the recalcitrant kitten into his hand. “Hey there, Tiger, good job protecting the truck. Come say hi to the pretty lady, and no scratching.”

He nuzzled his nose into its soft, furry neck and then passed her down to Katy’s waiting hands, their fingers tangling for a too brief moment.

“Hello, beautiful. What are you doing with this guy, huh?” She burrowed her face right into the same spot he had and everything inside him tightened painfully. She was killing him here.

“You find that hard to believe, right?” he grumbled.

She glanced up, her mossy green eyes soft with affection. “What?”

His fingers wrapped around the steering wheel before he did what he craved. Bury his hands in that silken waterfall of hair, drag her close, and see if her neck was half as soft as the cat’s. “That anyone would want to stay with me of their own volition?”

Katy frowned. “What are you talking about? I was teasing, Ty. Don’t make this into something it’s not.”

Words to live by.

He enviously watched her slender fingers caress the kitten until it fell into a light doze. Lucky cat.

“Where did you get her?”

Ty’s gaze rose to her lips. His inner sensor shut down, and the invitation erupted from his traitorous tongue before he had time to think it over. “Come for dinner and I’ll tell you.”

The words hung in the air, accompanied by little bubbles of mistrust, betrayal, and attraction. This was a mistake. Whatever happened between the two of them years ago, it had ended in a spectacular explosion he wasn’t in any hurry to recreate.

He opened his mouth, about to tell her to forget it, but instead became hooked by the swirling confusion in her jade green eyes. Instead of brushing her off, which would’ve been the smart move, he ended up practically begging.

“Please.”

He was so screwed.

~~~*~~~

Katy couldn’t believe she was actually contemplating taking Ty up on his offer. What was that old adage? If you play with fire… oh, but the heat was an addiction. Her gaze danced over broad shoulders stretching the seams of his denim shirt across his back. And his muscular arm, highlighted by the folded sleeves, draped over the leather steering wheel with work-roughened fingers that were thick and calloused from hours of labor. So very different from Jeff’s clean, manicured hands.

This was crazy.

She looked away, across the parking lot, to give herself a moment to breathe. The trees wore their fall dresses in fiery reds, pumpkin orange, and lemony yellow. A big grey squirrel ran down the trunk of a Maple. It paused for a cautious moment, and then grabbed a nut before scurrying up the tree, chattering a warning to birds and humans alike. A warning she should heed.

Katy turned back, a glib excuse to turn him down on the tip of her tongue, when kitten-little decided it was time to wake up. Her sharp nails dug into the soft skin of Katy’s inner arm. “Ouch, Chester, let go.”

“Chester? What kind of pansy name is that?” Ty smirked.

“Well, it’s more original than Tiger.” Katy giggled, and just like that she changed her mind. “Dinner sounds good. I’ll follow you there so you don’t have to go out later.”

Refusing to overthink her decision, she untangled herself from the kitten’s claws, gave it a peck on the head, and handed her over to Ty’s outstretched hand.

“Come’re you little monster,” he grumbled, but handled the tiny body with the gentlest of touches. “You’re going to be more trouble than your worth, I’m thinking.”

He returned the animal to its nest of blankets, and then turned back to Katy. She had the distinct feeling he wasn’t just talking about the cat. The complicated mix of reactions she could see reflected in his eyes like storm tossed clouds, contrarily made her feel somewhat better. At least she wasn’t alone in this tempest of emotion filling the air between them.

He cleared his throat. “It’s not a problem if you want to leave your car here. Your
boyfriend
might not approve of you visiting another man’s home. If your car is sitting in my driveway, someone’s sure to notice.”

Katy’s brows lowered at his tone. She admitted to being curious about his home and wasn’t going to be put off that easily. Ten years was a long time. He’d been on her mind often over the years. It bothered her they had never actually said goodbye to their relationship.

“He’s not my
boyfriend
, as you so inelegantly put it, he’s my fiancé. And he wouldn’t mind, because he trusts me.” She stepped back, shut his door, and waited for him to lower the window. “Are you cooking me some dinner, or am I going to a take-out place?”

Ty stared at her for a moment, then leaned over and fired up the engine. “Follow me.” But then he ruined it by murmuring, “Said the spider to the fly.”

Katy hurried over to her car before he changed his mind and left her behind. She didn’t want to delve too deeply into why it was suddenly so important to remain in his company for a while longer, but she couldn’t deny that it was.

They toured through a few residential neighborhoods, even passing by her friend, Rebecca’s house. Katy talked tough, but there was no reason to go and test her theory if it wasn’t necessary. Jeff did trust her. She knew that. It was more a question of how much did she trust herself?

Ty’s brake lights came on as he slowed for a paved drive along a tall stand of Cedars. At the end of the drive a low-slung rancher style home blended beautifully into the surrounding landscape. Finished with sandstone siding and lots of tall windows, the home looked warm, welcoming, and oh-so-familiar. Ty had bought their house. The one she’d dreamed of them owning one day. Did he remember?

Katy pulled up behind just as he stepped from the vehicle. Her headlights highlighted his long jean clad legs and lip-smacking tight butt. She gulped.
Oh, man
. He looked even better than when they were teens, more masculine, assertive—virile. She opened the door without conscious thought. His magnetism drew her to him as sure as the sun sets in the west. It probably always would.

He waited near the front of his pick-up, the kitten comfortably held in the crook of his arm. His face looked forbidding, as though now he’d had time to think about it he regretted inviting her. Too bad, she was here and she had no plans on leaving until they talked. The next few weeks would be stressful enough without having Ty glowering every time she stepped into the same room.

Her hand fanned out, encompassing the house and surrounding yard. “So this is it, your kingdom?”

His mouth quirked and a hint of that dimple she lo… liked so much, made an appearance. “You remember that, do you?”

She remembered everything.

“Of course. You never shut up about it. I think Jared and I must have heard at least fifty times about how much you wanted out from under your brother and sisters shadow. How, one day you were going to have your own little kingdom where you would call the shots.” She smiled at the memory. “You always did hate being the youngest in your family.”

Ty snorted. “Can you blame me? My sisters are beautiful, smart, and well-liked. And Jack… Jack has a Goddamn hero complex. First he became a football star, and now he’s the sheriff of our hometown. How’s a guy supposed to compete with that?” He turned away and strode toward his front door; obviously sorry he’d said anything.

Katy hurried to catch up. “It’s not supposed to be a contest, Ty. Your family
is
pretty amazing.” Then, when he glanced back at her with a thanks-for-nothing eye roll, she added, “But, so are you.” She reached out and clasped his forearm. “Seriously, you are. You’ve never given yourself enough credit. What about all the endeavors you’ve accomplished, don’t they count for anything?”

She squeezed his arm and drowned in the deepening blue of his gaze. Her heart gave a little kick, suddenly conscious of how close together they stood. The muscles under her palm flexed and her breathing quickened. She dropped her hand as if it were on fire and took a step back.

“Anyway, enough preaching. Show me your house.”

“Katy.”

Ty made a move toward her, stopping the air in her lungs, but then he shook his head and turned away to unlock the door. He flicked on the lights and moved aside to let her enter first. As she slid past, Katy glanced up and then away, her skin growing hot at the hunger glowing in his eyes.

She gave herself a stern talking to even as she took in the beauty of his home. Though it possessed a masculine stamp with the oversized furniture and dark colors, Ty had made himself a perfect sanctuary to come back to after a long day’s work. The walls were a soft pastel blue, a good foil for the walnut flooring. A bay window at the far side of the room looked out over a private fenced yard, a bricked patio, and a Jacuzzi tub.

She could all too easily picture Ty stepping out of that steaming pool toward her. Katy’s temperature rising as he strode toward her, water dripping off that powerful, sexy,
bare
body. She would offer to help dry him, inch by spectacular inch. Her hands tingled with the imaginary sensation of smooth skin and rippling muscles. Her tongue…

A cough from behind had Katy spinning from the glass, her face a bright red.

Ty looked at her quizzically for a moment before pointing to another door. “The bathroom’s through there if you’d like to freshen up. I’m just going to take Tiger here and get her settled in the porch.” He rubbed the kitten’s head. “I’ll start dinner, and then we can have that talk.”

Katy nodded and turned away, grateful for the reprieve. She closed the bathroom door and flipped the light switch. A flushed face and hectic eyes stared back at her from the beveled mirror. She bent and splashed cold water from the brass faucet over her heated cheeks.

This had to stop.

The diamond solitaire winked at her under the bright lights, reminding her of her obligations to another man. And why was she suddenly thinking of her marriage to Jeff as an obligation? Why did her father hire Ty and bring him back into her world? She’d done fine without him all these years. Really. Her hard won career was taking off. She had a beautiful condo near the beach. A gorgeous fiancé. Life was great.

So don’t screw it up.

Great advice. Now if she’d only follow it. Katy finished drying her hands, pulled her brush out of her purse and dragged it through her hair. Touched up her lipstick with a slightly shaky hand, and opened the door like she was headed to the gallows. The light on the far side of the living room beckoned, guiding her toward the mouthwatering smells of garlic, onions, and Italian seasoning.

The sight of Ty standing guard over a bubbling pot of pasta while stirring a sauté pan of sauce at the largest stainless steel stove she’d ever seen, made Katy smile. This Ty she felt comfortable with. While dating they’d often spent their evenings together preparing gastronomic delights at home instead of going out to some swanky restaurant. She remembered how he said cooking relaxed him. This was a chef’s domain, from the butcher-block counter with the brass-bottomed pots hanging above, to the giant French door refrigerator. She had kitchen envy.