Ouch. Straight shooter. Pinching my eyebrows together, I asked, “How did you know they were screwing?”
She gave me a polite chuckle. “Please. I was painting that side of the house when she began calling out his name. It didn’t take long to figure out why you had that look on your face when you were stepping off the ladder.”
Bile moved up into the base of my throat. The idea of Ryn falling apart with that fucker buried inside her pissed me off. Swallowing hard, I looked down at the menu.
“Recent breakup?” Sierra asked as she smiled at Lisa and took her coffee. Placing mine in front of me, Lisa winked at me.
Glancing back at Sierra, I barely said, “What?”
“You and Ryn? Have y’all recently broken up?”
Setting my menu down, I placed my arms on the table and looked at Sierra. Indignantly, I asked, “How in the hell do you know her name?”
Something moved over Sierra’s eyes. She placed her arms on the table and stared me down. “It’s my house. I rent it out; therefore, I know who is there at all times. Just because I’m covered in paint doesn’t mean a damn thing. My daddy paints houses for a living and I’m helping him paint my beach house that I rent out when I’m not here in South Padre.”
I dropped back in my chair and was about to apologize when Lisa walked up and was ready to take our order. “What will it be, Sierra?”
Sierra sat back, never taking her eyes off of me. “Two eggs, over easy, side of sourdough bread, bacon, and a small stack of pancakes with blueberries on top.”
A small smile played across my lips. Lisa turned to me. “What would you like, Tom?”
Flashing a smile that would knock any guy out of his shoes, Sierra let out a giggle when Lisa called me Tom.
“I think I’ll have exactly the same as Sierra.”
Handing her my menu, she took it and turned on her heels, stomping away. Clearly annoyed that Sierra and I were in a flirting stare.
“We broke up ten months ago.”
Choking on her coffee, she quickly set it down. “Ten months? Ten. Months? You’re still pining over her after ten months? Shit . . . is she that good in bed?”
Hmm . . . a girl who speaks my language. “You immediately think it’s because of the sex?”
Raising her eyebrow, Sierra lifted the side of her mouth and made a face. “Please, I’m thirty years old, Tom. I’ve been around the block a time or two.”
Now it was my turn to lift my eyebrows and give her a look. “No fucking way you’re thirty. You look about twenty-two. Twenty-five max.”
Wiggling her eyebrows up and down she took another sip of her coffee and then whispered, “Flattery will get you everywhere. Especially if you tell me you’re a kinky lover. I may have to take you right here on the table—after I eat my pancakes of course.”
I threw my head back and laughed. I liked this girl. She was feisty and not afraid to speak her mind. That seemed to be rare in women these days. “What are you doing tonight?”
She took in a deep breath and blew it out. “Let’s see. I think my date is picking me up at seven tonight, and we’re heading to grab a bite to eat. Then we’re heading over to Max’s Roadhouse for some serious dirty dancing that will bring us to the brink of wanting to take each other right there on the dance floor, but we won’t.”
“You won’t?” I asked.
Shaking her head, she smiled faintly. “Nope. We won’t because he is pining over his girlfriend he broke up with ten months ago and I’m trying to move past learning my husband of six years cheated on me. With my best friend. In my house. In my bed, while my damn dog watched.”
“Fuck.”
Nodding her head, she whispered, “Yeah—fuck.”
Lisa brought our breakfast and Sierra and I spent the next hour talking. Sierra was a labor and delivery nurse in Austin. That made me smile for some reason. She just bought her own house, a small two-bedroom house in Hyde Park that she swears she had to sell her soul to the devil to be able to buy. I found myself smiling more during our conversation over breakfast than I had in the last ten months. Sierra was easy to talk to, had a wonderful sense of humor, and I could easily see us being friends. I’d never been just friends with a girl before, so this was new territory I was willing to explore.
“So, you’re a mechanical engineer, huh? You like taking shit apart and fixing it?”
Smiling, I nodded my head. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”
Leaning back, she placed her hands over her stomach. “I’m stuffed.” Tilting her head she smiled at me again. I was quickly learning to like this girl. She was fun and had a positive attitude. What a fucker of a husband not to see what an incredible woman he had. “I have a proposition for you.”
Looking surprised, I said, “I’m listening.”
“Ryn told me she wasn’t dating anyone. The guy she’s with is clearly into her more than she is him.”
“You’re observant.”
Smiling, Sierra tossed her head to the side and half-heartedly lifted her shoulder. “My job maybe? Or the fact that Daddy used to be involved in the Italian mafia and I learned a lot . . . too much really, when I was younger.”
Shit. Sierra just keeps getting more and more interesting.
Gesturing with my head, I said, “Go on.”
She popped up in her seat, nodding her head. “Oh right. So, my guess is, this guy . . . shit, what was his name?”
“Dodge,” I growled between my teeth.
Laughing, Sierra said, “Right. Dodge. I’m guessing he is just a friend who serves as a fuck buddy in a sense. I can see the idea of him drives you crazy. Very crazy. If Ryn still needs a fuck buddy after ten months, that tells me she is still hung up on you. Now, you said you’re both here a good two weeks or so. I think what you need is to somehow show Ryn what she’s missing. Show Ryn she doesn’t need Homerun after all.”
“Dodge. His name is Dodge.”
Grinning like a fool, Sierra chuckled. “Trust me. By the sound of that orgasm, his name is Homerun. Now, I need a few things taken care of at my place. Namely, my lawnmower needs to be fixed and a new garage door opener needs to be installed like ASAP. I’ll be your Dodge. Your pretend fuck buddy for the next—” She looked down at her cell phone. “For the next week. Our goal . . . make Ryn see what she really wants, and that’s not Dodge.”
Lifting, my mouth into a smile, I asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to put sex on the table with this agreement?”
Laughing she shook her head. “I’m nobody’s fuck buddy, Tristan.”
I was stunned into silence. Who is this girl? I looked up at the ceiling. Sierra leaned forward and looked up as well. “What are you looking at?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure, but I think heaven just sent me an angel.”
Peeking over at her, she laughed and held out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Glancing over Sierra’s shoulder, I saw Ryn walking in with Dodge. His arm was thrown over her shoulder. My stomach instantly felt sick at the sight of the two of them together. As my mind traveled back to this morning, the anger began to bubble up. I made the decision right there that I liked Sierra’s plan. Quickly grabbing Sierra’s hand, I pulled her halfway across the table. Placing my hand behind her neck, I pressed her lips to mine. It took a bit of prodding, but she finally opened her mouth to me. The sweet taste of blueberries lingered on her tongue and I moaned. When I pulled away, I took a quick peek toward the door. Ryn stood stunned as she watched me kiss Sierra. Kissing her quickly on the lips again, I whispered, “Deal.”
Leaning back, I relaxed in my chair as Sierra sat back. “Holy shit. I like how you seal your deals.”
Looking into her eyes, I gave her a smile that I could tell affected her. “You should see me in bed, sweetheart. I really know how to seal that deal.”
Her mouth parted open slightly. “I don’t doubt that one bit. I bet you’re a good lover.”
“I’m better than good.” I stood and took out my wallet. Throwing
a few twenties onto the table, I took Sierra’s hand and brought it up to my lips. “It’s show time, sweetheart.”
Sierra’s eyes widened. “What? Ryn’s here? Is that why?”
Nodding my head, I pulled her to me. “Where did you go to college?”
“Um . . . University of Texas.”
Nodding, I pulled her closer to me. “By the way, my name is Tristan. Let me take the lead.”
She giggled nervously. “Pesh, you’re gonna have to because I wasn’t prepared to slip into role. Besides, that kiss and your name left me slightly turned on.”
Looking at her, I chuckled. “Really?”
She looked straight ahead, nodded, and whispered, “It’s show time.”
“OH . . . MY . . . GOSH,” I WHISPERED.
“What’s wrong, Ryn?” Dodge asked.
I stood staring at Tristan, kissing—Sierra. The girl I was renting the beach house from. Holy shitballs.
I couldn’t utter a word. All I could do was stare at them. Shit. They were walking this way. I felt myself lean in closer to Dodge.
“Tristan,” I whispered.
Dodge looked up and held me tighter.
“Hey, Ryn. Long time no see,” Sierra said in that bubbly-ass way she had about her. Okay, that was mean. I really liked Sierra when I first met her in Austin at the Starbucks down from my house. When I found out she had a place down here, I asked if I could rent it out. She had just separated from her asshole husband and said the extra income would help out a lot. Sierra told me she would be down here painting the house with her father while I was here.
I was expecting to see her the next few days. What I wasn’t expecting to see were her lips pressed to Tristan’s . . . or them walking out arm in arm—together.
Anger filled my veins, or was it jealousy? I really liked Sierra. Even pictured us hanging out together in Austin. She was a runner. She loved going to movies. She had an amazing personality. She was dumped by the man she loved. Ugh. So. Many. Things. In. Common. Tristan messed up my possible friendship with one damn kiss.
So. Angry.
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I got ready to put on a fake smile and try to keep my hands to my sides and not claw her eyes out for kissing my man. Glancing at Tristan, I shot him a dirty look.
Asshole.
Gathering my wits about me, I realized I had no right to be feeling this way. Dodge had fucked me not more than two hours ago and here I was mad because I saw Tristan kissing another woman. At least I knew for sure he was not with Liberty. Sure didn’t take him long to move on.
Dick.
“Hey there . . . um . . . Sierra.” Looking at Sierra, I smiled sweetly. Then I turned to Tristan, who was looking directly at Dodge. Reaching his hand out, I held my breath.
“Tristan Williams.”
Dodge shook Tristan’s hand. “Dodge Walker.”
I couldn’t help but notice the veins in Tristan’s neck jump out as he clenched his jaw together. He was pissed. I knew him well enough to know that happens when he is mad and attempting to hold it in. For some reason, knowing that Tristan was pissed about Dodge made my stomach flip.
“You two know each other?” I asked, looking between Tristan and Sierra.
Tristan smiled that damn panty-melting smile of his. “Yeah. Sierra was a couple years ahead of me at UT.”
Sierra raised her eyebrows and smiled. Then she turned and looked at Dodge. Her mouth parted open slightly before she quickly shut it. Dodge had that kind of effect on women, but I didn’t think he held a candle to Tristan by any means. Tristan was slightly taller but their builds were the same. They were both breathtakingly handsome. If you put them side-by-side and told any woman to pick, they wouldn’t be able to. But Tristan’s smile won out every single time. As did his laugh. Tristan’s smile and eyes, when he made love to me, were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Especially during the time we spent at his parents’ last Christmas. That’s when everything between us changed.
Sex between Tristan and I was never ever bad. Or boring. But that one night was all it took to tip the balance of our relationship.
Tristan had taken me for a drive in the Jeep to get away from everyone. His father had asked to speak with both Lark and Tristan. Tristan left his father’s office and was clearly shaken. Taking my hand, he said, “Let’s go for a drive.”
We came upon a trail. “Where does that go?” I asked as I glanced at Tristan.
Stopping the Jeep, he smiled. “One of our hunting cabins. Want to see it?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I shivered.
“Shit, Ryn, baby, are you cold?”
“A little, but it’s really okay. We can keep going.”
Seconds later I was in Tristan’s arms as he carried me down the path. Using his key, he opened the door and set me down inside.
Picking up wood from the rack that sat next to the fireplace, Tristan began building a fire. After he got it good and going, he reached over and pulled the quilt off of the bed and placed it on the floor.
Motioning for me to sit down, I made my way over and sat in front of the fire. The warmth hit my face and immediately began warming up my body.
“Mmm . . . that feels so much better.”
Glancing over to Tristan, I couldn’t help but notice he was staring at me. He had been doing that a lot the last two days. Clearing his throat, he looked at the fire. “Are you having fun here, Ryn?”
Grinning, I nodded my head and said, “Oh, yes. I adore Azurdee. She is so sweet. Your mother really is so nice.”
Nodding his head, he continued to stare into the fire. “Yeah, Mom’s great. Lark picked out a good one I think with Azurdee. She seems to have settled his wild ways.”
Letting out a laugh, I said, “They are cute together. He seems to really love her.”
Tristan’s head snapped over to me. I choose not to acknowledge his action as I focused on the fire.
“Are you warming up?” Tristan asked as he moved the back of his hand down the side of my face. The sweet gesture caused me to lean into his hand.
“Almost,” I whispered.
Tristan stood and quickly lifted me up into a standing position. “What’s wrong?” I asked as my eyes searched his face. I wasn’t sure how to read the look in his eyes. Slowly shaking his head, he reached for my shirt and began to lift it over my head. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the smell of the burning wood. It felt as if my heart was on fire as Tristan reached behind my back and skillfully had my bra undone in less than two seconds. Dropping both my shirt and bra to the floor, he moved to my jeans. It wasn’t long before I stood before him, in front of the romantic fire, completely naked. Tristan’s eyes moved across my body as if he was memorizing every inch of me. I’d never had a man look at me like he couldn’t get enough. Placing my hand on my stomach, I attempted to calm the butterflies.
Taking my hands, he led me to the bed. “Lay down, Ryn.”
Moving onto the bed, I was flat in record time. Watching Tristan undress was like watching a Broadway show. So, so good, and you just didn’t want it to end. Rubbing my legs together, I counted down the seconds until he would be inside me.
Reaching back into his jeans, he pulled out a condom. Smiling, he crawled onto the bed. Rolling the condom on, he made his way between my legs. He had most of his whole body weight on me as he cupped my face and stared into my eyes. I could see the light from the fire dancing off his eyes.
Tristan had never moved so slowly. He began kissing along my neck as he whispered how beautiful I was.
“I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you, Ryn.”
My heart soared and I slowly began to let down the wall I had built up to protect myself. I was starting to picture a future with this man.
Whispering his name was all I could manage to do. He had my stomach in ultimate flutter mode.
“Tristan.”
Slowly pushing inside of me, we both let out a moan. This had been the first time in our relationship that we had truly had sl
ow, passionate, meaningful sex. Tristan was making love to me. In the most romantic way imaginable.
As the buildup began, Tristan began to move faster. Gripping onto his arms, I felt my orgasm about to explode. Arching my back, I softly called out his name. Once my orgasm was over, Tristan moved closer to me, dropping his face into my neck as he moved his lips to my ear. I could feel him growing bigger inside of me. He was about to come.
“I’m falling in love with you, baby.”
One deep thrust and Tristan let out a soft moan as he whispered, “Ryn . . .”
Oh my. I whispered my feelings back to him. “Tristan, I’m falling in love with you.”
Wrapping my arms around him, Tristan held me for the longest time before he pulled out. Rolling over, he stared up at the ceiling with a confused look on his face. I wasn’t sure what to do. Tristan finally turned and kissed me. The kiss was long and passionate. It almost felt as if he was saying good-bye. Whispering my name against my lips, he got up and got dressed.
Those whispered words changed our relationship. Unfortunately, it was changed in a different way for each of us.
I’m falling in love with you, baby.
From that moment on, he acted as if I no longer existed.
Dodge squeezed me, pulling me out of my memory.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I see. Well, it looks like you both knew each other fairly well, and still do.”
Oh shit. I sound like I’m jealous. Wait . . . I am jealous. No I’m not. Get it together, Ryn. Get. It. Together.
Tristan smirked, while Sierra’s face looked sad. Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m sorry, that sounded bitchy.”
Sierra smiled warmly. “I ran into Tristan. We had breakfast together and . . .” Sierra looked up at Tristan. “Some old sparks might have flared up. We’re just having fun, isn’t that right?”
Looking down at her, Tristan winked. “Right.” Looking at Dodge and me, Tristan nodded his head. “I’ve got to get going.”
Attempting to not show Tristan kissing Sierra had rocked my world, I smiled. Or attempted to anyway. I was afraid it came across as more of a toothy grin. Stepping out of the way, Tristan and Sierra walked out of the restaurant. Looking over my shoulder I watched them as we waited to be seated. Tristan placed his hand on the side of Sierra’s face. My heart dropped at the tender notion. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers as he smiled. Sierra grinned back and they both went their separate ways.