Sweet Spot (Summer Rush #1) (14 page)

He sighed, looking as though he wanted to argue, but eventually, he pulled her into a fierce hug instead. “Just be careful, okay? And text me when you get to the club and the studio. Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay, see you later, Stacey.” He waved at her before he gave Tenley one last kiss, and she closed the door behind him.

“Wow, looks like things are getting serious between you two,” Stacey said, wiggling her eyebrows.

“I could say the same about you and Ace,” Tenley said, trying to deflect as she sank down next to her on the couch. “I hear he stayed here again last night.”

“He did,” Stacey said, grinning. “I’m really into him. I’m just worried about scaring him off the way I did Walker, ya know?”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” she said, making a mental note to talk to Rowan about his friend so she could figure out whether he and Stacey were on the same page in their relationship. “I love my brother and all, but Ace seems a lot more mature when it comes to the whole male-female thing.”

“Oh, speaking of guys,” Stacey said, reaching for a slip of paper on the end table. “One called for you earlier. He didn’t want to leave his name or number, but I took down the number on the call display, just in case you recognized it.”

She looked at the local number, wondering if that meant Justin was living in her zip code. “What did he say?” she asked, trying not to panic.

“He just wanted to know if you were here. When I said you weren’t, he wanted to know when you’d be back. I said I had no clue but could give you a message for him. He said he’d call back later.”

Tenley didn’t give her number out to random guys, and those who called her always called on her cell, not her landline. But since their number was published and in her name, it would be easy enough to find. That, and their address. Damn it. She should have thought of that sooner, but when they moved in, Justin was still in jail and she had no reason to live in fear. What a difference a couple of years made.

She thought of the car she’d spotted downstairs and realized she couldn’t put off telling Stacey about Justin any longer. Her friend had a right to know that living with Tenley may be putting her in danger. She would hate to lose her as a roommate, but she wouldn’t blame her if she decided to bail.

“So, um, if you have some time, I need to talk to you about something.”

Stacey re-capped her nail polish and set it down. “This sounds serious. Is everything okay?”

“Not really,” Tenley admitted, hugging one of Stacey’s favorite floral pillows.

“It’s not about Rowan, is it?” she asked, glancing at the door Tenley had locked. “You guys seemed so tight when he dropped you off.”

“It’s not about him,” she said, trying to find the words that had come so easily last night when she was telling Rowan her story. “It’s about my past. There’s a lot I haven’t told you.”

“Okay,” she said, turning to face Tenley. “What is it?”

“You know I’ve never really been into relationships,” she said, tracing a pattern on the faux suede couch. “I mean, I’ve had plenty of hook-ups and I’ve dated a few guys for a while, but I’ve never really been interested in getting serious with anyone.”

“Yeah, I’ve wondered about that,” Stacey said, tucking her legs under her. “Did someone really do a number on you, or what?”

“Something like that,” she admitted, knowing what she was about to tell her would shock and terrify her. “I was engaged before.” She ignored her look of surprise, determined to continue before she lost her nerve. “Right out of high school.”

“Wow, I had no idea,” Stacey said, laying her hand on Tenley’s knee. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not something I’m proud of,” she said, thinking how much shame she still felt regarding the first and only man she’d ever given her heart to. “He was a bad guy. A really bad guy.”

“Did he hurt you?” she whispered, her wide eyes fixed on Tenley’s.

She swallowed her fear and met her friend’s gaze. “He kidnapped me. And he, uh, threatened to kill me, Stace.”

She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! What happened? Where is he now? Rotting in jail, I hope.”

Tenley was still emotionally exhausted from telling Rowan the whole story and didn’t think she could do it again, so she simply said, “It’s a long story. Bottom line, he’s out of jail now. And I have reason to believe he might come after me again.”

Stacey glanced at the cordless phone on the coffee table. “Do you think he’s who called you earlier?”

“It might have been. There was also a car I didn’t recognize parked outside of our building when I came in. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but the windows were tinted and—” The air rushed out of Tenley’s lungs when Stacey threw herself at her, hugging her tight.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “You have people who love you and would do anything to protect you. We’re not going to let him hurt you again. Ever.”

Tenley had never had a friend like Stacey, one who put her safety first. Who thought of her before she thought of herself and the danger this put her in. “Walker offered to let us stay with him for a while, if you want to. I know it might be awkward, given your history with him. But it’s a secure building and…” Tenley tried to read Stacey’s expression as she contemplated her proposal.

“I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. “How would I explain that to Ace?”

Stacey was right. Her current boyfriend probably wouldn’t appreciate being told she was shacking up with her ex, even if there was a legitimate reason. “Then maybe you should think about staying with Ace for a little while?”

“No, it’s too soon for that. Besides, I’m not leaving you all alone here. You’d be a sitting duck if that bastard came looking for you.”

“I can defend myself,” Tenley assured her. Stacey knew she carried a gun and could handle herself in close quarters combat. “It’s you I’m worried about. What if Justin comes when I’m not here?”

“You really think he’d do that?” She rolled her lip between her teeth. “But isn’t there some kind of protective order? Doesn’t he have to stay away from you?”

“He does, but that doesn’t mean he will.” Justin had never been big on following the rules, and she imagined seven years in prison had made him even more averse to obeying authority. “Brant said he’d try to patrol our area and put the word out to his buddies on the beat, but he can only do so much. He can’t watch our backs twenty-four, seven.”

“That’s why you parked Pearl.” Stacey sighed. “I should have known something was up when Walker lent you his car. He loves that car.”

“He didn’t want me to take the chance of riding her,” she admitted. “I hate that I’m changing my life so much, living in fear of a son of a bitch who’s already taken so much from me, but what choice do I have, right?”

Tenley was stronger than she’d been back then: mentally, physically, and emotionally. But experience had taught her that no one was a match for a madman wielding a gun while threatening the lives of everyone she loved if she didn’t succumb to his demands.

“How did Rowan react when you told him?”

“He’s concerned, obviously. But he never made me feel like it was my fault.” That had been her underlying fear all along… that he would think less of her for being stupid enough to agree to marry a man who would do those things.

“It’s not your fault,” Stacey said, sounding appalled. “God, don’t even think that.”

Tenley was glad she’d told her the truth. Coming clean felt better than she thought it would, especially since the people she’d confided in were offering her support she hadn’t even realized she needed.

“Enough about him,” Tenley said, pressing her fingertips against her temple when she felt the threat of another headache. “I just wanted you to know so you could be more cautious. Now that you know, let’s talk about something else. Like Ace. How’s that going?”

Stacey smiled, but she couldn’t help noticing she didn’t light up the way she used to when they talked about her brother. Tenley hoped, for her sake, that she’d given up on Walker. She’d hate to think Stacey was letting her feelings for him influence her relationship with a guy who really seemed to care about her.

“He’s great. Really,” she said, gripping Tenley’s hand when she narrowed her eyes. “I should thank Rowan for introducing us. It’s been a long time since a guy has made me a priority in his life. It’s nice.”

Since she was Tenley’s best friend, she had to ask, “But is he the right guy, Stace?”

“I want him to be.” She closed her eyes, then took a deep breath as she stared straight ahead at the blank TV screen. “I keep trying not to compare Ace to your brother, but I can’t help myself. What the hell is wrong with me? I have a great guy in my life, and I’m wasting time thinking about a man who never gave a shit about me.”

“I don’t know that I’d go that far,” Tenley said, thinking about Walker’s reaction when he learned Stacey was seeing Ace. “I think my brother cared about you as much as he’s cared about anyone. But it just wasn’t enough. You wanted, needed, and deserved more than he could give.”

“Right,” she said, sounding resolute. “And that’s why I need to forget about him and focus on what I have with Ace. Because he really could be everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Tenley thought of the way she felt when she was with Rowan as she sank back against the cushions, still gripping one of the handmade pillows Stacey loved. “Does he turn you on? Does he make you feel like you can never get enough of him?”

Stacey sat back beside her, shoulder to shoulder, her feet stretched out on the coffee table as she wiggled her freshly painted lilac toes. “He’s hot. There’s no question about that. The sex is great.”

“But?” Tenley tipped her head to look at her friend. “Don’t even tell me there isn’t a but, girl. I know you too well.”

“Ugh.” She groaned, rolling her head back. “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just be happy with what I have instead of wanting something more?”

“What more do you want?” Tenley asked, nudging her shoulder. “More orgasms? More oral?”

Stacey giggled, blushing. “No. Not more like that. I just want…”

“Tell me.” Since Tenley had already told her deep, dark secret, she wanted Stacey to feel free to tell her anything.

“I want him to make me feel the way Walker did when we were together.”

She hadn’t realized it until right that second, but her big brother had really done a number on her best friend. She was going to have to smack him upside the head the next time she saw him.

“Maybe you’ll find someone who will make you feel that way,” Tenley said, sincerely hoping she would. “It could be Ace isn’t supposed to be your forever guy. Maybe he’s just the one who’s supposed to make you believe it’s possible to forget about Walker.”

“Maybe,” Stacey said, reaching for her hand. “Promise you won’t tell Walker I’ve still got a thing for him?”

“Your secret’s safe with me, hon.”
Always.

“Your brother tells me you’ve got a new girlfriend,” their dad said when Reese stepped outside to take a call.

They were dining at their father’s favorite restaurant, a little hole-in-the-wall Italian joint in their old neighborhood with lasagne that reminded them of their mother’s cooking.

“Reese has a big mouth,” Rowan muttered, reaching for his water glass.

“Does that mean you’re not going to tell me about her?” he asked, drawing his bushy gray eyebrows together as he folded his arms over his barreled chest.

“We’re taking it slow,” Rowan said, hoping that would be enough for him to take the hint he didn’t want to talk about it. He’d thought of Tenley every minute since he dropped her off, but he wasn’t ready to talk about his feelings for her. Not even to his old man, who’d always been his sounding board.

“Is that because you’re afraid of getting hurt again?”

Rowan knew he was referring to his relationship with Elle, which seemed like a blip on the radar screen compared to his feelings for Tenley. “Putting yourself out there is never easy, Dad. But you wouldn’t know that since you refuse to date.” Rowan felt guilty when a flash of pain crossed his face before he looked away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay,” he said, raising a calloused hand. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’re right. I don’t have any right to tell you boys how to live your lives when I don’t have much of a life myself.”

“Do you ever get lonely?” Rowan asked, feeling guilty that he couldn’t spend more time with his dad. He had a group of friends he played cards and watched sports with, but he wondered if that was enough now that he no longer had work to keep him occupied.

“Sometimes, but when you find the love of your life at eighteen, it’s hard to imagine ever finding another woman to take her place, son.”

His gut twisted when he thought of the kind of love his parents had shared. His father had sat by her bed during the grueling treatments, holding her when she cried out in pain and crying on her shoulder when she finally slipped away. Rowan had never seen him as broken as he was the day they had to say their final good-byes to her, and he’d always felt they lost a part of their dad that day too.

“Maybe you could find a different kind of love,” Rowan said, hoping that was possible for the old man. He didn’t want to see him grow old alone, feeling miserable because the best years of his life were behind him. “It may not compare to what you had with Mom, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be good.”

“A widow moved in just down the street from me.” His weathered cheeks turned a ruddy shade as he cleared his throat. “I met her at a neighborhood potluck a few weeks back. She asked me to a movie.”

“And?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know if I should go. I like her. I mean, she seems like a nice lady, but I—”

“Dad, I know you loved Mom. We all know that. But she wouldn’t want you to stop living just because she’s gone. You devoted your life to raising us, but we’re all grown up now. It’s time for you to focus on your own life.”

“Then you think I should go out with her?” he asked, stroking his white goatee. “I don’t know, son. What the hell do I know about dating these days?”