What Makes Us Stronger (A Well Paired Novel Book 3) Read online

  Doctor Kimball referred him to a psychologist, who diagnosed him with depression. And that depressed the hell out of him. He was a grown man. Depression was for the weak, not a six-foot man who could bench press four hundred pounds.

  Or so he thought. He’d done a lot of reading and researching and came to the god-awful same conclusion. He was freaking depressed.

  Kristi’s betrayal had been a trigger that sent him in a downward spiral until he couldn’t get out of his own way. The medication he’d been on for the past few years seemed to be working. Or maybe it was Lily. Probably a combination of both.

  While he hated to admit it, talking to friends seemed to be the best therapy of all.

  Maybe now was the time to get it all off his chest.

  “Hope wrote to me every month. Usually twice a month. And sent me emails almost daily. I wrote when I could. Asked her questions about Delaney. Hung up pictures of her in my tent. Hope named me the godfather. I was honored.”

  “From what she says, you were her lifeline.”

  “I know.” Ty sighed and folded his hands behind his neck. “Which is why I didn’t tell her much about what was happening in my life.”

  “The war?”

  “The war was easy to talk about.” Ty closed his eyes and leaned back into his palms. “There was a woman.”

  “Isn’t there always?”

  “Yeah. Pretty much.” He opened his eyes and leaned forward on his knees, staring into the fire. “Kristi wasn’t in my squadron but was stationed in Kabul for nine months. We seemed to be on the same schedule. Working out. Eating. Leisure time. I didn’t tell Hope about her. Even though we weren’t dating, I didn’t know how Hope would react. She’d been through so much already.”

  “Understood. If you two had an agreement of some sort, that you were anything more than friends, I’d say you were an asshole to keep this Kristi woman from her. But from the way Hope talks, you guys have always been platonic.”

  Guilt crept up the back of Ty’s neck. Did he know?

  “I know about that one time before you enlisted.”

  “Great.” Not a proud moment when a woman who has seen you naked and has had her breast in your mouth says it’s not working for her. It hadn’t worked for Ty either. They were too close of friends, and moving their relationship to a sexual level hadn’t felt right. Still, talking about it out loud bruised his ego a smidge.

  “I didn’t ask for details, and if you’re picturing my wife naked right now I’ll hurdle over this fire and take you down in two-point-two.”

  “I’m not picturing her naked. Trust me.”

  “Lily? Kristi?”

  Lily? Always. Kristi? Not in a long, long time. “Kristi and I made promises. I couldn’t exactly go out and get her a ring, but I... proposed. She said yes.”

  “Oh, man. I’m sorry. Did she... did she die fighting?”

  A sardonic laugh escaped his lips. “No. Not in the least.” The next part no one knew. Not even the few who knew about their relationship. This is what stung. What ruined his spirits, his trust in women. Sent him into a deeper depression. “She got to go home to Texas on leave. Our days off didn’t match up. We Skyped almost every night. I thought things were great. When she returned to base I didn’t think anything was off. We picked up right where we left off.”

  Ty kicked at the rocks around the fire pit and reached down for a log, tossing it in the fire and watching the orange embers crackle in the dark night.

  “A couple months later Kristi got sick. A lot. I was worried about her and made her check in with the medics.”

  “Shit. Cancer?”

  He shook his head. “Pregnancy.”

  Cameron sat upright. “You have a—oh, man.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but it probably isn’t this. She and I both realized the timing was off. The baby wasn’t mine. Kristi admitted to sleeping with her ex-boyfriend when home for a month. Come to find out, his daddy’s got some serious money in the oil business and she said Daniel could take better care of her—and the baby—than a small town carpenter.”

  “Wow. Shit.” Cameron took off his ball cap and scratched his head before returning it again. “I had no idea. Man. That’s rough.”

  “I never told Hope.”

  “Because you didn’t want to burden her with your shit when she was dealing with her own.”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s noble, man.”

  “I wouldn’t call it that.” Cowardice. Shame. Distrust in humankind.

  “I tell Hope everything.”

  “I know.”

  “But you have my word this stays between us. I don’t keep secrets from her, but this isn’t about Hope or me. If she hears about it, it’ll be from you. You have my word.”

  Something inside Ty humbled. Getting the story off his chest relieved him of some of the pressure that had been building for years. He still held strong to his heart, refusing to let another woman steam roll him again, but being with Lily had made him feel again.

  And hell, it felt good to smile. To laugh. To have a woman’s arms and legs intertwined with his. He’d had sex with other women since returning home. None, however, were Lily.

  “And since Hope doesn’t know I’m assuming Lily doesn’t either.”

  “Lily and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

  “Uh huh.” Cam chuckled. “You keep telling yourself that.”

  “We don’t talk much.”

  “Oh, so it’s that kind of relationship.” Cam barked out a loud laugh, and Ty did all he could to keep from smiling.

  “Am I late to the party?”

  Ty looked over his shoulder and saw Ben making his way toward them.

  “Just getting started. Pull up a chair.” Cam tossed another log on the fire. “We’ve got all night. No point in going home to an empty bed, right?”

  “Sophie’s in her crib right now. Chances are she’ll be in our bed once we get home. Alexis’ mom kicked me out of the house once Sophie fell asleep to have man time. Kind of weirded me out.”

  “Alexis must have called her.”

  “Well, she hasn’t called me. The girls are probably having so much fun they’ve forgotten about us.” Ben pulled a beer from his cooler and offered one to Ty.

  “You sure?”

  “I’m not drinking all six or Alexis will put me on the couch tonight.”

  “Since Sophie’ll be taking up space in your bed it may not be such a bad thing.” Ty unscrewed the cap off his bottle and played with it between his fingers.

  “Says the single guy. I’ll take Alexis in my bed any way I can have her. Even if that means I get four square inches while she and the baby get the rest.”

  “Says the newlywed. I’ll check back in with you in another year or so.” Ty tipped his beer toward Ben in salute before he drank.

  “Ah, such the skeptic. I thought Lily would have you seeing differently by now.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  When Ben and Cam laughed, Ty resisted the urge to finish off his entire beer in one swig.

  “Deny it all you want, man, but you’ve got it bad for Lily.”

  “How would you know?” Ty didn’t know Ben as well as Cam. He was always up at the winery or busy with Sophie and Alexis. They’d talked a few times, like at Hope’s wedding and a barbeque at the winery. Other than that, they talked in passing only.

  Ben shrugged. “I figured from the way things went at the wedding that you two would be an item by now.”

  Ty glanced at Cam and then back at Ben. “Nothing happened at his wedding.”

  “No wonder you’re so sensitive about it then.” Ben grinned into his beer.

  “You guys are assholes.” Ty tossed his empty in the cooler and stood. “I’m heading out.”

  Cam stood and pulled out his wallet. “Ten bucks says he calls Lily when he gets home tonight.”

  “Screw that bet. Ten bucks says he calls her the second he gets to his truck.�
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  “Like I said. Assholes.” Ty flipped them the bird over his shoulder as he walked away and couldn’t help smiling when his friends catcalled behind his back.

  CHAPTER NINE

  TY HAD JUST FINISHED brushing his teeth and climbed into bed when headlights shone down his driveway, lighting up his room. Glancing at the clock, he swung his legs out of bed and found a pair of running shorts. Who the hell would show up at his house at midnight?

  His stomach tightened. No, if his parents or sister were hurt someone would have called. Unless... the girls. Lily? When he reached the front door female voices argued loudly on the other side.

  “I can’t believe you did this. He’s sleeping. Just bring me home.”

  Lily? His pulse quickened, and he opened the door. Mia’s hand was wrapped around Lily’s arm in an attempt to pull her back toward the house.

  “Hey, bro. Your house was on my way, so I figured it would be easier to drop Lily off here. She’s been drinking and shouldn’t be home alone. All those stairs. You know?”

  “Is she okay?” She didn’t appear to be stumbling, other than from Mia’s tugging. Her hair was down falling across her bare shoulders and veiled part of her face.

  The purple top fit tightly across her chest and flared out around her stomach covering what he knew was skin as soft as buttery leather. And those damned long legs seemed to be shrink-wrapped in denim. The woman didn’t belong in Crystal Cove. She deserved to be on the cover of a magazine. Although he was glad she wasn’t. He didn’t want other men looking at her and thinking the thoughts that so easily corrupted his mind.

  “I’m fine. I apologize for waking you.” Lily’s eyes met his then dropped to his naked chest. He couldn’t help but suck in his gut a little and flex his pecs.

  The sliver of a moon didn’t give him much light to see if her cheeks were red, or her eyes for that matter. Just enough to make out her embarrassment.

  “Do you mind if she crashes here? I still have to drop off Alexis and Jenna. Bringing her here saves me a trip from going back into town.”

  Going into town would only be ten minutes out of her way. Ty knew what she was doing and part of him appreciated her for it, but another part was embarrassed. For him. For Lily. If Mia could be a little more subtle about her plan to get him and Lily together he’d appreciate it even more.

  “Is everyone else okay?” He peered around Mia but couldn’t see into the darkened car.

  “Grace is passed out drunk, Jenna will be once her head hits the pillow, and Alexis is passed out from being overtired.”

  “If you’re tired, Mia, I can drive everyone home. You haven’t been drinking, have you?”

  “I had one glass of wine at the start of the concert. I’m good. I gotta go, though. Ben keeps texting me about Alexis.”

  “Hope’s already home?”

  “Yeah. Dropped her off first. Can you handle Lily?” Mia smirked.

  “Mia!” Lily covered her face with her hands and lowered her head.

  A look of guilt—something unfamiliar to Mia—crossed her face. “Alright. Sorry. I may have crossed the line with my matchmaking skills. Hop back in the SUV. I’ll take you home.”

  Torn between wanting Lily to stay—really wanting her to stay—and wanting to make her comfortable, he stepped in with an offer.

  “Mia, you’ve got your hands full. I can drive Lily home.”

  “You sure?” Someone beeped her horn, and Mia looked over her shoulder. “Jenna wants to get home.”

  “I’m sure. If you’re okay with that, Lily?”

  “If you don’t mind.” Her voice was soft and insecure.

  “Cool. Gotta run. Had a blast tonight, Lils.” Mia hugged her and jogged off to her waiting vehicle.

  Lily had turned to face the retreating car, her arms crossed over her body in a rigid stance.

  “Come on in. I need to grab a shirt and my shoes.”

  Ty stepped back into the house and held the door open for her. When she shyly entered, he closed the door behind her and did his best not to stare at the way her tight jeans cupped her cute little butt.

  “I’m really sorry, Ty.” She turned, facing him, and bit her lip. She pushed her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

  And then his body moved on its own inching closer until they were toe-to-toe. “Don’t be sorry.” He reached out and picked up a strand of her blonde hair, toying with the ends. “I’m sorry for my sister. She can be a bit much.”

  Lily laughed, lifting her gaze to his. “That she is.” Her mouth froze in its smile, the crinkles around her eyes softened, and her blue irises darkened.

  The spell between them would be broken if he moved. If he spoke. The urge to touch, to kiss, to ask her to stay beat feverishly through his veins. And once again the fear of rejection, maybe not tonight, but sometime in the future after he’d given his heart away to her, weighed in his chest.

  Licking her lips, Lily was the first to move. And to speak. “I don’t want to be an inconvenience.” She tucked her already tucked hair behind her ear again. “To make you drive me home.”

  Was she saying what he hoped she was? If she wanted to stay the night, she was more than welcome to.

  “What do you want, Lily?”

  She reached out and placed her hand on his chest, and he nearly whimpered. Her fingers, cool on his hot flesh, branded him. He was hers to do with whatever the hell she wanted.

  “I guess I could stay. If you don’t mind. If you want me to.”

  Something growled deep within him, and in one swift move he lowered his mouth to hers, tasting her sweetness, her innocence, her beauty. Lily’s hands slid across his ribcage and clutched at his back. Damn, it felt good to be touched. To be held.

  Taking their kiss deeper, Ty cupped her face in his palms and breathed in her scent. Flowers. Something exotic. His hands and arms tingled, his groin tightened, and he pulled back before he crushed her too hard, nipping at her plump lips and trailing kisses along her jawline.

  “I can take the couch if you want me to. Or we can share my bed,” he whispered below her ear in between gentle bites to her neck.

  Lily pulled back, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck. “You’re not sleeping on the couch.”

  “And neither are you.” Ty picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He tried not to think about the last time he’d changed his sheets. He wasn’t a slob, but washing his sheets wasn’t high on his priority list when they never needed to be company ready.

  Another wave of insecurities flashed to the forefront of his mind. Lily was a classy lady. What would she think of his simple bedroom? The oak headboard was passed down from his grandparents, his queen-sized bed taking up a good chunk of the bedroom. A tall bureau was the only other piece of furniture other than the matching nightstand.

  The set had to be fifty years old and nothing classic. Simple. That was Ty. Just like his navy sheets and navy comforter. Decorating wasn’t his gig. Building, fixing, and right now, making love to Lily were.

  “I’m hoping you have condoms that haven’t expired,” she said while tracing her tongue across his bottom lip.

  Maybe she wasn’t as caught up on his lack of décor as he was.

  “I may have picked up a box last week.” Before she’d come over for dinner. They didn’t use them that night. He didn’t want her to think he was only after sex. Yet that’s what he’d been telling himself this was.

  He needed to keep things between them purely sexual so he wouldn’t get hurt again, but since Lily was friends with his sister, he needed to respect her as well. Which he totally did.

  Finding that balance was complicated. And Lily stripping off her purple top standing in front of him in a strapless bra completely threw off his balance.

  Ty lowered his mouth to her bare shoulder, tasting her sweet skin before kissing it. “You’re gorgeous.” He set her on her feet and prayed she wouldn’t go running.

  “Likewise.” Lily raked her
nails down his chest, and he sucked in a breath as she cupped him.

  “Damn.” So much for going slow. Backing her to the bed, he followed her to the mattress kissing her neck and trailing his tongue down her torso until he reached her bra. Sliding his hands under her, he undid the clasp and tossed the barrier aside.

  There was no more beautiful a sight than Lily sprawled out naked on his bed. Only the jeans had to go. Preferring to multi-task, he worked her button and zipper with his hands while his mouth feasted on her breasts. By the sounds of her moans and her fingers gripping into his shoulders, he’d say she was enjoying the moment as much as he was.

  The zipper made it halfway down and stopped. It was stuck. He slid it up again and down, but it didn’t get any further than the first time. Maybe he could slide her jeans off anyway. Lily was slim enough. Grabbing on to the waistband of her jeans, he tugged. And nothing. They didn’t budge. He tugged again. With great reluctance, he picked his head up from her breast and looked down at the problem at hand.

  He sat on his knees in between her legs and pulled. And yanked. And tugged. Her body jerked lower each time, the jeans not budging. “They’re stuck.”

  A romantic he was not. He’d hoped this time he’d have a little more finesse than their first encounter. At least he didn’t drop her to the floor. And he had condoms that didn’t expire for another year. At this rate, he wasn’t sure if he’d use them up beforehand.

  Lily sat up on her elbows. “I’ve been wrestling with my zipper all night.”

  “Oh?” He held on to her thighs just above her knees and resisted the temptation to give her a possessive squeeze. He wasn’t the possessive kind of guy, but the thought of Lily with another man...

  “The lines for the outhouses were forever long. It wasn’t until my third trip in that it got stuck. I didn’t think I’d ever get out of there. Those things are nasty.” She shuddered.

  There was nothing as unromantic as talking about outhouses. Not that Ty did the romance kind of thing. Still, there were a few topics that should be banned from the bedroom. Outhouses had to be high up on the list.

  And yet he wanted her more than ever. He only hoped she hadn’t turned herself off.