What Makes Us Stronger (A Well Paired Novel Book 3) Page 17

  “You’re sixty and in great shape. That’s not old.”

  “I appreciate the compliment.” His father slapped him on the back. “I get around just fine, but climbing ladders and putting in twelve-hour days... Well, I told your mother I’d cut back a bit. Maybe be more of the paperwork guy.”

  “What?” Ty crumpled the saran wrap and tossed it in his cooler. “You’re retiring?” His father had taught him all he knew, and he still had a lot to learn.

  “Not exactly. You hate the business side of the job. I don’t mind taking the desk job. I’ll have more time to budget and organize jobsites, and you can do the grunt work. When you’re down a man, I’ll still pitch in. I’ll need to get my hands dirty every now and then.”

  “How long have you been thinking about this?”

  “For a little bit. Not until I knew you could handle running a crew on your own. You’ve been doing that for a couple years. The guys respect you. Look up to you. You have a good eye and work well with the clients as well.”

  Pride swelled in his chest.

  That had been one of Ty’s biggest fears. That he’d never be looked at as his own person, but his father’s son. The guy who couldn’t make it on his own.

  Damn, he hated how pathetic he sounded. Had he really been a complete downer since Kristi effed up his life? Lily’s comment about him and Meatball being the same came to mind.

  Yeah, she was right. He needed the kick in the pants to take a look around him and be grateful for all that he had.

  His health. A family who loved each other and supported him. A job, a career, he loved and was good at. A roof over his head and a low-maintenance dog. Friends. Cameron, Ben, Hope. Hell, he’d call Mia a friend if he had to.

  And Lily.

  Being in a relationship, finding a woman to love, wasn’t anywhere on his radar. Yeah. Love. He loved Lily. And the realization didn’t scare him. He’d opened up to her about Kristi, and then a few days later he’d told her about his depression. Instead of looking at him with disgust or pity, she comforted him and hugged him tight, asking him how she could help.

  But she’d been off the past few weeks. More cuddly and still wonderful, but distant and not as lighthearted as she’d been when they first started seeing each other. Maybe unloading everything on her so soon into their relationship was a mistake. It was probably too much for her to handle.

  “Are you okay with this? Taking the lead on the jobsites? You’ve been doing that for a while now anyway. Didn’t think you’d realized it, though.”

  “Sorry if I’ve stepped on your toes.”

  “Not in the least.” His father opened up a container and offered Ty a cookie. “Your mother made oatmeal butterscotch chip. Your favorite.”

  “Thanks.” He took a cookie and bit into it. “So when are you thinking of moving to the desk job?”

  “Not until this fall. When projects slow down. Or when you’re ready.”

  “You sure you’re not sick? Something isn’t wrong with you or Mom, is there?”

  “Not at all.” His father laughed and put the cover back on his cooler. “Just counting down the days to retirement. I wouldn’t leave my company to just anyone. Parker Construction has a solid reputation. If I thought you couldn’t keep it running smoothly, I wouldn’t be stepping down. We’re not a big corporation or anything, but around here, reputation is everything. You know that.”

  “I’m not going to lie, I’ll miss working side-by-side with you, Dad.”

  “Likewise.”

  “And I’m honored to take over the family business.” He truly meant it. Ten years ago the thought of being stuck working for the construction company made him feel claustrophobic. Today, though, it brought clarity to his future.

  A future he wanted to share with Lily.

  “HEY, GORGEOUS.” LILY came up behind him and greeted him with a kiss. “What ya got cooking?”

  Ty closed the cover to the grill and turned, circling Lily in his arms. “Chicken thighs and baked potatoes. Nothing fancy.”

  “Sounds perfect.” She toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck reminding him he needed a haircut.

  “I want to do something fancy for you, though.”

  “I don’t need that.” Lily’s fingers stopped moving, and her gaze stared out to the woods behind him.

  That far off daze in her eyes was becoming more frequent. Ty couldn’t figure out if he said or did something to trigger it.

  “In case you haven’t figured me out yet, I’m not the most, uh, romantic guy. I don’t really even know what that means? Flowers? Balloons? Chocolates? What is it that you like?”

  “You know what I like.” She returned her gaze to him, this time the blues of her eyes were bright as the rich sky above.

  “Tell me.”

  Her fingers stroked the back of his neck, and her body leaned closer into his. “I like this. Being with you. Having homecooked meals together. Even hanging out with Meatball.”

  Ty licked his lips and let out a dramatic sigh. “Hell. You’re more boring than me.”

  Lily dropped her hands and goosed his sides. “Jerk,” she said with a laugh as she slipped away. “Do you need help with dinner?”

  “I’m assuming that means you think we need a vegetable.”

  “Does your mother know you don’t eat vegetables unless I make you?”

  “She’s known that for thirty-four years. And speaking of my mother, she’d like us to come over for dinner tomorrow night. Is that okay with you?”

  “I adore your mother. Celeste was one of the first people I talked to in town. She was kind to me from the very first time I met her while perusing through the bookstore.”

  “Just to let you know, I’ve never brought a woman to the house before.”

  “Really?” Lily touched her hands to his chest, and he felt instantly reassured this was a step in the right direction. Toward their future. “Well, then. I’m humbled and honored to be your first.”

  She rested her lips against his, and he wanted to stay like that forever. Lily in his arms, their bodies, their hearts, their lives never separating.

  After dinner they went for a walk along his road, which dead ended and turned into a dirt tote road.

  “This is pretty. Quiet and secluded. I can see why you love living out here.”

  “Is that another comment about me and Meatball being one in the same? Too grumpy for civilization.”

  She bumped him with her hip. “I never said you were grumpy.”

  Ty draped his arm over Lily’s shoulder and pulled her into his side. “You implied.” He dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “And you were kind of right. Although I’d call it serious and focused.”

  “Ty.” Lily stopped walking and turned to him. Her shoulders slumped under the heaviness of his arm, and her bottom lip curled into her mouth as if the weight of the world was on her mind and she didn’t know what to do. Or say.

  And just like that, he went from happy and carefree to concerned and anxious. Ghosts from his past haunted the space between them. Ty dropped his arm and stepped back, not wanting her to feel how tense he was and how hurt he’d be if she misled him.

  “I need to tell you something, and I’m not sure how you’ll take it.”

  Again, the thud of his heart drowned in the sea of delusion. He’d been an idiot to trust, to believe so easily.

  “Say what you have to say.” He tucked his hands in his front pockets using his basic training interrogation skills to appear nonplussed by whatever ball she was about to drop.

  “I’ve learned firsthand how short life is. We take too much for granted these days. We never know when... life will throw us a curveball.”

  Like right the hell now.

  Lily reached out and caressed his chest, his thin tee not enough of a barrier to block the heat from her touch. Ty pretended to be unaffected.

  “You don’t have to respond. You don’t have to say anything. In fact, I’d rather you didn’t.” She puckered her l
ips and exhaled, her breath loud and nervous in the still of the woods.

  Like a Band-Aid, he’d rather her just be out with it. “What’s the big secret you’ve been keeping from me?”

  Her eyebrows lifted, and for a second her eyes rounded with fear and then quickly settled again. The curve of her lip sly and seductive and if he weren’t about to get dumped, he’d trace his tongue along it.

  Gliding her hand along his collarbone, she lifted her stunning blue eyes to his. “I love you.”

  Too shocked to respond, he studied her face waiting for the bomb to drop. For the final twist of the knife in his heart. Only it didn’t come.

  “That’s your big secret?”

  Lily’s smile grew wider. “I don’t think it’s any secret. In fact, I think you’re the last to figure it out.” The smile wilted, and she bit her lower lip again. “I’m not asking for any type of declaration from you. I know it’s hard for you to love, and I’m not asking for anything in return other than what we already have between us. I’m truly happy for the first time in my life. And you’re a big part of that.”

  “You love me.” Her eyes were sincere, her smile genuine, and his heart so full of life he didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky.

  “We can go back now. Check on Meatball. I understand if you need more time.” Lily started to walk away and he reached out quickly, grabbing the back waistband of her jeans.

  “You love me.” Tugging her into his arms, he watched as her lips curved into a shy smile, and she nodded slowly. “Damn.”

  He took her mouth in his and kissed her with a passion he didn’t know he had. With the love in his heart he’d had tucked away for so long.

  When they finally came up for air, he leaned his forehead against hers and worked on steadying his breath.

  “I love you too, Lily.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  AFTER THE MOST AMAZING evening cuddled in Ty’s arms and the morning spent at the beach with him and Meatball, she left his house to go home and shower and change into something nice for dinner at his parents’ house.

  So this is what being in love feels like. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she curled subtle beach waves into her hair. When her hair and makeup were done, she slipped into a cute tangerine colored sundress and a pair of white sandals.

  It was amazing what she could find at Target. To think of the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars she could have saved and donated to charities or done something good with. Instead, she and all the other too-wealthy people squandered their money as if it was easy to come by.

  Which it had been. And that didn’t seem fair while so many others worked countless hours day in and day out to make ends meet. This new way of life gave her a greater appreciation for all things, big and small. Lily was glad she walked away from her inheritance. Granted, claiming any of it would reveal she was alive.

  Taking one final look in the mirror, she glanced at her cell phone and turned giddy inside. Ty would be there any minute. Making sure her overnight bag was packed with the essentials, she hefted it over her shoulder and made her way down the stairs to wait for him.

  Ty stood on the other side of the glass door with a bouquet of flowers and the sexiest smile she’d ever seen.

  Unlocking the door, she opened it and waved him in. Her heart swelled with love.

  “These are for you. I’ve never bought flowers for a woman before.”

  “So I’m another first?” She took the flowers and breathed in their heavy, sweet scent.

  “It’s probably cliché`, giving you lilies. I know I’m not original, and I’m not the first.” If he only knew how wrong he was. “But when the florist asked what kind of bouquet I wanted, I kind of froze. I don’t know about types of flowers. Only the kind my mother plants in her garden.”

  “I love them, Ty. And I can honestly say you’re the first person to give me lilies. In fact, no one has ever given me flowers before.”

  “Really?”

  She chose her last name because it meant new, and she’d chosen her first name based on her favorite flower. Sure, her penthouse and many homes had been filled with flowers, but those were picked out by their staff and never held any sentimental value. Not once had her father or even Damian given her flowers.

  Knowing how out of his element he was, made the gesture that much sweeter. Heck, she’d be over the moon if he picked wildflowers from the side of the road. It was the thought that counted and until Ty, she was never truly thought about.

  “Really.” She smelled them again and then moved them aside to give him a kiss. “So I’m the first woman you’ve brought to your parents’ for dinner and the first to receive flowers. How did I get so lucky?”

  “You’re you.”

  A flash of guilt crept up her spine. Ty didn’t know all of her, only the Lily Novak person she portrayed and pretended to be. Wanted to be. She wanted to tell him the truth, but before she did, she needed to talk to Agent Thorne. She’d called him last week, and he’d said to expect him on Tuesday. After they hashed out the details, she’d open up to Ty and tell him everything. She had to if she wanted a future with him.

  Needing a moment to shake the guilt away, she stepped out of his arms. “And you’re my first as well. I’m going to put these in water and then we can go.”

  “Want me to do it for you?”

  “No.” Lily stopped him with her hands. “If you come upstairs with me I’ll be tempted to rip your clothes off and will make us late for dinner. Besides, I forgot the bottle of wine I wanted to bring. I’ll be right back. You stay here and look pretty.” She kissed him quickly and scurried off toward the back staircase.

  DINNER WITH CELESTE and Wade had been perfect. Too perfect. Even Mia had acted normal. She’d even joked about it not being fun anymore now that Lily and Ty were public with their relationship.

  Between her clients at the spa during the day, and Ty at night, Lily didn’t have much time to stress over her meeting with Thorne. Last week, she’d rescheduled her two-thirty foil and blocked out two hours to ‘run errands’, she’d told her staff.

  Thorne had agreed it would be best if he waited for her in the parking lot and at two twenty-nine. She handed Charity Framingham her credit card back and printed out her receipt.

  “I love the cut, Lily. As always, you know exactly what to do with this thick mop of hair.” Charity signed, leaving a generous tip and handed the slip back to Lily.

  “You have gorgeous hair. I’m honored you let me get creative with it.” This time around she’d suggested long layers to soften the heavy curls. Charity had gorgeous hair and had done an amazing job taking care of it for over fifty years.

  “I love not having to drive to Portland to get a good cut and color. The gas money I save goes to your tip every time.” Charity waved her hand at the other girls and sashayed out. Rumor had it she was a bit of a cougar. She talked about Ty more than Lily, but she wasn’t worried. Their relationship was solid.

  One day she’d teased Ty about Charity’s interest in him. She’d laughed at his reaction. Something between mortification and sheer embarrassment. No, Ty would never stray, that she was sure of. His loyalty to his family, to Hope and Delaney, and even to her was evident from the first time she met him two years ago.

  She trusted him wholeheartedly and now that Grace knew about her past, she wanted to let Ty in on it as well.

  Lily gathered her purse and keys. “I’ll be back before closing. I’ll have my cell on me if you need anything.” She waved to Kendra, her new summer hire, and Annie.

  Once she stepped outside, the sunshine warmed her skin and for a brief moment, she forgot about the looming dread of what this meeting with the FBI agent was all about.

  His dark sedan with tinted windows was easy to spot in her small parking lot. Confirming it was him in the driver’s seat, she ducked her head and rounded his car. She opened the passenger’s side door and slid into the cool, leather seats. The familiar scent of new car
and buffed leather had her stomach in knots. It wasn’t comforting to her, neither was expensive perfume or the feel of thousand thread count sheets.

  Instead, she’d taken a liking to flannel shirts, worn t-shirts, freshly cut wood, and calloused hands.

  “Miss Novak. You’re looking well,” the agent said as he pulled onto the road and took a left onto Seaview Drive as if he knew exactly where he was going.

  Which he probably did. The FBI agent was always on alert. She didn’t need to look behind his tinted sunglasses to know his dark eyes were constantly flicking in the rearview and the side mirrors looking for possible tails.

  “Thank you, Agent Thorne. No offense, but I was hoping I’d never have to see you again.”

  He made a little noise, something between a sigh, a sniff, and what could almost be a chuckle. That was a first. Lily didn’t have any problems with Thorne. He’d been kind to her from the beginning. A little stiff, but she supposed all FBI agents were. Especially those responsible for keeping someone alive.

  When she first met him at his office in New York, she’d been surprised by his young age. Late thirties, maybe forty. His suits were as serious as his face. And his voice never fluctuated. It wasn’t monotone, but always... serious. There wasn’t a better way to describe him. He didn’t smile. Ever. Granted, his job didn’t seem very fun. Find bad guys. Arrest them or kill them. Keep innocent people safe.

  They passed through town, and Thorne took a right at Cranberry Drive and headed inland down backroads that would lead to farms and open fields. Ten minutes later he took a bumpy, dirt road Lily had never noticed before and stopped in front of a quaint cabin.

  “Where are we?”

  “Emerald Pond.” Thorne reached behind him, gathered his briefcase, and got out of the car. Lily followed him up the stone path to the cabin.

  “Who lives here?”

  “No one is home. We can talk safely here.”

  She figured he avoided her question on purpose and wouldn’t ask again. Thorne held the door open for her, and she walked past him inside.