If You Only Knew

Chapter Nineteen



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TY NURSED AN ice-cold beer, leaning back against the kitchen counter. Nate was husking corn and had summarily dismissed his offer of help. Steam escaped from under the lid of a large pot on the stove, and when Nate shoved the yellow ears in, water sloshed over the rim, ran down the side of the pan, and sizzled on the hot surface. He jerked his fingers back from the boiling water and shook them, uttering a low profanity. Ty chuckled, amazed a man of Nate’s size and temperament could exhibit any kind of efficiency in the kitchen.

Rayna flew through the door to his left, so intent on the big man by the stove it was evident she hadn’t noticed Ty. Nate grinned when he saw her.

She strode up to him, clearly on a mission. “Need a hand?”

“I never turn down help.” He jerked open a drawer and handed her an apron.

“Wait a minute. You turned down my help.” Ty’s hand stopped with the beer halfway to his mouth.

Rayna spun around, surprise flashing in her blue eyes.

He’d been right. She had no clue he was anywhere around, but along with surprise, the look on her face was… disappointment… and something way too close to distrust.

“Hey, buddy. I’ve seen you cook before. You’re no help.” Nate wagged his head.

“Just remember you said that.” Ty turned his attention back to Rayna, who still regarded him with narrowed eyes. “Enjoy your shower?”

Rayna ignored him, shook out the apron, and slipped it over her head, tying it behind her back before she turned to Nate. “Tell me what to do.”

Ty frowned. Something had obviously upset her.

“Wrap those bakers in foil.” Nate indicated a pile of potatoes in the sink. “We’ll grill ’em.”

Rayna’s gaze settled on the sink, and she didn’t glance up from her chore as she scrubbed the potatoes and folded the foil around them tightly. Then she helped Nate carry them to the deck, where he placed them on the top rack of a large gas barbeque grill. Ty set his beer bottle down on the counter and followed them out.

“What’s next?” Rayna closed the lid on the grill and stepped around Ty as he blocked her path.

Oblivious, Nate started back to the kitchen. “Follow me. I’ve got steaks marinating and a salad to put together. How are you with green stuff?”

“I know my way around a Brussels sprout.”

Nate’s pained expression wrung a laugh from her as she fell in beside him.

Puzzled and trying not to let their easy banter ignite his simmering jealousy, Ty shoved his hands in his pockets and trailed along behind. Again, she refused to make eye contact, until he caught up, stepped in front of her, and grasped her wrist.

“Hey, don’t be messing with my help.” Nate cast a curious glance in Ty’s direction.

Rayna stiffened and tried to pull away, but Ty wasn’t about to let her go until he got some answers. “She’ll be with you in a minute.” He kept his gaze locked on hers.

After Nate disappeared into the house, Ty tugged her down the steps of the deck and onto the lawn. Clearly angry now, she braced her feet and took a step only when he forced her to. What the hell was going on? Weren’t they just making plans to spend the night together? It looked suspiciously like she didn’t even want him on the same planet with her at the moment. Dragging her across the lawn wasn’t helping, either, but he refused to let her retreat from him again—not without knowing why.

Just inside the wrought-iron fence, he stopped and faced her. She jerked her arm from his grasp and stared at him coldly, her chin set in a resolute line.

“I don’t get it. Did I miss something? What the heck’s got you all riled up?” He stuck his hands deeper in his pockets, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her.

She crossed her arms in front of her. “We can talk about this later. I should be helping Nate… and anyway, I need some time to think this through so I don’t end up saying something I’ll be sorry for.”

“Think what through? Talk to me. You’re obviously pissed about something. Let’s get it out in the open. We were good—damn good—the last time I saw you. What happened? If I knew, maybe I could defend myself. It’s not really fair you won’t even tell me what I’ve done wrong. How am I supposed to put that sexy smile back on your face?” He tried a teasing grin, forcing himself to stand still even though he ached to run his fingers through her hair and to pull her to him.

The wisp of a smile appeared for a breath of time, and she almost said something, but then she scowled and turned her back.

He stepped up behind her, close enough the heat of her body reached him. “Don’t let something come between us without giving me a chance to fix it, Rayna. Let’s talk about it. That’s what people do who care about each other.” He wanted to turn her around so he could see her eyes, but he managed to keep his hands to himself.

She whirled around so quickly he took a step back. “Do those same people tell each other lies?”

His gaze swept her stricken face. “What do you think I lied about?”

She was silent for so long he was afraid she wouldn’t answer. Her chin quivered as she breathed deeply and set her jaw.

“Bree.” The one word came with an exhale that seemed to exhaust her. Her shoulders slumped, and she looked away from him.

The name slammed into his chest, instantly confirming not only what Rayna had heard, but also who had told her. He’d dreaded this moment ever since Bree arrived, but he’d considered the options and made the decision not to forewarn Rayna. In his mind, giving voice to his moment of insanity all those years ago would place way more importance on his impulsive action than it deserved. Besides, Bree had always been a private person, not sharing her personal life with anyone. Why would she bring it up?

Recognizing the betrayal in Rayna’s stony expression, he wanted to kick himself. He should have told her. It would have been so much better if she’d heard it from him.

He couldn’t stand it any longer. He guided her chin around so he could look in her eyes. The absolute truth was his only chance to repair the damage. “I didn’t lie to you, sweetheart. There was nothing between Bree and me. We worked together—that’s all.”

“And I’m supposed to believe you, just like I did the first time. Right?”

“I’d like to think you believe me, but maybe you’ve heard something you simply can’t forgive. What exactly did Bree tell you?” He held her gaze and waited for her to say the damning words.

She shook her head and backed away a step. “Apparently, when you were telling me how she meant nothing to you, you left out the part about asking her to marry you.”

Anger flared with the old sense of helplessness and the need to do something, even if it was wrong, catapulting him back to the night Bree and her baby girl left. With a carefully worked out plan, they were going into hiding. They’d be safe, but the fear on Bree’s face that night would haunt him forever. “She told you… I just might kill her.”

“Not sure that’s the right move. Not if you care about her.” She took another step back.

Ty grasped her hand and kept her from backing away any farther. “Bree means nothing to me, except unfinished business… and not the kind you think, either. It’s you I care about, Rayna. Don’t you know that? Nobody else comes close. I didn’t lie to you, and I have nothing to hide from you.”

Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him with suspicion. “Except one thing, apparently.” She pulled her hand from his.

He studied her face as the memories assailed him. “Okay. Yes, I asked her to marry me. She was giving up her job with the FBI and disappearing with her daughter. Except for Madison, she was leaving everyone and everything she cared about behind. She was tough, but that scared even her. So, I offered her the only thing I had left. My protection. I was just a stupid kid, barely twenty-three, and like most kids, I thought I was bulletproof. She turned me down flat.”

“I’m sorry.” Doubt and sarcasm tinged her words.

“I’m not. Please believe me. There was nothing between us.” His hand slipped out of its own accord and pushed a wayward curl back from her lips.

“Did you sleep with her?”

“No.” He stepped toward her. “It wasn’t like that.”

A pent-up breath escaped, and she allowed him to tug her a step closer. He held both of her hands as she stood stiffly, her eyes filled with sadness.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She leaned back, and her confused gaze searched his.

How long would the doubt linger there in her eyes? He should have told her, rather than banking on Bree’s need for privacy. Bree always had her own reasons for doing what she did, and this wasn’t the first time he’d bet wrong. Rayna had been blindsided by both of them. He didn’t blame her for being wary.

His fingers stroked Rayna’s neck tentatively; the light contact sent heat coursing through him. He shrugged and frowned. “It’s a little hard on the ego, you know, when you put yourself out there like that and get shot down. It’s not my favorite topic of conversation, especially with women I’m trying to impress. Obviously, I was hoping she wouldn’t bring it up, either.”

She rolled her eyes and some of her tension seemed to ebb away. “Sorry about your wounded male pride, but you still should have told me. What would you have done if she’d said yes?”

He pulled her to him, snuggling her close, and kissed her forehead. “Honestly? I felt sorry for her and Madison. I didn’t think any further than that. If she’d said yes, I would’ve stood by them, but somehow I’d have known I missed out on something better. I would never have met you.”

“Hey. Where’d my helper go?” Nate’s voice came from the edge of the deck.

Rayna jumped back, and Ty let her go. “Keep your shirt on.” She raised her voice so Nate would hear. Then she gave Ty a tentative smile as a rare blush reddened her cheeks.

“Are we good?” Ty waited while she considered the question.

The smile slowly spread until it shone from her eyes. “Later.” She whispered the word as she brushed past him and ran up the steps.

Later, they’d talk until she knew everything there was to know about him. He’d make sure this never happened again. Then… he’d show her how much he loved her.

Ty started to reenter the kitchen to retrieve his beer but heard the Jeep pull up beside the garage and strode toward the sound. Joe and Walker climbed out of the vehicle as he approached, each carrying hammers, buckets of fencing wire, and connectors. Ty caught up with them at the shed.

“What kind of shape is the fence in?”

“It’s as good as new now, but the fact that Sean and Bree got in once proves it’s not as secure as Nate thought.” Walker dropped his tools on a shelf inside the shed.

“The alarm system is top of the line. We’ll know if there’s another breach.” Joe placed his hammer on the shelf and stepped out of the shed. “Steve and Sanchez are bringing a couple of extra hands. They’ll land first thing in the morning. Walker will pick them up. Nate said there’s a private strip about thirty minutes from here.”

Extra men? That had to be Joe’s idea, and he was obviously ramping up for a reason.

As though he read Ty’s thoughts, Joe met his gaze. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”