“You let a lot of women get in the way,” she accused. “Don’t use your dad as an excuse. I was there with you all the way. I went to the hospital and helped your mom at home. You didn’t look at me because you were having too much fun playing around with any woman who would let you.”
“That’s not true.” At least he hoped it wasn’t. He’d had a time in there when sex had been his drug of choice, something that let him forget that he’d made a hash of his life. “I will admit that I was depressed when I got home, and I thought I’d missed my chance with you. I let myself run wild for a while. I got a reputation, but I haven’t slept with a single woman since I realized I needed to try again with you. Not one.”
Her eyes rolled. “Sure you haven’t. And when did you decide this?”
“A year ago.”
She snorted. “You haven’t slept with a woman in a year? That’s not what I heard.”
Yes, this was why he wasn’t going to tell her that he’d come home from college a virgin. She wouldn’t believe him. “I don’t care what you’ve heard. I wouldn’t lie to you. You’re too important to me.”
Her mouth came open slightly, and it was like a lightbulb went off over her head. “A year ago was when Michael came down the mountain and started hanging out here at Trio. A year ago was when the rumors about me and Michael started.”
He didn’t like the accusation in her tone. He also didn’t like that she was right about the timing. “Sometimes a man needs a little kick in the pants.”
Her eyes narrowed in pure suspicion. “So you didn’t decide you wanted me until he wanted me.”
“That isn’t true. I always wanted you.” A little panic started to thrum through his system because this wasn’t going the way he’d hoped it would.
“Not enough to come after me. Not until someone else did. You’re a dog with two bones, Ty.”
“But I only want one bone. I never really wanted the other one.”
She growled, a deeply frustrated sound. “Go away. I’m not doing this with you tonight. The truth of the matter is you have nothing to worry about. Michael Novack doesn’t want me. Not that way. He’s just a nice guy who looks out for the women around him. He doesn’t want me any more than you truly do. I won’t be dating him so you can happily go back to your ski bunnies.”
“I don’t want to go back to ski bunnies.” He obviously wasn’t any good at talking. He’d been right the first time. Well, the first time he’d planned to talk to her, so he’d been right the second time. He moved into her space, looming over her. She’d responded to him when he’d kissed her. “I want you.”
Her eyes had widened, head tilting up. “You want to sleep with me?”
“I want to sleep with you but only after I fuck you so long and so hard you can’t think of any other man except me.” Going at her soft hadn’t worked. Maybe it was time to show her what he’d learned over the years. He might have gotten a terrible reputation, but he’d also learned how to be excellent in bed.
“Don’t be silly, Ty.” The words were said with a breathless awe even as she frowned up at him.
“It’s not silly. Nothing about this is, and I’m going to show you,” he vowed. “I’m going to make sure you don’t even remember Michael Novack’s name.”
“If your kiss can wipe out her memory, we should probably talk to someone about that.”
Lucy gasped and pushed against Ty’s chest at the sound of that deep voice. “Michael.”
Sure enough there was the cranky asshole who’d waltzed in and screwed up his whole life. He wouldn’t have fumbled this had it not been for Michael Novack. He would have been able to play it cool and avoided this fiasco.
He wore his normal uniform of a black T-shirt, jeans, and boots that had seen far better days. His dark hair was in need of a cut, but it was easy to see why some women might be attracted to him. He had that broody, fix-me-up vibe women tended to go for.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Michael said in a tone that let him know he wasn’t sorry at all. “The new guy let me in. I stopped by to see if you needed a ride or a walk to your car. Now I can see that I’m not needed here at all.”
“No, you’re not.” It was time to start staking his real claim. Michael needed to understand that Lucy wasn’t without options. He’d been protecting her for a long time, and he didn’t need some fly-by-night guy around. Except he knew that wasn’t the proper way to describe Michael. He was more like a cautious wolf stalking his prey, and if he ever got his hands on Lucy, Ty was worried he wouldn’t let her go. “Luce and I are fine on our own.”
“Are you? Because I haven’t seen you here every night making sure she’s safe.” Michael’s body straightened, puffing up to show his full height.
“I’ve called her every day,” he countered. “Unlike some people I have to work for a living. I’ve been on call saving lives.”
“Yeah, I heard you had an emergency call with Mel. Was it about aliens?” Michael asked in that deeply sarcastic tone of his.
“Hey, he fell out of a tree and twisted his ankle.” Though that wasn’t what Mel had said happened. Mel claimed he’d fallen out of an alien light that was trying to pull him up into the spaceship. It had been odd since there hadn’t been a ladder around, so he wasn’t sure how the old guy had managed to get up in that tree, but that wasn’t the point. It had been an actual emergency.
“Both of you stop it.” Lucy moved to get in between them.
She was small compared to them. She would be swallowed up if she got in between them.
“I’ll stop if that little shit does,” Michael vowed.
“Hey, I’m not exactly little.” He wasn’t taking crap from this guy. “Just because you’re a giant doesn’t mean I can’t take you.”
Michael snorted, an inelegant sound. “Sure you can, buddy.”
“I mean it. Stop.” Lucy put a hand on each of their chests. “Stop right now. You are both acting like children.”
Michael’s face went a stony blank, and he stepped back. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend. I can see plainly that you don’t need any help.”
“I didn’t…” Lucy stopped, a frown coming over her face. She backed off, going as cold as Michael had. “No, I don’t.”
Michael merely tipped his head, turned, and walked out.
Well, at least that was one problem solved. If Michael wanted to be an asshole, he was fine with that. He turned back to Lucy. “I’m sorry about that. Why don’t we head to your place and I’ll make us something to eat and we can talk about this. I’ve got a bottle of wine in my truck.”
Lucy turned away from him, walking the few steps to where a broom was hanging neatly on the wall. She picked it up and when she faced him again, he knew he was in trouble.
“No, Luce,” he began.
“Out. Get out. I can’t talk to you right now.” She swung the broom his way.
He barely managed to get out of the way. He backed up, finding himself stumbling into the bar again. “Luce, this is ridiculous.”