I felt normal when I was with Tyson’s mom. She didn’t look at me like I was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She seemed to even like me. That was until Sheila showed up and put everyone on edge.
“Rory, I’m not moving. You’ll have to mow me down to get out of here.” I can see the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t lying when he said over his dead body. And damn is it too good of a body to go to waste.
“Don’t do it. This isn’t Grand Theft Auto. If you run him over, he won’t come back,” Logan says from the back seat.
“Who’s been letting you play that game?”
“He just likes to drive the cars and stuff. He doesn’t do the missions or anything or engage in any of the other stuff. I swear.” Dean tries to come in quick for the save.
“Babe, get out of the car. We need to talk.” Tyson rests his hand on the hood of my Jeep. I see his parents standing in the doorway watching us. Where is my mother? She’s probably inside stealing the silver or something. She’s an opportunist and would have no problem taking advantage of the Carters being distracted. It’s a shame that my mind immediately wanders to think the worst of her.
“If you marry him, do we get to move in here?” Logan asks. My heart flutters at the reminder that Tyson declared to everyone he is going to marry me. The truth is I would marry Tyson in a heartbeat if I weren’t carrying all of this baggage. I just don’t want him to marry me out of pity.
“You left Shelia in the house alone,” I point out as I open the door to my Jeep, knowing I'm not going anywhere until Tyson moves. I have no doubt in my mind that he will lie down and sleep there if he has to. I more than anyone know Tyson never gives up when he wants something.
Tyson is in front of me before my feet even hit the ground. “You’ve got to stop running from me.” His hand comes to my face, holding me in place as he brings his mouth down onto mine. I let him kiss me, relaxing into him. Some of the tension starts to leave my body. I might be mad at him, but the truth is I love him. I have for a long time, but I was afraid to admit it.
“Are you done with your dramatics?” My whole body goes stiff at the sound of Sheila's voice.
“I think it’s time for you to go, Sheila,” Cherie says. Tyson lifts his head. We both know his mom’s words are going to piss Sheila off. I hold my breath, waiting for her reaction, praying she doesn’t embarrass me more than she already has.
“Fine, but I’ll be taking my boys with me.” Tyson takes my hand, leading me back around my Jeep.
“You’re not going to do that. Not tonight,” Rick tells her.
“Excuse me! Those are my children!” she screeches. A rush of anger fills me, so intense that I fight not to burst into tears.
“If you try to take them tonight, I’ll call the police. They’re not getting into a vehicle with you, and I think we both know why.” Rick’s voice is eerily calm. Sheila’s back straightens. Normally when she’s using, I can spot it, but sometimes it’s hard because she’s always high.
“Don’t think this is done,” she hisses before stomping off toward her car. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that there’s a new dent in the side of it. I don’t know how that thing still runs, to be honest. She pulls out of the driveway, making a whole show out of it. Her tires spin out in the process, leaving marks on their pretty stone.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Don’t apologize,” all of the Carters say at the same time.
“All right, boys. I think we should get back into the pool then have dessert,” Cherie declares loudly, making her way to my Jeep to open the door for them. “You’re on break now, aren’t you?” she asks them.
“Yes,” Dean answers, hopping out first.
“That mean we can stay over?” Logan asks.
“I think that’s a brilliant idea.” Rick winks my way as he leads Cherie and the boys back into the house, leaving Tyson and me all alone.
“That was the most embarrassing experience of my life. I’m sorry your parents had to see that.” I bury my face in his chest. Both of his parents are still being so sweet. It’s no wonder Tyson is such a good man.
“The only person that should be embarrassed here is Sheila. It’s no secret how she is, babe. I don’t understand why you’d ever be embarrassed. What you get up and do every day for your family speaks to the person you are. I’ve always seen that. It’s part of why I love you so damn much.”
There is no stopping the tears from coming now. I lift my head to stare up at him.
“We both know what’s important in life. You’d give everything you have to protect those boys. You have given everything. You’ve sacrificed so much.” He wipes the tears from my cheek. “Don’t run from me anymore. I want to be in this with you. Let me,” he pleads. I slip my hands up his chest, wrapping them around his neck.
“No more running.” I break. It’s easy when you find someone you know will pick up the pieces. “This isn’t me agreeing to marry you,” I quickly add as I fight a smirk. “Not until I know how you are in bed at least.”
“Then we better get on it.” He grabs me by my ass, lifting me off my feet. I should tell him to put me down. His parents might see. But then he kisses me, and like always when his mouth meets mine, I’m lost in the best of ways.
CHAPTER 19
TYSON
I want to take Rory inside and make love to her like she deserves, but with her brothers here and my parents watching over everyone, there won’t be a better opportunity for me to take care of business. I set my girl down and brush her hair out of her eyes. “I’ve got to go and do something with Sterling. Stay here with the boys and my parents.”
“Tonight?” She’s disappointed but not suspicious.
“It won’t take long. Keep my parents occupied, will you?” Her lips are wet and plump and shiny in the fading sunlight.
“Is it a Christmas present for them?”
“It’s a Christmas present,” I agree and kiss her again—not so much to distract her but because her mouth is irresistible. She doesn’t mind. She kisses me back, hooks her leg around my hip, and tries to climb me like a tree, which makes me regret having to put her down again. “Hold all of those thoughts. I’ll be back soon and will want to try out all the things we didn’t talk about doing to each other.”
“What about the things we did talk about?” she says, wiping a finger across her thumb and then sucking on it, like she’s trying to absorb my taste.
Fuck. That’s hot. I sway toward her, only managing to catch myself at the last second. Straightening, I give her a pat on her ass and direct her inside. “Parents. Pool. Distract.” I can only manage the one word at a time since my mind is in the gutter, envisioning myself inserting my hard cock between her ripe lips.
She goes inside without any more questions, giving me a little finger wave as she disappears inside the front door. When I can’t see her anymore, I jog toward the garage and climb into an old pickup that my dad uses to haul manure for Mom’s garden. Its bed is dirty, and the wheels are almost bare, but I’m not using it for those reasons. The best feature is that there aren’t any license plates on this beater. They expired years ago, and since Dad only uses the truck occasionally, he hasn’t bothered to replace them.