If You Only Knew (Harper Falls Book 3) (28 page)

DREW WAITED, HOPING Tyler would say something, anything, to
fill the silence.

He spent ten years imagining this moment. Practicing what he
would say. He tried to anticipate her reaction. Anger, disbelief? Disdain?
Sometimes she would say a simple
fuck you
before walking out of his life
for good.

On a good day, he would let himself fantasize a happy
ending. Those were rare — vague. She still loved him; nothing else mattered.
That was his favorite. It was also the rarest. He wasn’t very good at letting
himself off the hook.

“Speak to me, Ty. Yell, curse. Hit me. Do something.
Please.”

Her face was turned away from him. That happened towards the
end of his story. Instead of turning back, Tyler shook her head.

“You can’t even look at me?”

“I—” she started. Then she shook her head again.

Tears
, he groaned silently. He heard tears in her
voice. He never imagined her crying; it was too painful. He preferred her anger.

“Can you forgive me, Ty?” Drew reached out a hand,
pulling it back before he touched her slightly shaking back.

“I was eighteen and powerless. I wanted to throw her
threats in her face, tell her to go to hell. Instead, I caved. Telling you I
didn’t love you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Part of me died that day,
Ty.”

“Now I understand.”

Her voice was muffled. Drew closed his eyes. He didn’t hear
anger; he heard contempt.

“Ty—”

“You were the best man I ever knew.”

Tyler sat up, turning towards him. Her face was streaked
with tears, her gray eyes sad. Sadder than he ever remembered.

“You know as well as anyone about my father and
brothers. Other than Dani’s dad, I thought all men were like the ones in my
family. Then I met you.”

Drew thought he might be sick. This was worse than he
imagined. And that was pretty bad.

“Maybe it was unfair of me to turn you into my hero.
Teenage girls can be silly sometimes. I got over the broken heart, mostly. I
never got over the loss of my hero.”

I wanted to be your hero,
Drew thought.
I hated
taking that from you.

“I can’t believe what you did.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice.”

Tyler took his hand lifting it to her cheek. Her eyes were
swimming with tears.

“There’s always a choice, Drew. You picked me. You let me
paint you as a villain. You let me hate you so my mother wouldn’t suffer.”

“I should have told you sooner. Years ago.”

“I wouldn’t have heard you,” Tyler said. “I
mean
really
heard you. I wasn’t ready.”

“Are ready now?”

This time when she looked at him, her eyes were dry and
clear.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you? I see a
man. A strong man. Kind. Someone I can count on — trust.” She went into
his arms. “I see my hero.”

TYLER STRETCHED HER arms above her head. She didn’t need to
open her eyes to know it was morning. Some crazy person let the sun in.

Drew.

She grinned.

This time when she stretched, she used her entire body. Her
muscles felt loose. Amazing what a night of lovemaking will do for a woman.

Sitting, Tyler pulled her legs up until she rested her cheek
on her knees, her arms wrapped around her legs. Last night. So much happened.
So much said.

The end result? Tyler felt free for the first time in ten
years. Free to let go of the past. She was ready to open her heart. Not to a
new man — to the only man.

“Drew Harper.”

She whispered the words. No more of that. Tyler sat up
straight. This time they didn’t have to hide. She could shout his name and
there wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do about it.

“DREW HARPER.”

“I hope that was a happy yell. I don’t think I’ve had
time since your last orgasm to piss you off.”

Drew leaned against the doorframe. Tall and gorgeous,
dressed in faded jeans and dark blue sweater, he was nothing short of
mouthwatering. She was sorry to have missed the shower that left his hair
slightly damp.
Next time
, she thought. They would have plenty of next
times.

“I was testing a theory.”

He stood, sauntering over. When he reached her, he sat,
taking Tyler into his arms. His kiss was slow, letting her know he was glad to
find her in his bed. Tyler responded by wrapping herself around him. There was
no place she would rather be.

“What theory?”

“Hmm?”

Drew smiled against the side of her neck. He loved that he
could turn her brain to mush with a single kiss. It was only fair; she could do
the same for him.

“My name? Yelled? Theory?”

“Right.” She pushed at Drew. “If you want an
intelligible answer, you better stop that.”

“You taste like…”

“Like?”

“Give me a minute. I need another sample.”

Laughing at his silliness, she turned her head to give him
better access. A few more seconds of that and her brain wouldn’t be mush; it
would be goo.

“You taste like Tyler. My favorite flavor in the
world.”

He didn’t just have control of her brain, Tyler realized. With
only a few sweet words, he had her heart in the palm of his hand. She trusted
him to keep it safe this time.

“We can tell the world.”

Tyler didn’t have to explain. Drew understood.

“I’ll take care of that right after breakfast. You want
a shower first?”

“Yes. Give me ten minutes.”

Tyler didn’t tarry. She was washed, dressed, and headed down
the stairs in under ten minutes. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and frying
bacon greeting her like old, welcome friends.

She had assumed they would go out to eat. Seeing Drew
expertly cracking eggs into a bowl was a definite surprise.

“You can cook.”

“I can’t tell. Was that a compliment or an
accusation?”

“That depends. Are you any good at it?”

“Sit and decide for yourself.”

It turned out he knew his way around the kitchen. Perfectly
browned toast, crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs. The coffee tasted like it
was sent down from the Gods. It might not have been the most complicated of
meals, but it was better than Tyler could have done.

“Good?” Drew asked after her first few bites.

“If you can make meatloaf, you’ll never get rid of
me.”

“Meatloaf is one of my specialties.”

“Well, then.”

Realizing the implication of their teasing words, Tyler
applied herself to her eggs, not looking at Drew.
Too soon
, her brain
screamed.
Stop listening to your libido. Forget what your heart is saying.
Slow down.

“Any big plans for the day?”

Tyler’s eyes met Drew’s. Smiling, she sent him a silent
thank you. He understood. Which made it even harder not to jump ahead five or
six steps.
Soon
, his gaze replied.
When we’re both ready
.

As it happened, Tyler did have big plans. A truck was coming
to her studio to pick up the Harper Falls statue.

One month from tomorrow would be the unveiling. The town
would finally see the results of her sweat and sleepless nights. Before then,
the statue would be housed in a building near its final resting place. She was
happy to free up space in her studio. After months of living with her creation,
she was ready to let go. Tyler would still have access to finish the last
tweaks, the final polish.

“Feeling any separation anxiety?”

Drew insisted on following her home. Tyler knew it was
silly. It was broad daylight. Nothing was going to happen in the fifteen
minutes it took her to drive from his place to hers. She could have stopped
him, but didn’t. She knew it made him feel good to make sure she arrived
safely. It made her feel good too.

“It’s time,” she said, answering his question.
“It’s only when I’m unhappy with what I’ve done that turning it loose is a
problem. When it’s right, like now, I want to send my art out to hopefully be
enjoyed.”

“Can I have a peek?”

“Soon,” she promised. “I planned on showing
it to Dani and Rose next week. You can come if you want.”

“I want.”

Drew took her in his arms, giving her a thorough goodbye
kiss. He waited until she disengaged the alarm system and unlocked her front
door before he drove away in his vintage Mercedes-Benz roadster. Weather on
this early November morning was crisp but sunny. According to Drew, perfect for
tooling around with your top down.

Chuckling at her boy and his toy, Tyler walked into her
studio. Before she could get the door shut, a hand reached out, blocking her
movement.

“So, M.J. was right. You’ve taken back up with Drew
Harper.”

TYLER ALMOST JUMPED out of her skin.

“Goddamn it, Kyle. It isn’t any of your or M.J.‘s
business. What do you think you’re doing lurking around here?”

She stood in the doorway, not letting her brother in. When
he was on his own, Kyle was easy to handle. Even though it was usually M.J.‘s
influence that always got him into trouble, she still didn’t want him here.

“I need your help.”

Tyler knew she couldn’t have heard him correctly. It would
take some colossal nerve for her brother to ask her for anything. He was either
high or desperate.

She looked closely. Kyle didn’t look like he was on
anything. In fact, he looked good. Healthy. His clothes were neat and clean.
His hair combed, freshly washed. He was even shaved instead of sporting the
irregular stubble normally favored by both her brothers. When he cleaned up,
Kyle was a good-looking man. It wasn’t his fault that he resembled their father
to such a startling degree.

Hoping she didn’t regret it, Tyler moved back, letting him
in.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Sure, if you’re having some.”

Tyler moved to the kitchen, keeping one eye on Kyle. He
seemed interested in her sculpture of two angels embracing. Tomorrow it would
ship to New York, the hefty commission giving her bank balance a nice boost.

“Do you still take cream and sugar?”

“Just cream. I’m off sweets.”

Okay
, Tyler thought, handing him a mug. Since when
did Kyle worry about what he put in his body? Something was up.

“Stop fidgeting and have a seat, Kyle.”

“Sorry.” He sat opposite her, his hands wrapped around
the mug of steaming coffee. She thought he looked nervous. Not squirrelly. A
case of plain, old nerves.

“I like what you’ve done with this old place. M.J.
always said—”

“I can imagine what M.J. said. If you want my help,
that should be the last time you start to quote our brother.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“That’s two sorrys, Kyle. What’s up?”

“I thought I knew what to say. I practiced, rehearsed.
Now that I’m here, I don’t know if I can go through with it.”

“Say what you have to say.”

“I’ve met a woman,” he began in a rush.

“Nothing new there.” The bars he hung out in
always had a dubious crop of women willing to give up the goods for a couple of
drinks — or a couple of bucks.

“No. Tammy is different. She’s nice, sweet.”

“That
is
different,” Tyler agreed. “Where
did you meet her? I don’t remember a
nice
Tammy here in Harper
Falls.”

“Wenatchee. I took a job driving some furniture from
Spokane to Tacoma. I stopped for something to eat. Tammy is a waitress. We got
to talking. I stopped again on my way back.” Kyle shrugged. “I love
her, Tyler.”

“I’m happy for you.”

Tyler meant it. The more she looked at Kyle, the more she
could see the changes in him. If this Tammy was the reason, Tyler wanted to shake
her hand. Anyone who could get her brother away from M.J.‘s influence was a
person worth knowing.

“The thing is…”

Tyler sighed. Why was there always a
thing?

“You might as well spit it out, Kyle. Sitting there
squeezing that mug won’t make it any easier.”

Kyle set the mug on the table then started wringing his
hands instead.

“There’s a job in Mill Creek. Just north of Seattle?
I’d be managing the feed store.”

“A job is good.”

“It is. A good job, I mean.” Kyle swallowed.
“I haven’t told anyone.”

Anyone meaning M.J. He wouldn’t be too happy at the thought
of losing his minion. Kyle would be wise to be packed and gone before telling
their brother his plans. He was like a lobster in a box. If he saw Kyle trying
to get out, M.J. would grab on with his fat old claws, pulling him back in.

“Tammy’s coming with me, Tyler. It will be a fresh
start for both of us.”

“If you want my opinion, I say go. Now. Get in your car
and don’t look back. You can call Mom when you’re settled.”

“I would.” Kyle sat up straight, looking Tyler in
the eye. “I need money.”

Tyler felt all her newfound hope pop like an overinflated
balloon. She should have known it was too good to be true.

“Congratulations, Kyle. You really had me going. Tammy
was a nice touch. Did M.J. tell you to tug at my heartstrings before you asked
me to loosen the old purse strings?”

“No.” Kyle reached out, pulling his hand back when
he saw the warning in Tyler’s eyes.

“You should go, Kyle.”

“I swear I’m telling you the truth, Tyler. I’ve been a
lousy brother. Worse than lousy,” he conceded when Tyler snorted.

“Here.”

Kyle took out his phone, quickly punching a few buttons
before handing it to Tyler.

There were pictures. Lots of them. Kyle and a pretty redhead
hugging, laughing. Another with him holding a little boy. Tyler looked at her
brother.

“Tammy has a child?”

Kyle nodded, beaming.

“The spitting image of his momma.”

Tyler looked at the pictures again, then at Kyle. Well,
damn. He
was
in love. With mother
and
son.