Coming Undone Read online

  She leaned forward on her elbows, guessing how long he’d be able to control himself, and wished she didn’t want him to. “So, what do you do?”

  “Like, for a living?” he teased.

  “We could start there,” she said.

  He shrugged. “I do a little bit of everything. Bartend, bounce. I was a bounty hunter for a while, auto mechanic, rebuilt classic Harleys, repo man, wrestled alligators for fun and profit…”

  “So basically, all the dangerous jobs this side of the military,” she said.

  “I guess between Jon and me, we’ve got all the bases covered.” He paused, saw the confusion on her face. “Hunt’s real name is Jonathan. I never could get used to calling him by that nickname.”

  “Do you guys get together often?”

  “With my travels and his, these visits are few and far between. It’s been good to see him again.” He crossed a long leg, ankle over knee, and balanced his beer bottle on his thigh.

  “How long are you in town?” she asked.

  “Maybe a week. Then I head back out.”

  “To where?”

  He shrugged and grinned. “I don’t have a plan. I just go and things tend to fall into place.”

  “Isn’t that scary?” Did she sound ridiculous asking a man who did the things he’d named for a living if he was frightened of not having his life mapped out? But he answered her seriously, without a hint of that bravado she’d witnessed earlier.

  “Yeah, sometimes it is. Sometimes, though, fear feels right.” He took a pull from his beer. “So, you and surfer girl been friends long?”

  “Since college.”

  “Do you surf?”

  She laughed. “The closest I get to surfing is watching it from the shore. She offered to teach me, but I’d rather catch a tan than catch a wave.”

  “You seem like you wouldn’t have a problem handling yourself in the water. Or anyplace.”

  “I’m not like Carly,” Sam said. “I’m not adventurous. I like stability. A roof over my head. A way to pay my bills.”

  She didn’t bother to tell him that she’d grown up without any of those things, since she wasn’t bitter. Not really. She’d made her peace with her mother and she’d moved on. However, her mother’s wanderlust was in Sam’s blood, beating underneath the surface. She’d had to try her hardest when she felt the urge to pick up and follow Carly while she was still on the pro surfing tour. But Sam’s practicalness stopped her, even though she knew Carly would’ve helped her along, given her a place to stay if she’d needed one.

  “But you have had that urge to pick up and leave it all behind, haven’t you?”

  “What makes you think that?”

  Now it was his turn to lean forward on the table. His direct gaze made her cheeks heat. It was as if he could see straight through her. “It’s in your eyes. I’ve seen it in my own,” he said.

  “You’ve known me for all of half an hour and you think you know everything, don’t you?”

  “I think you just answered my question. Keep in mind that being practical’s not always the best way to live.”

  Her practicalness struggled to keep control, especially because Ty was talking freedom and the open road, and she could only concentrate on his mouth and how good his lips would probably feel on hers. She was thinking she probably wouldn’t have to spice up her sex life if she was having sex with Ty.

  For a moment, she imagined what would happen if she shifted into his lap, into her very own call to adventure. She took several sips of beer instead and remembered that this was supposed to be Carly’s adventure, not hers.

  She was ordering water on the next round.

  “What are you thinking about, Samantha?”

  “I’m thinking that I’m good at reading people, too.”

  “So read me.” Ty sat back again.

  She hesitated for a minute because she figured this one was too easy. But he’d asked for it. Even though she was beginning to more than enjoy his company, reminding him that she was onto him, and maybe even bringing him down a peg or two, wasn’t a bad idea.

  “You’re a loner,” she said.

  “Yeah, pretty much,” he agreed. “What else?”

  “We already know that you’re into one-night stands. So you’re not into relationships, you’re commitment phobic and probably scared to death of growing up,” she explained.

  He watched her, not noticeably uncomfortable with anything she said, but she had to have hit a nerve. The man was walking sex, personified. A never-settle-down, ride-off-into-the-night-on-his-bike type, who’d probably take better care of his Harley than a woman. Well, out of bed, anyway. Because the way his long fingers slowly traced the arms of the chair made her squirm in her seat.

  She pulled herself back to reality. “How am I doing?”

  “You seem pretty sure of yourself so far.”

  “I think my assessment’s good. Unless you’ve got some kind of secret life no one knows about.”

  “Are you asking me or telling me?” he joked.

  She caught the subtle shift he made in his chair, the way his eyes averted hers for a millisecond.

  Her students didn’t call her the human lie detector for nothing. But she hadn’t expected Mr. Let It All Hang Out to confirm anything that easily.

  “I’m telling you,” she replied.

  “You’ve got to improve your people-reading skills,” he said. “Need another beer?”

  “No, I’m…” she started, but he was already walking to the bar and he wasn’t looking back. She got up and followed him, then spotted Carly and Hunt on the dance floor.

  What they were doing wasn’t technically dancing, but she didn’t have time to think about that. She caught up with Ty at the bar, and tapped on his arm until he faced her. Although he smiled, she knew he wasn’t happy.

  “I’ve upset you,” she said, and was shocked when he didn’t deny it. Ty was a hundred percent bad boy but she suddenly had the feeling that this bad boy had much more of a sensitive side than anyone knew.

  Without thinking, her hand went to the back of his neck, and she pulled him down toward her. A quick kiss deepened when he put his arms around her waist, and she didn’t protest until he broke away.

  She pulled him back down for more.

  TY KNEW HE SHOULD’VE LET Samantha leave the bar—and him—earlier. Because now that he’d tasted her, not tasting her would be hard.

  “Let me get this straight,” he said. “You’re mad when I come onto you, but it’s okay when you jump me?” he asked when he’d finally forced himself to end her kiss. Still, his mouth stayed poised only inches above hers.“I wouldn’t exactly call this jumping you, but yes.”

  “I’ll never understand women,” he muttered, releasing her. “Look, you were right before when you said I was only after one thing. Let’s leave it then and I’ll search for that one thing, since I’m sure I can find it here.”

  The ultimate cosmic joke—to now find a woman he felt that immediate connection with, which he’d always wanted.

  He was losing something, all right, but it wasn’t his touch. There was something about Samantha, something so fresh, so new, so…

  She was freakin’ adorable.

  She doesn’t want a one-night stand with you, Ty.

  And what is it you want, again? Because it sure as hell wasn’t to reveal his secrets to a total stranger when he couldn’t even tell his own family.

  “Ty.” She touched his shoulder. “Secrets are okay for tonight.”

  She pushed him back onto the stool and made herself comfortable by positioning herself between his legs, and he realized that the entire bar had gone a bit more than rowdy.

  Hell yeah, secrets were going to be more than okay tonight.

  “Now it’s my turn to read you, Samantha.”

  Undeterred, he gently took her arms and wrapped them around his waist.

  “Okay. Go ahead.”

  “You want to be a little wild.”

  “I
told you I’m not wild,” she protested, but he knew better because Samantha kissed unlike any of the wild women he’d ever known and hell, he’d known a lot.

  “Maybe it’s time you let loose. Let yourself go and see where it takes you. Unless you’re scared.” He traced a perfect bottom lip with his finger, thought about how, with his next kiss, he was going to tug it gently between his teeth.

  “Is this some kind of dare?”

  “No dare. Just an offer.”

  “What kind of offer?”

  “I’ll tell you after I kiss you for a while longer,” he said, then put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him, close enough so she could feel the kind of offer he planned on making her. There was no way any other woman was going to satisfy him tonight, and though he was torn about sending her away, he swore to himself that he wasn’t going to hurt her.

  She knows what she’s getting into.

  “I’d never kissed someone with a tattoo before,” she said finally.

  “Yeah? How’d you like it?”

  She smiled, a wide, beautiful smile that hit him hard. “I think you’ll have to refresh my memory.”

  This time, she didn’t protest when he covered her mouth with his.

  12

  HUNT HAD GONE FROM kissing Carly to fighting off a group of men intent on damaging Cash, all in the space of a minute.

  His fist connected with a cheekbone at the same time someone tried to put his kidneys out with a chair swiped from the outside patio. He swung around and took the guy out, and Cash came up behind him and saved him from another blow.“Damn, that’s going to hurt tomorrow.” Hunt stared at his fist, which threatened to turn black and blue. His knuckles were already raw.

  “Tell me about it. A guy can’t even get some innocent companionship around this place,” Cash complained. He had a small cut above his right eyebrow, but other than that, he’d fared well. Both of them had, against a crowd that should’ve been big enough to take them both down in minutes flat. A crowd led by the boyfriend of the redheaded woman, who’d conveniently forgotten to mention to Cash that she was indeed taken.

  That was par for the course for Cash, and one of the major reasons he told everyone and anyone who listened that he never planned on walking the line for any damned woman alive. None of them were faithful, he’d say, so why the hell should he even pretend to make that promise? He liked to blame his attitude on his mother’s fondness for Johnny Cash and a curse that seemed to follow Cash no matter where he went. Hunt had to admit his friend had the worst luck in that department.

  “Maybe next time, you could ask if she’s got a boyfriend first. Like, before your pants are down,” Hunt suggested.

  “Not a bad idea, man. I’ll take it under advisement. But this place did need livening up and I figured you’d be up for it.”

  Hunt just shook his head. The bouncers hadn’t been any help, since they’d only just arrived to corral the last of the men, who’d had their asses handed to them.

  Ty was the reason he and Cash didn’t get kicked out with the rest of the group. Not that Ty had bothered to tear his goddamned lips away from Samantha’s until Hunt had given Carly a push in Ty’s direction with a look of, keep her safe. Which was something that hadn’t made Carly happy at all, although Hunt acknowledged nothing got his blood more primed and ready for sex than a good, old-fashioned bar fight.

  “You’re not going to do that at the wedding, are you?” Carly asked seriously when Hunt returned to the table, Cash in tow. “Because, as much as I want to shake things up with my parents, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

  “I didn’t exactly start this,” Hunt said.

  “You’re getting married? What the hell’s wrong with you?” Cash asked.

  “I’m not getting married,” Hunt insisted more forcefully than necessary. Sam and Ty watched the show unfold, meanwhile Hunt was worried. He was already tired of being on stage as the on-demand boyfriend.

  “Ever?” Carly asked at the same time Cash spoke.

  “Damned right you’re not. No offense, Carly,” Cash said to her. “I just don’t trust women any farther than I can throw them.”

  “Which won’t be very far if you don’t get out of here. And now,” Hunt told his friend, who nodded and backed away. Hunt lowered his voice. “And no, I don’t see marriage in my future. Why? Are you bucking for a big society wedding like your sister’s?”

  “That’s not what I meant.” She bit her bottom lip. “I mean, I’m not against marriage. To the right person.”

  “Who’s the right person?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Then maybe you need to stop thinking about finding the right guy and let yourself feel. What did Candy Valentine call it? Something about over the falls?”

  “That means losing control,” Carly said.

  He pulled her against him as she spoke, heard his voice roughen and saw the fire flash briefly behind her baby blues. “Aren’t you ready to lose control yet?”

  “I think one of us needs to stay in control. And since it’s not you, or those two, I guess I’m the one.”

  “I didn’t know Sam needed a chaperone.”

  “She doesn’t. But your brother does.”

  Hunt wasn’t sure whether he should have explained what Ty was like, but when he’d been dancing with Carly earlier, his brother had been the last thing on his mind. In fact, if she’d let him, he would’ve made a break with her for the beach, and let what was going to happen happen that much sooner.

  “Come on, Shark-lady, and dance with me.” Ty escorted Carly onto the dance floor before either she or Hunt could protest.

  Sam stared after Ty for a second, a small smile playing on her lips.

  “Looks like you two really got to know each other,” Hunt said to Sam.

  “He’s pretty special. Once you get past the act.”

  “Sounds as if you’ve got him pegged, and trust me, that doesn’t happen often. He’s pretty crazy.”

  “That’s funny, coming from someone like you.”

  “Touché.” He clinked the neck of his beer bottle with hers. At least everyone was having a damned good time tonight. That’s what his orders had been, straight from his CO: Have a good time.

  He always followed orders. Well, most of the time. Otherwise, he just made sure he didn’t get caught, which was why his CO had added, and don’t get yourself arrested.

  So far, Hunt was two for two. Now, if he could get Carly to lighten up, things would really improve.

  “So did you go to a lot of Carly’s competitions?” he asked, figuring it was time to try and get some information about her fear of the water. Know your enemy was his motto, but knowing your friend’s enemy was equally important. Or your pretend girlfriend’s.

  Damn, this was weird, especially since there was no pretending when it came to how badly he wanted her.

  “I mostly caught her local competitions,” Sam answered. “But you want to know about the wipeout and her injuries.”

  “I’ve usually got a better poker face, but yeah, I do want to know more.”

  “It’s probably not my place to tell you more.”

  “I know she retired when she got hurt.”

  “She told you that?”

  He sighed. “I never could lie to a teacher.”

  “Well, you’ve got one right. She was planning on retiring, got hurt surfing one of her last competitions. Pipeline. It’s a competition…”

  “I know what Pipe is,” he said quietly. “What were her injuries like?”

  Sam gave him the run-down, and he fought to keep the emotions off his face, because how could a person live through something like that and still seem so strong?

  “Look, I assumed she hadn’t told you, but she mentioned the surfing lesson thing to me. I’m not sure she’ll be able to keep that promise to you, Hunt. And if you’re not going to be able to help her, better she knows it now.”

  Sam was asking if he would bail on the wedding, and run off
on her friend. All he’d wanted was a week’s leave. Instead, he’d gotten a fantasy that blew his mind and a woman to match.

  He hated it when his personal life got complicated. This time, he had no one to blame but himself, although Ty was a close target, a lightening rod that seemed to draw trouble. Carly was fun trouble, but trouble to be sure, and he did not belong in her world, even if she wanted out of it.

  “Sam, look,” he started, but she held up her hand as though she knew what he was going to say.

  “She won’t fall apart if you don’t go to the wedding. But I can’t promise the same if you try to force her into the water.” She paused. “I’ve known Carly for nine years, and I’ve never seen her scared of anything. Not like this.”

  “She hasn’t been in the water since?”

  Sam gauged how much more to tell him, and then leaned forward and whispered, “she hasn’t been anywhere near it. I was shocked when she bought the house on the beach, I’m hoping it will help. But it won’t happen before next week.”

  “What’s next week?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve revealed too many of Carly’s secrets tonight. You want more, you’ll have to get it straight from the source.”

  He wanted more all right. Problem was, he couldn’t come to terms with how much more he wanted, and why. Nothing beyond wanting to help, he told himself.

  “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU doing to my brother?”

  Carly stared at Ty, open-mouthed. His words were not friendly, but he continued to smile and move her around the dance floor.“What am I doing? What do you think you’re doing with your tongue down my best friend’s throat?” She kept the smile plastered on her face as well, because two could play at this game.

  “I’m not forcing her to be my pretend girlfriend, if that’s what you’re thinking. Why don’t you hire an escort? At least he’ll get paid for helping you.” Ty smirked and she wondered what her friend could possibly see in him. He was obnoxious. Rude, even. Handsome, too, but that was beside the point.

  “Hunt offered. And I’m not going to hurt him. He’s simply attending a wedding with me, not marrying me. And I swear, if you hurt my friend…”