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Stan looked him over long and hard before he reached for the bottle. "Whatcha doin' in here? I can still hear the band playin' so I know the night's still young."

  "I could say the same about you."

  "I stay open for my regulars." He nodded to the end of the bar where one man sat nursing his drink. Stan then leveled his gaze on him again. "Thought you'd be dancing with your gal," Stan said.

  His gal? Stan's words hit him hard, making his already bruised heart ache a little more. Jolie was his gal. Only she'd forgotten it. He loved her and she admitted she still held some kind of affection toward him. Didn't that mean there was still hope for them? He glanced at Stan.

  "You know, on second thought, forget the drink." He didn't care how small a chance he had. Staying here and drinking wouldn't help the process. He would have to coax her back into his arms, for good this time. He stood and grabbed his hat.

  Tye drove to Jolie's house with determination. She couldn't just accuse him of wrong doing when he hadn't done anything to warrant such a response. She had to at least hear him out. He wasn't the bad guy here. Jhett had run the business into the ground. If he hadn't snatched it up, then another man would have, and since he owned most of the shares, shouldn't he have a say on whether the company closed or not?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jolie plopped down on the couch and removed her boots. The quiet of her home proved welcoming after the activity at the fairgrounds. She wiggled her toes that were feeling all kinds of happy for their release from their confines. Settling back against the cushions, she glanced around her living room. She'd decorated her living room with warm colors of greens, dark blues, and browns. Throw pillows propped on the couches, big and inviting, and her favorite chair, next to the window, was a plush comfy chair to curl up on when the weather turned cold. The comforter her mother made for her thirteenth birthday was draped over the back. It was the last item her mother had ever made her.

  Tye had been there for her when her mother breathed her last breath. Cancer took too many good people – took her mother far too young.

  Tye had stayed with her at the hospital. He always knew what to do to make her day a little more bearable, and when her mother passed, he never pushed her to grieve or should she say, grieve in a way her Aunt Carrie wanted her to grieve. Tears and carrying on wasn't her way. Tye realized her turning to school work and chores had been her way of grieving. She didn't have to burst into tears every few minutes to signify she missed her mother. Later, anger proved her next step in expressing her feelings, but he didn't scare easily, even when she tried to take out her fury on him.

  Growing up, Tye had been her best friend and her confidant. She not only loved him. She liked him and those two things weren't always one and the same.

  She had believed they would one day marry. Thought they'd build a life together, have a few children…grow old together. They talked about it. Tye had carved their initials in the tree back yonder at her father's house with the infinity sign beneath their letters. Our love's forever, he'd told her.

  "Childish dreams," she murmured to the shadows creeping into the room and the twilight deepening into night. She leaned over and turned on the lamp that was seated on the end table next to her.

  She'd dated other guys since high school. She really liked a young man she'd met in college, but it never progressed to more than friendship, at least on her part. Not that the guy didn't want to marry her. He did. He asked. She said no. She hadn't loved him…not like how she'd loved Tye Casper. "I loved you so much." Her fingers went to her lips as if she could feel his caress. She sounded pathetic, didn't she? Her emotions were all over the place and she blamed him for causing them to be. She wanted him to go. She wanted him to stay. She squeezed her eyes closed as she thought of his mouth on hers…his hands on her skin…

  Rap tap tap…

  "Tye?" she whispered and her eyes flew open. No, she was imagining he was here—but the rapid knocks came again.

  She stood and walked to the edge of the living room and peeked around the corner to stare at the front door as if it had suddenly come alive. Her heart sure thought so with the way it pounded. Her hand went to her chest as if this would slow it down a bit. No such luck.

  Before she knew it, her feet moved toward the door, knowing before she opened it that Tye would be standing there.

  He didn't wait to be asked in, but strode in with his hat in his hand. She didn't stop him. Not sure she could. Not sure she wanted to.

  "We need to have us a real honest to goodness sit down," he said as he placed his hat on the coat rack in the corner.

  He wanted to chat? Her brows furrowed. Talking would just mess up everything. Right now she just needed him, just wanted him to be with her as if nothing else mattered. She wanted to believe in miracles, that they could really have a future together. They were both consenting adults. Heck, they were married. Tomorrow she'd let her logical side step in and demand order.

  Her feet moved before she could second-guess her irrational decision. Her arms went around his neck. "Sometimes, you talk way too much, Tye Casper."

  His gaze searched her face, obviously not trusting what she offered, though his hands seemed to know as they wandered to her waist and pulled her closer. The heat from his palms a tease. She knew what those talented hands could do, knew how they felt against her bare flesh. "Tell me to go," he said, "because if you don't, I plan on taking you to bed." His voice was raw with need, something she understood all too well.

  "What are you waiting for then?" she countered with a challenge she knew he wouldn't refuse.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Tye didn't hesitate a moment longer. When a woman wanted to be loved nice and proper, he wasn't going to deny her the pleasure. Especially when, said woman, so happened to be the woman he loved. "Where?" he asked as he took her hand and started for the back rooms.

  "The room on the right is my bedroom."

  He pushed opened the door and barely shut it behind them before her hands went for his belt. Once removed, he helped her out of her shirt. Layers of clothes piled up fast before they fell onto the bed. It was as if they couldn't get enough of each other. At least it proved true on his end. He'd been starved for her touch and hadn't known the full extent of his starvation until he had her in his arms.

  Every sensation assaulted him at once—her hands on his face as she kissed with tongue and teeth, and her body pressed against his so firm, but also soft in all the right places. God in heaven he wanted her, wanted her with every part of his soul, but this frantic need she displayed wasn't like her. Or at least hadn't been hours before. What had changed? He didn't want their tumbling into bed to be something she regretted later. He'd done so many things to screw up this relationship. He didn't want to add another one to the growing pile.

  He ended the kiss with painful reluctance. Gripping her shoulders he peered into her eyes. "Last chance," he offered, his voice rough on the edge of breathlessness.

  Her response was to roll him onto his back and straddled him. He had to say he liked her answer. The last of his willpower dwindled away, leaving only the burning desire to let her have her way with him. She slid down his body with caresses as she went. He groaned in pleasure and vowed to give her the same torturous attention. He rolled, taking her with him, her squeal of delight sounded like music to his ears.

  "Fair is fair, darlin'," he told her and nibbled at her earlobe, making her chuckle and squirm beneath him. Oh, he liked that too.

  "I'm at your mercy then," she purred as her fingers threaded through his hair.

  The first time they made love, they'd been young and naïve, and as wonderful as it had been, it had been a bit clumsy. They made love again for the first time in years on their wedding night, but the romance was hurried and blurred, and definitely not thought out for the purpose of a future. And now… She wanted him like she was desperate to prove something to him…or perhaps to herself. She kissed him and touched him, but yet, he sensed her holding something bac
k. Maybe he was reading too much into it, but he had to make sure. "I want you," he said as he worshipped her flesh with soft kisses.

  "I know." Her breath was feathery and hitched at the same time. He lifted his head and scooted so they were eye level. "I want you to be my wife, Jolie." He had to make her understand what he meant. "In every way."

  Her eyebrows puckered to the center of her forehead. "I don't know what you're asking."

  "Yes, you do. I can be the man you want. I am that man," he told her with conviction and prayed she would believe him…trust him.

  Her hands cupped his face. "Not now. I don't want to think. I just want to…" her voice trailed off, but he wouldn't let her shut him out. He wouldn't make it easy for her.

  "…have sex?" he finished for her, his voice harsher than he intended. "I want to make love to you, but you just want to have sex." He couldn't believe he was saying this, but there it was. "I don't want a meaningless roll in the hay before we sign the annulment papers in the morning."

  "Tye… I…" She chewed on her lower lip as she stared at him, and slowly the passion filling her eyes was replaced with regret, but her silence proved to hurt more.

  He'd just handed his heart to her, laid it all on the line. He loved her. He wanted to stay married, but she couldn't bring herself to give him an answer. He didn't need her to draw him a picture. His chest took the hit, as if she'd stomped all over his heart. She didn't see a future with him – not anymore.

  "I can't do this." He pushed away from her and stood, looking for his clothes. His body, of course, hadn't caught up with his decision, but he wouldn't give in. He wanted all of her. A lifetime with her, not just tonight, and if he didn't leave now, it would be all she'd ever give him.

  "Fine, we won't have sex," she said from behind him, her frustration coming in loud and clear. Yep, he felt her pain. "But you told me you wanted to talk," she added.

  He stilled his actions, his hand on the fly of his jeans. Down boy, we aren't staying, he told the part of his anatomy that didn't understand why not. The girl was on the bed – naked… He squeezed his eyes shut and took a well-needed breath and zipped up his jeans. They were uncomfortably tight in one area, but it couldn't be helped. If he stayed, he knew they wouldn't talk. They would just end up in bed without solving a thing.

  He turned to face her, but he was afraid to look directly at her and lose the little control he still maintained. His gaze took in her room all at once. Soft yellow and white was her color scheme from the curtains to the paintings on the wall. A rocking chair stood near the window, and her throw pillows that matched her flowered comforter were strewn on the floor next to the bed. All of it was so feminine, so her…

  Finally, his gaze shifted to where she sat on the bed, hugging her knees with her legs curled close to her body. Her hair was mussed, her lips swollen from his kisses, and he had a flashback to the first time when they'd made love down by the lake. Beautiful – vulnerable and unsure… Heck, he'd been unsure back then too. He didn't know if he'd done anything right when he made love to her. He didn't know if he should cuddle with her, just get dressed and not talk about it, or gush about how wonderful it had been. He settled on pulling her close and kissing her. He told her he loved her and she was in his lap as if he'd given her the moon. Maybe he had. She sure as heck had given him the stars.

  Right now… She was beautiful – vulnerable and unsure – all over again. He pursed his lips, not liking the fact he was responsible for the last two. He couldn't kiss her and tell her he loved her because it wouldn't make any of this all right.

  Instead, he approached the bed and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. His hand gently cupped her cheek. "I want us to have that talk. I just can't right now."

  Tye turned away and didn't look back as he strode out of the room. He grabbed his hat from the coat rack and let himself out of the house, closing the door firmly behind him. But once outside, his feet didn't immediately move toward his truck. He stood on the porch and looked toward the horizon where the fireworks lit the sky with red, blue, and gold bursts of sparkles. At least, somewhere, fireworks were happening. He slapped his hat against his thigh and cursed softly under his breath and headed for his pickup.

  "Cold shower – again, then bed for you," he grumbled.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Jolie couldn't believe Tye Casper left her bed and meant it. The soft click of her front door felt like a slap across the face. She'd been naked and offering – darn him anyway – and still he walked away. She didn't know if she should be angry, insulted or both. She scooted out of bed and grabbed her bathrobe hanging on the back of her door. Shoving her arms into the robe as she headed to the front door intent on— Oh heck, she didn't know what, but she couldn't let him make all the rules here. He waltzed into her life again when he had no business doing so, and she was pissed. Why?

  "Because I allowed him to make me care. No, Mr. Casper, you're not getting away with this," she continued to rant. He turned her life upside down and she needed it all to make sense again.

  As she stomped down the hall, she caught sight of Tye through her lace curtains in the living room, the light from the porch illuminating his tall frame. Something about his stance, made her pause and she backed up a step to peer at him. He seemed to be staring at the sky then she realized why when she heard the pop-pop sound of the fireworks in the distance. It was the finale for the night and the crowd from the fairgrounds would be heading toward their lodgings soon, wherever that may be – the campgrounds, the hotel, or home. She leaned down and caught a glimpse of the multiple colors lighting the heavens. She tiptoed closer to the window, not to see the fireworks, but to peer closer at Tye. He was turned just enough for her to see his profile. His jaw ticked off time as if he clenched his teeth.

  "Frustrated, are you?" she murmured. "Good. Glad I'm not the only one." But then his expression changed. She wasn't sure what to make of it. He almost appeared sad, a little lost…maybe both. She rolled her eyes. Now she was reading into something that most likely wasn't even there.

  She harrumphed. He could have indigestion as far as she knew. She started and stepped back when Tye moved, but he didn't look back to find her spying on him through the window. His long strides took him to his truck parked on the street. Maybe he did her a favor by leaving. Tumbling into bed with him would only complicate matters more than they already were. Tye's truck was almost out of sight now, the dust from the drive billowing behind in his wake.

  If she really believed being with him was such a mistake, why did her heart ache now that he left?

  She closed her eyes and willed herself to get a grip. Just because her body craved his touch didn't mean they should be together for the long haul. He'd been away a long time, traveling the country, making a name for himself. Settling back into the routine of small town life wouldn't last. How could it with all he experienced, with all the excitement of being on the road? All the places he had visited... And the women he must have dated… He never said he'd been with others but, come on, there had to be women. He was a good-looking man...strong and healthy…

  "Stop it," Jolie told herself. She had no right to feel jealous over something she knew nothing about. She hugged the robe tighter around her.

  Whisper did your charts, her subconscious teased her. Said you and Tye were perfect for each other.

  "So?" she voiced with disgust for even considering such nonsense. "Next you'll be having Whisper read your palm so you can make your next move." She shook her head with a chuckle. She really had to keep her wits together, a difficult task when Tye kept making her forget all the reasons why they shouldn't be together.

  She turned away from the window and headed to the bathroom to take a well-needed cold shower. First thing in the morning, she'd hunt down Mayor Dirkly and force him to give her that annulment.

  He married them lickity-split, without a thought. The man had to have known they weren't in their right minds, but he didn't even bat an eye when he had them s
ign those documents. True, the night was still a little fuzzy, so darn the Mayor, he should have told them no. At the very least he should have told them to come by his office in the morning, when they could see clearly again. Yep, he married them so he could just as quickly give them an annulment.

  "Did you consummate the marriage?" she mimicked the mayor's tone with an edge of her own. She harrumphed. "If that was the case, more than half of the population would be considered married before they spoke their vows."

  She pulled back her shower curtain, the metal attachments screeching in protest at being manhandled in such a way. She turned on the shower and stepped back to let the water warm. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror to see her hair mussed from Tye's hands, and her lips swollen from his kisses. The thought of his hands on her made her stomach flutter and her heart skip a beat – and didn't that just make her want him all over again. She squeezed her eyes closed and willed the thoughts away. When she looked at her reflection again, she spat, "What are you looking at?" Disgusted with herself, she stepped into the shower and yanked the curtain closed.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tye had a restless sleep after his visit with Jolie. He tossed and turned and tried to think of a way to dig out of the grave-size hole he dug for himself. Frustrated, in more ways than one, he showered then dressed before driving his pickup to the homestead where the construction site for the new house was coming along nicely. This would be his first official walk through to see what they'd done.

  He'd built the house for Jolie. It was supposed to be a wedding present, but he hadn't done any of this the right way. He'd planned to come home, apologize for leaving her in the first place, do plenty of groveling, and apologize again and again, until she believed him. Only he did a fool thing and married the gal before any of that happened. It didn't matter she'd said yes to the marriage. It hadn't been done properly. He got it, but he didn't know how to fix it and make things right. She didn't even think him man enough to be her husband.