She jerked her head up. “What? No. Hell no.”
“It wouldn’t be so bad. I promise.”
“I’d rather have a root canal.”
He didn’t seem insulted. What would it take to get him angry, to hurt his feelings? To get him the hell out of this bar?
“I promise you that going out with me is way more fun than dental surgery.”
“I’m…seeing someone.”
One perfectly formed brow rose. “You’re seeing someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“You don’t know him.”
“How do you know I don’t know him if you don’t tell me who he is?”
“He’s not involved in sports.”
“I know a lot of people not in sports, Jenna.”
She was digging this hole deeper and deeper. “He’s not from around here. And I have to go.”
“Got a date?”
“Yes.” She pushed on him until he finally budged and headed for the door. She punched in the code and hurried outside, tossing on her jacket to ward off the frigid temps.
Of course he just had to walk her to her car. Damn him for being a gentleman. He’d be a lot easier to not think about if he were a prick.
“A little late for a date, isn’t it?” he asked when she got to her car.
“None of your business, Ty.”
“So, it’s a booty call.”
She gasped. “It is not a booty call. It’s a date.”
“He taking you out to dinner at three a.m.?”
She clamped her lips tightly together.
“The movies, maybe?”
“You’re an ass**le.” She pivoted and got into her car.
“Good night, Jenna.”
He stepped back when she peeled out of the lot, and just like the last time, he stood there watching until she drove away.
Damn him for making her think about him, for making her want him.
She’d show him. She’d get herself a guy.
Maybe if she found someone else to go out with—and ultimately have sex with—Ty wouldn’t be front and center on her mind.
THREE
TY HADN’T INTENDED TO SHOW UP AT THE RILEYS’ house, but Gavin had invited him.
Sunday dinner was apparently a big deal to the Rileys. Ty had no family here, but he and Gavin had become friends over the past months, playing basketball whenever they both managed free days. That wasn’t often though, since Gavin was prepping for the beginning of the baseball season and Ty was on the road playing hockey. But every now and then they managed to hang out together, like today, though the family had held up dinner waiting for Gavin and Elizabeth to show up.
He’d actually gotten to know Gavin through his agent, Elizabeth Darnell, who was now Gavin’s fiancée. Gavin hadn’t liked Ty at all when he’d first met him, because Ty had flirted with Liz to try to make Gavin jealous. Apparently it worked since the two of them were engaged and planning to get married.
But first it was Gavin’s older brother Mick’s wedding coming up in a couple weeks if he remembered right. And judging from the frenzied talking going on between Liz and Tara, Mick’s fiancée, along with Gavin and Mick’s mother—it seemed like the wedding planning was in full force.
Ty was glad he wasn’t taking part in it. Weddings were so not his thing.
He hung out in the living room, drinking beer and talking with Gavin, Mick, and their dad, along with Nathan, Tara’s teenaged son.
This was a nice family. There was a warmth and closeness to this family that he hadn’t felt with his own. Mick told Ty that he and Tara had decided to make the permanent move to St. Louis, including relocating Tara’s business so Nathan could go to school here. Family was important to them, and even though Mick still played for San Francisco, it was easier for him to travel, and more important for Tara and Nathan to be near Mick’s family since they had all become so close.
He understood that. A tight family was a family that stayed together. He wished it had worked out for his parents, but that was a different situation.
“You’re looking good on the ice, Ty.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ty smiled at Gavin’s father, Jimmy Riley. Jimmy had heart surgery several months back, and ever since he’d been robust and healthy, had lost weight, and laughed more than anyone Ty knew. It was like getting a second chance had showed him how great life was.
“Don’t call me sir. Makes me feel old.”
“You are old, old man.” Mick, who sat on the sofa next to his dad, nudged him in the ribs.
Tyler wondered if Mick’s dad’s surgery was a motivating factor in the whole relocation thing. Almost losing someone you love could make you alter a lot of life decisions.
“You think I’m old, boy? Ha. Not too old that I can’t kick your ass in a game of Horse.”
Tara entered the room, crossed her arms, and rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”
“I’m young enough to take both of you with one hand tied behind my back,” Nathan chimed in.
Jimmy tilted his head back and laughed. “You’re teaching that boy well, I see,” he said to Mick.
Mick grinned. “Doing my best to make a smart-ass out of him.”
“Mick. Language,” Tara warned.
“And a quarter for the cuss jar, Dad,” Nathan said.
Tyler sat back and soaked it all in. The warmth, the obvious love they all felt for each other. This was what it was like when people genuinely cared for each other. No tension, no walking on eggshells, no pretending things were all right and everyone was happy when they weren’t. Because everyone in this house was happy.
“Dinner will be served as soon as Jenna gets here,” Kathleen said as she entered the room. “She’s just waiting for her relief to show up at the bar.”
Tyler had wondered if Jenna was going to be here. Now he knew.
She breezed in about twenty minutes later, tossed her purse on the table in the entryway, and flung herself onto the sofa next to her mother. Her mom kissed her cheek.
“Rough day?”
Jenna shrugged and propped her feet on the table. “Nah. Casey was late, as usual, but it wasn’t a busy day, so no big deal.”
Jenna greeted everyone, and her gaze landed on Tyler. She arched a brow. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting to eat the great dinner your mother prepared. And Gavin invited me.”