Counterfeit Courtship, page 11
“Maybe about a month or two. It was just hookups. Late-night texts to see if the other was free.”
“What happened?”
He met her eyes. “I met someone else at a party. I knew I needed to stop what I was doing with Li’l Bit before I started with another person. I don’t like confusion or playing around with people’s emotions. Unless they agreed, sleeping with more than one woman is a recipe for disaster. I talked to Sheri. I told her I thought we should stop, and she agreed. Then she saw me out with the other woman a few weeks later, called me later that night and cursed me out, and then keyed my car. It’s been weird and awkward ever since.”
“Did you really not sleep with that other woman while seeing Sheri?”
Kiera watched for any signs that he was lying. She wasn’t a mind reader, but she was a pretty good judge of knowing when someone lied to her. It’s how she’d known it was time to end things with her ex, Mike. Their on-again, off-again relationship hadn’t been one she expected to turn into a happily-ever-after, but when she’d caught him lying about seeing someone else when they were back on, she’d realized a small part of her had expected a future with him. Otherwise, why would she have still been putting so much effort into a relationship with a man who couldn’t even commit to her for the two to three months they’d decided to be back together?
Tyrone shook his head. “I don’t play around like that. Even after I found out Sheri keyed my car and the cops asked if I wanted to press charges, I said no because I wasn’t trying to drag things out like that. I tried talking to her after and she said she just wanted to move on.”
“Have you apologized to her?”
He blinked, then frowned. “For what? I was upfront from the start, I broke things off before moving on and I got my car keyed. What do I need to apologize for?”
Kiera shrugged. “Emotions are funny. I get that you two were only hooking up and not technically dating, but you did so for over a month. Let me guess—in that time you both said you were going to stop but never did.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue, then sighed. “Yeah a few times.”
“Maybe she didn’t think the last time you said it was any different than before. Then seeing you with someone else was a shock. I’m not saying keying your car was right, but people lash out when hurt and angry.”
“We both said we would move on.” Tyrone sounded confused. As if the agreement was enough to keep out emotions and hurt feelings.
“Well, obviously she hasn’t. She’s still upset, and her cousin is, too. Did you ever wonder if the rumors about you started with her?”
He grimaced. “I did, but I’d also hoped she wouldn’t go that far.”
“Maybe she didn’t, but it’s probably a good idea to clear the air. Especially since this season is focused around your family and hometown. Is this everything? There’s nothing else I need to know?”
He sat up straight and placed a hand over his heart. “That’s everything. I try to be upfront and honest because I don’t want to cause any drama. Do you believe me?”
She stared into his eyes and considered what he’d said. His gaze didn’t waver and he didn’t break eye contact. She trusted his words, but that didn’t make hearing them any easier. She wasn’t jealous of his relationship with Li’l Bit. He was a grown man and was bound to have previous relationships, some of them messy. Her relationship with Mike had been messy and unfulfilling. She’d caught him in the lie and wanted to throw a brick through his window. If she’d run in to him with the woman shortly after they’d broken up, she might have done so.
Knowing this did one thing for her. It proved her decision to keep her relationship with Tyrone platonic was the right one. She liked him already. Sleeping with him would make it harder to keep her emotions out of things. This was a fake relationship to benefit them both. If she forgot that, she’d end up heartbroken, potentially without a job and still in debt.
“Kiera?” he asked.
She gave him a tight smile and nodded. “I believe you.”
He didn’t relax or appear relieved. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Are we still good?”
“We are. It’s like I told you before. We’re doing this to help each other out. I’m not your real girlfriend, so I’m not upset about your past.” He scowled and opened his mouth to say something but she cut in. “It’s been a long day. I’m going to go up to rest for a little bit.”
She stood and walked toward the door. A few seconds later Tyrone’s hand closed around hers. She turned to face him. He was standing so close their chests almost touched.
The light hit his eyes, lightening the brown and making the fire of his frustration, and something else she couldn’t name, bright in his gaze. “Do you really not care?”
His grip of her arm was light. She could break away if she wanted, but she didn’t break away. Even after their talk and knowing Tyrone wasn’t the man for her, she still craved his touch.
“I care about getting through this without any problems. We’re doing this for a reason, remember?” Her voice was soft but thankfully strong.
He took a half step closer. His chest brushed her breasts. His eyes searched hers. For what, she didn’t know. “Is that it? You don’t feel anything else?”
The heat of his body caressed hers. The fire in his gaze burned her soul. Kiera’s skin prickled. She swallowed hard, breaking eye contact first. Her gaze dropped to his lips. The memory of the kiss from earlier consumed her. She’d been willing to forget this was all for show when he’d kissed her. She’d been swept up in the fantasy and Tyrone was all too good at playing the devoted, loving boyfriend. But one day the fantasy would end. Someone else would come along for him and she’d still be wearing the tinted, rose-colored glasses, believing he was her happily-ever-after.
Kiera stepped back. His fingers dropped from her arm. When she met his eyes again, she ignored the longing reflected there. He longed for something she couldn’t afford to give. “That’s all I can feel. I don’t want to be the next woman keying your car.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tyrone watched Kiera standing across the road laughing with other members of the crew while he and his brothers went over the details of the upcoming investigation. They were investigating a suspected angry spirit in a home outside Wilmington, North Carolina. The home belonged to a married couple with two young kids, who’d recently moved in. They were about to have the initial on-camera interview with the family about what they’d experienced before he and his brothers spent the night to observe for themselves. The next day, they’d film the three of them researching the history of the property and the home.
He’d looked forward to this investigation from the moment he’d learned about it, yet he couldn’t focus on anything except Kiera. Since they’d talked about his relationship with Sheri, she’d been the same but different. They still got along, were still able to laugh and joke with each other, and pretend to be a loving couple for the cameras. Yet, he could tell she was holding back a part of herself. The flirtatious look in her eyes had dimmed and she pulled back when she once would’ve leaned in.
He should be okay with that. They weren’t really together. He didn’t want to be in another situation similar to the one with Sheri. Clearly, she didn’t, either. Keeping things as they were was the smart thing to do. He knew that, so why did he feel as if it was all so wrong?
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. “Tyrone, you listening?”
He blinked and turned back to the group surrounding him. Wesley was the one who’d tapped his shoulder. His brother’s eyebrows were raised nearly to his hairline. “What’s wrong?”
Tyrone shook his head. “Nothing, just got distracted for a second.”
“Distracted,” Dion said with a frown. “I thought you couldn’t wait to do this investigation.”
“I couldn’t. I mean, I can’t. My bad.”
His brothers gave him one last confused look before they set up to redo the shot. Tyrone kept his mind on what they were there for and eventually was able to get his mind on the investigation, and off Kiera. After a few minutes they set up inside with the homeowners, Ashlei and Curtis, to talk about what they’d experienced.
By the time they finished the discussion with the owners about the strange things in the home and walked through the house, Tyrone’s heart rate mimicked a jackrabbit’s—not just from the excitement of a new investigation, but from the weird vibe in the house. Something was happening there. Something that made his skin crawl and the muscles of his neck tighten. He wasn’t as sensitive to the spirits they investigated as Wesley, but tonight he’d felt the animosity of whatever was in that house.
“What do you think is going on?” Dion asked when they’d finished the scene with the family and put their equipment in the back of the black SUV they drove for the show. He’d originally looked forward to spending the night in the house, but now that they’d spent time in there, he doubted he’d be able to even get ten good minutes of sleep.
“I don’t know,” said Wesley, who was sitting in the back hatch of the SUV. “Usually, it seems like the people haunting locations have a story to tell or want us to help them in some way. I didn’t get that here.”
Tyrone rubbed the back of his neck, which still tingled. It felt as if someone was watching—someone other than the camera crew filming their discussion. “It seems as if this spirit just wants to cause chaos.”
“And terrorize this family,” Dion said. He let out a sigh before closing the box that held their equipment. “I’m not looking forward to spending the night here tonight.”
Neither did Tyrone, but he wasn’t about to admit to being afraid. Not with Kiera watching. He placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “The three of us will be there. We’ll be good.”
They bumped fists and then got into the car so the camera could get a shot of them driving down the road. Later, when they were back at the hotel for a break before filming their overnight stay, Kiera came into the room they shared just as he was waking up from a nap.
She took one glance at him lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and put a hand to her chest. “My bad, did I wake you?”
He shook his head, pushed back the covers and sat up. “Nah, I just woke up.” He rubbed his eyes. “Just thinking about the night ahead.”
Kiera’s eyes were on his bare chest. He’d taken off his shirt and wanted to strip to his underwear, but since they were sharing a room, he’d slipped on a pair of sweats. He wanted to feel cocky watching her stare at him, but knew she wouldn’t follow up on her obvious interest because of his past.
After a few quick seconds, her eyes jumped to his. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? Usually, you and your brothers are excited about this part—today you all seem a little uneasy.”
He shrugged before swinging his feet to the side of the bed. Because the hotel was busy, they’d been put in a room with two double beds. It was a blessing in disguise. If they’d had to share a king bed he would try to keep his distance, but knew just like when they’d shared the bed before he would still wake up with Kiera in his arms. With the distance currently between them having separate beds only made the loss of her pulling away even more potent.
“It’s a weird vibe this time, that’s all. But we’ll be okay.”
She sat on the other bed, facing him. “Are you sure?” She kept her eyes above his neck as she spoke.
“I’m sure. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.” He pushed aside the unease he’d felt earlier that day and tried to appear brave and positive. The last thing he wanted was for Kiera to worry about him. He only wanted her to see him as confident and capable.
She stared at him for several seconds before nodding and standing. He took her wrist in his before she could walk away. She looked down at him. “Thanks,” he said.
A corner of her mouth lifted. “You’re always saying thanks. What’s it for this time?”
He stood, expecting her to step back, but she only shifted slightly to give him enough room to stand. Not far enough away for his hand to easily fall from her wrist. Not far enough away to prevent the tempting smell of her perfume to tickle his nose. “For caring and checking in on me. I know that’s not part of the deal, but I do appreciate it.”
“Why are you acting like it’s unfamiliar to have someone care about you? It’s obvious your brothers care about you, along with several people in your hometown.”
“Yeah, they do, but with you it’s different.”
“Different how?”
“Just different.” He didn’t know how to explain that her concern sent a funny feeling through his chest. That knowing she cared made him want to do better, work harder, be safer. He didn’t want her to worry, and that thought was slowly starting to impact nearly every decision he made.
She nodded and her smile softened. “I do care, so be careful, okay.”
“I’m always careful.”
She patted his bare chest. The warmth of her palm spread through his body. “And don’t be afraid to speak up if things are too weird or you feel uncomfortable. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that. You understand that, right?”
He’d been prepared to pretend as if he wasn’t uneasy about spending the night in that house. To show her how he was fearless and ready to tackle whatever came his way. Instead, she’d seen right through him. Instead of viewing him as weak, she wanted to make sure he was okay.
He wasn’t supposed to cross the line. She’d set a boundary after their last talk, and he knew she’d done that to protect them both. Right now, that didn’t matter.
Tyrone placed his hand on the back of her head and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her softly, pulling her lower lip between his. Once, twice and a third time. The kiss was long enough to satisfy the craving gnawing inside of him and brief enough to keep him from losing control, pulling her flush against him and falling to the one of the two beds with her in his arms.
He pulled back slowly. Kiera’s eyes opened. Desire simmered in the depths of her gaze. He wanted to stoke the flames but held himself in check. Now wasn’t the time to test the barriers she’d put up.
“Still, thank you. I promise. Everything will be good tonight.”
Chapter Fifteen
Tyrone and his brothers sat around a table in the back of Stan’s, a bar and grill two blocks from the beach. Stan’s was a hole-in-the-wall frequented by locals and a few tourists who weren’t interested in the fancier restaurants that catered to visitors. They’d met up at Stan’s a few times over the years. Mostly when they wanted to get out and have a drink without dealing with a club or a huge crowd of people. Which was exactly what they needed tonight.
Tyrone took a long sip of his beer then let out a breath. “I didn’t expect the investigation to go like that.”
“I don’t think any of us did,” Wes said, slowly turning his bottle of beer on the table.
Dion straightened and looked at them both. “But we did find an answer. They now know what they’re dealing with and, hopefully, will get their kids out of that house.”
They’d completed the investigation in Wilmington, and everyone had agreed to take a few days off afterward. Their research into the history of the place led them to believe the home was haunted by the ghost of a serial killer, who’d been killed in the house by one of the victims he’d kept there. Something the family hadn’t known when they’d gotten the place at such a good price. The brothers had never come across something so angry, so malevolent, before. The anger and hatred permeating the atmosphere had kept the brothers up all night. The next morning they’d been so wired they could barely talk without snapping at each other. The entire crew had finished the investigation shaken.
“But will they, though?” Tyrone asked skeptically. “When you mentioned leaving the house the husband didn’t seem too excited about the idea of moving.”
Wesley snorted. “‘We got the house at a good price,’” he said, mimicking Curtis’s voice after they recommended moving or finding someone to expel the spirit.
Tyrone frowned into his beer. “Yeah, because it’s haunted by a serial killer. One who liked to torture his victims. If they were smart, they’d move.”
“Amen to that,” Wes said. He held up his beer bottle and Tyrone clinked his own to Wes’s.
“We can’t control that,” Dion said. “All we can do is give them the information they asked for. If they don’t move, it’s not on us.” He met Wes’s gaze, then Tyrone’s. “Understand.”
Wes sighed but nodded. “I understand.”
Tyrone twisted his shoulders. The thought of the family staying in that house with that spirit put him on edge. He wanted to shake the husband for worrying more about having to move again, when it was obvious his wife and kids were petrified to spend another day in the house.
Dion bumped his hand. “Understand?”
Tyrone rubbed the bridge of his nose, then downed the rest of his beer. “I get it. I know it, but y’all have to admit the vibe in that house was off. They won’t have any peace if they stay there.”
“It had to be one of the worst places we’ve been in,” Wes said.
Dion nodded. “I agree.”
“But you’re right, we helped them as much as we could,” Tyrone said. “It’s on them to figure out what to do next.” All he could do now was hope and pray the family would move for the sake of their children.
Dion’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his back pocket and smiled at the screen. “Hold up. This is Vanessa.” He got up from the table and answered the phone.
Tyrone pointed in the direction that Dion rushed off toward. “I thought we said brothers’ night.”
Wes chuckled and sipped his beer. “Vanessa is worried about him. She heard the way he sounded when he called after the investigation. Dion is telling us to chill, but this got to him just as much as us. I’m not surprised she called.”
