Captured Secret (The Captured Series) (29 page)

Clock watching doesn’t help my nephew’s soccer game come any sooner. I can’t wait to see his smiling face, and then take him to his favorite restaurant after to celebrate, victory or not.

The alarm on my phone finally got me to budge and peel myself off the couch this morning. The hardest part was removing the two limbs I was wrapped in and ignoring the command to call in repeatedly. Once I put my foot down, I regretted my decision. I got home quickly after I woke in a timely fashion, showered, and headed out the door to work. I smiled when Ty texted me today, scolding me for not spending the day in bed. I came in later than normal, but I can’t wait to get out earlier than normal.

Brock is adorable as he runs up and down the field. He really is a natural at sports. I’m not his mom, and I still wear this whole proud as hell look around. My dad loves Brock. He is the apple of this family’s eye. My sister pities me that I work so much. She gives me the how to land a man and not have to work speech. This conversation is so worn out that I wish I could give her shock therapy so she will never say it again. My sister feels for me because I’m all alone, unmarried and childless. And I feel for her. She married and started a family way too early. I fear she will rebel one day and live out her youth at an older age. It’s ridiculous to her that I am not even actively looking for that man. The one who will sweep me off my feet, and keep me up. I’m reminded on a regular basis that I am not getting any younger.
I’m only twenty-three!

Dinner is entertaining. We aren’t out too late. When I return home, Zoey, Pierce and Ty are lounging on the couches. It takes everything I have not to go lay my body over him and cover his face with kisses. Okay let’s be honest, the kissing isn’t reality. Instead, I walk in to greet them all. I can’t help the wide smile and I try not to direct it at Ty alone. They tell me about their night, what they ate, and I tell them too many stories about Brock. Ty watches me intently as I speak. My heart aches when he looks at me with such adoration.

Hours of talking lead to Zoey and Pierce heading into her room to watch TV. Yeah, right. Hopefully, I won’t have to hear my friend in the throes of an orgasm tonight. Ty says his goodbyes as they walk into their room. I stand to show him out. “I’m going to put you to bed, little girl.” I squeal when he tosses me over his shoulder and takes me into my bedroom.

He sets me down, and I shove him a bit for the shoulder haul into my room.

“You are such a cave man, Ty Caulder. I’m not going to bed. My weekend boss is a total slacker. We start the day late so I don’t have to get up early on the weekends. I’m really not even tired. My boss works a little, but claims he works hard.”

“Huh? He sounds extremely good looking.”

I laugh out loud. “Where in the hell did you get that he’s good looking out of what I said?”

His shit-eating grin is priceless. “Well, he sleeps a lot, so I figure he’s well rested. I don’t know. Just strikes me as an obscenely sexy dude, that’s all. I mean, the name says it all. Doesn’t it?”

“I never told you his name, and I forgot to mention that he’s full of himself.”

“Nah, all I hear is confidence radiating off of him, cause well, he’s so damn good looking.”

I push him on the chest. “You are a mess, boss.”

He grabs me and looks down into my eyes. “Get dressed for bed and I will stay for a while and chill out with you, if you want me to?”

“Oh, I want,” I say as I lift my eyebrow up and try to sound suggestive. I change into a tank and fleece pants. We lay down next to each other with the soothing light coming from the partially closed closet door. It’s hard to keep my eyes off his chest from when he pulled his shirt from over his head and threw it to the bottom of my bed.

I trace the tattoo on his chest over and over. “Do they bother you?”

I arch my brow, “Your tattoos?”

“Yeah, I know they aren’t for everyone.”

“They are amazing. Especially on you. When did you start getting them?”

Ty, looks me in the eyes and rubs my cheek with his knuckle. “The first one I got the day I turned eighteen. It was kind of a rebellious act. I started at the top of my arm, and got it placed high enough so that in regular clothes, you would never know it was there.” He chuckles, “Nan freaked, she told me to never show it to any of her friends. She thought they were trashy and I had no need for it on my body. But now, they are a part of who I am.”

“A beautiful part of who you are.” His expression melts me. Soft, gentle and sweet.

I fell asleep after he did. After, I watched him breathe in and out. After, I watched his eye lids flutter. After, I pondered what he was dreaming or who he was dreaming about. After, I skimmed my thumb over his perfect lips and then placed that same thumb on mine. After he reached for me and tucked me into his chest. Then, I listened to his heartbeat. The heart I wished beat only for me. Then, and only then, I let sleep take me.

B
EST
MORNING
EVER
! Ty smelling of my shampoo and soap, while the water drops falling off his hair. Seeing him lying on my bed, waiting patiently for me to shower and get ready for the day. We snuck out of my house before anyone saw us. Not that I really cared.

My breakfast was healthy, no thanks to Ty. He got bacon, eggs and syrup on everything. I opted for oatmeal and fruit. Shopping with Ty is an experience. I get the impression that he goes in and grabs like five items every time he runs out of something. Come to think of it, the shopping list has gotten excessively longer since I started working for him and at this point, I’m truly doing all of his shopping just like Emily did. He seems uncomfortable making simple decisions and I giggle as I point out that I shop FOR HIM with ease. He’s like a child as I turn down many requests for crap food. It totally makes me wonder how the hell he keeps that sexy body, well, just that…sexy.

We lug in the loot and put everything away. Surprisingly, he does in fact know where everything goes. I’m in a tight, peach, sleeveless V-neck shirt and some dark brown khaki shorts and strappy brown sandals. I planned on changing the shirt into a little tee that I had left here, and is now stored in ‘my bathroom’ so I could clean. However, our morning has been so drawn out, I will just have to fit Friday cleaning in when I can between clients.

I’m wiping down the kitchen counter when Ty leans on it. “The first one is a high school friend of mine and Pierce’s. We’ve known each other forever. She just got back in town from traveling. Be nice. She’s the typical rich girl and is going to complain how rough life is now that she has to get a job.”

“Um, I’m always nice to your clients.”

“I know, but she is going to drive you crazy with her sob story.” A sly smile plays on his chiseled face.

I continue wiping, and he starts to put the cups away. “What’s her story?”

“We graduated, she went to college and majored in who knows what. She took off to travel, party, and live off her parents. They’re tired of it and demand that she get a job. So, she got her real estate license. Hence, today I’m taking the photo that she’ll use. You know that typical, ‘I’m definitely the one you want to buy property from’ realtor pic?”

I giggle, roll my eyes and say sarcastically, “I know the pictures you’re talking about, and this one sounds like she’s had a hard life.”

“Oh, well, if you ask her, she’ll tell you just how hard. But, she’s a friend and a little desperate. So, I’m gonna take the photo, edit it, and she can walk out with a hard copy. Just didn’t want you looking at me like I was losing my mind.”

“You run the show, so whatever you say, I’ll do.”

Bright, white teeth blind me. “I’ll have to remember you said that.” He walks away before I register what just happened. Yes, I just said I’ll do whatever he says.
Oh, shit.

I thrash the wipe, and head after him for a take back. An extremely cute woman walks in and lays eyes on Ty. An ear-piercing squeal hurts my ears as she catapults herself into his arms. “OMG! I’ve missed you! How are you?” He sets her down and she runs her eyes over him and never gives him a moment to answer. “Oh my, you have not changed! You are still one tall drink of water.” I laugh out loud. That’s an old saying and it sounds weird coming out of her mouth. She’s maybe five feet tall, dark cropped hair and has a little extra weight on her bones. Her face is pretty and she locks her eyes on me and keeps her happy smile. I already like her…no cattiness here. “You have a girlfriend? Like, no way, Ty! She is absolutely gorg! I’m so happy you are dating again!”

Ty is super comfortable with her. Yet, he looks a bit uncomfortable with her accusations. “First, I’m good. Second, I miss you too. Third, she’s not my girlfriend.” I walk up. “Amber, this is my friend, Stella, and my assistant here at the studio.” I beam, extend my hand, and could not be happier to be his friend/assistant. So me losing my flipping mind was all I needed to do to get what I want? I giggle inside seeing myself cursing and yelling for any little thing.
I said I wanted fucking Subway for lunch! Gaaahhhh!

They catch up as Ty sets a soft light behind her. Amber walked in the door with denim capris and a white button down shirt on. She threw on a business blazer, and from the waist up, she looks the part of a professional realtor. I anticipate Ty, fix her hair and adjust her clothes as he photographs her sitting and standing. My reward is a breathtaking smile of appreciation.

I reset the studio after Ty clicks off the pictures. They browse through them and she quickly picks the one she likes. Ty starts touching it up lightly as she sits on his desk. “So, are you and Pierce coming to the party tonight?”

Ty keeps his eyes on the computer. “I’m not. Not sure about Pierce.”

“You should come, Ty. We haven’t all been together in forever, and Nikki’s parties never disappoint. Annnnnd…since you’re not dating, you could maybe leave with a prize at the end of the night. I could name a dozen girls that are going that would be putty in the hands of Ty Caulder. You should have met him in high school, Stella. Girls would give their right arm just to be, like, seen with him.”

He smiles at her playful tone, picks up his phone, and I can tell he’s texting. “Thanks for embarrassing me, and as enticing as you make that seem, I’m gonna pass. I don’t need to go party with old high school friends to get a prize at the end of the night.”

“Oh, I know you don’t. Just come. Don’t be such a bore! Come please, it will be so fun! I’m texting Pierce right now, and he’ll get you there. Yay!” I sit next to Ty and log into the laptop. Amber’s texting away and her expression changes. “Sorry, I so didn’t think about if Lacey would be there. That’s why you don’t want to come, right? She hasn’t come too much lately, but I wouldn’t put it past her. We girls try to be nice, but well, she’s a slore.”

Ty looks like she hit the nail on the head. “I just got a text from Pierce and I forgot we are all going to Club Azul tonight. That’s why we didn’t commit to Nikki’s party.” I’m calling bullshit on that statement. I understand why Ty doesn’t want to go, but it sucks if someone is taking you away from what you really want to do. I know for a fact without asking that he text Pierce and told him if Amber texts or calls, we have plans. I didn’t think we, or at least I, was doing anything tonight. Ty and I have a trash the dress session in Cocoa beach tomorrow morning and have to be up and out by like 7:30 am. Club Azul sounds fun, though. Well, if I’m invited. I guess I just assumed us meant me as well.

“Well, you know where we are. It’s at Nikki’s, and it’ll be nice as the sun goes down, and then it will get fucking wild from that point on.” Ty shows her the finished product. Amber’s fast clapping tells me she approves. Ty gives her a hard copy as I swipe her credit card. I wish I made that much for a little over an hour’s work.

Amber leaves, and Ty turns in his chair and motions for me to come toward him. I get up and my body instantly starts to sizzle. My legs spread wide as he pulls me to straddle his legs. My knees are bent, and the slight reposition he does in the computer chair, along with his massive hands gripping behind my knees, brings us as close together as we can get.

It feels as though seeing Amber and talking to her has brought up some unpleasant feelings for him, so I break the ice and say to his intense face, “So, you are going to pass up a prize at the end of the night?”

“No, I’m most definitely not passing up a prize. It’s just not going to be anyone I went to high school with, and I am most definitely not going to find her at Nikki’s party.” His eyes never leave mine.

“Well, what does the prize look like? If you tell me, and I see her, I’ll tell her she’s one lucky girl. Oh, and does she get to stay the night? Is she one you bend your rules for?”

His lip turns up on one side. “She is staying the night. We have to get up early so we might as well get up early together. I do, in fact, bend my rules for this one and this one only. Hmmm…to describe her…” He twirls my hair behind my back and rests his other hand on my thigh. “She has this amazing long hair. I like it best when she curls the ends a little or when she piles it high on top of her head in a messy, sexy look.” I can’t help but smile. “Her eyes are as green as a meadow. They’re big and have these long eyelashes, but they are really expressive, and they tell me everything I need to know about her. She’s not very outspoken, so I look to her eyes a lot when I need to know what she’s thinking.”