Why the hell does that bother you, Haven?
It doesn’t!
Or at least it shouldn’t.
I’m not about to get involved with a man who was my brother’s mortal enemy in the cage. I can’t even imagine what Rock would say if he knew I’d kissed his nemesis. Not that he needs to know. What happened between Tyler and me was a one-time thing. He’s the kind of guy with a revolving door, and I have no desire to find myself on either side of it. Seriously I could make myself a scarf with the number of red flags he gives off.
If he’s such a bad boy, why did you feel safe with him?
Why indeed?
Ignoring that inner voice, I open the door, expecting to see my co-star and director sitting around chatting, but when my gaze lands on a group of strangers, I stiffen. Oh my God, it’s late and dark. Did I wonder down the wrong driveway, enter the wrong house and crash a family party?
“Um…I’m sorry. I thought this was where…”
An elderly lady stands and comes toward me. Her slippers scuff on the polished wooden floor as she shuffles close. “You must be Haven.” Her smile is as warm as her demeanor. My jumping nerves settle slightly, but that still doesn’t mean I’m in the right spot. Perhaps she recognizes me from my films.
“I am,” I say. “I thought this was where…” Backing up, I reach into my pocket and pull out a slip of paper with the house address. The door creaks behind me, and before I realize what’s happened, I back right into a brick wall.
“Whoa,” a man says, his mouth by my ear, the heat of his breath doing ridiculous things to my body. I don’t need to turn to know I’ve backed straight into Tyler Owens. So it was him on the motorcycle. Honestly, what are the odds I’d run into him—literally—two times in one night, and that he and his family are the ones who will be working on the sets? Is he the one stalking me? I gasp at that thought and spin around. His face softens, his eyes narrowing in on me.
“Haven, are you okay?” he asks in the softest, sweetest voice, and despite his big presence, the way his strong, protective hands are touching me, all the stress of the last week, and all the threatening letters comes racing back in a whoosh.
You’ll be mine.
As tears threaten, I blink my eyes to dull the vision of those words found on the sheet of the paper shoved under the bathroom stall at the airport, right after I landed in Connecticut. Someone knew exactly where I was going to be. Were they on the plane with me, or were they waiting in the terminal? A hard shiver races down my body and I shake, almost violently.
“Haven,” he says again, and that’s when I realize I’m causing a scene. Calling on all my acting skills, I push my hair back and fake a smile.
“Sorry, you frightened me.”
He doesn’t smile. Instead, he angles his head, those gorgeous green eyes of his moving over my face in a careful assessment. I stiffen, willing myself not to squirm, to show any sign of nervousness. He doesn’t need to know about my problems. “You seem to be frightened a lot lately.”
Shoot, I didn’t think he’d be able to read me so easily.
“No, it’s…I didn’t expect anyone to be behind me.”
“And at the bar?”
I give a dismissive wave of my hand. “Oh, like I said, that was a silly dare,” I blink to hide my discomfort, but I’m wasting my time. This man can see right through me. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why. I only know that I’d have more luck convincing a room full of movie critics that I was acting on a dare, before this guy.
He lifts his head, ending the staring contest, and he exchanges a look with the elderly lady beside me. Whatever they just silently telegraphed sets her into motion.
“Haven,” the woman says. “Come in, come in. You’re in the right place. Don’t let my grandsons scare you off. They might look like ogres, but they’re all sweet boys.”
“Hey who’s calling me an ogre?” one of the guys sitting around the table asks, and I note he has the same eye color as Tyler. In fact, all the guys do. I’m not a writer, I’m an actress, but if I had to describe it, I’d say it was the color of dark moss with speckles of molasses, everything about them reminding me of the green of spring after a harsh winter. The kind of eyes that can see all the bare patches of the soul.
Tread carefully, Haven.
“Hush, Jacob,” the woman says. She smiles at me again. “I’m Grandma Nellie. You can call me Gram.”
“Nice to meet you, Gram?”
She points. “My grandsons, Carter, Jace, and Jacob. There are more—”
“Really?” I ask, my heart jumping. Maybe I was right about this place. Maybe it is hearth and home and maybe there are some women I could bond with—Lord knows it’s nothing but competition between women in my world. “You have granddaughters too?”
A series of groans roll around the room. “What did I say?”
“Don’t ask,” Tyler says, and I laugh at his exaggerated groan, instantly feeling a comradery with these guys.
“I have grand-daughters-in-law, but one of these days, these boys will give me a great-granddaughter.” Another series of groans roll across the room.
“How many grandsons?” I ask
“Eight grandsons, and two great grandsons.” A warm smile takes over her face and it’s easy to see how much she loves her family, and how much they all love her. “They’ll all be around sooner or later to say hello, or you’ll run into them on the set, but I take it you already met Tyler.”
“Tyler and Sean,” I say.
“And Jared,” Tyler rumbles. “We ran into her at the bar. Actually, she ran into us. Me specifically and literally.” He exchanges another look with Gram.
“Are you hungry, child?” She points to Jace, at least I think it’s Jace. It’s hard to think straight or remember everyone’s names with Tyler standing close. Cripes, it’s like my skin is on fire, a deep scorching burn that caresses all my erogenous zones. “Back in New York, Jace was an award-winning chef,” Gram says as she beams at Jace with pride. “He’ll whip you up something delicious.”
“Oh wow, really?” I ask, curiosity racing through me. If he was a prize chef, what brought him back to Blue Bay? I guess I can understand why Tyler is here. After losing the championship title—to my brother, no less—he returned to his roots. I’m not about to ask questions, though, or delve into their personal lives. I’m only here for a short time and really, their reasons are their own. Just like my reasons for keeping my stalker a secret are mine alone.
As Jace makes a move to stand, I hold my hand out to stop him. “No,” I say quickly, noting the way Tyler continues to stay close, all solid strength and power and damned if I don’t like it. A lot. “I think I’m going to call it an early night and you’re all doing enough for us as it is.” I stretch my arms out. “It was a long flight and I have an early start tomorrow.”
Carter jumps to his feet. “How about I show you to your room?”
A noise, a growl of sorts rumbles up from behind me, and I turn to see Tyler glaring at the man standing.
“Sit down, Carter.”