Awakening Beauty Part 15

"I'm not."

"Oh, yeah? Then tell me about your family."

"I did."

His disappointment was written on his face. "Sure. Names and that's it."

"They come with the package, but they aren't me," she said, throwing his own words back at him. "Right now I want you, only you and me."

"Yeah?" His hand slid over the swell of her hip.

"Once is never enough with you, McKay. You're addictive." Straddling his hips, she sat up and wrapped her fingers around him, his eyes flaring as she stroked him. Then she guided him inside her, sinking down onto his hardness till he filled her. She was slick and incredibly hot, and when she thrust her hips against him, Tyler lost all thought, except one. Lane. And that it would take a lifetime to have enough of her.

They'd had to shower and dress, then rush to the beach party before his mother called again.

"Am I wearing a guilty look?"

He frowned down at her, slinging his arm over her shoulders as they made their way down the beach to the bonfire. "No." He kissed the top of her head. "And neither am I. I don't feel the least bit guilty."

"But we're late."

"I needed medical attention." He waved the sprained finger.

"And I needed your attention," she said, and he looked at her, a s.e.xy smile twisting his lips. "Which was wonderful."

He tipped his head toward her and whispered, "There's always tonight, darlin'."

Her insides ignited like the fire on the beach, and the thought of waking in his arms was like a treat she'd win if she behaved like a lady in public. Because she didn't want to behave with him in private.

Family and friends greeted the race winners with a loud cheer, and Lane and Tyler were torn apart by people wanting to recap the contest. Over the next couple of hours, they had little time together, but she caught him looking at her when they weren't. She was just as guilty, and when Kate moved up beside her, a baby girl on her hip, Lane turned her attention from the man who'd made love to her this afternoon.

Kate s.h.i.+fted the baby and Lane ached to hold her. When she stroked the child's hair, the baby smiled. Definitely a McKay, Lane thought, and held out her hands. The baby practically leaped into her arms and wrapped her tiny arms around Lane's neck.

Lane rubbed her back, staying near enough to the fire to keep the infant warm.

"You like my brother, don't you," Kate said.

She glanced in Tyler's direction briefly. "Yes, I do." I love him.

"I'm glad. It's about time he started dating seriously again."

Lane frowned.

"He didn't tell you about his wedding?" Kate asked.

Lane felt cold dread move up her spine.

"Well, almost wedding. Tyler learned his bride-to-be was marrying him for his money a week before the wedding."

"That's awful."

"Do you want him for his money?"

"I have my own, Kate." She had a trust fund and stocks that would keep her comfortable for a while. But she admired Tyler's sister for looking out for him. "In fact, I didn't want his attention because he had wealth and power."

Kate blinked. "Okay, that's a first."

"I've seen what it can do to people, the unsavory types it can bring out of the woodwork."

"b.u.t.t out, Kate," Tyler said from behind them.

His sister stuck her chin out. "I'm just watching out for you, big brother, and you should have told her."

"What goes on between Lane and me is private." Kate took her daughter from Lane and faced her older brother. She gazed at him, then smiled softly. "I love you, Ty."

His shoulders sank.

"I'm sorry," Kate went on, "but now that the door is open..." She let the sentence hang and strolled away.

Lane looked at Tyler. "Your ex-fiancee must have hurt you very badly."

"Yes."

"I think I can understand her, though."

"What?"

"She wanted what being married to a McKay would give her, not what being married to you would give her." Lane shrugged, shoving her cold hands into her jacket pockets. "She was looking out for herself, her future, and she hurt you in the process." She looked at Tyler and saw anger. "I'm not defending her, believe me," she said quickly. "But if she thought material things were what made her happy and mostly made her feel worthy, then that's where her judgment started. Money and comfort were her highest priority."

Tyler thought about that, and realized she was right. Clarice had been her own worst enemy.

"Did this guy who betrayed you have rotten judgment?" Tyler asked softly.

"Oh, yes, he was out for himself from the start. He said he loved me and that he wanted the same things I did, when it was the farthest thing from the truth. He only wanted what he could get from me."

In her eyes, Tyler saw that the wound was still there. And fear. Was she afraid he'd do the same to her? "And what was that?"

"To hurt my family."

He lifted a brow and was about to ask her to elaborate when she asked, "Did you love her, Tyler?"

"I thought I did. But she was too easy to get over."

"And did you get over her?"

He strolled closer. "I wouldn't have kissed you if I hadn't."

"Ah, a man of honor."

"You're so d.a.m.n distrusting, you know that?"

"I'm working on that, like my two smiles a day."

Tyler drew her into his arms. "I saw a few of 'em a couple of hours ago." He pushed his fingers into her hair, dislodging the ribbon holding it back. She hurried to redo it, but he grasped her hands, bringing them to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles. "You're so beautiful, Lane. Stop hiding and trust me."

Her gaze searched his. He knew there was more to her past and he deserved to know.

"Tyler ... you don't know what you're asking."

"Is it that bad, your past?"

"No, yes ... it's hard to explain."

"Don't you know by now that I'm not going to hurt you? That I'm not him?"

She nodded, her throat tight. "I'm not her, either."

"Oh, that I know."

"Just keep remembering that," she said, and held him tightly. "Just keep remembering that."

Chapter 10.

Lane felt like Cinderella going to the ball. Her prince arrived wearing a black tuxedo and escorted her to his coach, a sleek black limousine waiting at the curb. The night was crisp and dark, the moon high in the winter sky. Twinkling lights still wrapped the lampposts and laced the trees, brightening the night like stars trickling down from a midnight heaven. A glorious night for a ball, she thought as they neared the limousine. The driver opened the door, gawking at her as she ducked inside.

Tyler noticed and sent the young man an annoyed look.

The chauffeur murmured, "Hey, I'm a guy. It's hard not to look, sir."

Tyler climbed in beside her and realized as they rode the distance to the country club that he was possessive. Not something he was used to, but he realized he was enjoying the new feeling. He took Lane's hand and immediately she laced her fingers with his.

"Thank you, Tyler. It's been a while since I've been out like this."

He only smiled, his gaze moving over the dark-green hooded cloak she wore. That she'd concealed her gown from him piqued his curiosity. She's changed, he thought. Before his eyes, she'd shed the dowdy appearance she'd used to keep him and everyone else back. He'd been with her almost every night since the sailboat race, and waking with her in his arms left him content and at the same time scared as h.e.l.l. The thought of not having her with him had outweighed the barriers he'd erected. He admitted that they'd crumbled pretty easily the minute he saw her, anyway, and he'd decided he was ready to give up not trusting women. Especially when he found a woman that trust came so hard for.

The limo drew to a halt, and Tyler slid out, turning back to offer his hand to Lane. He caught a glimpse of long, stockinged legs as she slid gracefully from the car. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close, and her gloved hands rested on his shoulders.

"Remember me sometime tonight."

"Oh, Tyler, I could never forget you." She stroked his cheek with a gloved finger.

"You say that now, but my friends can be pretty persuasive."

She rose up on her toes, kissing him. "So can you."

Smiling, he escorted her inside. The gathering was alive with color, and dancers were already filling the floor. A band played softly from the stage, and elegantly decorated tables rimmed the ballroom. Christmas was hinted at in the boughs of greenery, and the history of the town showed in liveried waiters serving champagne and canapes. It was beautiful and she smiled.

"Lane? Your cloak."

She looked at him, then loosened the braided frog before pus.h.i.+ng back the hood. Velvet pooled on her shoulders briefly before he pulled it from her shoulders. Her hair cascaded down her back in a long tumble of auburn curls.

"Wow." His gaze roamed the deep-green beaded gown that fit her like a second skin. His heart did a quick hop, and pride spread through him. She was definitely one of a kind.

She smiled, blus.h.i.+ng, something she did a lot around him. "I'm glad you like it."

"And I'd like to get you out of it right now."

She leaned into him, her hand on his chest. "Can you wait a few hours?" she whispered for his ears alone. "Because I'd rather be alone with you than with people staring at me."

"Then you shouldn't be so pretty."

She laughed lightly. "Boy, are you laying it on."

He scoffed, then nodded past her. "Look."

She turned and faced the crowd, and Lane's first thought was, I shouldn't have come back full blast. She should have eased into this, let people get used to seeing the dowdy Miss Douglas changing bit by bit before they met Elaina Honora Giovanni. Earlier this evening she'd sifted through her closet, the need to keep a low profile, gown-wise, warring with the strong desire to shed her self-imposed restrictions and be who she really was. This evening meant a lot to her, and it meant more to Tyler. These were his friends and colleagues, people from his town, and she wouldn't dare arrive in anything but her very best. Yet now, people were staring, and she felt as if she'd just opened Pandora's Box. All she'd worked for could turn to dust.

"Oh, no."

"Oh, yes. Come on, there's Kyle. Poor guy, he's dateless."

The minute they reached their table, people swarmed them. And before some other man could take her from him, Tyler pulled her out onto the dance floor.

"Oh, Tyler, I'm sorry."

"Why? Don't you think I like being with the most attractive, sought-after woman at the ball?"

"But I know you do a lot of business here."

"Not tonight."

"Well, you'd think I'd done some transformation like the frog prince or something." She still didn't like the attention.

"Lane, honey, the gown alone is a transformation."