Awakening Beauty Part 13

He stared at her for a long moment. "I have to go." He stood, his desire for her obvious. His hands at his sides, his gaze fixed on the floor. She could hear him breathing slowly.

"Tyler."

"Shh. Don't say anything."

He clenched his hands into fists, struggling between need and common sense. Neither of them was prepared for a night in bed.

Lane would have thought he'd play the cards he held, he held a full house. But he didn't, just stood over her, motionless and breathing hard. She rose, covering herself, then swinging her legs off the sofa.

"I want more from you, Lane," he said softly, "and not just in bed."

For how long? she wondered. When he learned that she'd been lying to him, he'd turn away, she was sure of it. "I can't give you that."

He met her gaze, his blue eyes probing. "I don't know what you're hiding, but it won't make a difference."

Her breath caught for a second. "I'm not hiding anything."

"Liar."

Her eyes flew wide. "How dare you say that!"

"Don't get all indignant. It's true or you'd tell me more about yourself. Tell me who called tonight and upset you, why you spoke in Italian." He shifted, his fingers unfurling. "I could find out on my own, anyway." He saw the panic skate across her features and knew he was right. "But I won't. Because I want you to trust me enough to confide in me."

Lane didn't say anything, because a question or denial would only prove his point. She wasn't ready to trust him that much. Playing with her body was one thing; gambling with her life and privacy was quite another.

"I told you I was patient, Lane," he said, then turned and walked to the hall. She didn't go after him, wisely staying where she was. His footsteps sounded on the staircase, and she heard the door shut softly.

Lane flopped back onto the sofa. Was she ready to trust him? What would his reaction be when he learned she'd lied to him about everything? Having an affair with Tyler McKay sounded great, but she didn't doubt that would be the extent of it. Because though she'd been wounded by Dan Jacobs's betrayal, someone had hurt Tyler. And neither of them was willing to jump into a fire again.

The next morning, Lane managed to drag herself down to the store long enough to clean it, but her thoughts weren't on the incredible profit she'd made last night, but on Tyler and how he'd made her feel, how he'd touched her so intimately.

And how he knew she wasn't telling the truth. She didn't think she could face him without choking on embarra.s.sment after what they'd done. After what he'd done to her. But when she saw the townspeople heading toward the waterfront, she remembered the race. Something inside her egged her on, pushing her to where she was now, staring into her closet. Automatically she reached for the bulky sweaters and skirts, pulling them out... Then she shoved them back, and her hand skimmed to the rear of the closet, to the clothing she'd once designed for a large department-store chain and never got the chance to see worn by other people. Impulse won out over her need to hide.

She couldn't keep doing this, smothering who she was. It was slowly eating at her insides, making her an unlikable person until Tyler came along. She didn't want to keep being secretive, and though she knew the consequences, she'd take baby steps. Lane studied the clothes, seeking cla.s.sically conservative, instead of startling. She wasn't ready to show the real Elaina yet. A moment later, she grabbed navy slacks, a striped boat-neck shirt and a canvas windbreaker off the rod.

Now, if she could get to the pier on time to see the start of the regatta...

Tyler glared at Kyle. "I'm trying to feel sympathetic."

"Try harder. I didn't intend to get thrown off the horse, you know."

Kyle had been in the charity rodeo this morning riding a bronco. He'd been tossed off and landed on his arm, which was now in a cast.

"I know this blows our chances in the race."

Tyler rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not the race, it's the tradition. Without your help, I'm short an experienced deckhand."

"Tyler," Kate said, "I'll sail with you."

Tyler looked at his little sister and smiled tenderly. "Thanks, peanut, but I know how you feel about it. I don't want you scared if it gets hairy out there." Besides, she had a family to think about, and this race was dangerous sometimes.

"Look who I found," a voice called.

Tyler turned, his gaze snapping from his mother to the woman walking beside her. It took a second for recognition to register, and his gaze slid over Lane's body before meeting her gaze. He turned from his siblings and walked toward her. His mother continued on past him to her other children as Tyler stopped, his gaze moving over the slacks that hugged Lane's curves and matched the canvas windbreaker.

"I don't know if I like seeing you dressed like that."

Lane flushed. "How come?"

"Because every man around is going to see what I knew was already there."

"Oh, really?" She felt extraordinarily flattered.

"Yeah, really. Unless they're blind and numb." Her hair was drawn into a ponytail, and he realized it was longer than he'd first thought. And that ponytail made her look fresh and young, and d.a.m.n s.e.xy. He held her gaze and her hands, leaning forward to brush his mouth over hers. "I thought of you all night," he said.

"You must really be tired, then."

"Nah. Went to sleep with dreams of you shivering in my arms like you did last night."

Heat seeped up her face from her throat. "Tyler, hush. Your family is close enough to hear you." They weren't, but Lane didn't think she could take much more of his pillow talk before she made a fool of herself.

He leaned over, his mouth near her ear. "I look at you and see you like I did then. Damp and incredibly hot. Panting."

Lane felt her heart skip a couple of beats and settle with a slow, hard thud. "Be careful or the whole town's going to know how you feel."

Tyler shifted, his groin responding to her.

She smiled. A smile so s.e.xy and mischievous Tyler felt he'd been let deeper inside her closed world. "I'm glad you came." He glanced back at his brother, then looked at her again. "It might be for nothing, though."

"What's wrong?"

"Kyle broke his arm in the rodeo this morning."

"That's terrible, but why is it a problem for you?"

"He was my partner. I'm short help. Reid's out of town. Kate's afraid of water, though she wouldn't admit to how scared she really is. Mom is ... well, too old. It's strenuous."

He turned, wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her to the family. Tyler pulled her down beside him on a wooden trunk on the docks. At their back, the sailboat rocked in the water. The other landings were peppered with entrants readying their crafts.

"How about asking Jace Ashbury?" his mother said.

Tyler shook his head and pointed down two piers to one of his oldest friends. "He's racing this year, too. Ah, well," he said, shrugging and standing. "Might as well shut it down and find a seat in the crowd."

"I'm really sorry, Ty." Kyle apologized again.

"No sweat, it's just a race." Despite his disappointment, Tyler wasn't going to make Kyle feel any worse than he was. Tyler stood up, released Lane and headed to the boat, walking up the plank and dropping onto the deck.

"You really want to do this, don't you," Lane called from the dock.

"It's tradition. A McKay has never missed a race in over a hundred years." Tyler started lashing the sails he'd loosened an hour ago.

Lane felt badly for him. He was trying to hide his disappointment. She looked around in indecision. Who was she to let a tradition die?

"I can sail."

Tyler looked at her, then smiled gently. "It's okay, Lane. It's just a race."

She stepped onto the gangplank, standing halfway between the dock and the boat. "McKay, do you want to sail in this race or not?"

"Yes, but I can't take just anyone as a deckhand. Especially someone who doesn't know how to sail."

"But I do know, Captain." Lane pointed to parts of the boat and named them, then to destroy the rest of his doubt, told him which sails she'd work and that the cross wind changed on the river when they met the bridge, so he should be ready for it.

Tyler grinned.

"I think she's serious, Ty," Kyle said from the dock. "I'd take the offer."

Tyler came to the rail, staring into her whiskey-brown eyes. "Why?"

"Because it means so much to you."

Something opened inside him, and he suspected it was the piece of his heart he'd held closed for so long. He smiled and inclined his head for her to come aboard. As she stepped onto the deck, he looked down at her. "Thank you, darlin'." He brushed back a lock of hair that had come loose from the ponytail, watching his moves before meeting her gaze. "Are you ready, Mate?"

"Aye, aye, Captain."

He kissed her quickly, then headed to the bow.

The signal to line up on the water came and they sailed off. Lane's heart pounded, a little sliver of fear working into her. It had been a while since she'd sailed and she didn't want to let Tyler down.

Tyler manned the wheel, the boat engine puttering and taking them to the start line. "You'll have to move fast," he called.

She stood up, her hand on the boom. "Trust me, Tyler. We can do this," she said, and he nodded, his expression serious. She readied herself, and as they approached the line, he cut the engine. The boat rocked as they waited, positioned.

The start gun fired. Tyler unfurled the main sail. The wind, cold and crisp, caught, billowing the bright blue sail, and the boat slid over the water like a razor, gaining speed. Tyler shouted commands and she obeyed. He knew the river and they swept between other boats, neck and neck. It was a fast, hour-long race, the halfway point at the bridge, which was open to accommodate the tall masts. The turnaround just past the bridge would be a telling moment, one that revealed the most likely winner.

Tyler had one of the largest boats, and as she braced her feet and leaned with the heel of the boat, Lane thought he should get a prize for doing this with only the two of them. It was exciting, maddening, and Lane hadn't had this much fun in a long time. They had to make the turnaround quickly, and when she rushed to pull in one sail and let go of another, the boat listed sharply.

"Lane!" Tyler called. "For G.o.d's sake, hold on!" She was leaning out over the water, feet braced, rope wrapped in her fists and giving the boat a deep tilt that could put her in the brink.

"I got it!" she yelled. "Just steer!"

He did, his gaze flicking from the open water and her.

"Hey, McKay!" she shouted as the sailboat finished the curve and started to come upright. "Want to win this race?"

Tyler glanced behind, then to her, grinning. "I'll be d.a.m.ned. Come on, baby, let's show them."

They worked in tandem, as if they'd done this a thousand times together. Lane was fast, ducking booms and handling the sheets, stretching her muscles to the limit. The crowd roared, the sound only a growling whisper over the snapping sails and the rush of water.

Another boat pulled alongside them, barely half a length behind. Tyler glanced for a second, then looked at Lane. It was his friend, Jace. Lane took in the sail positions and wind direction for a split second, then pulled the sheet for the main sail. They shot out in front and crossed the finish line a whole length ahead.

The spectators shrieked.

Lane quickly locked down the sail.

Tyler was there, grabbing her in a hard embrace. "We did it! You were magnificent!"

His excitement spilled into her and she leaned back, meeting his gaze. Her smile was bright. "Nothing like breaking a bad streak, huh?"

"Thanks, Lane." He kissed her hard, and when he finally drew back, she was breathless, the chill leaving her skin.

"You sailed, too, you know."

"Yeah, but that last minute there, I thought Jace would take us."

Jace sailed past, saluting them, and Tyler waved, grinning hugely. He looked down at Lane, ridiculously pleased she'd helped him.

"It's a new day, you know."

"Yes," she said warily. Ask me tomorrow, she'd said last night.

"Come to the Winter Ball with me."

She stared up at him and couldn't disappoint him. He was so happy right now, and she wanted so much to shed the skin she'd been hiding in for so long and be who she really was. Tyler had peeled away layers and liked what he saw, and that gave Lane the confidence she needed.

"Yes, I'll go with you."

He grinned, a sappy smile. "Good. It's formal, remember."

"I think I can manage to scrounge up something suitable."

He pressed his forehead to hers. "Thanks, baby. What do you say we dock this thing and enjoy our new celebrity status."

Lane paled and her smile disintegrated. She looked down at the dock before he'd notice. Oh, no. She'd forgotten that the winner would be in the papers.

Front page. Statewide.

Wonderful. And when he let her go to secure the craft, she looked toward the pier. The press was already running to the end of the docks to the slip.

How was she supposed to hide from that without hurting Tyler?