The Maverick Meets His Match (Hearts of Wyoming Book 2)(46)

Kendall’s eyebrows arched. “Just when were you going to tell me?”

“Yes, Ty, when were you going to tell her?”

If eyes could spark fire, Ty’s would have burned a hole right through her. “Mandy, I’d like to have a few words with Kendall.”

Mandy arched her brows but didn’t move. She’d no reason to make this easy for him.

“Alone.”

She forced a smile. “Fine. And when you’re done, you can have a few words with me. Alone.”

Mandy stepped away, crossed her arms, and watched from a distance as her husband tried to explain things to a woman far more beautiful than she was.

Ty could tell by the resolute way Mandy walked to the car that he was in for it.

“So I’m a business project? I thought you were going to tell her we were married.”

Ty searched his mind for an explanation she would buy. He came up empty.

“What would I say? I’m married but not really married, so check back with me in six months?” Ty had also texted the same message to the other women in his life. As far as everyone knew, he was on a special project.

“So you intend to go back with her when this is over?”

He shrugged. “I left the door open. She’s nice enough.” Kendall didn’t ask much from a man other than good sex and a nice gift once in a while. Her preference was jewelry.

Mandy’s mouth had flatlined. “And that’s all you require.”

It had been. “I suppose.” Although being with Mandy, he’d come to enjoy matching wits with her—business-wise and otherwise. Too bad she was so much work. Kendall was no work at all.

“And will she…be around after six months?”

Kendall had not taken the news well. And he hadn’t offered any explanation for this change in his circumstances, because there was none he felt anyone would believe, not to mention it was complicated. “Doubtful.”

“Well, I’m sorry. I guess.”

“No need to be.” He’d never had a problem finding willing women.

But was that all he required? Someone who didn’t demand anything from him? Who just wanted sex and a gift now and again?

He glanced over at Mandy. She walked with her arms crossed and her body rigid. Could she be upset by Kendall? Could it matter to her? That was an intriguing thought.





*


“You’ve got to put some clothes on,” Mandy said as she turned toward the wall to avoid the sight of a naked Ty, towel drying his hair, fresh from the shower. The man apparently had no shame…and a very nice body.

They were ensconced in his hotel suite, the room with just one California king bed. She’d been so distraught over the prospect of staying again in her grandfather’s house, she’d failed to ask if they’d have to share a bed if they stayed in his suite. This was the price she paid for that mistake.

Of course, being a mere hotel room, there was no space for her collection of boots or most of her clothes. She’d have to keep her stuff at her mother’s and live out of a suitcase. Sounded as temporary as her marriage.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I can’t stay here. I can’t sleep in the same bed.”

The wall was decorated with a curlicue patterned paper, and she began to trace the design in her mind to distract her from the hammering of her heart.

“Your choice. But you void the terms of the will and then…well, what was the point of getting hitched?”

She let out a deep breath. That was a question she’d asked herself every day since. “Wrap a towel around yourself then.”

“No need. I’m all dried off. What’s the big deal? You’ve seen my junk before.” He had the nerve to chuckle.

Yes, she’d seen it that night in Abilene and had tried ever since to avoid seeing it. Because he had nice junk. Very nice junk.

“But I wasn’t sleeping next to it. In the same bed.” The wallpaper repeated the curlicue pattern every foot or so.

“I’m under the covers. You can turn around.”

She turned around and there he was, bare chested, a thin sheet barely covering the lower half of his body, with a wide, mischievous grin covering his face. Lordy. It was like finding a fantasy man in your bed—all muscle and sinew.

“I’d be fine if you decided to go to bed nude.” His grin turned cocky.

“Not happening.” Though she was wearing a baggy T-shirt, a memento from one of their rodeos, she still felt overexposed looking into those smoldering, coal-dark eyes of his.

She lifted the covers, careful not to disturb the sheet covering his body, and slid into bed. Tucking the blankets around her, she hoped to create some barrier between them. Unfortunately, there was no barrier that could prevent the pheromones wrapping around her. Her heart was beating fast, and she felt warm, very warm. So warm she wanted to throw the covers right off her.

This was such a bad idea. She couldn’t have chosen a better way to torture herself. She closed her eyes, felt a movement on the bed, and opened them only to stare right into his handsome face and those dark eyes. He’d rolled next to her, propping his head on his hand. Gratefully, the sheet still covered the essentials, but that left a lot of flesh and muscle still exposed. Rippling muscle. Tanned flesh. Heaven help her.