“He’s almost here, everyone,” she said, so she went to the front door to unlock it and waited there.

When they walked in, Eddie and Victor headed into the room while she swooped Tyler up in a big, warm kiss.

“Congratulations on the game,” she said.

“Thanks.” He looked around. “Where is everyone?”

She shrugged. “It’s a work night. We were full earlier, but I guess everybody had to get home. It was kind of dead after the game. I’ve got some food in the pool room, though.”

“Oh. Okay.”

She took his hand and led him into the room, then stepped back.

His eyes widened when he walked in and everyone yelled surprise and happy birthday.

He turned to her and she grinned.

“You knew it was my birthday.”

“Of course.”

Then he was swallowed up by well wishes, hugs, and pats on the back, and she didn’t see him again for a while. But it was his celebration, so she let him enjoy it. She took care of his friends and her family, making sure everyone was well fed and had drinks while Tyler was surrounded the entire night by people who cared about him.

She had the sports entertainment station on so the team members could see replays of the game, and of course everyone rehashed the night’s events. Her dad, Gavin, and Mick sat with the team and talked hockey, while Jenna, Liz, Tara, and Jenna’s mom hung out with the wives and girlfriends of the players.

Ty finally broke away and put his arm around her.

“I didn’t even know you realized it was my birthday.”

“Did you even know it was your birthday?” she asked.

He laughed. “It wasn’t high on my list of things to deal with today, but yeah, I knew. I just wasn’t going to make a big deal about it.”

“Well, I was.”

He brushed his lips across hers. “Thank you for this.”

She smiled up at him. “You’re welcome.”

It was after two before everyone started to leave. Tara and Mick and Liz and Gavin stayed to help with cleanup, but she pushed them all out the door after that, telling them she’d lock up. Her parents had gone home earlier, and the players would have stayed all night to party, but they all looked wiped out and had another game the day after tomorrow, so they needed to get at least a little rest.

She locked the doors, pulled the shades, and turned to Ty. “Good birthday?”

“Almost a perfect birthday.”

She cocked a brow. “Almost?”

“Yeah.” He took her hand in his and pulled her into the game room. “I haven’t gotten my gift yet.”

Her lips curled. “Oh, yeah? And what did you have in mind?”

He took one of the tablecloths and spread it out over the pool table. “I have this fantasy…”

Her belly tumbled. “Oh, really.”

He ran his fingers over the edge of the table. “Ever done it here?”

“Nope.”

“Good.”

“And I haven’t given you your gift yet.” She kicked off her shoes, then unbuttoned her jeans, easing the zipper down.

Ty moved toward her, hunger in his eyes.

“Shouldn’t you be home in bed, resting up for the next game?”

“I’d rather have inspiration for the next game.” He picked her up and set her on the table, then pulled off her jeans, leaving her in her top and panties. His eyes widened at the tiny black scrap of silk she wore.

“These are nice.”

“I bought them just for your birthday.”

He smoothed his hands down her legs and back up, then spread her legs and stepped between them, sliding his hands under her butt and drawing her close enough she could feel the ridge of his erection.

“I like them. Thank you. They’re very inspiring.”

She reached between them to rub his shaft. His lips parted and she listened to his breath catch as she continued to caress him.

“I like you touching me. It makes me hard, makes my c**k swell.”

“I like the way you talk to me. It makes my pu**y wet.”

He pulled off her shirt, arching his brow at the bra that matched her panties. Black, it pushed her br**sts together and made them swell over the cups of the bra.

“Very inspiring. I’ll dream about this tonight.” He swept his hand across her breasts, down her belly, then leaned over to press a kiss to each mound.

He undid the clasp of her bra, drawing it down her arms and casting it on a nearby chair. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, watching them harden.

“I don’t need a whole lot of foreplay tonight, Tyler. I just need you inside me. Now.”

He drew his shirt off, then undid his pants, dropping them to the floor along with his boxer briefs. His c**k popped up and she licked her lips, already imagining him f**king her on the pool table.

“Hurry,” she said.

He grabbed a condom and tossed it onto the pool table, then climbed on and laid on top of her, rubbing his body against hers. She loved the sensation of his skin against hers, his warm body covering hers. She wrapped her legs around him, trapping his c**k against her pu**y so she could slide against it.

He rolled her over so she was on top of him, and she sat up, rocked her pu**y against his length.

“God, you’re wet, babe,” he said, making her quiver.

He pulled her forward and took one of her ni**les into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue before capturing it with his teeth. She hissed at the pleasurable pain that always rocketed pleasure right to her core. She dug her nails into his shoulders and pushed her breast deeper into his mouth, craving more.

He grasped her h*ps and moved her back and forth across his cock, sending shards of sensation across her sensitized nerve endings. Oh, she wanted to come. She planted her feet against the edge of the pool table and rode his shaft with her clit, so close to the edge she bit her lip, lifting up so she could see his face as she catapulted over the edge.

He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her when she came, absorbing her cries with his lips and tongue while waves of pleasure rocked her senseless. She heard him tear the condom package and she moved away only long enough for him to sheath himself, then she climbed onto his c**k and buried it inside her, still convulsing from the aftereffects of her orgasm.

She held still, feeling him thicken while he played with her nipples. It was always like this when he entered her—like the very first time—an amazing discovery of just how good they were together. He held on to her while she rose up, then down again, rolling her body over his in a slow, careful tease that made his jaw clench.

In this position, she had all the control, and that he let her have it said so much about what kind of man he was. She swept her hand across his jaw, his bottom lip. He grabbed her finger and took it into his mouth, sucking it, and she dropped down on his cock, grinding against his balls until he groaned.

“You’re killing me, Jenna.”

“I know.”

He lifted her, then thrust up into her, easing down before powering into her again.

And when he rolled her over onto her back, looming over her to take possession, she welcomed him, needing him to do exactly what it would take to make her fly. He spread her legs and levered his h*ps against hers, their bodies as one. He buried his c**k so deep she cried out, coming in a single burst that she felt all the way to her toes. She went rigid, then shuddered.

“Fuck,” he said, digging his fingers into her. He groaned when he came with her, pulling her up to put his lips on hers in a kiss so filled with passion it left her breathless.

They fell together and Ty rolled to his side, taking her with him, stroking her back and her hair.

Her eyelids felt heavy and if they weren’t laying on the pool table in her bar she could fall asleep just like this.

“Damn,” he said. “This is an uncomfortable bed.”

She laughed, and they climbed off, got dressed, and drove to her place, where they undressed again and got into bed.

Jenna loved the possessive way Ty always drew her against him, wrapping his arms around her as they slept.

“Thank you for the best birthday I’ve ever had,” he said as he kissed her.

She smiled and wriggled against him. “You’re welcome.”

The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, the words she’d never said to a man before. But she couldn’t say them, because he hadn’t said them to her and she didn’t know how he felt.

Coward.

Yeah, she sure was.

But she still wasn’t sure if what she felt was real, or just a moment of passion.

So she let them go unsaid, and drifted off to sleep.

TWENTY-FIVE

TY HAD THE PLAN ALL WORKED OUT. AFTER TODAY’S afternoon game—which they’d won, thankfully—he told Jenna he had a surprise for her. He loved the excitement he’d heard in her voice.

He hoped she was as excited as he was about this. It would be a new beginning for both of them. He was nervous as hell, had never contemplated doing anything like this with any woman, but Jenna wasn’t just any woman.

She was the woman. He knew it, he felt it, and he’d never been more sure about anything in his life. She was worth the risk.

She’d come to his game, and knowing she was there had meant everything to him. After all, this was the woman who’d hated sports and had vowed to never get involved with a guy who played them. If she could take the risk and change her way of thinking, then so could he.

He swallowed past the nervous lump in his throat and hoped to God he didn’t screw this up.

He gave her the address of the place. He was parked out front, waiting for her when she drove up. She got out, wearing a dress, tights, and those sexy black boots with the spiky heels that never failed to make his dick hard. She buttoned her coat and ran toward him to give him a kiss.

“What is this surprise?” she asked, looking at the building.

“You’ll see.” He’d gotten the code from the real estate manager so he could show it to Jenna without the guy bugging him while he talked to her.

He unlocked the keypad and opened the door, turning on the lights and letting her in.

“It used to be a combination bar/restaurant,” he explained as she walked in. “It closed about six months ago. It fits your parameters for space and location.”

She gave him a quizzical look. “I don’t understand.”

“You could rip out the current bar here,” he said, leading her inside. “Put the stage you talked about in the center here. There’s already a great kitchen. Come on, I’ll show you.”

She grabbed his wrist. “Wait. What are you talking about?”

“Your music club.”

“What music club?”

“The one you want to open. The second Riley’s. If you don’t like this one, I’ve got two others lined up to show you.”

“You’ve got…You went looking for locations for a club?”

He grinned and shoved his hands in his coat pocket. “Yeah. Isn’t this space great? I have to admit this one’s my favorite, but the others aren’t bad. Wait till you see the kitchen. And there’s plenty of electrical.”

Her smile died. “No.”

“What?”

“No.”

“You don’t like this place? That’s okay. We can go look at the others.”

“I mean no. To all of it.”

His stomach tightened. “Why?”

“I don’t want any of this, Ty. If I’d wanted a club, I’d go looking for locations on my own.”

Irritation spiked. “Okay. You don’t want my help.”

“I don’t want to do this at all. Quit pushing me.”

“Right. Because God forbid you should move forward with your life.”

She lifted her chin. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I was trying to help, to show you some great places so you could take that step forward, take a shot at having what you really wanted.”

“That’s a lot of presumption on your part.”

“Is it? We’ve talked about this for months. You know this is what you really want.”

“If it’s what I really want, and that’s a big if, I’ll do it on my own. I don’t need you to help me. I don’t need you for any of this.”

He’d been wrong. About her, about everything. All this time he’d spent trying to help Jenna, trying to coax her into finding her own happiness, and she was throwing it back in his face. All the plans he’d made, assuming…

That’s what he got for assuming she felt the same way he did.

“You know what, Jenna? You’re right. You don’t need me. You don’t need anyone. You never did.”

She lifted her chin. “You’re right. I don’t need you or anyone else trying to push me into something I’m not ready for. I’m tired of everyone nudging me, trying to force me into this. Just stop it. I like my life the way it is, so leave it alone.”

Tears glistened in her eyes and the fear was so evident there he wanted to hold her, but he was angrier at her than he was sorry for her.

“That is such bullshit. You hate your life the way it is, you hate being stuck behind that bar, but you’re too damned afraid to do anything to change it. You were afraid to go out with me, afraid to fall in love with me. Well you know what? I was afraid, too. You’ve met my parents. You know that story and you know how their marriage failed. The last goddamn thing I ever wanted was to fall in love. But you know what? I did anyway. I fell in love with you.”

Her eyes widened, but he refused to acknowledge it. “And you know what happens when you fall in love with someone? You want to help that person. You want that person to grow. You want what’s best for them.