Wrong Number: OMYW Instalove Romance Read online

  Wrong Number

  Older Man Younger Woman Instalove Romance

  By Haley Travis

  Copyright 2020 Haley Travis. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or duplicated in any form whatsoever without express written permission of the author. This book is intended for sale to adults only. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or specific locations or details is completely coincidental, or intended fictitiously. All characters are over 18, no sex partners are related, all sex is consensual. This is fantasy. In the real world, everyone practices safe sex at all times. Right? Right.

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  ***

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One ~ Tyler

  Chapter Two ~ Tana

  Chapter Three ~ Tyler

  Chapter Four ~ Tana

  Chapter Five ~ Tyler

  Chapter Six ~ Tana

  Chapter Seven ~ Tyler

  Chapter Eight ~ Tana

  Chapter Nine ~ Tyler

  Chapter Ten ~ Tana

  Chapter Eleven ~ Tyler

  Chapter Twelve ~ Tana

  Chapter Thirteen ~ Tyler

  Chapter Fourteen ~ Tana

  Chapter Fifteen ~ Tyler

  Chapter Sixteen ~ Tana

  Epilogue One ~ Tyler

  Epilogue Two ~ Tana

  Other Stories and About the Author

  Text From Unknown Number:

  Megan, I hope this is your number. It’s Tana - new phone. This date is awful. Brad’s trying to get me drunk. He won’t keep his hand off my knee and he’s getting pushy. I don’t know what to do without making a scene. I’m at the little Italian place at Adelaide and Second. What should I do?

  CHAPTER ONE

  * Tyler *

  I almost didn’t open the text, assuming it was a scam, or a sales message. But the second I read it, my heart lurched and I was on my feet in an instant.

  “What is it?” Dale asked, his attention still half on the game. Greg looked over his beer mug at me with a raised eyebrow.

  I knew that both of them would have come with me in a flash if I’d asked, but didn’t even know if this message was real. And since I was kind of the size of one and a half men, three would be overkill.

  “Sorry guys, I have to go. I’ll call if I’m coming back.”

  Throwing some cash on the table to cover my beer, I yanked on my jacket, left my two best friends watching the baseball game, and took off down the street. I knew that little Italian place, it was only a few blocks away, and I could likely get there a lot faster than whoever was supposed to have gotten that message.

  I’ve always been the type to want to rescue a damsel in distress, but today’s modern woman didn’t always think too highly of that.

  I understand that women want to be independent, and that’s great. But if there is something heavy to carry, let the six foot four muscle-bound guy do it. It’s nothing personal, or gender- based. It’s just a size issue.

  And in this case, if some lowlife was making a woman in my neighborhood uncomfortable, you’d better believe I was about to use my size to end it right now.

  Mama’s Ristorante was ahead on the left. I’d been there many times, and would never have imagined that it was the sort of place where creeps preyed on innocent women.

  Storming into the traditional, old-fashioned restaurant, I quickly surveyed the room. Birthday party in the corner. Several older couples in front of the window. A trio of similar looking women that must have been sisters. And a couple half-hidden in the back corner.

  As I came closer, I saw a woman’s back as she cringed away from the streaky blond-haired man pulling his chair closer. “Finish your wine,” he said. “Then we could do some shots. What the hell, it’s Friday night, right?”

  I stood directly over her, and she jumped slightly as I blocked the light. Then she tipped her face up to me.

  She was an angel. There was music in her soft brown eyes. The most delicate, beautiful, sweet girl on the planet. And she looked absolutely terrified.

  “Hey buddy, do you mind? You’re crowding this nice girl.”

  Placing my hand on his shoulder and my foot against the side of his chair, I shoved him several feet away. Reaching for her hand, I tried to make my gruff voice softer. “Tana, would you like me to take you home and get you away from this guy?”

  She looked positively stunned, but placed her napkin on the table, already nodding as she took my hand, grabbing her purse. “Yes, thank you,” she whispered.

  “Hey, I–”

  My free hand flashed out and pressed just under the jerk’s throat. “If you speak to her again, if you come anywhere near her, I will end you.”

  His pale, slightly sweaty face blanched, as he nodded and stepped back.

  Wrapping an arm around Tana protectively, I led her toward the door, where the hostess was watching, looking shocked. “Hey, Betty. If he stiffs you on the bill, give me a call and I’ll cover it, okay?”

  “Sure, Tyler. Thanks.”

  I walked Tana out the door, down the street, and around the corner to a little park. I knew I was enjoying her curvy, soft body against mine too much, but she was shaking, and I honestly felt that she needed the support.

  Sitting us down on a bench, I gave her some space and stayed quiet for a moment so that she could collect herself. Her hands clenched at the skirt of her purple dress, as I stared at her long, wavy brown hair shifting slightly in the night breeze.

  “Just take a few deep breaths, Tana. You’re safe now. I’ll take you home, and you’ll never see him again, okay?”

  She nodded, her hand sneaking up to wipe away a tear. “I guess that’s what I get for going on a blind date,” she said sadly.

  “No.” Tana jumped at the tension in my voice, which I instantly tried to soften. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. Please. You tried something new, and that’s a good thing.”

  Her head cocked to the side, staring at me strangely. “Who are you, and how did you just show up to rescue me?”

  She seemed to relax when I smiled. “You texted a friend for help, but I got the message instead.”

  Her pretty pink lips fell open. “You...you came running because a stranger sent a text to the wrong number?”

  Holding out my hand, I shook hers gently. “Tyler Samuels. This is my neighborhood. I couldn’t just sit there knowing that someone nearby was freaked out.”

  Tana shook her head. “Wow. Thank you.”

  “Thank you,” I said gently. “The game was boring tonight. I’d much rather stare at the most gorgeous girl in the city.”

  Her eyes closed immediately, flinching away.

  “Note to self – do not give Tana compliments about how beautiful she is,” I chuckled.

  The wind picked up, ruffling her hair as I saw her shiver. Whipping off my jacket, I helped her into it, then wrapped my arm around her, studying her reaction carefully.

  “Is this okay?” I asked. “I just want to keep you warm, and people have always told me that I run a bit hot.”

  “Like a werewolf?” she giggled. “Yeah, um. This is nice. Thank you.”

  I shouldn’t have been so amused by how flustered she was. I didn’t want her to be uncomfortable, but it gave me that little spark of hope that she might like me.

  And damn, I’d never needed a woman to like me this badly in my life. Her eyes...did things to me. This wasn’t mere attraction, even though she was easily the prettiest girl I’d
ever seen. I felt drawn to her in the strangest way. Just the pressure of her shoulders against my arm was actually thrilling.

  Tana relaxed, tucking in against my shoulder. It wasn’t quite snuggling, but it was close enough to speed up my pulse.

  “Do you live around here?” I asked.

  “Yes. Just a few blocks north.”

  “Would you like me to get you a cab, or shall I walk you home?” Staring into those gentle, adorable eyes, I couldn’t stand the thought of letting her go so soon.

  “If you don’t mind me wearing your jacket, a walk would be nice.”

  I gently rubbed her shoulder and arm for a second before standing us up. “I really would like to sit and talk to you for a while, but I don’t like the thought of you catching a chill,” I said. “Lead the way.”

  We left the park and she turned east. Walking in comfortable silence for half a block, I finally had to pry a bit more information from her.

  “So, when you’re not trying new things like blind dates, what do you do?” I asked.

  Her little laugh was so airy. “Well, if you mean for a job, I’m a receptionist for an optometrist. But if you’re asking what I do for fun, I guess I like quiet things. Reading, cooking. Watching movies at home.”

  “Do you also like movies in the theater?” I asked.

  Tana’s nose crinkled as she shook her head. “Not really. I know the picture quality and the sound and everything is supposedly better, but I don’t like being surrounded by strangers.” She looked up at me with a quirky smile. “Plus, if I’m watching a movie with a friend, I like to pause it and talk about things as they come up.”

  I clutched my heart dramatically, shaking my head. “Oh no. You’re a movie talker?”

  “I try to do it reasonably,” she giggled. “I don’t like to talk over the movie, but sometimes you need to hit pause and tell your friend something before you forget. Like if you’ve been to the city where the movie is set, and you had lunch in that tiny restaurant, do you know what I mean?”

  “Sure, I could see that.”

  We paused at a stop light, and Tana asked, “So, what do you do for fun?”

  I stared into space for a moment, stroking my slight scruff of beard, muttering, “What is it we’re supposed to say to impress women? Oh, right.” I cleared my throat and used my real voice. “I am a lumberjack who also saves kittens every weekend.”

  Tana laughed so hard she nearly snorted. I took her arm as we crossed the street. “Come on, be serious,” she begged.

  “For fun, I watch movies in the theaters with no talking,” I said, raising my eyebrow at her. “And I also like going out to see bands once in a while, and my artsy friends are always having openings and parties. Having a beer with my friends watching baseball. I go rock climbing once in a while.”

  “Is that how you got those shoulders?” she asked, then she clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, was that rude?”

  Placing my hands on my hips, I made my shoulders as wide as possible. “Don’t worry, little lady, I’m here to help you with all of your grocery-carrying needs.”

  Every time she laughed at something I said, I desperately wanted to kiss her. I’d never had this sort of reaction to a woman before, and it was almost freaking me out a bit.

  “I also go to the gym,” I said, “And for a day job, I install high-end kitchen and bathroom cabinetry in all of the luxury condo buildings that are going up downtown.”

  “Oh,” she said, “That sounds interesting.”

  For the first time in my life, I didn’t think that a woman was lying to me when she reacted politely to my career.

  “It’s not the most glamorous job in the world,” I said, “but it’s steady, the money is great, and I’m darn good at it.”

  Tana smiled, turning us north. “No matter what sort of job anyone has, as long as they like most of it, and work hard at improving what they can, it’s a good job.”

  I tried to picture her at a reception desk at her workplace, wearing glasses, with her hair tied up. Instantly I was struck with the sexy librarian vibe, and had to give my head a shake.

  Tana was unbelievably beautiful, and distractingly sexy, but it was her light sweetness that made it hard for me to even think straight. She was obviously a bit timid, and had already had a rough night. Somehow I would have to behave myself until I got her home safely, but still find a way to suggest going out with her as soon as humanly possible.

  I may have met this girl through a random wrong number, but she was pushing all of the right buttons.

  CHAPTER TWO

  * Tana *

  My head was absolutely spinning from the strangest night ever.

  It had taken all of my courage to go on a blind date, and Brad had been my worst nightmare.

  I’ve always been terrified to make a scene, but didn’t know what to do. When Tyler swept in to hustle me away, I had been incredibly relieved, but then nervous all over again. He was just another guy, who was going to be overbearing and pushy.

  Except…he wasn’t. Not in the slightest.

  He was light, charming, and adorably funny. He wasn’t trying to impress me. It honestly seemed like he simply wanted to make me comfortable. I hadn’t even realized it was possible to be comfortable around men. Likely because I didn’t grow up with many around.

  Every time Tyler touched me, it was casual. Friendly. He was either trying to comfort me, or simply guide me as we turned a corner. Whenever his hand touched my shoulder, or my elbow, I felt strange little pinprick tingles straight through me. I’d honestly never felt this...much around a guy. It was exhilarating.

  It felt completely illogical to jump from one guy to the next in a matter of minutes, but Brad had felt wrong from the first second so he hardly counted. And the moment I looked at Tyler, I felt drawn to him. His dark hair and slight scuff of beard might have made his huge frame seem intimidating if he didn’t smile so sweetly.

  “Thank you for walking me home,” I said softly, looking up into his sexy, deep blue eyes. “I’m sorry if I still seem a little rattled from earlier.”

  “Don’t you dare apologize about that,” he said, shaking his head. “You should never have been treated that way, and I absolutely can’t stand that such a thing happened to you.”

  I shrugged. “Apparently every girl goes on a few bad dates, or so I’ve heard,” I said.

  We stopped at a crosswalk, and Tyler turned to me, reaching out to hold his huge palm against my cheek. “Tana, I don’t want anything like that ever happening to you. Ever.”

  He leaned toward me a little, my breath freezing in my throat as I realized he was about to kiss me. But he pulled away, releasing my cheek as the light turned, and he guided me across the street.

  As we chatted about the neighborhood, I found myself feeling strangely disappointed that he hadn’t kissed me. It wasn’t until I thought the moment was upon me that I realized how badly I wanted it to happen.

  We turned another corner, and I pointed to the red brick building ahead. “That’s my apartment,” I said. As we walked up the front path, I realized I didn’t want him to leave.

  “Tana, are you all right ? You still look upset.”

  I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

  His hand rubbed the back of my shoulder. “It’s okay if you’re not fine. You had a hell of a scare earlier. I know I probably didn’t help by rushing in and raising my voice.”

  Smiling up at him, I noticed the few tiny sun lines around his eyes and one small freckle in the hairline closest to his right eye.

  “You were amazing,” I said. “I still can’t believe that you rushed to save somebody you didn’t even know.”

  Tyler took my hands in his very seriously, as we stood in front of my lobby doorway. “Tana, you know me now. At least a little. I already have your number. Is it okay if I call you?”

  “Um, sure. Why?” I blurted.

  His smile did strange things to the center of my stomach. “I’d like to take
you out to dinner tomorrow night,” he said softly. “Get to know you better. I have a really good feeling about you, and I think that we really click.”

  “Oh. Wow.”

  I probably sounded like an idiot, but Tyler didn’t seem to mind at all. “Yes,” he said, swinging our hands between us. “You’re absolutely beautiful, truly sweet, and I know I’m going to be thinking about you all night.” His little wink was corny and adorable at the same time.

  My feet stepped closer, my body wanting to be in his space. Near his warmth.

  “May I hug you?” he asked.

  I’ve never had anyone ask permission to hug me before, but I could see how he would assume I would be jumpy after the way my evening started.