Page 17 of Serve (Men of Hidden Creek Season 1, #5)

Chapter Fourteen

Tyler- Nice

“This is more than I ever dreamed of seeing. Is it possible to live in such a place year round and grow immune to the beauty?”

Chip’s reaction to the resort city of Nice in the south of France made cancelling the next tournament worth it. Tyler didn’t bother responding. His silence was agreement, and his hand on the small of Chip’s back his reassurance that his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

“Nissa la bella.” He murmured.

“What does that mean?” Chip asked.

“Nice the beautiful, and it is stunning. I love visiting, but I’d never live here. I’d hate to become accustomed to its beauty.” Dixie had rented a house outside of Nice for them, and after a couple of days resting, they’d finally ventured into the city.

They were in a tiny park on a cliff overlooking the port. The brightly colored homes were like glittering jewels, and the intense blue of the Mediterranean intensified the effect.

He’d pulled out of the next tournament, claiming fatigue. It wasn’t entirely untrue. Playing on clay courts was grueling, and his body needed to recuperate.

Plus, he needed to figure out what the hell Scott was up to.

“Enjoy this while you can. We’re off to Madrid in a few days, and Emm and Tina will both be joining us. Tina will be a mess, so I’m glad you will be here with her.” He said.

“Why will she be a mess?” Chip asked.

“Who isn’t a mess when visiting your in-laws?

I’m sure Tina will be glad to put the visit behind her.

There’s a reason they live in Texas; Emm is a huge star in Spain.

The press will be all over her, especially now that she’s my coach.

This is going to put more eyes on us.” Tyler grimaced.

He hoped Chip would get the hint without him having to spell it out.

He’d need him to lie low because of the press.

“She’s a huge star? Oh yeah, I keep forgetting she’s a former champion. Poor Tina.” Chip said.

“Why do you say that?” Tyler asked.

“Because, she probably hid from the press too.” He turned away, then sat on the bench behind them

“I’m truly sorry, Chip. This isn’t easy for either of us.”

They never spoke of this, the hiding and subterfuge.

Tyler understood the pressure Chip was feeling all too well, having lived with it for years.

He’d never experienced it at this intensity though, because he’d never felt like this for anyone before.

He’d thought of sending Chip home, away from the prying eyes that stalked them, but the thought of waking up alone in a strange hotel room kept him from doing it.

“Why don’t you tell them the truth? I mean, wouldn’t that put an end to it all? They can’t sniff out what they already know.” Chip said.

Tyler’s heart leapt up into his throat. The thought of his life laid out in front of the eyes of the world was terrifying. He sat next to Chip, looked around to see if anyone was around. Satisfied they were alone, he took Chip’s hand in his.

“It sounds easy, doesn’t it? I mean, telling the truth. It’s also scary. Have I ever told you about my first press conference?”

“No. Was it scary?” Chip squeezed Tyler’s hand and let it go.

“I’d made it to the quarterfinals of my first professional tournament.

I was being hailed as the next major American player, the next Agassi, or Roddick.

The pressure was huge. I could handle that.

Hell, it even went to my head. I remember bragging about my win that day.

Then I got asked a question I didn’t know how to answer.

” He fell silent, remembering the discomfort he felt then.

He rarely thought about it, but that day prepared him to become one of the most elusive players on tour when it came to the press.

“What did they ask?”

“What do your parents think of your success? Sounds like an easy question to answer, but it wasn’t.

My folks are difficult, to say the least. Not because they’re horrible people, but because I don’t know them very well.

I almost blurted out the truth. The problem is, if I’d done that, it would bring attention to the fact that we barely speak, that we want nothing to do with each other. ”

“I’ve wondered about your folks, but didn’t want to ask. I figured you’d bring them up when you wanted to.” Chip murmured. He turned and stared deeply into Tyler’s dark eyes.

“My parents do a whole lot of nothing. Like, there’s nothing bad about them, except they like going to parties a lot.

They live outside D.C. They shipped us kids off to boarding schools as soon as we were old enough.

I haven’t even seen them in three years.

They’ve never been to a single tournament, even the big ones like the U.S.

Open. That day I lied, and said they were really happy for me.

I had no idea how they felt about it. I think indifference was the truth.

I’m sure they’re glad to have me to brag about at a fundraiser or a fox hunt.

But truly care? No, but if they did, they never told me. ”

“I’m sorry. I sometimes feel sorry for myself, because I lost my parents. Being orphaned isn’t easy, but in a way what you deal with is worse. You are like an orphan with parents, if that’s a thing.” Chip said.

Tyler stood up and walked a few feet from the bench. He turned and smiled, loving Chip’s innocence, and his way of seeing the truth. His heart grew bigger with each word that came from his mouth.

“I refuse to lie about you. I don’t even think I can, but there’s so much on the line.

If it was simply a matter of money, I wouldn’t care.

It’s about the sport itself. I’m afraid to tell the truth, because I want to win.

It’s harder to win if everyone is focusing on your personal life.

I don’t know how the other guys will act in the locker room if they find out.

I know press conferences will also become a bigger demon than they already are.

Plus, I worry about you.” Tyler looked around to be sure no one was watching, plucked a bright yellow bloom from a mimosa tree, and handed it to Chip.

“Why are you worried about me? I’m a big boy. I can take it.” He said, smiling at the flower.

“You say that now, but you do understand you’d suddenly be on the cover of not just the sports magazines, but the supermarket tabloids as well.

You’d be on the evening news. Being hounded by reporters sounds glamorous until it actually happens.

You will lose every bit of privacy you now take for granted.

Being with me comes with a price. Maybe I should have been more upfront with you about it before you agreed. ”

Chip stood and took Tyler in his arms. Tyler looked again to see if anyone was around, then returned the hug. He noticed Chip scoping out their surroundings too. His heart sank when he realized his fear was rubbing off on him.

“No one will keep us apart.” Chip said.

Tyler wanted to believe him, he truly did.

“Does this place belong to a movie star?” Chip asked, mouth agape when they first pulled up to the house.

“As a matter of fact, it does. You can thank your Aunt Dixie the next time you speak to her. She’s the one who handled the rental. Oh, and I think it’s a French movie star, not a Hollywood one. It belongs to a fellow named Enzo. Cool name, don’t you think?”

The country house itself was like something out of a fairy tale.

The white, faded bricks shone in the sun, and you could see it from a mile away on the main road.

On the outside it was shabby chic, but the inside was completely renovated.

Instead of stuffy antiques, it was filled with comfortable old furniture, elegant despite being a bit tattered.

The gardens were in the same state, maintained but not overly so.

Its heated swimming pool was surrounded by old, crumbling statues covered in ivy.

The only odd feature was the tennis court.

It was a hard court instead of the usual clay, which was common in this part of Europe.

Tyler took one look at it and shook his head.

“Dixie didn’t check to see if the court was clay or not. Oh well, I don’t really feel like practicing anyway. Too much like work, and that’s the last thing on my mind.”

Tyler was true to his word, and he didn’t set foot on the courts until Chip grabbed a racket and insisted on a lesson. He wanted to be able to play him, to feel more connected, he said.

“Don’t think of it as work. Think of it as fun. You’re not playing to win with me, since you’d let me win anyway right?” He winked and laughed. Tyler shook his head and grabbed a racket out of his bag.

“I don’t play for fun, so this should be interesting.” He stripped his t-shirt off, enjoying the sun warming his skin. Chip, who couldn’t take his eyes off Tyler’s muscular core, fell over the tiny box hedges that surrounded the court. Tyler burst into hysterical laughter, and helped him up.

“As much as I want to play, I am going to do a couple of drills too. After that we can have a fun little match, okay?” Tyler placed his hand on Chip’s chest, grabbed the flimsy white material and pulled him close.

He kissed him hard, threatening to derail the practice time completely, until Chip pushed him back.

“Stop slacking, Tyler. Let’s get busy.”

After showing Chip a few drills he did on a regular basis, they played a set for fun. Chip took the lead early on. Tyler played a loose, easy game and for a minute or two forgot he was a top-twenty player who earned millions from his racket.

Soon, the overhead sun heated up the court, and Tyler’s lust. Chip’s muscular frame was drenched with sweat, and his white t-shirt clung to him like a transparent second skin.

Tyler felt his cock lengthen as his eyes feasted on Chip’s body.

He lifted his gaze to that chiseled face, and his heart quickened.

Tennis could wait.