Page 14

TYLER

I BREATHED Asigh of relief. When I happened to find her at Starbucks this morning, I felt torn between wanting to strangle her for walking out on me versus wanting to wrap her in my arms and beg her to come back to bed with me. Never had a woman caused such conflicting emotions in me before.

Satisfied with this morning’s turn of events, I sent off a couple of quick texts. While I waited for a response, I watched Jen attempt to finish her meager breakfast. I hid my smile behind my hand as I watched her try to mash together enough crumbs of her broken muffin into a size worthy of being picked up and eaten. I liked that I made her a bit nervous; it meant she wasn’t as unaffected by me as she would have me believe. When she sipped her coffee, her nose wrinkled up in displeasure. I’m sure it had turned completely cold by now. I wondered if she had any idea how expressive her face was.

“I’ll be right back,” I announced. I went back to the counter and placed an order for some more food. I had a feeling Jen was still processing our conversation and could use a moment alone. I mentally patted myself on the back for forcing her to admit that she was using the images and lies of others to validate her behavior toward me. It was just a hunch, but it seemed as if she was looking for an excuse to not trust me. Something was holding this woman locked behind a hands-off wall.

I carried the order back to the table. She was just putting her phone away. “My mom,” she explained. “She just wanted to let me know they checked out of the hotel and were on their way back home.”

I sat back down and passed her the new cup of coffee and a new muffin. I got my first real smile from her as she accepted the food. “I didn’t get to spend much time with them, but they seemed nice. It was good they could make it to the wedding, but it’s a shame they couldn’t stay longer and spend more time with you.”

She shrugged like it was nothing, but not before I saw a grimace cross her face. “Kayla’s and my families have been close ever since we met. When Kayla’s folks died, mine did their best to fill in wherever they could. Kayla has always been more like a sister than just a friend, so it was a natural fit. That’s why my parents sat next to where hers would have if they were still alive. But they had things to do back at home and needed to return today.”

I wondered why there was a slight edge to her voice, but I took the hint. I smiled. “I’m glad Kayla has you. She’s pretty special.”

“She is.” She took the lid off of her coffee and sniffed it as if she wasn’t sure what to expect. She glanced quickly at me before taking a small sip. “You got my favorite! How did you know?” She took a longer sip, then expelled a long sigh as she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

I stared as her tongue darted out and licked the remnants of the whipped cream on her lips. Did she have no idea of the picture she just presented? I squirmed in my seat. I’d always found Jen beautiful, but after last night, I knew that her gestures and movements would be familiar to me in a whole new way.

“I’m just observant, I suppose.” I took a long look at her. “About a lot of things.”

“I noticed.” Her voice was soft, and I suspected she knew I was referring to more than just her coffee preferences.

My cell chimed. A quick glance told me it was the message I’d been waiting on. I began to clean up our trash. “I think the storm has blown over. Let’s go have some fun.” I held my hand out to her. She hesitated while she stared at my hand. I caught my breath, afraid she had changed her mind.

She took a deep breath and the crinkles across her forehead and around her eyes smoothed. Apparently, not just the storm outside had passed. She placed her hand in mine and smiled. “Let’s go.”

We walked the couple blocks to where I’d left my car. I continued to hold her hand, perhaps to reassure her or maybe to make sure she didn’t run off, but I didn’t let go until we neared my car. I guided her to my pride and joy with gentle pressure on her back. I saw her looking at the bright cherry red finish as I unlocked the door and opened it for her. She smirked as she ran a hand along the roofline.

“What?”

“This expensive piece of metal on four wheels—it’s so low to the ground. I feel like my butt is just inches off the ground. I felt like I was falling when I tried to get into this thing last night.”

I couldn’t help myself. I laughed out loud. Most girls I knew were impressed by my Corvette. Leave it to Jen to say something uncomplimentary about it. “This ‘piece of metal’? I’ll have you know the ‘vette Stingray is a classic. And I hate to remind you, but you did fall into it last night, ass backward, I might add. But this car never looked sexier than it did with your legs sticking out the door and up in the air.”

That was no lie. With her dress hiked up above her knees and her heels making her legs look even longer, I had been a man on the edge the entire drive to her apartment. It was an image that would always be stuck in my head.

The noises she emitted from her throat sounded like she was choking on something. “That’s not very gentlemanly of you to point that out, much less remind me,” she scolded. I loved how her face turned pink all the way to her ears.

“Don’t worry. Most people scored you a ten on the fall, but only a five on the landing.” I was still chuckling.

“What? People saw that?” she squeaked.

I squatted on the curb in front of her door and pulled her hands away from her face. “I’m kidding, Jen. I got you tucked in before anyone could see anything. And in fairness, you had an extra three or four inches to deal with because of your shoes.” I reached into my glove box and pulled out a bottle of Tylenol. I shook out a couple pills and handed them to her. “Here. There’s a new bottle of water in the console. We’re going to be doing some walking today, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

She smiled sheepishly but followed my directions. “Thank you. Last night was an adventure in humiliation. I’m sorry you saw me that way.”

“I’m not,” I countered. “You were finally relaxed around me. You weren’t spoiling for an argument.”

“I’m still embarrassed,” she admitted.

I tapped her on the nose. “Don’t be. In fact, you’re pretty cute when you’re embarrassed.”

“Only then?” she flirted.

I was too mesmerized by her sparkling blue eyes to tease her back. “No. You’re always a beautiful woman, Jennifer Mitchell. No matter what you do.” Her mouth dropped open. I longed to close it for her with my lips, but I settled for kissing her forehead. I needed to restore the informal truce and playful banter we had established.

She gracefully lowered herself into the car and tucked her legs in. “How’d I do this time, Doc?”