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TYLER

JEN WAS SObeautiful standing across from me in the sand, her hair shimmering in the starlight as it flowed around her shoulders. Her eyes beamed as she moved toward me, laughing as the currents lapped at her feet. My face almost hurt from smiling so big. I held my hand out to her, eager to reach her and pull her into my arms so I could kiss her breathless. Just as our fingertips touched, her face froze in fear. She was jerked backward as if a string attached to her back gave a sudden, sharp tug. I shouted her name, but the sound was lost in the crashing waves. A dark figure swept her up in his arms and walked toward the water. Jen’s terrified eyes looked over his shoulder at me, a silent scream on her lips as they moved into the suddenly churning water. “She’s mine,” an eerie voice declared. “Mine and no one else’s.” I did my best to run to her, but I couldn’t move. I looked down to find myself buried in the sand up to my waist. Helpless, I watched as she and the dark man were swallowed up by the muddy surf.

I startled awake. Rivulets of sweat ran down my bare chest and my heart beat almost painfully. I ran a hand over my face, trying to clear the disturbing dream from my head. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure the source of the nightmare. Despite the clock declaring the time as after eight in the morning, nearly nine hours since I went to bed, I was still tired. For several hours after I’d left Jen at her door, I had lain in my bed tossing and turning, unable to shut my mind down after all that had transpired over the course of the day. I had longed to leave my quiet bed and seek out Jen, just to reassure myself she was okay, and then I knew I would be able to sleep. Last night I had tried to turn things into a joke about first dates, but the truth was the next time we slept together I wanted to be sure she knew my level of commitment and that I wasn’t using her. I had made my bed, so to speak, and told her I wouldn’t have sex with her until I was sure she was willing to commit to me. I didn’t think I had the strength to be in bed with her and not make love to her. I might have graduated Suma Cum Laude, but I was really questioning my genius decision last night.

I rolled over and thumped the pillow under my head. Hopefully today would be quieter, but we had to survive the monthly reunion at my dad’s tonight. Part of me wanted to spare Jen of this farce of a family dinner. But I also knew bringing her was the only way the evening would be tolerable, both because I would hate being there, but also because I wasn’t ready to be separated from her. I felt like I was a little boy hiding behind a woman’s skirt, but she seemed up for the challenge. In fact, she almost seemed to look forward to it. The mischievous gleam in her eye last night made me wonder if it might be a mistake taking her tonight. I guess it was my turn to trust her.

Jen was different from other women I dated. She’d been introduced to a few of the less desirable ones, but I’d also dated some nice women. But overall, I felt like they all tried too hard to impress me, like we were one of those deplorable bachelor shows, and they were afraid I’d dismiss them. Sadly, that exact approach is why I didn’t call them back. Whereas they had all tried to be whatever it was they thought I wanted in a woman, Jen had spent all of yesterday with me just being herself, not worried that her hair had come down from her ponytail, or that she’d cried off her makeup this morning. She didn’t expect me to take her somewhere to be entertained. Rather, it was her idea to have a quiet evening at home. I loved that she was content cuddling on the couch and watching a movie. It was like spending time with a good friend. Okay, a friend I’d like to rip the clothes off of and take right there on the couch, but still . . .

I crawled out of bed and headed for the shower. A cold one.

Thirty minutes later I was dressed and reading the newspaper over a cup of coffee. Fortunately, I had today off, and I knew Jen did, too. I was glad. After the emotional confessions of yesterday, I hoped we could relax and continue to get to know each other without so much drama. The soft padding of feet alerted me to Jen’s presence. She was dressed in a skirt and a pretty top, and she still had an adorable sleepy look about her. She glanced at the cup of coffee I held in my hand, and her smile faltered.Shit!Not even a word was spoken, and I already felt like I’d done something wrong. Clueless as to what might be wrong, I remembered Chris’s advice to remain patient with her.

Pretending not to notice her frown, I lowered the newspaper and stood, reaching for another mug I’d already set on the table. I poured her some coffee. “Good morning, kitten. Everything alright? Did you sleep okay?” I brushed a kiss across her lips as I stepped around the table.

“Eventually. I was just hoping to come down before you so I could get your coffee and cook breakfast for you,” she pouted.

That was all?I set her full cup on the table in front of her. “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to wait on me. If anything, I should be doing more for you. You’re the guest.”

“But that’s just it. I don’t want to be a guest and be waited on. I wanted to do something special to say thank you.”

It seemed we had two pleasers this morning. “Okay, tell you what. I’ll let you cook breakfast, but only if it’s because it’s what you really want, and not because you want to say thank you. I love your cooking, but I don’t expect it.”

Her eyes lightened. She understood my need to communicate that I was different from Mark. “Agreed. I’ll cook what I want to have to eat, and I’ll just make sure there are enough leftovers for you,” she said, biting her lip to hold back a laugh.

“Good. And as an added bonus, I’ll even let you clean up the dishes,” I joked.

She laughed and got busy pulling items out of the fridge. I was better than some bachelors; I at least had basic ingredients in there, but I honestly couldn’t imagine what she was going to cook up. Soon, however, delicious aromas wafted throughout the room courtesy of a steaming pan on the stove. Fifteen minutes later she put a plate in front of me with an omelet overflowing with cheese, tomatoes, onions, and ham.Damn, this woman is good!

“I may not let you go home if you can pull this out of my fridge on a moment’s notice,” I exclaimed.

She beamed as she sat in the chair next to me with her plate. I ate with gusto until I practically licked the plate clean. She looked at me through amused eyes, but I wasn’t ashamed to admit I didn’t get to eat like this very often.

“Sit,” I told her. “I’ll clean up.” She didn’t even argue.

I had just finished wiping down the counter when she spoke back up.

“Tyler,” Jen said, but I knew by the way she sang my voice she was up to something. Sure enough, when I looked up at her, her head was cocked, and she had a coy smile. Once she batted her eyelashes at me, I knew I was in trouble. She was playing with me, and we both knew it, but she made my heart feel so full, I knew I would probably walk on fire for her if she asked. She seemed so much more lighthearted since she told me about that bastard, Mark. It made me want to do almost anything to keep her that happy.

“Yes, Jennifer,” I smirked.

“Will you play something on the piano for me? Pretty please?”

I felt my smile freeze on my lips and my heart began to beat erratically. My fingers gripped the edge of the granite. I know she didn’t understand what she was asking of me, but of all the things, this was probably the hardest to grant, yet I had promised her when she agreed to stay with me. I was secretly hoping she had forgotten.

“Tyler?” The coyness was gone, replaced by concern. Her hand hesitantly touched my arm. “I’m sorry. Alex mentioned to me you hadn’t played in a long time, but I thought it was only because you’d been so busy with your studies and residency, just as you said. Obviously there’s something more to it. I . . . I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position. You don’t need to play for me if you don’t want to.”

“What else did Alex tell you?” I grunted. “That’s all he said. I thought maybe you were just picking it back up. I just wanted to encourage you because you’re so good, and I enjoyed your playing.”

I felt like a prick making her nervous for asking something that would be a simple request of anyone else. “It’s fine, Jen. You couldn’t have known. It isn’t a big deal.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Apparently itisa big deal. I’d like to understand better if you’d tell me.”

I sighed. It was time for another couch confession. I drew her once again to the living room and pulled her to sit close beside me for what I hoped would be one of the last serious conversations we’d have for awhile. I turned so I could face her. I reached out and took her hand, playing with her fingers before entwining them with mine. “I definitely didn’t grow up in the same kind of household you did. I think my mom and dad started out loving each other, but somewhere they lost their way.

“When I was five, my mom decided I had a particular talent for playing the piano. She focused all of her attention on me, and for the first time in my short memory, she smiled a lot more. So I gave the piano my all, just so I could see my mom happy.” A lump in my throat ached as I thought back to how hard I tried to please her.

Her eyes widened and her thumb gently rubbed against mine. “Wow. That’s really sweet, but a big responsibility for a little boy.”