Chapter 12
Tyler
Iwatch Audrey walk away from me, and I have to fight the urge to adjust the very uncomfortable situation in my pants.
“Fucking feral cats…” I mumble under my breath with a chuckle. I don’t think she’s telling me the truth, and it may make me a fool, but I don’t really care. I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt that she had a good reason for that particular fib.
“Who the hell was that?” Curt’s question pulls my focus away from her sexy retreating backside to his grinning face.
“No,” is my clipped response.
He holds up his hands in surrender and laughs. “Don’t worry. That make-out session in the middle of the bar made it very clear who she belongs to.”
I don’t tell him how much I like that—her being referred to as mine. But that feeling lodges under my ribs and makes no indication it’s leaving any time soon.
I decide to stay and help with the job since I don’t have anything else to do now. But my mind is miles away with a woman who’s become the most enticing enigma I’ve ever come across.
At three-thirty in the morning, I slam the door of my truck and wipe the exhaustion from my face with my hand. I toss my phone and wallet onto the center console.
I stare at both of the items until I pick up my phone. I’m disappointed not to see any texts from Audrey. Tapping my phone against my palm a few times, I wonder if it’s a bad idea to text her, but I want her to know I’m thinking about her.
Banking on the fact that she keeps it on silent while she sleeps, I type out a short text.
Me: I hope the cat burglars were apprehended. Can I take you out tomorrow?
Looking at the time, I groan. “Idiot, it is tomorrow.”
Me: And by tomorrow, I mean tonight. I hope this doesn’t wake you up.
Deciding I’ve made enough of an ass of myself, I pull out into the street to head home, shaking my head at my lack of suaveness.
That makes me determined to have our next date be extra special to make up for it, so she hopefully forgets.
“I’m glad we could get together tonight.
” I take a sip of beer and watch Audrey take delicate bites of her fajita.
I was craving Mexican food, so I brought her to my favorite hole-in-the-wall joint with the best in the city.
I tried to get us a reservation at the restaurant we were supposed to go to last night, but they were booked.
She dabs her lips with her napkin before placing it back on her lap, and she gives me a smile.
“I am, too. I’m really sorry for having to leave last night. ”
I shrug. “It’s no big deal. Did you get everything taken care of?”
Generally, I think of myself as someone who can read people relatively easily, but sometimes with Audrey, I feel like there’s something I’m missing. Only, she gives no indication of what that might be.
Giving me a guarded perkiness, she says, “Yep, I did. How did everything go after I left? Were you able to help your coworker?”
I swallow a bite of food and tell her, “I ended up just staying until the bar closed since I didn’t have anywhere else to go.
” The second the last word is out of my mouth, her face drops, and I immediately regret telling her that.
I reach across the table and clasp her forearm, her skin warm and soft under my palm.
“Audrey, please don’t feel bad. While I would’ve preferred to spend my evening with you, I like working, so it really was the next best thing. ”
She worries her lip as she studies me. A grimace mars her beautiful face. “Well, either way, I really am sorry.”
Wanting to turn the conversation around, I force a grim look onto my face. “There really is only one way to make it up to me.”
She eyes me, uncertainty swimming in her vivid brown irises. “And that would be?”
I let the grin overtake me. “Bowling, of course.”
The bark of laughter that leaves her has every ounce the disappointment evaporating. I got one hell of a kiss last night, and I’m spending the evening eating amazing food with her tonight—win-win on both accounts.
She starts to shake her head. “Absolutely not. I learned my lesson. We can try something else.”
I chuckle and pick up my fork. “Deal.”
I love seeing the lightness radiating from her.
She seemed a little down when I picked her up, but that has dissipated, and what replaced it takes my breath away.
We spend the next little while chatting about her love of reading and my love of movies.
I tell her my favorite movies, none of which she’s seen.
I promise I’ll fix that and make her watch every single one.
Besides bowling, this is one of the best dates I’ve ever been on.
“So, tell me more about your job. You said it’s your cousin’s company you work for?” she asks before taking a bite of food.
I set my fork on my plate and take another sip of beer.
“Yeah, it is. Honestly, I never thought I’d be doing something like this, but I had no idea what I wanted to do after graduating from high school.
So I went to college and got a business degree because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Then Jack came back, started this company, and made me come work for him when I was about twenty-three. ”
I stare across the restaurant for a moment. Every time I think about how different my life could’ve turned out, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my family’s tough love, which helped me get my life together.
Looking back at Audrey, I smile. “So I busted my ass and learned everything I could from the guys.”
“That’s impressive, especially since you said you don’t have the same background as them.”
I nod. “Thank you. It was hard, but everyone I work with has taken the time to train me. I may not have been law enforcement or in the military, but I’ve pieced together enough of the skills that I’ve been able to move up into more advanced jobs.”
The smile she gives me goes right to my groin. “Wow, Tyler. That’s really amazing.” She takes a sip of her margarita, and my blood heats as she licks the salt from the rim of her glass. “What about the job you’re on currently?”
I frown a little, thinking of Joe. He’s the last person I want to talk about with Audrey, mostly since it’ll annoy me because of what a pain in the ass he was today.
“It’s a pretty easy job. He works from home, mostly, besides some meetings out.
” I sigh, thinking about what Joe told us today.
“He’s about to start interviewing for a new personal assistant.
I guess the last one quit abruptly before we started.
So we might have to work security for both of them once that person is hired. But it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh, interesting. Hopefully, he finds someone.”
She opens her mouth to say something else when a deep voice interrupts her.
“Tyler.”
We both turn our heads to find an older man who looks vaguely familiar staring down at me. Every muscle in my body tenses as recognition overtakes my consciousness. Audrey shifts uncomfortably in her seat as her eyes dart between us.
Through gritted teeth, I spit out, “What the fuck do you want?”
My dad runs his hand through his hair, discomfort evident in the movement. “Did, uh, did Jack talk to you?”
I lick my suddenly parched lips. “He did. And I haven’t decided. But looks like you don’t really care about giving me a choice.”
His eyes widen slightly. Then he takes a small step back, holding his hands up. “You’re right. I’ll go back to my table now. Jack knows how to get in touch.”
Before I can respond, he turns and sulks back to wherever his table is. My eyes close as I suck in a deep breath, my nostrils flaring. I blow it out with a huff and open my eyes. Audrey’s staring at me, worry settled into every pore.
Suddenly not hungry, I drop my fork on the table. Since we’re nearing the end of our meal anyway, I ask, “Are you ready to go? Maybe we can go get some ice cream or something.”
Audrey nods and grabs her purse as I push my chair back. I extend my hand for her to take as we walk toward the front door, my mind swirling with mixed emotions. It’s like the other night when my mom and Jack told me, but amplified by a million.
After having the hostess find our waiter so I can pay, we step outside and start walking in the direction of my truck. The dusk has slipped into a starry night that would be a great ending to this date had we not been interrupted.
A gentle tug on my arm halts my stride. Audrey steps in front of me, her head tilting back so she can look up into my face. My palm slips onto her cheek, and my stomach flips when she leans her head into my touch.
“Tyler, are you okay?” Her soft voice wraps around my heart and clenches tight.
I look up at the stars before letting our eyes meet once again. “That was my dad, who left when I was very young. He hasn’t given a shit about me my entire life, and now, all of a sudden, he does.”
Her expression shatters before she snakes her arms around my waist and hugs me to her. I wrap her in my arms, and her cheek rests on my chest. I soak in every second of her body pressed to mine, comforting me in a way that few have been able to.
She leans back a little and looks up at me again. “Do you want to come back to my place? I have ice cream there.”
I’ve never wanted anything more.