Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tate drew Lys into him, and trailed his fingers through her hair.
God, he loved having her in his arms. Her warmth, weight, and lilac scent.
And right now, he was almost as grateful she wasn’t as stubborn has he was.
Relief still flowed through him at her acceptance of his financial help.
She’d just gotten off the phone with her contractor, letting them know she was ready to move forward with the building expansion.
Tate moved his lips against the top of her head. “When do we start work on this plan?”
“Tonight, when Mikki’s done with work and before my shift starts.” Her breath was hot against his skin, teasing and comforting at the same time. “Because she’ll do it for the challenge instead of trying to talk me out of it for whatever reason.”
Tate didn’t have an argument for that. “If I might make a suggestion until then.”
“What’s that?”
“You should probably get some sleep.”
She pulled back enough to look him in the eye, and her gaze traveled over his face. “When was the last time you slept an entire night?”
God, he wasn’t even sure he remembered. “Not a clue.”
“In that case, only if you join me.” She pulled him toward the bedroom.
* * *
Tate shook the sleep off at the sound of his doorbell chiming. After five. He hadn’t meant to sleep that long, but he felt good.
Lys watched him through lidded eyes as he climbed from bed. “What’s up?” she asked.
He kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t know. I’ll be back.” He fastened his jeans and pulled on his shirt as he crossed the house to the front door. The remaining haze of sleep evaporated when he saw Jared on his front porch. “Hey, man.”
Jared was dressed as if he’d just come from the office, which made sense given the time of day. He held out a USB drive. “I wouldn’t bother you at home on a sick day, but you weren’t answering your phone. I need your okay on some documents by tomorrow morning.”
Sick day? Right. What other reason would he have for vanishing without notice in the middle of the week? Tate grabbed the thumb drive. “No worries. Do you want input, or just an okay?”
Jared shrugged, his expression neutral. “If anything needs to be corrected, use track changes. Meeting’s at eleven, so as long as I have it first thing, I’ll be set.”
“No problem. See you tomorrow.”
Jared didn’t move, and his jaw tightened.
“Something else I can do for you?” Uneasiness flitted through Tate.
“I just wanted to say hi to your guest. Where is she?”
Tate’s gut sank. “Who?”
“Alyssia. Her car’s in your driveway.”
It was going to come out eventually, and Tate wanted to shout about their relationship to anyone who would listen, but he’d rather have this conversation with Lys’s consent, and definitely not while she was half-naked in his bedroom.
“Oh, she’s…you know.” He waved his hand vaguely toward everything behind him.
Jared crossed his arms. “I don’t, actually. I can make a lot of assumptions, but my sister accuses me of jumping to conclusions, so I’m hoping I’m wrong. You’re not good for her.”
Was that what Tate had sounded like? No wonder she’d been pissed. “It’s not your call.”
Jared made a noise that landed somewhere between a growl and a bark. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“It’s okay.” Lys’s voice greeted him from behind. Tate glanced over his shoulder to see her leaning against the far wall, hair mussed. At least she was dressed, though. “I’d rather tell him now than later.”
“What are you doing, Alyssia?” Jared stepped into the house.
Tate blocked his path, and prayed he wasn’t about to get socked. Not that he’d ever seen Jared hit anything, but there was a first time for everything. It’s what he would do if he were in Jared’s shoes. He took a deep breath. “Hear me out.”
“I’m listening.”
Great. So what was he supposed to say? ‘But I love her’ was a good start, but it didn’t feel very solid.
Not given his history. The words flowed into Tate’s head, and he spoke without filtering them.
“I know you and I have had each other’s backs since we were kids,” he said to Jared.
“But she’s my best friend. Honestly, that’s the best way to put it.
I can’t imagine not having her there to celebrate with when things go well.
” He turned to Lys. It was more important she hear this than Jared.
That she know how he felt when they weren’t in the middle of a heated argument.
“I can’t imagine you not being there when I have news of any kind.
It wrecks me to think I might have to share you with another man. Let alone your—”
“I get it.” Jared interrupted. “Please don’t give me any details.”
Tate turned back to him with a shrug. “I know she’s your sister. I get that you’re looking out for her. Thing is, I’ve thought for a long time about this. Probably longer than I should’ve. I know what I’m doing, and what I’m saying when I tell you I love her.”
Jared’s expression was cold, and unyielding. “Can we do this outside?”
“Go,” Lys said, before Tate could answer. “Get this out of your system, Jared.”
Tate stepped onto the porch. The moment he shut the door, Jared’s mask shifted, lines marring his face, brows knitted together.
The almost-calm disappeared from Jared’s voice.
“You’ve got a really pretty speech rehearsed.
It’s almost believable. But out of all that, you only said one thing I agree with.
We have known each other since we were kids.
You’ve never been with a woman longer than twenty-four hours.
And now what? I’m supposed to just step back and tell you, knowing what I do about you, that I’m fine with you hooking up with my sister? ”
A part of Tate expected this conversation to be difficult, but he hadn’t lingered on the details or logistics of it.
Maybe he should have thought about the repercussions a little longer.
Not that it would have changed how he felt about Lys, but it may have changed his approach to the rest of it.
“I’m being sincere. I don’t know what else to say. ”
Jared clenched his jaw. “Honestly, I shouldn’t make you convince me. God, it hurts to admit that. But I know you’re right. You and she… I know you’re close. I’m not blind. I was just hoping you wouldn’t ever figure it out.”
Tate ground his teeth together, measuring his response. “Because I’m not good enough for your baby sister?”
“Because she is my baby sister, and this means admitting she’s grown up.”
Tate almost smiled at that. He swallowed back a jab about her having grown up a long time ago. “You have to let her make her own decisions sometime.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
This could have gone better, but it also could have gone a lot worse. He looked at Jared. “It’s not like I have a choice but to show you I mean it. I’m not going anywhere without her.”
Jared stared back, jaw set. “If this goes bad, that’s the point where you’d better lose my number. But I have a feeling I don’t need to worry.”
“Not that she needs your blessing, but I’d kind of hate to lose your friendship. So, thanks.”
They exchanged a few more jabs, the tension lessening between them, and Jared left. Tate headed back inside.
Lys sat on the couch, fingers intertwined, elbows resting on her legs. “You look like that maybe went well?”
“He didn’t even hit me.” Tate pulled her to her feet. “Really, though, I’m glad he’s not too pissed, because I’d hate to choose sides, but I wouldn’t have chosen his.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek on his chest. Her voice was soft. “I’m glad you don’t have to. I’d hate to make you regret us.”
“I don’t, and I wouldn’t. Not ever.” He hugged her back, holding on tight. “I still meant everything I said. This doesn’t change how I feel.” He kissed her. “As long as you know I mean it, when I say I love you, that’s what matters.”
“I do.” She squeezed his hand. “And I’d stay here all night and let you show me, but we have an appointment.”
Right. Time to put their plan into action. “I’ll meet you at the shelter?”
She nodded, and stepped away. He grasped her fingers, pulled her to him, and rested a hand on the small of her back.
He kissed her, pouring everything he felt into the gesture.
Memorizing each curve of her body, and the way her frame molded to his.
This was what mattered. Making sure Lys had whatever it took to make her happy.
He finally let her go, and the absence of her touch lingered on his skin. “See you soon.”