Her words ring true. Too true. I meet her eyes for a second before looking away again.
Fuck. Give Ms. Love Cynic a ring on her finger and she really does turn into Seattle’s resident love guru. Give me a break.
“You’ll be pleased to know that I finally booked your bachelorette weekend,” I say, knowing it’ll get her off the topic of my relationship.
“No shit?”
I grin. “Next weekend. You, me, Tessa, right?”
She nods. “Monique has to manage the girls and Aunt Leigh is on vacation with her new boyfriend. I can’t believe you actually booked it. For next weekend like I wanted?”
I examine my nails. “I may have dropped Aaron’s name into one or two phone calls.” I glance up and smirk.
“Of course you did.” She smiles and stands, grabbing her purse. “I’m going to go and get the last of the stuff we need to make the wedding favors this weekend.”
Oh God, no.
“Remind me why you aren’t hiring someone to do this for you?”
“Because,” she answers, opening the door to the bar, “I thought it would be a really good idea until I realized how much fucking work it would be, and now, it’s too late to hire someone.”
“So buy some ready-mades off of eBay.”
“No. His Royal Highness likes the idea of Bridezilla making the wedding favors. Apparently, the annoyance I’ll feel after a few hours of it will give me an idea as to how he feels when I’m in planning mode.” She slams the door behind me. “He’s a sweetheart, isn’t he?”
“How he feels? Most of the planning has been dumped on me!”
She snaps her head around.
“And I couldn’t be happier about it! I love you. Please don’t hurt me.” I put my hands together in front of my body in a praying action and smile sweetly.
“I’ll call you tomorrow. Aaron is going to New York with Tyler, so you and Tessa can stay with me. Okay?” She hugs me briefly then heads for her car. “Bye!”
I wave her off, and it’s not until she drives away that I remember that I had Tyler drive me here.
Goddammit.
“What are you doing?”
I turn my face toward the door. “I’m watching TV. What does it look like?”
Tyler raises an eyebrow and kicks the door shut behind him. “With one leg hooked over the back of the sofa?”
Seriously? Why does everyone have a problem with the way I watch TV?
“Am I supposed to have my legs closed all the time because I’m a woman? I can slouch as well as any man, thank you very much.” I wriggle slightly.
“Believe me, babe. I have no problem with you having your legs wide open.”
“Then stop complaining.”
“I do, however, have a problem with the fact you’re not naked.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Be sure to text me next time you’re dressed so I can be naked and ready for you.” I roll my eyes and swing my leg down so I can sit up.
Ty nods, a smirk teasing his lips. “That’s more like it.”
He walks into the kitchen and dumps a bag on the table next to Angus. Angus opens his eyes and stares at his disturber before closing them again and returning to his nap. Tyler chuckles quietly to himself.
“Still doesn’t like me, huh?”
“Angus doesn’t like anyone unless he’s just had pussy. Literally.” I get up and lean against the kitchen table.
“He sounds exactly like me. Maybe we need some guy time.” Ty tugs on my hair.
I bat his hand away. “By all means, take him home with you. You do know cats pee to mark their territory?”
He pauses. “On second thought, I’ll pass.” He dives his hand into the grocery bag in front of him and unpacks.
I watch as he pulls out various ingredients—ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, pepper, onion…
“What are you doing?” I ask, grabbing the pack of tortilla chips.
“I’m cooking you dinner.”
“Why?” I open the bag and grab a few chips.
Tyler frowns and snatches it off me. “I’m away all weekend. Tonight is for you.”
“Oh, a whole night. I’m honored. Is it just dinner or are we on a schedule?” I reach for the bag again.
He drops it on the chair behind him and grabs my wrist, pulling me into him. “We’re on a schedule,” he murmurs, sucking gently on my bottom lip. “Because I need enough time to tie those pretty little wrists up and fuck you until you scream.”
I inhale sharply. “Promises, promises.”
“Never promises. Always certainties.”
“Then you should start cooking dinner, shouldn’t you?” I grin, kiss him quickly, and then swipe the bag of chips off the chair behind him.
He sighs, but it’s spoiled by his laugh. I deliberately take a huge bite of three chips in one go. They make a loud crunch as I do, and my grin widens when he glances over his shoulder at me. His shoulders tremble with the laughter he’s failing to hide.
It’s shining in his eyes. A sparkling, warm glint that makes my heart thump, it’s a beacon of his amusement.
I perch on the chair and dump the bag on the table. Resting my cheek on one of my hands, I scratch Angus’s head with the other. He purrs loudly beneath my fingertips, but most of my attention is on Tyler.
He navigates my kitchen with ease, and I wonder if he’s as…curious...as I am—if he’s stolen a minute of searching my apartment here and there like I have his. I’ve sure as shit never shown him where I keep my saucepans!
He deposits the meat into a pan and heats it. Sizzling fills the air as it cooks, the sound interrupted whenever he stirs it. He chops the onions and peppers like a pro, slicing them up small, and I could swear he sets a second pan of water boiling and stirs the meat at the same time.
“How was your day?” he asks, opening the can of kidney beans.
“That’s a cozy question,” I reply. “I did everything I needed to and managed not to anger Bridezilla in the process. So all in all, it was a success.”
“Did she ask about the hen party?”
“Yes, she asked about her bachelorette party. I thought she was going to die of shock when I told her I finally booked it.” I grin, remembering the way her eyes widened. “She couldn’t believe I booked in ten days before she wanted it.”
“How did you manage that?”
“I might have booked a hotel that Aaron manages the advertising for. I might have name-dropped, and they might have conveniently had a cancellation while we were on the phone.”