Real Men Don't Quit(23)

“Then why?”

“You’re all stirred up because of your mother. I’d be a heel to cash in on the situation.”

“Seriously? You think I’m too emotional to know my own mind?”

“Well, maybe notbut there’s more.” Christ, doing the right thing was harder than it seemed. “Uh, do you mind getting off?” He allowed himself to pat her thigh. “It’s a little difficult thinking straight when your gorgeous butt is flirting with my groin.”

She yanked herself off him as if he were a hot stove. “Okay, what gives?” She folded her arms, sounding frustrated now. “I thought we’d decided on light and casual.”

Light and casual? Who was she kidding? Pushing to his feet, he attempted to readjust his jeans as she continued to glower at him. “This is going to sound dated and strange, but I want to behave honorably toward you. I’ve only known you a short time, but I like you, Tyler, a lot. You’ve becomeimportant to me. I value our friendship, and I don’t want to mess it up by falling into bed with you.”

“How exactly would that mess it up?” she asked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

“Because falling into bed always messes things up, at least in my experience.”

She tossed back her hair. “You need some different experiences, then.”

“You may be right.” He couldn’t help smiling, but then he sobered up. “Can you honestly say sex wouldn’t complicate things between us? I’m only going to be here for a few more weeks. When I’m gone I want to keep in touch with you. You and Chloe. Even though I might be on the other side of the world, I want to know what’s going on in your lives. Wouldn’t it be harder to do that if we’d been sharing a bed?”

She tilted her head as she licked her lips thoughtfully. “Boy, you sure have a high opinion of yourself.”

“Huh?”

Her eyes flashed like blue lightning. “You’re so convinced that if I have sex with you, I’ll fall madly in love with you and won’t be able to bear you leaving.”

“Uh, no, I don’t think—”

“Just because Jennifer Kruger lost her marbles over you doesn’t mean I will.”

He frowned as the old, familiar guilt kicked at him. “So you know about her.”

“Sure.” She flicked back her hair. “It may come as a surprise to you, but I am capable of enjoying orgasms without becoming emotionally attached to my bed partner.”

The thought of Tyler enjoying an orgasm made his blood roar. It deprived his brain of oxygen, which was probably why he couldn’t think of a snappy answer. “That’s good to know,” he said lamely.

“Yes, it is.” She pressed her arms stiffly against her sides, hands balled into fists. “I know how to protect myself, and I’m not just talking about condoms.”

His head was swimming now as all his blood rushed south. “Okay, you’ve convinced me.” He reached for her hand. “All this talk of orgasms and condoms has got me raring to go.”

She stepped back, her chin tilted up. “Nuh-uh. It’s too late to sweet talk me now. You want to keep things between us platonic? Well, you got it.”

“II changed my mind.” For Pete’s sake, she was turning him into a desperate teenager, begging for sex.

“But you’re right. Sex can get messy. I’m not saying it’ll mess us up, but we don’t want to take that chance, do we?”

Now she was using his own words against him, dammit. He’d thought he had the situation under control, but somehow Tyler had gained the upper hand. But he’d be damned if he let everything go her way. A minute ago she’d been raring to drag him into bed; he just had to get her back into that frame of mind.

“I felt the way you kissed me just now,” he drawled, allowing his gaze to wander over her curves. “And the way your butt was wriggling about in my lap. Are you sure it’s so easy to keep your appetite in check?” As she hesitated and licked her lips, he knew he was getting to her.

She rubbed her hand up and down the length of her thigh. “I, uh, I can take care of that myself.”

He shut his eyes briefly. Oh boy, she was killing him. When he opened his eyes, he saw she was still looking headstrong. They had reached an impasse, and maybe she had more sense than he did right now. Luke made himself breathe in and out slowly, trying to lower his blood pressure. “This is crazy, right?”

“It’s one of the weirdest conversations I’ve had in ages,” she admitted with a smile, her stance relaxing.

“Every conversation with you is an adventure. I never know where I’m going to end up.”

“Me too.” She gave a throaty laugh that once again interfered with his breathing. Slowly she sobered. “I’m glad you’re back. Next time, I hope you’ll tell me personally before you leave.”

He acknowledged her gentle rebuke with a grimace. It wasn’t the note that bothered him as much as his reason for leaving. He’d left because the pressure had become too much, but that was a coward’s way out, and he wouldn’t repeat it. In the near future he’d be departing again, this time for good, but when he did, he wanted to go without untidy loose ends behind him. He wanted to go with a clear conscience.

“You got it,” he said.



After Luke had left, Tyler dropped back onto the couch and picked up the book he’d bought her. Her blood was still thrumming from his caresses, and the taste of him lingered on her lips. She’d been a fool not to take him to bed, the hum in her body complained. After missing him for three full days, the sight of him on her doorstep had turned her insides to marshmallow, and at his first kiss she’d turned to putty.

Luke was sneaking under her defenses, making her forget her rules and priorities, and if she didn’t watch out she’d end up with some serious damage. That couldn’t happen. They were friends, and probably she wouldn’t be able to resist kissing him again, but that was all that would happen. She’d keep him away from her bed until he left. It wouldn’t be long; how hard could it be to resist him until then?

The memory of his lean, masculine body rubbing against her and his tongue doing sinful things to her mouth gave her the answer. It would be damned hard, but she had to be strong. When he left, Chloe would be hurt, but at least he’d keep in touch like he’d promised. They’d still have his friendship, as long as she didn’t ruin that friendship by expecting more.

She opened the book and started reading.





Chapter Nine

On Monday afternoon, Tyler finally tricked Ally into visiting a bridal shop by pretending they had to inspect some new coffee cups for the store. Once in the mall, she whisked Ally inside and announced they weren’t leaving until she’d picked a bridal gown. Her friend almost tried to bolt, but Tyler could be dictatorial when necessary, and Ally, subdued, grumpily agreed to try on some dresses.

“You’re going to your wedding, not your funeral,” Tyler said as Ally shuffled out of the changing room, shoulders drooping in a white tulle gown.

At first Ally glumly inspected herself in the mirror, but after a few moments she straightened up and inspected her reflection from different angles. “This one’s not too bad, is it?”

“It has potential. Now try on the others.”

Ally obeyed, and as the dresses changed, she perked up and started enjoying herself. Eventually she decided on a simple, sleeveless gown that flattered her figure. “It’s not too plain, is it? I want Nate to be proud of me.”

“Nate wouldn’t care if you showed up in your pajamas. He just wants to make you his wife.”

An all-too-familiar, misty look came over Ally. “I’m so lucky to have him. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

“Yes, he’s a real dreamboat. Now, are you sure about that wedding dress?”

“Mm-hmm,” Ally murmured, still dewy-eyed.

She had it bad, Tyler mused. But at least she had fallen for a great guy. Nate would be thrilled that the wedding gown had been purchased, and as Ally had decided against bridesmaids, that meant the clothing was all taken care of.

While Ally was paying for her dress, Tyler picked through the rack of gowns and held up to herself a mermaid-style one with a dramatic flaring hem. If she ever in a million years got married, she’d choose something like this, but in a rich, bold color like violet or plum instead of conventional white. She pictured herself walking down the aisle, and for some reason the groom at her side was Luke, dressed in an elegant gray suit and smiling at her, his eyes black and shimmering

“Tyler?”

She jumped and turned to Ally, her heart thumping.

“Are you okay?” Ally asked. “What’s that you’re holding?”

“Nothing.” She hastily stuffed the gown back on the rack and pulled her friend away. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

All the way back home, she chatted about everything except wedding gowns. She didn’t know what had come over her in that bridal store—she wasn’t the kind of girl who’d dreamed of her wedding since the age of five. Marriage was something alien to her, and the more she matured, the more convinced she became that she wasn’t destined for happily ever after. It didn’t depress her; she was fine with that. But the image of her and Luke as a couple persisted in her mind.