LAUREN

 

Tyler laughed as I scrambled from his lap and fell to the floor, hiding under the sill of the window as Peta walked past. Thankfully, the net curtains hid us from view. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and hid my bra under the couch.

“Peta,” I said, throwing Tyler’s shirt at him, “is my best friend and also my boss.”

“At the coffee shop?”

I nodded as Tyler threaded his arms through his shirt sleeves and adjusted the collar around his neck. It was only as he started to do up the buttons that he looked back at me, eyebrows raised. There were no buttons.

Peta knocked on the door. “I’ve brought you coffee and food for your hangover,” she shouted, and banged some more. “How’s that knocking working on your head?”

Smoothing the hair from my face, I pulled open the door with a ready smile plastered on my face. “Hi,” I greeted chirpily.

Peta frowned. “That does not sound like the voice of someone who is hungover.” She barged past me and walked towards the lounge where I knew she would find Tyler. “So?” she threw over her shoulder, “Did you hear from—Oh.”

Stopping in the middle of the room, Peta’s eyes canvased Tyler, the corners of her mouth turning upwards, her gaze shifting from his exposed chest to the cushion carefully positioned over his lap, then to the sprinkling of little white buttons on the carpet and finally to my dishevelled appearance. I crossed my arms, attempting to cover myself.

“Oh,” Peta said again, smirking. She moved across the room, tucking the paper bag of food under her arm and holding out her hand. “You must be Tyler. I’m Peta.”

Tyler moved uncomfortably, getting to his feet, the cushion from the couch still firmly held in place, while holding out his free hand. “Yes. Tyler Thornton. Nice to meet you, Peta.” His smile lit up the room, despite the comical placement of the cushion.

Peta shook his hand and then dumped herself on the couch, patting the space Tyler just left and indicating for him to sit back down. “Did I interrupt something?”

“Not at all,” I replied at the same time as Tyler said, “You could say that.”

I glared at Peta, trying to telepathically send her the signal to leave. She got it but chose to ignore, her eyes glinting with mirth as she angled herself towards Tyler. “So, Tyler Thornton.” She said his name slowly. “Tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?” he asked, raising that one eyebrow that mimicked Gabe’s so convincingly.

Peta turned to me slowly, her eyes wide, and smiling mischievously before turning back to Tyler. “Everything. You can start with everything.”

“From the looks you and Lauren are sharing, I’m gathering that you may already know something of me.”

“You could say that.”

“Why don’t you start with what you know and I can fill in any gaps.”

“I know you have a younger brother.”

“Peta, please!” I scolded.

“What? It’s true,” she said, laughing.

“I think you should go.” I walked over to the couch and tugged Peta up. “I’m sure you have lots to do at the café.”

Peta resisted the pulling on her arm. “I’m sure it’s fine for a few more minutes. I’m interested in getting to know Mr Thornton here a little better.” Peta flicked her hair over her shoulder and battered her eyelashes until Tyler laughed.

I tugged at her arm again.

“Okay, okay,” she said, letting me drag her to her feet. “I will go. But you had better call me later, Lauren Greer.” I pulled her towards the door. “My husband is rather good at sewing,” she shouted back to Tyler. “He’ll be able to sort that shirt out.”

I shoved Peta outside and pulled the door shut behind us.

Peta grinned. “He’s even better looking in real life,” she said. “No wonder you couldn’t resist. If I had that hitting on me I’m not sure I would be able to resist either. My goodness!” She shook her whole body, as though trying to rid herself of the thoughts running through her head. “I think I’m going to need a cold shower.”

“Peta,” I hissed. “He could hear you.”

She slapped my arm. “Let him. I’m sure it’s nothing he hasn’t heard before.” We started walking towards her car. “So I guess you’ve made up your mind then?”

My whole body sunk. “I can’t seem to resist him, Peta.”

“It’s probably because you have eyes.”

I whacked her arm again.

“Okay, serious now.” She wiped the grin from her face. “Perhaps you should just stop trying to. You tried to resist Gabe and you made yourself miserable. Finally, you gave in but tried to keep it quiet, which made both you and Gabe miserable. Then you were with Gabe while being attracted to his brother, which, no surprise, made you miserable. Maybe it’s time you just let yourself be happy.”

“You really think?”

Peta took my shoulders in her hands and held my gaze firmly. “Yes, Lauren Greer. That is what I think. I think you should march back in there and fuck the brains out of that man sitting waiting for you and not feel a wisp of guilt about it. You are not with Gabe anymore. Just let yourself be with Tyler.” She let go of me. “Either that, or just don’t be with anyone.”

“That’s probably the best idea you’ve had yet.”

“It’s an awfully boring one though.” Peta grinned.

I rolled my eyes and pulled her in for an embrace. “See you tomorrow,” I muttered into her ear.

Peta opened the door to her car and sat half in half out. “I expect a full report. I take it ‘hot lips’ in there will take you to collect your car?”

I nodded, rolling my eyes again.

Tyler was sitting on the couch, one ankle hooked over his knee, his open shirt exposing the tanned muscles underneath. “I like her,” he said. He held his hand out and I walked closer. “She gives good advice.”

I stopped, looking at him questioningly. “I believe she said something about fucking my brains out?” He grabbed my hand and tugged me onto him. “I liked the sound of that. Now, where were we?” he asked, his lips moving to my mouth, his erection already hard and pressing into me as he pulled me onto his lap.

“No you don’t,” I said, pulling myself away. “I can’t think that close to you.”

“You don’t need to think.” He pulled me back again but I stood firm.

“Will you give me a ride to the airport to collect my car?”

Tyler pouted. “I’ve driven all this way and you want to use me as a taxi?”

“No,” I said slyly. “That’s not what I want to use you for. But it’s what we are going to do.”

“As you wish.” Tyler stood. “But I really wish you had told me this before ripping all the buttons from my shirt.” His phone rang. Tyler looked down from where he had discarded it on the coffee table and scowled. “I’ve got to take this.” He picked up the phone and swiped accept as he walked into the other room.

His answers were short and direct. “Yes. No. I understand. Yes. I know that. I’m taking care of it now. Yes. Yes. You’ve said that twice now. Of course I know how it affects—” He sighed deeply and ran his hand over his face. “Yes. I know.” His voice was getting more strained and impatient. “Tomorrow. I know but—”

Grabbing my bag from where it lay on the kitchen counter, I searched through it in an effort to locate the keys I couldn’t find the night before. They were there, lying in the bottom of the side pocket, right where they should be. I walked past Tyler so I could go and get changed but he reached out and caught my hand, holding me in place with his finger and thumb wrapped around the tender flesh of my wrist. What was it about that spot that was so erotic? When he touched me there I froze and melted all at once.

Tyler locked eyes with me. “No,” he said down the phone. “Tomorrow. Yes, first thing. I understand. Bye.” He placed the phone into his pocket, sliding closer to me, the serious expression from his phone call melting into something different, something warmer. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“To get changed.”

Tyler shook his head. “I don’t think so. If I have to drive to collect your car in a shirt with no buttons you can certainly go in sweatpants and a t-shirt.”

He tugged me closer, pushing his lips onto mine. Immediately, heat burned between my legs and I scolded myself internally for the response that came so quickly. “But I’ve got no bra on,” I murmured into his lips.

“I know.” I felt the corners of his mouth turn upwards as his hands travelled down to capture my breasts. They felt heavy and full in his caress and I leaned into him, losing myself in the moment for a few seconds before pulling away. Tyler groaned in frustration, letting his head drop to my shoulder. “You’re killing me here.”

I slid out from under him, letting his head fall. “Come on.” I walked towards the door, holding it open. “This car won’t wait all day.”

Tyler walked out the door. “I’m pretty sure you’d find it would.”

As I climbed into the passenger’s seat, Tyler popped the boot and got something out of the back. When he sat behind the wheel, he had a new shirt on. One with buttons.

“Hey,” I said. “No fair.”

“Always be prepared.” Tyler started the car. “That’s my motto.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the Scout’s motto.”

“I could have been one,” he replied.

“Were you?”

He shook his head and tapped the airport into his GPS. “Nope.”

“It’s not a big town. I can show you the way to the airport.”

“I like to be prepared,” he said again and smirked. Through the speakers of the sound system, Tyler’s phone began to ring. ‘Sadie’ was the name displayed on the screen. Tyler swiped reject.

“Is that who you were talking to before?”

Tyler shook his head. “Sadie’s my assistant. I was supposed to be playing golf with some of the investors today.”

“I’m sorry,” I replied.

He glanced over at me. “It’s not your fault. I’m the one who chose to come down here. Besides, I hate golf. I only ever play to keep the old money happy.”

“So who were you talking to before?”

Tyler narrowed his eyes. “Why are you so interested?”

I mimicked holding a phone to my ear, deepening my voice. “I’m taking care of it now.”

“You heard that?”

“I was in the next room. It was hard not to hear.”

“I would tell you it wasn’t about you, but that would be a lie. It was my father. He wanted to know what happened last night.” Tyler cleared his throat. “Let’s just say things got a little messier after you left.”

“With Gabe?”

Tyler nodded. “When Clark died and Dad found out what Gabe had done to him, he was furious. Dad never had any brothers or sisters and he hates seeing us fight. He thought what Gabe did was unforgivable, but losing his son for years cured him of that. Because of you, Gabe had come back into his life and he was rather fond of the little shit. But now, that’s threatened again.”

“Because of me,” I said quietly.

“No.” Tyler shook his head and reached over to pull my fingers to his lips. “Because of me.”

I sunk into the seat, letting the weight of what he just said crush me. “Your family is going to hate me.”

“No, they aren’t.”

“I’m the girl who has torn you guys apart.”

“Our family was torn apart long before you came into the picture.”

“But this isn’t going to help.”

“Nothing about this was ever going to be simple, Lauren, but I want this to happen. I want you. Gabe will get over it.”

Tyler’s phone rang again, this time with just ‘HE WHO MUST BE OBEYED’ written all in caps across the screen. Throwing a sideways glance my way, he swiped ignore before pulling his phone out of his pocket and turning it off. “I’ll deal with him later.”