CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tyler’s cheeks hurt from all the smiling he’d done today. He needed a hot shower and a cold beer, plus a quiet evening with Billie. It was their celebration dinner and he had planned what he hoped would be a wonderful evening. Low key, and most of all, private. After last night, he wanted some quality time with Miss Billie Oliver.
To be bold and honest? He wanted to take her to bed.
They’d been dancing around it all day. This morning the tension had been thick enough to cut with a knife, and Billie had been sweetly blushing whenever he gave her more than a casual look. He hadn’t been able to hide his desire and he hadn’t even tried. It was there, real and strong, and it simply wouldn’t be denied any longer. The more he thought about it the more he was shocked that they hadn’t ended up in bed together before now. It was the logical progression of what was admittedly the best relationship he’d ever had with a woman.
“Tyler, did you get the message from Josh?” Curtis asked as the three of them entered the hotel elevator ready to get some rest. Billie had her nose in the evening paper getting her daily fix of current events. She had this thing about reading actual newspapers instead of on her phone. “The meeting is going to be in Weller’s suite at seven tomorrow morning. Is that okay?”
It was but even if it hadn’t been Tyler would have moved heaven and earth to be there. This was his shot at something more, at being taken seriously as an actor like Max, Nate, and Mike. They did plays on the stage and were heralded by the critics as great actors of their generation. Tyler, on the other hand, was lauded for his abs or his smile. Eventually he wasn’t going to be so pretty anymore and if he wanted any sort of career he had to take action. This movie was the perfect move.
“It’s fine,” Tyler assured his slightly jumpy assistant. This was Curtis’s first convention and he’d run himself ragged worrying about the crowds, the temperature, the security, and a few more things that Tyler wasn’t even aware of. The poor kid was going to have a heart attack at an early age at this rate. Tyler had told him to relax and that all conventions were like this but he wasn’t sure Curtis believed him. “You’re off for the evening so go have some fun. Don’t worry about me and Billie until tomorrow morning.”
“What about–”
“Nothing you need to do,” Tyler interrupted smoothly, patting the younger man on the shoulder. “You’re officially off duty. Thanks, by the way, for taking care of that other thing for me. I appreciate it.”
Curtis gave Billie a sideways glance but she was immersed in the newspaper she was carrying. “Glad to help. I hope it was what you had in mind.”
“I’m sure it will be better than anything I could have done myself.”
The elevator stopped at Curtis’ floor and he exited, leaving Billie and Tyler alone. She was still engrossed in her paper and he didn’t want to disturb her. It would be more fun when she walked into the suite if she was taken completely by surprise. Despite his fatigue, Tyler was already almost bouncing up and down with excitement and he didn’t want her to notice.
Sighing heavily, Billie slapped the paper against her thigh. “What is wrong with people? Why can’t we all just respect each other and treat others as we’d like to be treated? What happened to the golden rule? When did people become so sick and twisted?”
With an almost silent whoosh, the elevator doors opened and he and Billie stepped out.
“Are you mad about a particular story in the paper or just all the news in general?”
“In general.”
“It’s usually something with an animal or a child that puts you in this mood. Why do you put yourself through that every day? Stop reading the paper.”
She gave him a scandalized look. “It’s important to be informed. What if something really important happened in the world?”
“If it’s that important someone would tell me about it.”
They reached the hotel room door but Tyler didn’t unlock it immediately.
“It’s not the same,” she argued. “I didn’t have the greatest education so I make sure that I know what’s going on in the world.”
“What is going on in the world?”
“Chaos.”
“That’s nothing new. I bet you Martha Washington said exactly the same thing in 1776. Now, I know you love your daily news fix but can you turn your attention to me, please? I have a surprise for you.”
Tucking the paper into her handbag, he was rewarded with one of Billie’s smiles.
“I guess I can do that. What kind of surprise? Is it a pony? I’ve always wanted a pony.”
That was a running joke between them, although he was pretty sure Billie had never wanted an actual fucking pony. If for one moment he thought she had he would have purchased one years ago.
“Yes, that’s exactly what it is. I had Curtis go out and buy a fucking Shetland pony and bring it up through the lobby of a five-star hotel and into the most expensive suite in the joint. I hope you like shoveling horse manure because it’s been up here alone with nothing but food all day long.”
Billie doubled over with laughter, holding her stomach as her cheeks went quite red. Damn, he loved making her laugh. Billie was beautiful all the time but like this…she was devastating. Watching her, something shifted in his gut and he had to stop himself from reaching out and pulling her body against his and covering every inch of her skin in kisses.
“I swear I would pay to see that,” she said, hiccupping and coughing through her gales of laughter. “A pony in Tyler Gaylord’s hotel suite. I bet if I put a bug in Sam’s ear–”
“That’s enough,” he growled, knowing where she was going with this. Sam Collins loved to pull practical jokes and he was definitely not above putting a goddamn horse in Tyler’s hotel room. Shit, he was shocked that Sam hadn’t already done it. “Don’t give that asshole any ideas. He has plenty of his own.”
Pushing open the door he stepped aside so Billie could enter. Her eyes went wide and he thought he could see tears glistening there. Curtis had done a hell of a job. Tyler made a mental note to give the young man a bonus.
The dining area of the suite had been completely transformed. White tablecloth. Red roses in crystal vases. A chilling bottle of sparkling white grape juice – since Billie didn’t drink. Candles were lit everywhere and the air was filled with the soft sounds of some romantic song he couldn’t remember the name of.
But she hadn’t said anything or even moved from where she was standing. Did she hate it? Was it too obvious? He hadn’t had to romance a woman in years so he was rusty as fuck.
“It’s for our celebration,” he said softly. “I thought we would do it up right.”
Tentatively she stepped farther into the room, not saying a word until her gaze landed on the other surprise. A Monopoly game. Curtis had also made a trip to the nearest toy store.
“Where did you get this?” Billie asked, her lips turning up at the corners. “You know I love this game.”
“I do.” He made a big production of sighing and acting put upon. “I thought you might like to play and kick my ass.”
Wrinkling her nose, she ran her fingertips over the box and he desperately wished that was his own skin. “I don’t win all the time.”
“You win most of the time.”
“I do, don’t I? But it’s not because I’m some great Monopoly player. It’s because you have the attention span of a toddler and you get fidgety and start making mistakes.”
That was true. When they played as a team against his friends, the two of them always slaughtered the competition.
Then she did the one thing he hadn’t expected. She tapped the box twice. Their signal that all was okay. She liked what he’d done.
Billie leaned down and took a deep whiff of one of the roses, but he wanted to bury his nose in her hair and inhale her delicious scent. “Candlelight and board games. You really did think this through. I love it.”
“Curtis did all the work,” he had to admit. It was only fair.
“It was your plan, and you were kind of busy today. I think I can cut you some slack. Signing all those autographs today. I heard you even signed a set of world-class knockers too. That must have been fun.”
Damn. How quickly had that made social media?
He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and he opened his mouth to explain but she was already shaking her head. “I was just busting your balls a little bit. I know you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I assume there was video,” he said, relieved she wasn’t mad. He’d tried to be…delicate. Professional.
“More than one,” she confirmed with a smirk, checking the chilling bottle. “You did good. You managed to fulfill her request without touching her once. I think she was disappointed, though.”
Amber had been a bit miffed when she’d walked off but honestly what had she thought was going to happen? That he was going to sign her boobs and fall instantly and madly in love? Kirby might do that but Tyler was too damn old.
“I’m not worried about that girl. I was worried about your reaction.”
“If you wanted to be with that girl then that’s where you’d be. Not here.” She wiped off the chilled bottle with a small towel draped over the ice bucket and then handed it to him. “Can you open this? I think we should make a toast.”
He was happy to do that. As usual Billie was practical and no nonsense. “What are we drinking to?”
She held up the champagne flutes. “To being a team. No…to being a family.”
Soon they’d be husband and wife but he and Billie already had a bond that went beyond friendship. But her saying it meant more than just words. She wasn’t running from this and him anymore. He could see it in her eyes. She was here and she was committed.
“I’ll drink to that.” The cork popped out and he poured two glasses of the sparkling juice, handing one to Billie. They clinked glasses. Twice. “Here’s to you, me, and family. We’re a team, Billie. I’ll always be there for you no matter what.”
“I’ll always be there for you,” Billie echoed taking a sip of the golden liquid. “This is pretty good for grape juice.”
“Hey, this is the best sparkling grape juice money can buy,” Tyler laughed. “I spared no expense for my best girl.”
“Your only girl.”
That didn’t bother him in the least. Billie was all he needed.