The rest of the day passes uneventfully. I hate to admit it, but I’m upset Tyler hasn’t made more of an effort to seek me out. When the bell rings, I hurry to my truck. Tyler is leaning against the fender, ear buds in, listening to his iPod.
A smile of pleasure ripples across my face before I manage to get it under control. As if sensing my presence, Tyler looks up and smiles back, removing the ear buds.
“Hey.” He pushes off Beulah.
“Hey yourself.”
“Let’s go get a latte.” His hands run down my arms and cup my fingers.
For a moment, I’m oblivious to the other kids pouring into the parking lot, throwing curious looks our way.
A dark-haired sophomore with acne jostles my elbow. “Excuse me.” No doubt she’d been too busy staring at Tyler to pay attention to where she was going. But it’s enough to bring me back to my surroundings. I withdraw my hands.
“I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.” I begin moving back out of arms reach.
“You’re going to turn down a latte?” He raises his eyebrows in exaggerated disbelief. “Come on, I deserve to be rewarded. I followed your instructions to the letter. I haven’t seen you since first hour.” He leans forward and draws me toward him.
“Yeah, I can tell that’s a hardship.” Regretfully, I shrug off his hands.
“Hmm, if I lifted those glasses, would I find your eyes green?” he teases.
I lean away from him.
“Come on, Piper,” he urges. “Holly will be there, along with half the school. No one will think anything about it. And why should you care if they do?”
There it is again. That thinly-veiled demand for knowledge of my secret. Why can’t he let it be?
His glance goes from good-humored to edgy. Suddenly, I decide to give him this round and hope he’ll forget about my secrets.
“Let’s go.”
He looks startled. In that instant, I realize he hadn’t thought I’d go. “If you don’t want to…”
His eyes light and he gives me that crooked grin.
My heart ka-thumps.
He grabs my hand and we walk down the block. Since most of the crowd has cleared out, I don’t pull away immediately. It feels too right. I am such a goner.
“Piper,”
“Hmm?” I watch a stray cat skitter across the street out of harm’s way as a car goes barreling by.
“How were you able to save me during the storm?”
“What do you mean?” My muscles tighten and my gait becomes stiff. I’ve been dreading this question. When he didn’t ask in the beginning, I thought I was going to luck out. I should have known better.
“Why didn’t you drown out there?”
I glance at him from behind my glasses before looking quickly away. “Why didn’t you?”
“If you hadn’t rescued me, I’m sure I would have. How did you do it?”
“I’m a strong swimmer.” I trip on a crack in the sidewalk and blush with embarrassment. Outside of the water, grace is not my middle name.
“You’re on Olympian level then.”
I shrug.
“I want to understand,” he presses.
“What do you want me to say, I’ve got super powers?” I snap, pulling my hand away.
“Do you?”
I giggle in spite of myself. I like to pretend I’m a superhero, but there’s a big difference between mutant DNA and superpowers.
Tyler smiles reluctantly.
“Can’t you just say thank you and let it go?”
Tyler sighs. “Thank you. I saw Fahrenbacher talking to you.”
I appreciate the change of subject. I know this isn’t easy for him. Heck, we’re teenagers. While it may not be listed on the teenage manifesto, anyone in our age bracket is curious to the point of being downright nosy. It appears Tyler is no exception. Though I’m afraid it goes deeper than that. He’s mixing up emotion with curiosity, trying to bring it down to a trust level. For both our sakes, I hope he never gives me an ultimatum.
“Yeah, I told him I’d clean his clock if he bothered me again. He decided he likes a female with spirit.” I snort.
Tyler grins and shakes his head. “He better not decide he likes you too much or I’ll be the one doing the clock cleaning.”
“Again. You aren’t the jealous type are you?”
We’ve arrived at the Pink Cat. Before I can reach for the door, Tyler opens it. “I’m mild-mannered but I am the jealous type.”
I frown as I walk through the door, puzzling that one out. “You won’t go all caveman on me will you?”
“No promises, but I’ll do my best.”
“I can see this relationship thing is going to be complicated.” I sigh.
The noise level rises several decibels when we cross the threshold. He leans down close to my ear so I can hear him. “I’ll make it as easy on you as I can.”
His breath sends a flutter through me. I’m so susceptible to this boy. Just think of him like a virus, I tell myself. Eventually, I’ll be immune and able to deal with him with equanimity.
“Piper. Tyler. Over here.” Holly waves her arm from a nearby booth. We’ve taken two steps in that direction when Tyler gets waylaid by a couple of girls in his science class. I keep going. I reach the booth and scoot Holly over with my hip.
“The bench on the other side is empty,” she points out before taking a long sip of what looks to be a caramel frappuccino.
“Stating the obvious,” I mumble.
“What’s going on between you and my brother?” Holly waves at some girls from first hour two tables over.
“What do you mean,” I respond cautiously.
“Come on, Piper. Ever since you rescued him—”
“I didn’t rescue him.”
“Whatever.” She shrugs. “Ever since the rescue, things have been different. And don’t think I’m the only one who’s noticed.”
Crap. I’m strongly tempted to put my head on the table and howl. What am I doing here anyway? This is hardly inconspicuous. Led astray by the lure of lattes. I sigh. And speaking of which, I start to rise. “I’ve got to get my latte.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Holly points. Weaving his way through the crowd, Tyler has nearly reached our table, two lattes in hand.
My world brightens. I sink back down.
Tyler sets a drink in front of me and slides into the opposite booth. He looks at me sitting next to his sister. His left eyebrow shoots up. I ignore him, my attention focused on the latte.
I reach for it and take a long sip. Espresso and mocha tease my senses in an icy wavy of pleasure. I close my eyes and let my muscles go lax. “Thank you.”
When I open them, Tyler is staring at me with a bemused expression. “What?”
“Your voice.”
The cold milk has coated my esophagus and even though I lowered it, the words came out smoother than usual. “What about it?” I add in my normal husky tones.
“It sounds like it’s wrapped in silk.”
“Eww, Tyler, my ears. Is that one of your normal pickup lines?” Holly wrinkles her nose.
Bless Holly. I relax. And ask, curious, “Does my voice have any effect on you?”
“Pa-lease.”
Interesting. It must be a male thing.
Tyler leans forward. “You seriously don’t notice the sensual cadence of each word that ripples from her lips?”
“Stop.” She claps her hands over her ears. “Piper is a friend of mine.”
“Maybe it’s your imagination.”
“Imagination or not, your voice has an effect on me that I don’t dare talk about in front of my sister.”
“You keep this up and I’m going to go sit with friends,” she threatens.
“Don’t let us stop you.” He leans back and stretches his legs, his knees touching mine.
“Stay put, Holly,” I order, shifting my legs.
“Are you two an item?” Her glance shifts back and forth between the two of us.
“No.”
“Yes,” he says at the same time.
He gives me a pained look.
“Yes, but no one is supposed to know about it.” I make circles with my drink on the table, not meeting anyone’s eye.
“Why?”
“I’m trying to keep a low profile. To be perfectly honest spending time with you doesn’t help.”
“Why are you trying to keep a low profile?” She tilts her head, her expression puzzled.
“Good luck getting that one answered.” Tyler picks up his drink and finishes it with one long sip.
“I have my reasons,” I mutter and shift in my seat.
“I’m sure they’re good ones. Tyler, leave her alone. If it’s something she wants you to know she’ll tell you.”
A lump rises in my throat. I blink my eyes to keep the moisture back. Is this what it’s like to have a friend? Someone to show unwavering support whether they understand or not? “Thanks, Holly.”
“What are friends for? I appreciate you spending time with me even though it gets in the way of your low profile.” She gives me a quick hug before whispering to Tyler, “What do you think, homeland security or witness protection?”
In unison, they turn and study me, their expressions so alike it’s scary. It must be a twin thing. I hold up my hand. “Don’t even go there.”
But of course, once she’s opened that can of worms the next forty minutes is spent on endless speculation of my low profile, each suggestion more outrageous than the one before. Though mutant is never mentioned. Thank goodness.
I listen to their nonsense another ten minutes before scooting out of the booth.
Holly and Tyler stand, too. I motion them down. “Stay put, I’ve got to go.” Before long, the sun will be down. I need to check on the dolphins. I have no intention of letting the research vessel capture one of my friends.
“I need to get home. I’ve got four chapters of history to read.” Holly takes one last noisy sip of her drink.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I nod at Tyler.
“I’ll walk you back to your truck.” Tyler unfolds his lanky frame and stands up.
“That’s not necessary,” I protest, torn between feeling warm all the way down to my toes because I’ll be spending a few more minutes with him and wondering how to keep some distance between us.
He looks at me and waits patiently.
I shrug. “Fine.”
He reaches for my hand. I notice two girls in my social science class watching us and hastily pull it away.
He scowls and lets his drop to his side. As we walk toward the door, one of the girls gets up and plants herself in front of him. “Hi, Tyler.”
I keep walking.
“Piper,” he calls after me.
I pretend not to hear. I hurry out the door and walk with my head down. This is so awkward. He’s so damn hot. I could resist the hotness if there weren’t so many other qualities about Tyler I like. He’s confident and comfortable with himself. He tries to do right by other people. I’d say he’s nice, but nice is such a bland term. It’s more than that. He genuinely cares about people.
I’m in such a brown study, I’m not even aware he’s caught up with me till he slips his hand around mine. I try to jerk it back, but he doesn’t let go.
“Someone may see us,” I say, but as usual, his slightest touch weakens my resolve.
“And that would be a problem because? Oh yes, witness protection.”
I roll my eyes and he grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. As he swings my hand, I sigh in defeat. “You aren’t making this easy you know,” I complain.
“Give me a reason to and I’ll be the soul of rectitude.”
I stop and look at him. “How about because I ask you to?”
He drops my hand. “You don’t play fair.” His voice is strained.
I touch his arm lightly. “I’m sorry if this is difficult for you. This is a really big step for me. I’m with you because…”
“You can’t help yourself,” he says almost bitterly. “Your body wants me whether you do or not.”
“You are so full of yourself,” I say angrily and stomp away, knowing he’s right. He’s not full of himself and my body does want him. Damn teenage hormones.
He catches up with me in two long easy strides. “Don’t mind me. I’m just in a bad mood because you left me with Barbie the Man Eater back there.”
I giggle. He grins back. “The only thing I’ve got to grumble about is I’m going with the hottest babe in school and absolutely no one knows about it.”
We reach my truck before I realize it. I grab for the door, but in one quick movement, he’s pinned me. I take a quick look around but the lot is empty.
“But there is an upside to that.” He traps my body against the truck, his arms on either side of my head, his lips close to mine.
The fear of being seen fades. We aren’t visible from this side of the truck, I rationalize. As his body presses against mine, I go limp. “What’s that?”
He pulls off my glasses. His warm breath fans my face. I breathe in chocolate and coffee.
“I’ve got a clear playing field without having to fight off a few hundred males with raging testosterone.”
“Well that’s good, since one’s all I can handle,” I manage to get out before his lips close over mine. His warm mouth moves persuasively, his tongue slides between my teeth and does a dance with mine. His hard body presses against me.
I slide my arms around his waist, tightening my grip, pressing back. The kiss escalates, his hands move from the truck to slide down my body, scalding me wherever they touch.
Slowly, reluctantly, he pulls away, gasping.
My breasts heave. Everything’s spinning.
With a lopsided grin, he hands me my glasses. I start to put them on upside down and catch them before they fall off my face. He laughs, takes them from me, and places them carefully on my face.
“Like I said, the hottest girl in school.”
I look down at my shapeless clothes and shake my head.
He grins. “I know what’s under them. Actually, I find it rather titillating.” His cell phone rings. He pulls it out, still watching me. “Yeah, Mom. On my way.”
“Supper’s ready. Mom’s calling to remind me she’s fixed my favorite.”
“And that would be?” My breath is now under control.
“Spaghetti. Better go.” He kisses me on the nose and walks to his car.
I get in my truck and slam the door. There’s just no quiet way to close Beulah’s doors. Tyler starts his car. I follow him out.
As I pull out of the lot, I glance across the street. That’s when I see Fahrenbacher’s car.