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She couldn’t eat another bite. Keira pushed her plate away, resisting the temptation to have at least one more taste.
“Do you want something for dessert?” Tyler picked the dish up and took it to the sink.
“You’re joking, right?”
His deep chuckle sent shivers to every nerve ending. “I wasn’t but you’re right, I don’t think I have room for it either. Why don’t you go find a movie for us to watch while I clean this up?”
“Nope, it’s my turn, you did lunch dishes.”
“Believe me, there’s a lot more mess tonight.” He took the bowl from her and carried it to the sink.
Keira gathered some more dishes from the table and followed him. “How ‘bout we both clean up, it will go much faster.”
“What is that saying? Something about many hands making quick work?” The smile he sent her turned her knees to jelly. Sitting close to him to watch a movie wasn’t the best idea.
“Something like that.”
The dishes done, Keira curled up in the overstuffed chair. The couch was too dangerous.
“I have a better idea than a movie.” Tyler bent over the entertainment drawer he’d pulled out. Sitting crossed legged on the floor, his curly hair flipping in all directions, he looked like a young boy.
When she didn’t answer he turned his head and raised a brow at her. She’d been looking at his butt again. Damn, the second time in one day she’d been caught. Luckily, the lights were dimmed and she didn’t think he could see the blush she felt creeping up her neck.
“Well, if you have no objections I’m going to put on some CDs. You can tell me all about the young Keira growing up in a small town in Nebraska.” He put some silver discs in the changer, pushed himself off the floor, and plopped on the couch.
“There’s not much to tell.”
“Come on, I bet you had dozens of boyfriends from the time you were in kindergarten.
Keira pictured herself in grade school and cringed. “I was a scrawny little kid.”
“Sure you were.” She could see the disbelief in his eyes and it warmed her heart a little more.
This man was far more dangerous than the killer she ran from. She knew deep in her soul he’d steal her heart before things were over. The question was, could she steal his?
“Come on, Keira, tell me,” Tyler prompted.
Her name sounded so erotic coming from his lips. As if it just rolled of his tongue like honey. Her tummy did a summersault. He raised a brow. “Okay, I’ve had a weight problem my whole life.”
“Oh, yeah, right. I did think you were a bit plump.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “No, I couldn’t gain weight. I looked anorexic. In high school, I was always called into the counselor’s office to see if they could help with my problem. ‘Dear, do you purge? Let me talk to your mother before you lose any more weight.’”
“So if you’re not watching your calories, then why didn’t you want dessert? I could have whipped up something.” Tyler sounded as if he were hurt.
“Because I would have popped.” Keira lowered her brows and used a stern voice. “It would have been very ugly.”
Tyler’s rich chuckle filled the air. It warmed her belly to hear. Keira felt so comfortable listening to the soft bluesy music and telling him about her life.
“So, you were skinny. Look at your hair, the color of fire and your blue eyes. You still had to have every boy after you.”
“Ah, well my hair was bright orange, and my blue eyes were not what the boys saw. Not only was I skinny, I was tall, very tall. I gained my height by seventh grade. Yes, I was the tallest person, except for some of the teachers, in the school, not just my class.” Keira felt the awkwardness flit through her body as if it were only yesterday.
“Oh, terrible. How tall are you, five ten or so?”
“Five nine. And that’s pretty damn tall when you’re that young.” She looked around the room for a minute trying to think what else to say. “Did I mention I had the worst teeth?”
“Braces, I had those too. I hated them. They didn’t have the fun colored ones the kids have today. Nope, they called me metal mouth.”
Keira looked at his mouth and she thought of a lot of things, but metal mouth wasn’t one of them. His lips looked kissable and she wanted nothing more than to leap across the coffee table and jump his bones. Okay Keira cool your jets. You have to keep calm and remember he doesn’t want that from you.
“I’m going to tell you a little bit about my childhood, and I don’t want you to think I’m saying poor little me. It’s what it was and I didn’t know any different. I was happy.”
Tyler gave her a look that she interpreted to be intrigue. That was better than sympathy. She’d stopped telling anyone about her background about the second day she moved to New York, everyone looked at her in pity. As if she’d had the worst life imaginable.
“We were very poor. My mom bought me clothes at the secondhand shop. But they were always clean and mended. My hair was always combed, etc. I wasn’t one of those white trash kids who not only were poor but always filthy, clothes torn, and little brats.”
“I would never think you were like that. Let me see if I get this right. You were a tall, skinny girl. Carrot top hair, clean clothes, proud, and painfully shy. You never smiled because you were ashamed of your teeth, not because you weren’t happy. You were teacher’s pet because you cleaned the chalkboard after school and you got perfect grades.” Tyler changed positions and leaned toward her. “How am I doing so far?”
“Pretty close. I did smile though and then the kids would say something about my teeth that would make me self conscience so I’d stop.” She was surprised that he’d hit the mark so close. “As you’ve probably guessed, my dad couldn’t afford the orthodontist to straighten my teeth.”
“So did you have them straightened once you got your own insurance or something?”
“No, when I hit middle school my dad got a new job and suddenly he could afford the things he’d always wanted to do for his family. The first thing he did was get me braces.” She suddenly felt like she needed fortification to go on. “Is there any wine around here?”
“Sounds good, I think I saw some in the cellar.” Tyler climbed out of his comfortable position on the couch.
She turned to watch him leave. Jeez, he looked sexy with bare feet, tight jeans, and a snug t-shirt. It had climbed up his back and bare skin showed above his waistband. He turned at that moment. Damn, number three.
*****
Tyler felt her eyes following him and couldn’t resist a quick look over his shoulder. His body burned where her eyes were focused and he felt his erection harden. He’d been fighting his attraction since the first moment he saw her peeking around the door of her apartment. He didn’t know how long he could keep up the pretense of indifference.
The Dane’s had several bottles of wine in the cellar. He was sure Sally wouldn’t mind if they borrowed a couple during their stay. He grabbed a Pinot Noir, took it up the stairs to the kitchen and corked it.
With his back to the living room, he took a deep breath and clamped some iron control over his wayward body. He grabbed two glasses and picked the bottle up.
“Here you go madam, your wish is my command. A full bodied red with a nice bouquet.”
Her laugh tinkled over his skin. “Thank you kind sir.”
He poured both glasses and handed her one with a flourish. “Okay, where were we? You had your braces, correct?”
Her face was so expressive. He could have sat there for hours just watching her talk. Didn’t matter about what, could be the weather for all he cared.
“Yes, I had the big metal mouth. Carrot hair and I was a bean pole. Skin and bones, white redhead skin with lots of freckles. Not a boy in school would look at me, except Dexter.”
A molten bolt of jealousy ripped through him. Tyler sipped his wine to cool the boiling blood in his veins. “Dexter? You had a boyfriend named that?”
“No. Dexter was my next-door neighbor, I’ve known him as long as I can remember. He’s the sibling I never had. I love him like a brother.”
“I bet poor Dex didn’t love you like a sister.”
“No. I didn’t know that though.” She looked away from him for a moment, but not before he saw the pain in her eyes. “He’s what held me together when my parents were killed.”
“When was this?” He already knew from her background check the department had done.
He wanted to hear it from her lips. God, don’t think about her lips. After that thought he had to adjust himself on the couch or embarrass himself if she noticed the bulge. Thank God she didn’t seem to notice. She bent her head to take a sip. He could tell she was remembering.
“It was during my senior year at school. My dad had taken my mom on an anniversary trip to Denver. They called me every day they were gone. They had such a good time. I’m glad that they had that time together. It was the first time they’d done anything without me hanging around.” He didn’t think she knew there were tears streaking her cheeks. He sat back and let her talk.
“They’d called that morning before I went to school. I remember Mom, as clearly as it just happened, she said ‘dear we love you and we’ll be home when you get out of school. We have something for you.’ She had such excitement in her voice as if she couldn’t wait to give it to me.”
“I’m so sorry, I can tell you loved your parents very much.”
She sniffed and finally wiped at the wetness on her face. “I never found out what it was.” She gulped on a sob.
Tyler put his wine on the table and pulled himself from the couch. He sat on the arm of the chair, leaned down and gathered her in his arms. The quaking of her body with each sob tore at his heart.
“Their car...” She hiccupped. “Burst into a ball of flames...” He felt her take a deep breath, “...witnesses said. Nothing was left.” He barely heard her whispered words.
Tyler didn’t know how long he held her. His arms were falling to sleep, but still her body rocked with agony. He wondered if she’d ever really let go before. He felt closer to her at that moment than he had with anyone before.
Emotion ripped though his limbs, zapping his nerve endings and burst in his heart. He knew he loved her. It had only been days but he’d never been more sure about anything. Now, all he had to do was keep his perspective and keep her alive until Battista was behind bars. Then he was going to marry her.
She pushed him a little and sat up. “I’m sorry about that. There’s not a day that goes by I don’t miss them. I’ve never broken down like that before.”
Tyler knew she needed some space, he moved from the armrest to settle into the couch. The soft music still played, only with a different artist. He listened while he waited for her to get herself under control.
“I went to live with Dexter’s family until after high school then I went immediately to the university. I had a full scholarship. My father had a 401K and retirement he left to me. I’ve saved it. Dexter thought when I returned from the university we’d marry.”
There went that jealousy thing again. Even though she’d told him she didn’t think of Dexter in that way. Calm down Tyler old boy. She had a life before she met you, get used to it.
“What happened? Okay, I know I keep saying I bet you were a beauty in school, but this time I’m right. When you got home from the university your hair had deepened to flames and your body had filled and voila beauty.” Tyler chucked at his own deduction.
“I don’t know that I’m a beauty or ever will be but my hair had finally turned to auburn, or as Mom liked to call it, ginger. And thank God I filled out a little.” She tinkled out a laugh and looked down at herself. “Very little. Since I’d never dated anyone in high school, not that I wouldn’t have liked to, Dex just assumed we were a thing. We went to all the activities together. I had no idea he thought that. Hell, he’d never even tried to kiss me.”
“So let me guess. You get home from the university ready to get a job and start your career. Dexter is ready to marry and start a family.”
“You got it. I applied at the largest factory in town, Farnsworth Industries. I have a marketing degree. I landed an entry-level job. One thing about small towns, it’s mostly who you know, not what you know. After I settled into my apartment, Dexter asked me to dinner.”
“And?” Tyler poured some more wine for each of them.
It was dark out and he wanted more than anything to go to bed. And not alone. He’d have to stifle that, he was already afraid he’d lost his edge. It was safer to keep her talking.
“I didn’t think anything of it. I dressed casual, he showed up in a tuxedo.” She laughed. Her tears finally forgotten. “I asked if I should change, I was embarrassed more for him than myself. I knew then what I’d missed all along.”
“Did you let him down easy?”
“I didn’t want to lose the one friend or person I considered my only family. I told him to sit and asked ‘what’s this about?’ The disappointed look told me I’d ruined his surprise. But he got down on one knee reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.”
Tyler pictured her with the man on one knee. He decided when he asked her, he’d have to remember to be creative. “Don’t keep me in suspense, what did you say?”
“I pulled his arm until he sat next to me. Then I explained how much I loved him. That I always would, he’d been there for me and I hoped he always would be. I told him he deserved someone that loved him to distraction.”
“I bet that went over well.” He felt the pain in the pit of his stomach as if she’d said that to him.
“He left shortly after. We didn’t talk very much for awhile but after the years went by we got back on our old footing.”
“Why did you leave your home?”
“I got tired of being passed over for promotions. I was the only one with a degree in my department, yet after five years, I hadn’t moved up the ladder. The last straw was when they gave Jenna Farnsworth the new marketing position that had opened up. I was more than qualified. I just wasn’t the granddaughter of the founder.”
“Ouch. So you moved to the Big Apple?”
“Yes, and I don’t fit in. Everyone in my office thinks of me as a small-town girl with no city smarts. It gets old fast.” She placed her empty glass on the table and shook her head no when he picked up the bottle to refill. “You know all about me now. It’s your turn Tyler Beckett. I want to hear all about your childhood secrets.”
“I’ll bore you to tears.”
“Come on, let’s hear it.”
Tyler glanced at the clock and noticed how late it was. “We’ll save my story for tomorrow night.”
Placing his glass on the table, he unfolded his body from his cozy position. He held out a hand. The contact of the slim fingers that clasped his sent a jolt of electricity zinging through his body. Keira’s eyes widened as he pulled her to a standing position. Did she feel it too?
Quickly he stepped away putting as much distance as the furniture allowed. Tyler reminded himself again, he had to keep his distance.
“Why don’t you go to bed, I’ll make sure the doors and windows are locked.”
Keira paused at the bottom step and looked back. “Don’t think you’re getting out of your life story.”
Tyler felt better once he was safely tucked into Jeremy’s room. He hadn’t wanted to stay in the master bedroom, probably for the same reason Keira had selected Ella’s room.