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ELIZABETH
Pulling myself out of bed about eight o’clock, I just wanted to sleep.
I wouldn’t wake Tyler up with any loud banging or anything, but I had to make sure the boys got started painting in the back. The color I had chosen was a warm brown. The way I would paint the trim and the fascia would make it the most sellable place in Oakland.
I wasn’t sure if Tyler would go into work that day, especially after his adventures the night before. Either way there were still some things I could get done that even if he walked in on me, he wouldn’t know what I was doing.
Thinking he would walk in on me was being optimistic.
He stumbled in, blinking against the bright midmorning light.
At least he had tried taking a shower to make himself presentable. His fresh cologne struck me and was exactly what I needed to start my day right. The smell I was associating with Tyler would be hard to leave when I moved out.
“Where is the House Doctor?” He peered out the windows, searching for the woman I had decided was my arch-nemesis – who was me.
I sighed. The lying was getting old and his attraction to her hadn’t waned like I’d assumed. Apparently it was still fresh in his mind while alcohol buzzed through his veins. The same alcohol that had him trying to convince me to give us a shot. “Are you going in to work today? Or are you still pining for the good doctor?”
He winced at my loud voice, bringing a hand to his temple. “Yeah, I am going to work. No, I am not pining for the House Doctor. I’m just wondering why nothing is getting done. I’m paying money for her to fix my house.”
Slightly mollified, I straightened and met his gaze. “I asked her to wait until you were gone so you get some sleep. You were a pretty big mess last night.”
His eyes widened in shock. “That’s really considerate of you, especially considering I haven’t been very kind to you. Thank you. And thank you for picking me up last night.” He pointed over her shoulder. “I like your truck.”
Tyler had remembered. I smiled shamefacedly. “Yeah, it’s mine. After you bashed trucks, what was I supposed to say? Hey, I know you think owning a truck in California stupid, that’s mine?”
He laughed and nodded, careful not to make any sudden movements. “Fair enough. But really, thank you for getting me.”
I shook my head and looked down at the newspaper I studied. “No problem. That’s what friends are for.”
He stepped close, invading my space along my left side until I straightened and turned to face him. His eyes were bloodshot but his gaze has softened. “We agreed to try this marriage thing. We can’t call each other friends like that anymore.”
Alarm trickled up my spine. “No, you did. I have pretty much lost interest.” It wasn’t my first outright lie to him, and I was definitely lying, but he didn’t need to know that. I didn’t need to be an easy conquest. He had that opportunity when I first got there.
Tyler reached up, tucking his forefinger under my chin and tracing my lower lip with his thumb. “I’m going to see if I can persuade you to be interested.”
He turned and left me in the gooey puddle of interest that he’d turned me into. Tyler disinterested had me crushing on him. With him actually coming after me? It was going to put me in a whole lot of trouble.
