But then she couldn’t help but wonder what Greg looked like naked.
Oh wow.
She forced herself to smile at Greg. “And how did you meet?”
“I was one of Haven’s first customers. I live on the West Coast, but my parents still live in Philly so I travel back East a lot.”
She nodded, her brain too scrambled to come up with any more small talk. After the meeting with Dinah Thursday night, she’d felt torn in five different directions. But one look at Tyler and she only wanted to know why he was here. What did he want?
She hoped it was her.
And talk about further complicating your life . . .
Switching her attention back to Tyler, she noticed how intently he stared at her.
“Is everything okay?”
He nodded. “Everything’s fine. Greg wanted to see the new property, and since we were in the area, I wanted to stop and see you. How was your week?”
She’d learned the fine art of lying with a smile at a young age. “Fine. And yours?”
Tyler’s expression darkened and she knew he’d seen through her. She readied herself for the second degree.
“I missed you.” Tyler’s stark words made her gut clench. How did he manage to do that with only three little words? “I decided I’d waited long enough for you to call so I made the first move.”
Her mouth dropped open but she couldn’t think of a damn thing to say. Across from them, Greg choked on a cough she was pretty sure started as a laugh.
“You know you could’ve called me.”
“I did. Tonight. Are you telling me you wanted me to call earlier?”
That was a pretty personal question to answer in front of a total stranger, who watched them like they were engaged in a fierce tennis match.
And how should she answer that? If she said yes, she’d sound petulant. If she said no, she’d be lying. And apparently he’d be able to tell.
“What are you really doing here tonight, Tyler?”
“I told you. I missed you. Spend the weekend at Haven with me. Greg and I have some business to take care of tomorrow morning but there’s a reception tomorrow night I’d like you to attend with me.”
“A reception for what?”
He didn’t answer right away and she wondered if this had to do with the Salon. She couldn’t decide if she was disappointed when he said, “A fund-raising event for Greg’s new film.”
“Greg’s a director?”
“I’m a producer,” Greg answered, drawing her gaze toward him once again, forcing her to acknowledge his presence.
“Would I know anything you’ve produced?”
Greg’s smile grew, and the quick look he exchanged with Tyler said something she couldn’t interpret. “Probably a few.”
Then he rattled off three huge blockbusters even a person who didn’t follow mainstream movies would know.
She blushed, feeling like a rube and not liking the feeling at all. “I’m—”
“Kate.” Greg reached for her hand, shaking his head. “If I wanted people to fawn over me, I’d wear my Oscar around my neck, sweetheart. Put Tyler out of his misery and say yes.”
She turned back to Tyler, who continued to watch her with that intent gaze. “What should I bring?”
His smile barely registered on his face but his eyes shone. “Why don’t you show me what you have, and I’ll help you choose?”
He wanted to pick her clothes for her? If any other man had suggested that, she’d think he was weird. But with Tyler . . . “Okay.”
She stood, but Tyler was already on his feet, reaching for her hand. She took his but when she tried to pull away, he wouldn’t let her. He threaded his fingers through hers and led the way to her bedroom. When she’d crossed the threshold, she nearly lost her breath when he put his hands around her waist, lifted her off her feet then held her back against the door.
He leaned in close enough that she could smell the faint, seductive hint of alcohol on his breath. “I wasn’t lying before. I missed you this week.”
Then he kissed her.
And not a hey-happy-to-see-you kiss. This was an I-want-to-devour-you kiss. She barely sucked in a breath before he took it away again with the force of his lips on hers and the thrust of his tongue in her mouth.
He didn’t hold anything back, and she realized she didn’t want him to. She wanted to know how much he’d missed her, how much he needed her.
Because she’d been pining for him too.
Shoving her hands in his hair, she caught the short strands between her fingers and tugged. Not to pull him away but to feel him resist.
He slid one arm beneath her ass so he could hold her up then let his free hand stroke up her side to her breast. Cupping her, he kneaded the soft flesh until she moaned into his mouth and lifted her legs to wrap around his waist.
His groan echoed through her small bedroom and sank deep into her body, making her thighs tighten and her hips thrust forward to press his erection into her clit.
Ah, God, just a little more pressure, a little movement, and she swore she’d come.
As if he’d read her mind, he pressed forward, catching her clit on the seam of her jeans until she thought she’d scream.
And when he pulled away, she muttered a frustrated sound that made him smile against her lips before he set her on her feet.
“Glad you’re happy to see me too.”
She wanted to glare up at him but it dissolved under the sexual need driving her crazy.
Hell, for those few minutes he’d been kissing her, she’d forgotten another man sat in her living room waiting for them while she wanted to rip off Tyler’s clothes and throw him on her bed.
“You didn’t call.”
Damn it, she did sound like a petulant teenager.
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to hear from me.”
His expression indicated it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about, so she let that slide. “I did miss you, Tyler.” More than she wanted to admit.
“Then why didn’t you call?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows. “Why didn’t you?”
His lips curved in that half smile that made her knees weak. “An impasse. I can deal with that. For now.”
Turning, he walked to her closet, opened the door, and just stood there.
She walked over to stand next to him. “Are you really going to tell me what clothes to wear?”
He gave her a wry look. “Of course not. But if I stood like that any longer, I might’ve had you naked and pinned to the door with my cock inside you. I’m not sure you were ready for that with Greg sitting out there.”
Oh.
Images flashed through her mind, making her hot and breathless. My God, it just wasn’t fair what he could do to her with only his voice. But two could play that game.
“Maybe I would’ve been okay with that.”
He turned to face her completely. “Would you?”
She knew he was asking about what had happened last Sunday. And since she’d had some time to think about it, she’d realized she didn’t want to give up on Tyler quite so fast.
She didn’t want to lie to herself. She’d enjoyed it. And she didn’t want fear to rule her life.
Smiling, she turned to her closet. “Tell me a little about this party.”
Since Greg couldn’t fit comfortably in the back of his Mercedes and Tyler had sobered up enough to drive, Kate sat in the back.
He’d wanted her beside him but she’d laughed when Greg had grudgingly offered to fold himself into the backseat then slid into the backseat herself.
He could see her in the mirror and he knew she watched him as much as he watched her.