“And all of that can wait. You should take a break. Get a drink. Chill in the Salon.”
Right. That’s the absolute last place he wanted to be. Too many memories. Talk about a mindfuck.
“I’m presenting everything to the board Monday. I’ve got too much to do—”
“I’m sure you do. But I think you’re going to want to check out the Salon. Now.”
Jed held his gaze, and Tyler realized exactly what his brother was telling him.
Hope made his chest tight, made his heart pound. Lust made his blood burn.
And relief made him almost light-headed. And froze him to the chair.
“Tyler—”
Getting up, he practically ran for the door.
What if he didn’t show up?
Kate had been asking herself that question from the moment Jared left her in the Salon to go talk to Tyler.
He has to come.
If he didn’t . . . Well, then she’d screwed up her life but good.
She’d stepped way out of her box this time and was hoping like hell that it paid off.
And when he doesn’t show? Then what, smart girl?
Wow, she’d never realized how bitchy her inner critic could be. It sucked to be on the other side of it. And how had that happened?
She knew exactly when that had happened. When she’d called Jared and Annabelle to ask for their help.
Which is how she’d ended up practically naked in the Salon, waiting for the man who’d almost broken her heart.
If he didn’t show, her heart would break. But she’d go on. She wasn’t about to let a man ruin her life. Not even the one man she apparently wanted more than her dream job. Which, in reality, had turned out not to be her dream job after all.
That dream had been usurped by another that was just as demanding and creative as the one she’d said no to.
But if he didn’t show . . .
She was afraid her heart would be scarred forever.
With a sigh, she started to pace. If Tyler didn’t get here soon, or if Jared didn’t return, she was going to wear a path in the exquisite Turkish rug beneath her feet.
And she should really stop pacing, because if he walked in, she didn’t want him to see her so nervous.
Then again—
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the wall to her left split apart.
She sucked in a quick gasp before her heart started to pound.
Tyler.
She bit her lips, which wanted to quiver, and forced herself to stand her ground rather than run to him and throw her arms around him.
Just because he was here didn’t mean their problems were going to magically disappear.
“Tyler.”
Did he look happy to see her? Was that a hint of a smile she saw on his face?
God, I hope so.
“Kate.”
Silence descended as they stared at each other across the room.
She knew what she wanted to say, knew what she should say. What she wanted to hear in return.
But all that emerged was, “You coward.”
He nodded, a dull flush covering his cheeks, but he didn’t look away. “You’re not the first person to say that to me today. And you’re both right. I am. But do you know why?”
She swallowed, her heart pumping in overdrive. “I have my suspicions, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
“Because I was afraid if I let myself love you any more than I already did, and you ever left me, I’d lose myself.”
Tears welled at the tone of his voice, at the conviction she heard in it.
“The first time . . . with Mia . . . I thought I’d never get over it. Never be the same person. Never let myself care that deeply for anyone again. I honestly thought I was saving both of us from heartbreak further down the line. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“And now?”
He shrugged, his mouth twisting with a grimace. “Now I realize that no matter what happens, if we never see each other again or if we spend the next fifty years together, it will hurt just as much. But I know I don’t want to spend the rest of my life without you.”
The weight on her chest eased just enough that joy began to filter in.
Still, she wasn’t ready to give in just yet. The man had dumped her. And on the phone! That deserved punishment.
And she knew exactly what kind.
“That’s a nice sentiment.” She put her hand on one hip. “But I’m going to need a lot more convincing.”
His eyes narrowed and he finally let his gaze drop.
She’d picked her outfit carefully for this meeting, and when his gaze returned to hers, smoldering with heat, she knew she’d chosen correctly.
The hem of her black skirt hit her at midthigh, conservative at first glance. As was the prim, white, short-sleeved shirt. But the skirt fit like a glove and a slit up the left leg gave tantalizing hints of the electric blue thong she wore beneath. And the wraparound shirt revealed the cleavage formed by her blue lace bra. The bra matched the thong that was getting wetter by the second.
“I figured since we were going to be working together at the spa, business casual would be appropriate for this meeting.”
He nearly choked on a laugh. “If that’s business casual, I’ve been doing it wrong for years.”
His voice held a distinct roughness that made her want to rub up against him. Naked.
“Then why don’t you come over here and I’ll give you some tips.”
She expected him to try to take over now, assert his dominance. Instead he obeyed immediately. He didn’t run, but he didn’t take his time either.
When he stopped in front of her, she had to tilt her head back to look into his eyes. Such beautiful eyes. She reached for him with one hand, traced his jaw and his lips with one fingertip.
“What about New York?” he asked. “The job?”
“I decided that wasn’t the risk I wanted to take. I enjoy working for myself. I want to make the boutique work. I want to grow my wedding dress design business. I want to make burlesque costumes and role-playing gear, and I want you. I’m still angry with you, but I can’t imagine my life without you.”
He bared his teeth in a grin that made her shiver.
“Good.” Now she heard that note of command in her voice and she shivered. “Because I don’t want to live without you.”
Lifting his hand, he began to undo the bow at her waist holding her shirt together. “I love you, Kate.”
The bottom dropped out of her stomach at the matter-of-fact way he said those few words. So very Tyler.
As was the way his fingertips caressed the bared skin of her breasts. Perfectly. And when he bent his head to press his mouth to the curve of one aching mound, she sucked in a sharp breath.
“And I love you.”
She nearly groaned when he took a step back before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his grandmother’s ring. The one she’d found at the flea market. Taking her hand as tears formed in her eyes, he slid it onto the ring finger of her left hand. “And I can’t imagine another woman wearing this. It was meant for you to find. And you were meant for me.”
She lifted her hands to cup his jaw. “And you were meant for me. Now take off my clothes and make love to me until I can’t see straight.”
His smile had sharp edges. And she loved it. “It will be my pleasure, sweetheart.”