Burned

by Melody Anne

  “I’m so on that,” Piper said. She leapt up and ran to the kitchen, immediately pulling out a bottle from the refrigerator and filling two glasses.

  “Thanks! Let’s get plastered,” Elena told her, “maybe eat some popcorn with a lot of butter on it, and forget all about men, at least for two days.”

  “If you can go fifteen minutes without saying a word about Tyler, I’ll believe you hate the guy,” Piper said as she popped a movie into the DVD player. “Or I might.”

  After another hour and two bottles of wine, Elena had interrupted the film roughly a dozen times to grumble about Tyler. The knowing looks that Piper was sending her way weren’t reassuring and she was thinking that maybe it was time to call it a night. Piper would never believer that she didn’t want Tyler.

  Hell, she’d never believe it herself.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Juggling the drinks and a sack carrying their sandwiches, Elena pushed her way into the library, and went to the back where Piper was waiting for her.

  When she heard quiet laughter, she stopped. That voice sounded familiar but what in the world would he be doing at Piper’s work? And why would Piper be laughing. She stopped and took a breath before continuing. It was most likely just someone who sounded like Tyler. Since the man was constantly on her mind, she was sure it was her imagination.

  Unfreezing, she moved forward and turned the corner to find Tyler and Piper both sitting at Piper’s favorite reading nook in the library. Both of them wore silly grins.

  “What are you doing here?” Elena’s tone wasn’t friendly.

  “I work here,” Piper said, deliberately intercepting the question as she rose and grabbed the bag from Elena.

  Sending an irritated look her friend’s way, she then turned to Tyler, who didn’t appear in the least apologetic over being there.

  “I had to check out a book and ran into Piper here. We’ve been talking for a while now. Your friend has a vast knowledge of business procedures,” Tyler said, and he kicked back in the chair as if he didn’t plan on going anywhere in the near future.

  “Now that you can see that I’m fine, you can leave.”

  Tyler’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit before he masked his expression and gave her a look that told her he certainly felt he was the one in charge.

  “Well since we’ve managed to run into each other, and I haven’t been able to get you on the phone I think now is a good time to discuss business.”

  “Do you normally stalk your attorneys?”

  She didn’t want to allow him to set a precedent of showing up any time he felt like it at places that were her stomping grounds. It appeared that Tyler Knight, as always, would do whatever the hell he pleased though.

  “I do business wherever I feel like it. I didn’t become as successful as I have by sticking with convention.”

  They had a stare-off for several moments, during which Elena was sure the library heated up a few degrees.

  Then Piper interrupted. “I’m going to have lunch. Are you guys joining me?”

  Elena wasn’t thrilled that her best friend was entertaining the man who was driving her insane, but she quickly squashed that sentiment. What should Piper have done? Tell him to go away? That sounded much easier than it was. The guy didn’t listen. He’d stopped doing that when he hit puberty – most likely before, actually.

  “If we’re going to meet, we might as well eat. I’m hungry,” Elena finally said.

  “Good. Me too.” Piper grabbed her sandwich and kicked back, pretending she didn’t notice the tension brewing.

  Elena sat in the seat across from Tyler. At least this table was too wide for him to try to play footsies with her. She didn’t think she could handle him touching her at the moment. Her nerves were scraped too raw.

  “I can’t finish this whole thing. Do you want half?” Piper asked.

  “Thanks. Don’t mind if I do,” Tyler replied, ever so polite.

  “What do you want to discuss?” Elena asked while slowly unwrapping her sandwich. She’d been starving. Now she couldn’t seem to find her appetite.

  “We can eat first, then talk later,” he said, seeming content to munch on the turkey and swiss.

  “Fine by me. I’ve started your billing from the moment I sat down.”

  “Why don’t we just call it an even eight hours today? That way you won’t get anxious,” he said, taking a bite and sitting back without a care in the world.

  “I’ve got a full schedule,” Elena pointed out. “I don’t plan on meeting with you for eight hours.”

  “You never know where things will lead,” he said right back.

  Her friend was whipping her head back and forth between the two of them, and Elena sent her a silent plea for help.

  Piper smiled. “Do you need me to leave so you two can just get it on right here?”

  Elena gasped. Tyler looked thoughtful for a moment before giving Piper his award-winning smile.

  “I have heard rumors about the stacks,” he said with a wink.

  Elena turned red before ducking her head. She didn’t know which person she was more irritated with at the moment – Piper or Tyler.

  “You both should keep your voices down. We are, after all, in a library,” she snapped.

  “Yes, but it’s slow today. Talk all you want,” Piper said.

  Tyler finished his sandwich and then rose from the table. With wary eyes, Elena watched him move over to the trashcan and throw away his garbage before moving back over to the table and taking the seat next to her.

  What in the heck was he up to now?

  “So,” Piper asked him, “what have you been doing that is making my best friend all antsy?”

  Tyler threw her a smile before shifting in the chair and brushing his leg against Elena. Elena refused to move. If she showed this man the effect he was having on her, then he’d win. He liked winning.

  So did she.

  The problem was that where he touched her, little fingers of delight shot through her body. And from the look her best friend was shooting her way, Piper clearly knew exactly what was going on across the table from her.

  Dammit!

  “I plan on being her lover,” Tyler said.

  Elena gasped at his audacity. “You seriously have no bounds, do you, Tyler?”

  “No. I figure it’s best to tell it like it is. That way there will be no misunderstandings between us,” he replied.

  “There’s definitely a misunderstanding between us. I don’t plan on getting anywhere near a bed with you.”

  “I never said it had to be on a bed, Elena.”

  “And how isn’t this sexual harassment?” Elena asked with a glare.

  Tyler paused as his lips turned up. Then he leaned closer to her, his breath fanning the side of her face and neck. For once Piper was silent, though Elena would really have liked it if her friend would have spoken up and broken this tension.

  “Do you want to file a complaint? I know an excellent attorney.”

  Elena wasn’t normally a violent person — lawyers had to be careful, after all — but she had to resist the urge to reach across the slight space between them and give some action to her fingernails.

  Piper spoke up. “What exactly is Elena doing for you? I meant that in a work-related sense. The rest is obvious.”

  Tyler turned his attention to her best friend, and Elena let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

  “I have several projects going on right now,” he said. “There’s plenty of work for Elena.”

  “That doesn’t really tell me anything.” Piper wasn’t one to mince words, thankfully.

  Elena was also eager to know what she was doing for Tyler. Right now, he didn’t seem to need her services at all — well, at least not her legal services.

  “She’s offered her … let’s say … impressive skills to help me out,” Tyler responded.

  His meaning was loud and clear, and Elena felt her cheeks heat even though she’d d
one nothing of the sort. She wasn’t his personal call girl, wasn’t available for the services he was insinuating that she was there for.

  “Hmm. Don’t underestimate my best friend. She’s skilled in more ways than you know,” Piper said with a wink.

  Elena was so shocked that she almost choked. What strange alternate universe had she fallen into? She understood this from Tyler. He was a dog. But her best friend? Had aliens overtaken her body?

  “Yes, I’m quite aware of her skills. We’ve been dating for a month now,” Tyler said.

  “She has been gone a lot lately. And she’s been so secretive. Are you the reason she’s been so tired?”

  Before Tyler could say anything, Elena jumped in. “Sorry to say this, Piper, but I have been home. You’ve been the one gone so much. Maybe you’ve been hiding some secrets of your own.”

  If she turned the tables, maybe this inquisition would stop. Please, please …

  “Your life is so much more interesting than mine,” Piper said, not falling for the bait. “I’ve been working at the library and helping my brother out with his business since he’s short staffed. Nothing interesting there.”

  “How long have you been a librarian, Piper?” Tyler asked.

  “About five years,” she said.

  He paused at that. “Well, you’re not like Mrs. Pokey, my old high school librarian,” he said with a laugh.

  “And why is that, Tyler?”

  Elena sat back. She wanted to see how Tyler dug himself out of this. Piper hated it when people put down her job. Yes, her best friend was beautiful, but she was also brilliant. The girl hated when people assumed she was stupid because a person couldn’t have brains and looks.

  “I picture librarians as little old ladies with big glasses and permanent scowls,” he said.

  “Maybe that’s because you’re sexist and into old stereotypes,” Piper told him, “and don’t read all that much. I guess you pay people to look everything up for you.”

  “Not at all,” he said. “I might have to start reading for pleasure again if you’re the new example of librarians.”

  Piper laughed, much to Elena’s dismay. “You’re quite smooth, Tyler. Not. I think you’re far more bark than bite, though. Do you mean all these things you say, or do you just enjoy getting a reaction?”

  “You say what you want, don’t you, Piper?”

  “I’ve never found it productive to sneak around words. If you want answers, you’re far better off to just ask the right questions.”

  “Good. Then what will it take to get your best friend in my bed?”

  That question was followed by a moment of silence. Tyler had shocked Piper, and Elena was too horrified to say anything.

  Finally, Piper smiled, and Elena’s stomach sank.

  “First of all, you have to make it past her best friend,” Piper told him.

  “And do you approve?” he asked.

  She smiled again, and Elena watched as the two of them bonded right in front of her.

  “You’re growing on me.”

  “Well, neither one of you are growing on me,” Elena said.

  “Tsk, tsk, Elena. It’s not good to lie,” Tyler told her.

  “I’m done with this.”

  Elena rose from the table, shot both of them a dirty look and then stormed away.

  This would be so much easier if she really did hate the man. But she didn’t. She only wanted to. And being stuck with him wasn’t making her life any easier.

  Chapter Twenty

  When Elena’s doorbell rang late on Saturday night, she jumped and set her book aside. She had no doubt who was at the door.

  Ignoring Tyler’s calls apparently wasn’t working as she’d hoped it would. But it was okay. She’d just say she’d gone to bed early, apologize for the phone problems, and promise to do her best to help him out — when Monday morning came around.

  After the disastrous library meeting on Tuesday, she’d managed to confine their meetings to public places, and then Friday night had come and she’d turned off her phone. She could only take so much of the man.

  Ranting and raving about him all week to Piper hadn’t done her any good either. Piper was convinced that Elena was lying to herself, that she needed to just sleep with the man again and then either marry him or dump him.

  Piper didn’t know what she was talking about.

  After switching off her bedside lamp, Elena tucked herself beneath her covers, with her head securely under her pillow.

  She’d been watching romantic movies all day — stupid move — and then she’d soaked in a hot bath. The way the water glided over her breasts, dammit, had made her think about sex — sex with one Tyler Knight.

  She heard the front door open and then voices.

  Piper was home early. She’d been driving for her brother earlier, so she had thought she was safe in no one answering Tyler’s knock.

  Footsteps sounded outside in the hallway and Elena found herself holding her breath. She could pretend to be asleep and hopefully the two of them would go away. Heck, Tyler and Piper got along great. Maybe the two of them would hook up.

  That thought was incredibly depressing.

  “Elena, you have a visitor,” Piper called through the doorway.

  “I’m trying to sleep,” Elena called out, which was stupid cause then they knew she was awake.

  “Coming in.”

  That was her only warning before her door was thrust open and her light flipped on.

  “Look who I found on our doorstep. He insisted on seeing you. Since you’re never in bed this early, I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

  Piper gave her a wink behind Tyler’s back, then made a kissy-face before she turned and left. The traitor!

  “You’ve been avoiding me, Elena?” Tyler said, moving confidently into her room. He looked around, and she felt herself blushing as she tried to see if anything was out of place.

  Of course things were. It was her bedroom.

  He moved over to her favorite chair, a dark green stuffed armchair that had seen better days, but was the most comfortable piece of furniture she owned. And he picked up the nightie she had hanging on the back.

  The look he sent her had her blushing and sputtering at the same time.

  “Don’t touch my stuff,” she snapped. She wanted to jump out of the bed, but the nightie she was wearing was even more minuscule than the one he had in his hot hands. Not the sort of thing to parade around in front of a man she wasn’t going to have sex with.

  “I like it,” he said. “Do you always wear silky little nighties? And what are you wearing now?”

  “None of your business.”

  He looked at her comforter as if he could see through it, and that made her clutch the thing even more tightly.

  “It smells marvelous in here. Are you burning a candle?”

  “I did earlier, but then I decided to go to sleep,” she growled.

  “At …” He looked down at his watch, then looked back at her. “… Nine on a Saturday night?”

  “It’s none of your business when I do or don’t go to bed, Tyler. And your presence in my bedroom is a clear invasion of privacy. You’re trespassing.”

  “Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now with your hair rumpled, the top of your nightie dipping deliciously low, and your eyes spitting fire?”

  Dang. She hadn’t realized that her blanket had slipped down. She tugged harder on it.

  “This is so not appropriate,” she gasped. If only she’d said that with some sort of force.

  “When will you realize that there isn’t a question here — we’re going to be together, and that’s indisputable. You have nothing to feel guilty about by wanting me.”

  “I don’t feel guilty, and I have no idea why you think I do.”

  “You’ve been lying to me since we met, and whether you want to admit it or not, you still are.”

  If she didn’t stop this now, she didn’t know how far it would go. Her raging ho
rmones weren’t doing her a lick of good. Ugh! She didn’t need to think about him and licking in the same train of thought.

  “Look, Tyler. I told you I screwed up. I’m sorry I lied. I’m sorry I got you hot and bothered and walked out. I’m trying to move forward now, and I won’t do anything like that again. Can’t you please just request another attorney, one who can give you far more time?”

  “No. I think you’re the most qualified person for what I have in mind.”

  The man had no qualms, no interest in hiding how he felt or what he expected. Yes, this was a clear invasion of her privacy, or her professionalism, of her life, but her boss wouldn’t care. And what she’d done with Tyler already — more precisely, what she’d let him do to her — didn’t exactly put her in the best light.

  It took her a minute to find her voice. “This is insane, Tyler. You have to realize that.”

  “I don’t think so. I decided I liked what you started back in the bar,” he said with a wolfish smile. “And I want to keep on playing. Once you start something involving others, the decision to say when it ends is no longer yours alone.”

  “What do you expect from me?”

  He stood up very, very slowly, and she forgot to breathe when he moved toward her and stood at the foot of her bed, all six-plus feet of him, all breathtaking, all intoxicating male. He leaned down, and she scooted back, using the precious few inches she had.

  “I expect us to see this through,” he said.

  His voice aroused her in ways she hadn’t known were possible.

  “Why?” she gulped.

  He threw her a look that she couldn’t quite interpret, and he was silent for several heart-stopping moments. Finally, she remembered to take in a much-needed breath of air.

  “You don’t see it, do you?”

  Now it was her turn to be silent for a moment. Then, when she spoke, she wasn’t even sure he could hear her, her voice was so quiet.

  “See what?”

  He walked around to the side of her bed and got even closer. Damn, he smelled incredible.

  “You’re mine, Elena. I’ve wanted you from the moment we met in that bar. I tried to fight it, but some things are fated. Why are you fighting it?”