“Alfred?”
“A lovely gentleman who is circling.” Ty chuckled at that and Lauren heard Amy say something in the background. “You obviously have other things to do. What’s up?”
“Sorry. I don’t mean to pry...”
Oh, that didn’t sound promising. “But you will.” Lauren folded her arms across her chest. “Go ahead. Spit it out.”
“Maybe you know already.”
“I don’t think I do.”
“Mark went to F5 Friday night to pick a fight with Kyle.”
“Oh no!” Lauren sat down hard. “Were either of them hurt?”
“Mostly their pride. I hear that Kyle was punched in the nose.”
“I doubt that Mark walked away unscathed.”
“No. But the thing is that he accused Kyle of breaking up your marriage so that he could sleep with you.”
“Ah.”
“And Kyle pretty much admitted that he was sleeping with you, which means he’s breaking a promise to me to leave my sisters alone.”
Lauren bristled. “And so you, as my big brother and morality cop, are calling to tell me to cease and desist from any intimate activities with Kyle?”
“You’re offended.” He sounded taken aback. Lauren heard Amy say “I told you so,” which just made her like her sister-in-law-to-be even more.
“You bet I’m offended,” Lauren replied. “Who I do, and when and where and why, is really none of your business, Tyler.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Well, it’s a bit late for that. In case you missed the memo, my husband had sex with someone else outside the restrooms at F5.”
“I can’t believe I let Kyle tell you about that. I should have guessed...”
“Because Kyle would only offer to be the bearer of bad news if we’d been intimate? Ty! He was being a friend.”
“Lauren, I just know how Kyle is...”
“And so do I, thank you very much. You had no business insisting that he make some promise to you about your sisters.”
“Well...”
“And it makes no difference anyway because I called him.”
“That’s what he said. But why?”
“Because I know how he is!” Lauren could tell that Tyler was astonished and she felt a little bit of compassion for him. He was trying to protect her and their sisters, after all. His heart was in the right place. She continued in a more gentle tone. “Maybe you don’t know everything about everybody, Ty, and maybe you should adjust your assumptions accordingly.”
There was a long pause. “Okay,” Ty said, then cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. This is not my business and I shouldn’t have intervened. I was just...”
“You were just being the big brother you’ve always been,” Lauren said, then sighed. “The thing is, Ty, that I’m not a little girl in need of a champion anymore.”
“I know, but...”
“It’s okay. I know you meant well. But it wasn’t a thing, it was just a fling, and it was good for what it was, and I went in with my eyes wide open. Kyle is a good guy, and I was glad to have him to call. I wasn’t feeling very strong or attractive, but now I am.”
“Okay,” Ty didn’t sound entirely convinced but Lauren knew he was retreating. “I guess I should also apologize for saying you had no other secrets that could shock Mom.”
Lauren laughed. “Well, don’t go shocking her with this truth.”
“Me? No. I have a sudden and burning desire to choose bathroom fixtures.”
“Sounds like a plan. How’s the renovation going?”
“Costing more than anticipated and it’s going to take longer than hoped, but Amy’s happy.”
Lauren smiled, because that was the bottom line for Ty. “You should be busy enough being her champion,” she dared to suggest and her brother laughed.
“You’re right, of course. I’ve just been watching out for all of you for so long that it’s a tough habit to break. Consider it done now, but you can always call me if you need to.”
“I know. Thanks, Ty.”
“Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“And this was your way of leading up to it?” Lauren teased.
“No.” Ty chuckled. “I just keep forgetting to ask you.”
“It must be a good one.”
He lowered his voice and she guessed that Amy wasn’t supposed to hear. “Remember those book boxes you used to make? Do you still do that?”
Lauren smiled at the reminder of her abandoned hobby. She’d taken a course on making books by hand, which had led her to making boxes that looked like books and which were themed. “I haven’t for a while.”
“Would you consider making one for me, for Amy?” He whispered and she had to strain to hear him. “I want to surprise her with our honeymoon trip in a special way, and all I can think of is one of those amazing boxes you used to make.”
“Where are you going for your honeymoon?”
“I’m taking her to Italy for three weeks. It’s a surprise.”
“You are her champion.”
“I’m hoping that we can find some family of hers there, maybe cousins or something.”
“Either way, you’ll have three weeks in Italy to enjoy.”
“Exactly.” Ty hesitated. “What do you think? I don’t want to just hand her plane tickets or email her an itinerary. I’d like to do it with style.”
Lauren smiled. “You do everything with style. I’d be happy to help.”
“Anything you need, just let me know. Whatever it costs, just let me know.”
“Mostly it’s about time, Ty.”
“Then I’ll pay you for that.”
“I know. Thanks, Ty. This is just the challenge I need right now.”
“Good!”
After he was gone, Lauren drummed her fingers on the counter. She supposed the fact that Mark had been angry enough to pick a fight might mean there was a chance of their marriage being repaired. The right thing to do would be to call him and talk it out. She couldn’t dismiss Grandma Trixie’s comments, though, and suspected her grandmother was right about Mark’s nature.
Plus Lauren wanted her day undisturbed to sort out the apartment. She wanted to find her bookmaking materials now and start thinking about that gift box for Ty.
She didn’t want to call Mark. She didn’t even want to save her marriage, and that made her feel a bit wicked. The fact was that Lauren was enjoying having her apartment and her life to herself again.
Grandma Trixie had told her to make the choices that made her happy, not the ones expected of her. It occurred to Lauren that she only managed to do that with Kyle.
She always asked him for what she wanted.
Maybe that was his superpower, bringing out her hidden truths.
She poured herself a cup of coffee and remembered that first magical night.
They couldn’t have gone to the hotel room Lauren was sharing with Mandy and Grace, but there was no need to even talk about it. Kyle had a hotel room of his own, one of those suites with a kitchen and living room.
And he was right about sex.
He took his time proving it to her.
After the most amazing sex she’d ever had, Lauren borrowed the denim shirt he’d been wearing while he ordered in.
They sat at the little dining table eating tempura and Lauren thought nothing could be more perfect. “Are you going to tell me your surname now?” she teased, her smile fading when Kyle shook his head.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Why would I?”
Lauren suspected that she looked crushed, because she was.
Kyle pushed aside his dinner and leaned across the table, holding her gaze with an intensity that had become familiar. “There’s no point,” he said gently.
“I don’t see why you’d keep it secret...”
“Because you’ll think this is a beginning but it’s an ending.”
“You mean tha
t all you wanted was sex,” she said, devastated. She would have left the table but Kyle caught her hand.
“Because all I believe in is right now.”
“I thought you were different from other guys.”
“I am. I never lied to you.”
“I thought this was something special.”
“It was something special. That’s why it has to be protected.”
She watched him warily. “What does that mean?”
“It means that I’ve been watching relationships disintegrate all my life, and I decided a long time ago that I wasn’t going to play that game. I want the best part, every time, and I’ll take a pass on the shitty part.”
“You don’t know that there’s going to be a shitty part.”
“Yes, I do.” He spoke with a finality that Lauren thought was really sad.
“Maybe it’s self-fulfilling,” she said. “Maybe because you think it will end, it does.”
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t think it matters what anyone’s expectation is. Relationships always go the same way, sooner or later.” He smiled at her. “And I’ll avoid that part, thanks just the same.”
“This could be different,” she said, unable to stop herself even though she guessed what he’d say.
“And if we walk away right now, we can hold on to that belief, even though I know it isn’t true.” He cleaned the table, his gestures filled with purpose. “Go home, Lor, and fall in love with someone who deserves you.”
“But...”
His finger landed on her lips. “It’s not me. We both know that. This was fun. It was awesome. And this night is when it ends.” He surveyed her with a smile. “I’m always going to remember you like this, in my shirt, looking so amazing that you take my breath away.” Lauren’s heart squeezed tightly. He might have kissed her then, and could have seduced her all over again, but Lauren wasn’t interested in the compromise he offered.
She turned away and took off his shirt, chucking it across the bed. She dressed quickly and would have left, but by the time she turned around, Kyle was dressed as well.
“I’ll walk you back to your hotel,” was all he said.
She hated that he wasn’t going to argue with her, then was angry with herself for expecting him to do something other than what he’d said he’d do.
But Kyle always did.
Maybe honesty was less palatable than people thought.
She preferred that Kyle had been straight with her about their future, even though it hadn’t been easy to hear at the time. What she really wanted to do on this morning was talk to him again and hear his side of the story.
Maybe more than that.
Before she could change her mind, she took her grandmother’s advice and did the thing that would make her happy—not the responsible thing, or the thing that her mom would have expected her to do.
Lauren called Kyle.
* * *
Kyle’s nose hurt like hell. The bruising was spectacular, particularly around one eye. He’d awakened to blossoming purple on Saturday morning. His nose was puffy and tender. He was so shocked by his own appearance that he took the weekend off and watched movies alone.
He jumped when his phone rang Sunday morning and couldn’t deny the rush of pleasure when he saw that it was Lauren. He shouldn’t take the call and he knew it, but he couldn’t resist. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Lauren replied. “I hear you were wounded in the call of duty.”
He felt himself grin, just because she had called him. The sound of her voice made everything better. “Defending another damsel in distress, that’s me.”
“I’m not in distress.”
“Oh, but you might have been, if you’d heard him.”
“Should I be flattered that the two of you were fighting over me?” Her tone was light and teasing, which made him smile.
“I think actually we were fighting over me.”
Lauren laughed. “You think everything is about you!”
“His issue was that I was sleeping with you so, in this case, I think it was about me.”
“And you confirmed it?”
Kyle winced, then grimaced because it hurt. “I couldn’t resist. I told him no one slept that night.”
Lauren laughed again. “Well, it’ll be good for him to think he isn’t the focus of my world, much less indispensable.”
Kyle paused at that, then asked what he most wanted to know. “Do you think you’ll get back together?”
“No, not really, but I should talk to him about it.” Her tone was thoughtful. “I can’t duck him forever and if we split up, we’ll have to talk about divorce.”
Kyle nodded, feeling that silence was golden in this moment.
He didn’t want to end the call though.
And Lauren noticed. “So, are you okay? You don’t seem very talkative.”
“Just too much time on my own,” he admitted. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“I don’t do phone sex, you know,” she teased.
“You could try. For me.” He was glad when she laughed again.
“But wait, I thought you liked it all alone on your island. Solitude and tranquility.”
“I do or I did,” Kyle admitted. “But then this siren started singing from the rocks and she challenged my assumptions.”
“A siren? Like a fire truck siren?”
“Like a mermaid. A beautiful woman with an enchanting song.” He cleared his throat. “‘She walks in beauty, like the night; Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright, Meet in her aspect and her eyes. Thus mellow’d to that tender light, Which heaven to gaudy day denies.’”
Lauren didn’t reply and Kyle wondered if he’d said too much.
Or maybe Byron had.
He had spent too much time alone this weekend.
He changed the subject fast. “How’s your grandmother?”
“Great!” Lauren responded with such obvious relief that Kyle knew he shouldn’t have quoted the verse.
Lauren called him about sex and only sex.
He needed to remember that.
In fact, the realization made him straighten, because she had called. He’d thought Thursday night that he’d never hear from her again. Maybe Mark had done him a favor.
“I really like the new color in her hair,” she enthused. “It makes her look younger, and as playful as she is. She’s eyeing some guy at the deli counter. We had a good day.”
“Good.”
“And how are your battle wounds?”
“Are you going to offer to heal them with your tears?” He kept his tone teasing.
Lauren laughed again. “No. I do feel a little responsible, though.”
“Don’t. I’ll heal. And I’ve always been told that purple is a good color for me.”
“Are the bruises going green yet? I love that part.”
“No. I still have that to look forward to.”
Her tone was mischievous when she continued. “Maybe I should stop by and take some pictures.”
“There will be no photographic evidence.” Kyle was firm.
“But when you go to work, someone will take pictures.”
“I’ll take the week off.”
“That bad? Maybe I should come and visit you.”
“Well, since you don’t do phone sex...” Kyle said, letting his voice trail suggestively.
Lauren laughed again—but she didn’t say she wouldn’t. Kyle was encouraged. “What’s your grocery situation?”
“It’s not nearly Wednesday and I’ve been here all weekend, instead of out and about. Things are getting dire.” He sighed, playing for sympathy. “I might have to resort to lentils.”
“I hear they’re very good for you.”
“But I don’t like being good. It’s more fun being naughty.”
She chuckled again. “You must be sick of cooking for yourself. I always do when I’m home alone.” She hesitated and he hoped he could will her to make
the choice he wanted her to make. “If you can bear the thought of take-out, I’ll bring something for dinner.”
“Deal,” Kyle said immediately.
“That was a quick agreement. I’ll up the ante and threaten to bring Chinese, maybe even Szechuan with all the deep-fried yummy stuff.”
“You’re on.”
“Not worried about your fat intake?”
“I plan to burn every single calorie before you leave.” There. He’d said it.
Lauren laughed but Kyle could hear that she was pleased. “I guess that means there aren’t any other injuries I should be warned about,” she said. “No more critical ones?”
This day was turning around in a big way.
“Only my nose,” Kyle said. “Lucky for you.”
“Lucky for me or lucky for you?” she taunted, leaving him smiling as she ended the call. He headed into the bedroom to clean up and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He looked excited. Filled with anticipation—despite his bruises.
Even though this would be the third time she’d been inside his apartment.
Kyle sobered. Okay. His carefully constructed walls were crumbling fast. It was time to save the situation before it was too late. He knew he was no good for Lauren. He knew he couldn’t say no to her. He wanted her again and again and again, and every time she asked, he’d agree to whatever she wanted.
So, the trick to making sure he wasn’t the next asshole to break her heart was to make sure she stopped asking him for anything.
It wasn’t the happiest prospect, but Kyle was going to do the right thing. He braced his hands on his hips and looked around his apartment. Lor was conservative. She’d balked at the suggestion of their using sex toys. She’d been faintly disapproving of the introductory BDSM courses being offered at F5.
Which meant Kyle knew exactly how to discourage her interest in more sex with him.
* * *
It was a good thing that Lauren knew that sex was the only thing Kyle wanted from her—or any woman.
It would be too easy to hope for more, despite what he said. She should know better. After all, she’d made that mistake once before.
She reminded herself of that meeting at F5 and the way he’d turned away, as if they were strangers. This relationship had no future, even if it was a lot of fun. It was going to end even more quickly than her marriage to Mark and for exactly the same reason.
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