Libby’s smile seemed to freeze on her face as she stared at the girl. She slowly reached out and touched Becca’s cheek with the back of her fingers.
“What do you know, Becca?” she whispered.
Becca’s smile didn’t hold any of the wistfulness it had before.
“You know, Miss Libby. You really do.” She bobbed forward, kissed her on the cheek and ran off.
Libby slowly straightened up. She couldn’t keep her eyes off the small figure skipping along the sidewalk.
“Cute kid,” Tyler commented, not noticing the intensity of Libby’s gaze. “I bet you looked just like her when you were her age.”
“I guess I did,” she murmured.
Libby was aware of Tyler’s questioning looks as he drove her back to her car. She wasn’t sure what to say to him. She knew she couldn’t tell him the truth.
“Are you all right?” he asked her as he waited by her car while she unlocked the door.
She started to nod, then saw the look of uncertainty on his face.
“It’s not you,” she assured him, touching his arm.
“Don’t feel bad about the little girl saying you’d be a good mom.” He apparently misunderstood. “A good teacher like you is bound to be a good mom.”
She shook her head, amused by his comment. “You’ve never seen me teach.”
He dipped his head and nuzzled her ear. “Hey, you can keep me after school anytime. I’ll pick you up at seven, okay?”
She shivered under the warmth of his breath. “I’ll be ready.”
“So will I.” There was no doubt what he was talking about. “You better get in your car before I change my mind and order in pizza.”
“Oh no, we are definitely going out.” She slid into her car and started the engine. Tyler stood nearby until she drove off.
“Well, well, look who’s teacher’s pet.”
Tyler mouthed a pithy curse before he turned around to face the speaker.
“Hello, Renee,” he said calmly.
“Hello my butt,” she snarled. “I won’t even ask you what you were doing with her. That was pretty obvious! What I want to know is why with her?” Renee had one hand on her hip as she glared at him.
Tyler studied the woman standing before him and couldn’t help comparing her to the woman who’d just left.
Renee’s hair was brushed in a casual style that intimated she’d just gotten out of bed. Her makeup was too artfully applied, from her gray eye shadow and navy liner to her red-glossed lips. Her sweater looked to be one size too small in order to show off her full breasts, and her jeans were also more than a little too tight. She wore her coat open so no man would miss her.
Tyler felt as if a light had gone on inside him. He had lusted after Renee for years, and yes, he’d finally gotten her. But he had always felt as if he needed more. Now he knew. Renee had always seen him as a trophy she could display to everyone. As if she’d won some contest.
Libby had given him a hard time, yes, but he deserved it. And he doubted she’d ever view him as a prize. Now he wished he could give her everything she deserved. And she deserved a hell of a lot more than he could ever give her.
Renee’s eyes were flat with hate as she stared at him.
“So the teacher is nothing more than a little slut. I wonder what the sainted Miss Regina would think about that,” she taunted.
Tyler didn’t hesitate. He strode toward her until he stood over her.
“You will not say anything negative about Libby, do you hear me?” He spoke low and furiously. “She’s never done anything to you.”
Renee wasn’t about to back down. “She took you from me.”
“Let me make this perfectly clear, Renee. I was never yours to begin with,” he stated in a tone that brooked no argument. “We had a lot of laughs. I’m sorry it ended this way between us.”
Her furious expression took any beauty out of her face.
“If you want someone like her, then you aren’t the man I thought you were, Tyler. Just don’t come crawling back to me when she decides she wants a man who has some class.” She turned on her heel and walked swiftly away.
Tyler watched her hips wiggling from side to side as she approached the mall entrance.
“You never lose your touch, Renee,” he murmured before he headed back to his truck. “And I’m sure in no time you’ll find someone to console you.”
Chapter Fifteen
“It’s just a dinner date,” Libby kept repeating, as if it was an important chant. The words were meant to calm her, but they did the exact opposite.
She took another shower and afterward rubbed a body lotion all over her body, which not only left a pleasant scent but shimmered under the light. She used a heavier hand than usual with her makeup as she shadowed her eyes with taupe and applied a dusty green liner. Tawny peach blush and lipstick were the finishing touches.
When she had stepped out of the shower, she had hot rollers on the counter all ready to go.
“I gather you approve of my going out this evening,” she said out loud as she rolled her hair.
Yes, I do.
Libby narrowed her eyes. “You’re not in this room, are you?”
Of course not. I would not dream of intruding upon a lady’s toilette.
Libby fastened the last roller and dropped her arms.
“Becca has something to do with this, doesn’t she?”
Is that what you think?
“I don’t appreciate your answering me with another question.” Libby fluffed her bangs with her fingers.
Then why are you asking me if I would use a small child to achieve my goal? I have trouble imagining you would even consider such a thought.
“Very funny.” She starting taking out the rollers. Then she brushed her hair into a fluffy golden cloud swirling around her face.
You look very lovely, my dear.
Libby looked around with narrowed eyes. “I thought you couldn’t see me.”
Only when I wish, but I would never intrude when you require privacy.
“You better not.”
She went into her bedroom and put on a calf-length wool skirt the shade of dark cinnamon and teamed it with a deep gold, hip-length sweater and brown boots.
“All right, Matthias, I admit you have excellent taste.”
“Of course I do.” He appeared at her side with a large, amber, oval-shaped pendant, which he handed to her. A pair of matching earrings were next. “Someone had to do something. A scullery maid couldn’t have dressed as drably as you were.”
“I should be offended, but I’m not.” Libby added the jewelry and stepped back to admire the entire effect. “Not as flashy as Renee, but I’ll do.”
“Tyler has never truly cared for Renee as he has come to care for you, Libby,” he told her. “From the beginning, he sensed there was something special about you. I am sure you can see that the two of you were always meant to be together.”
“I wasn’t sure at first. He was so different from the Tyler I knew.”
“That was because you were not here. He grew up more a rebel until he started settling down a few years ago. Now he’s starting to realize it’s time to settle down even more.”
Libby felt an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach.
“I can’t stay here, Matthias. He’s Tyler, yes, but he’s not the Tyler I fell in love with.”
“He is your Tyler. He is just a Tyler you met later in life.”
A staccato tap at the door startled her. She knew it had to be Tyler.
“Have a good evening, Libby.” Matthias was gone in a blink of the eye.
Libby picked up her coat and purse and headed for the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to find Tyler wearing a crisply ironed blue shirt and a neatly knotted tie under his brown leather jacket.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly.
“Tyler, you look as if you’re strangling in that tie.” She tried not to smile at his apparent discomfort, but her li
ps still tilted upward. “Does the restaurant we’re going to require a tie?”
He shook his head. “I just wanted to show you I can be a gentleman.”
“And you’ve done it beautifully. Now please take it off before you choke.”
He breathed a sigh of relief as he tugged the knot loose, then pulled the tie off over his head. As Tyler tucked it into his jacket pocket, Libby reached up and unfastened the top shirt button. She smoothed his collar down and gave it a gentle pat.
“Now your face isn’t turning purple,” she teased.
He had the grace to look sheepish. “I guess you can tell I don’t wear ties too much.”
“No reason when you don’t need to.”
Tyler took her coat and helped her into it. His hands rested on her shoulders.
“If I want to get you to that restaurant, I better keep my hands off,” he murmured, guiding her outside.
They had just reached Tyler’s truck when Cyn walked out the back door.
“Tyler Barnes—my, don’t you look handsome tonight.” She walked over, a vision in fuchsia and cobalt blue under a purple wool cape that swept down to her ankles. She turned to study Libby. “I must say, the two of you make a handsome couple.” Her eyes gleamed with delight. “Lovey, this man is known for his conquests. Make sure you break his heart before he breaks yours.”
“Cyn, you are a wicked woman,” Tyler teased, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “And,” he said in a mock whisper, “the lady already has my heart.”
“Have a good evening, children.” She stared Tyler down. “And no hanky-panky this time.”
Libby gulped. Cyn did know about his staying over that night.
Her landlady headed for the garage. “The Bennetts are coming over to play bridge,” she announced. “I hope. I have another bottle of Bordeaux out here. Have a good time.”
Libby frowned. Her parents didn’t play bridge. They hated bridge! But then, Tyler’s parents were living in Arizona, so she had to accustom herself to all these changes.
“I just bet I know who the fourth in that bridge game is,” Tyler said slyly.
Libby grinned. “So do I. I don’t think the poor man has a chance.”
The restaurant Tyler chose was on the edge of town and made up to look like an old English manor house. The place was familiar to her even though she’d never been inside. Dinner here was a treat she and Tyler had planned to give themselves when Sara was older. Libby felt a twinge of guilt that she would be experiencing it now.
They were seated in one of the dining rooms near a fireplace that roared merrily. The way the tables were situated, each was given a certain degree of privacy.
“This is lovely.” Libby smiled at the maître d’ as he handed her a menu.
“I’ve never been here before, but I thought you would like it,” Tyler murmured.
She felt warmth deep down at the knowledge he’d never brought another woman here.
Tyler accepted the waiter’s suggestion for wine and they chose their meals.
All through dinner, Libby kept Tyler talking about the town and its residents, under the guise of learning more about her new home. She heard familiar names, and by getting him to talk about his high school experiences was able to reconcile his memories with her own.
“It’s not fair you’ve had me talking all evening,” he complained as they were served a lemon soufflé for dessert. “I want to find out about you.”
“You already know everything about me. When I arrived here, I was starting a new life,” she told him as she tasted the soufflé and enjoyed the tart tang of lemon in her mouth.
Tyler’s eyes darkened as he reached across the table and took her hand in his.
“I’d like to think I’m part of that new life,” he said huskily.
Libby could feel the heat settling low in her center and fanning outward. By the slight widening of his eyes, she knew Tyler felt the same way.
He coughed a couple of times to clear his throat.
“Check, please.”
ONCE THEY WERE SETTLED in the truck with the heater going, Tyler’s first thought was to go back to his house or Libby’s apartment. But dammit! He wasn’t going to. He already knew Libby was someone very special. He could feel it in his bones. The last thing he wanted was to screw this up. He cast about his mind for something to do. As he drove past a brightly lit corner, he discovered just the thing.
“Let’s get you a tree,” he said suddenly.
Libby’s head snapped around. “Excuse me?”
“A tree.” He pulled over to the curb and parked the truck. “It’s Christmas. You need a tree.”
She looked uneasy as he helped her out of the truck. “I don’t need a tree.”
“Everyone needs a tree.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her down to the tree lot. Christmas music blared out from loudspeakers and a large inflated Santa stood on top of the tent, his mittened hand waving back and forth.
Tyler ignored Libby’s pathetic attempt to dig in her heels.
“I’ll get my tree, too. Will that make you feel better?”
“Not really,” she said, pulling back with no avail.
By now they were onto the lot.
Libby took a deep breath. “I admit the fresh smell of pine is great.” She tentatively touched a branch of evergreen.
“Here you go.” Tyler pulled out one tree and held it for her inspection.
Her eyes grew to the size of saucers. “It’s got to be twelve feet tall!”
He tipped his head back. “Damn! You’re right. We could cut a hole in your roof.”
“We could not!”
“Okay, we can cut the top off.”
“What’s wrong with it going in your house?”
“Are you kidding? It’s way too tall.” He put the tree back.
Tyler led her over to another section of the lot where the trees were shorter. He chose a variety and held them out for Libby’s inspection. She entered into the spirit by seriously considering each one’s good and bad points.
“It’s too short.”
“Too tall.”
“Too full.”
“Too skinny.”
“That one side is way too thin.”
“It’s crooked.”
“The top is cut all wrong so you can’t put a star or angel on it.”
Tyler held what must have been the tenth tree while Libby circled it, stopping to check a branch or roll the needles between her fingers to ensure they weren’t too dry.
“It just doesn’t look right,” she said finally.
“What do you mean it doesn’t look right? The top is fine, the needles aren’t dry and it’s not the least bit crooked.” Tyler advanced on her until they were toe-to-toe. “Libby Douglas, you will take this tree or I will kiss you senseless in front of every person here,” he whispered.
Devilish lights seemed to sparkle in her eyes while she hesitated, as if wondering whether he would actually follow through with his threat. Or if she would mind if he did. “It’s a lovely tree.”
“Damn straight.”
“Now we have to find yours.”
Tyler looked around, grabbed a tree, shook it out and looked it up and down. “Perfect.”
If Libby thought differently she didn’t say anything. A drop of something cold landed on her nose. She looked up and cried out with delight.
“It’s starting to snow!”
“Hey, Tyler, you two finally pick out a tree?” one of the men in the tent called out. Laughter followed his question.
Tyler looked at Libby’s face as more questions were directed their way, some a bit ribald. Her nose was pink from the cold, but he sensed the pink dotting her cheeks wasn’t from the biting air.
“I know. They can’t help themselves,” she guessed. “They see a pretty girl and remember their own randy days.”
He was taken aback by her statement. “You read minds?”
She shook her head. “Just human nature.”
He brushe
d the back of his fingers against her cheek. “I’ll take care of the trees. You get back in the truck to stay warm.” He handed her the keys, his fingers lingering as they touched Libby’s.
She nodded and walked swiftly away. Tyler was vastly grateful for the cold air that dampened his arousal so quickly. The men in the tent would have had a field day with him.
He paid for the trees and had them loaded in the truck bed in no time. The motor was already running and the truck interior warm.
Libby gave him a sly smile. “So did they offer you their age-old advice on how to handle a woman?”
He grimaced. “I guess you could say that.” He shifted gears.
Libby sat by him, their thighs touching.
“I didn’t want to celebrate this Christmas,” she said suddenly.
Tyler didn’t have to ask what she meant. He merely took her hand in his and laid it on his right thigh. No words were spoken because none were needed.
“LOOK AT CYN’S HOUSE!”
Libby laughed as Tyler drove into the driveway of the house, which was dripping with colored lights. Candy canes lined the walkway to the front porch and the perimeter of the yard. Two wooden soldiers stood guard at the end of the driveway, while a lighted snowman stood in the middle of the yard.
“She said she always did it up big,” Libby said. “I just had no idea she went this far.”
“Look up at the roof,” Tyler suggested.
She craned her neck and could see Santa in his sleigh with his reindeer perched on the roof.
“What do you think, Teach? A little overdone?”
She could only shake her head. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she’d start laughing and not be able to stop.
Tyler carried Libby’s tree into her apartment and set it in a corner of the living room.
“I guess I’ll be buying decorations for a tree.” Libby stood back to make sure it was straight in its stand.
Tyler came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her body.
“While I’d like nothing more than to stay, I’m going to be a gentleman and say good-night.” He turned her in his arms and brushed his lips against hers, then deepened their kiss. By the time he lifted his head, she was clinging to him. He took a deep breath to still the forest fire raging inside him. With great reluctance, he stepped back. “Good night, Libby.” His voice was husky with desire.
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