Page 7 of The Stranger

My heart flutters in my chest. The last time I felt this excited was when Dad bought me my first car at sixteen. “Yes! I mean, you can also teach me how to ride a motorcycle. You know, I like to go big or go home.”

The side of his mouth lifts, making my core pulse. He has no business looking this good. “Go big, huh? You can call this bike. That’s one syllable. ‘Motorcycle’ is a bit of a mouthful.”

“Maybe I like my mouth full.” My mouth works faster than my brain, and I smack both palms to it in horror. Where the hell did that come from? Why did I say that? I don’t talk like this. Crap. Crap. Double crap.

Tyler’s eyelids droop briefly before lifting again, like he’s trying to process what I just said. Realization dawns, and his face splits into a wicked grin. “Do you, now? Because I won’t disappoint.”

“What?!”

“What?”

“What?”

“What?”

The absurdity of our conversation makes me burst out laughing. “Oh God. That was embarrassing. I’m sorry. I spit out the first thing that comes to mind when I’m nervous.”

“Do I make you nervous?”

“Yes! N-no. I mean…” I clench my hand and stare up at him. He’s so tall that I have to tilt my head back. “A little, maybe.”

“Is it a good kind of nervous?”

“There’s a good kind?”

Tyler shoves his hands into his pockets and lifts those broad shoulders, muscles rippling across them. I had no idea there was such a thing as toned, sculpted shoulders. What exercises does he do to get those? “You know, do I make you nervous because I intrigue you, or do I make you nervous because you feel unsafe around me?”

I wave both hands and shake my head simultaneously. Look at me losing all the grace and elegance I had a few hours ago. “Of course not! I feel safe around you, I swear. I wouldn’t have stayed in your studio if I didn’t.”

“Fair point.”

“I just … it’s … okay, how do I say it? It’s been a while since I was with someone I can be myself around.”

Tyler raises the pierced eyebrow. “So the guy…?”

I roll my eyes and let out an unladylike snort. My mother would get a conniption if she saw me behaving this way. “Martin has this image of me in his head. Always perfect. Always put together. Always says the right things at the right time.”

“So you played into that.”

I nod slowly, the shame seeping through my bones. “I’ve been playing a role since I was a kid.” I throw a cautious glance at the building behind me before facing him again. “As their only child, the expectations of me have been high since the day I was born, so speaking what’s on my mind is not the norm, nor is it encouraged.”

“That must be hard, but at least now I know you like your mouth full.”

Oh, my freaking God. Are we talking about the thing I think we’re talking about? Heat spreads deep into my core, and I cover my face with my hands. “I am so sorry. That was not me. That was someone else. It’s so inappropriate. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

Tyler’s voice drops an octave. “Not yet, but you will.” He massages the back of his neck. “Go on, Maura. I’ll leave once you get inside the doors. What time do you have to be at work tomorrow?”

“I don’t need to go to work. After today, I just want to rot in bed.”

“Sounds fun. Can I join?” He grins as he says it, eyes twinkling with mischief. He makes it sound like a joke, but the feathering in his jaw tells me otherwise.

Tyler is gauging my reaction.

The air is pregnant with tension and unspoken questions. This is all unfamiliar territory to me. Dropping hints and basically throwing myself at another man? I’ve never done it before, but I can’t shrug off this attraction to him either. What he just said is also confirmation that I’m not imagining things. He is just as drawn to me.

At least, I hope so.

“Depends.”

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