Page 2 of Until You

She grinned. “Obviously.”

He moved toward her, unable to stop himself. “Looks like we both have the same idea.”

She laughed. “If your idea is hiding from Brittany and drinking Randy’s import beer, then we do.”

He gestured to the empty spot on the workbench next to her, and she lifted her shoulder into a half-shrug invitation. Tyler hopped up on the bench and perched next to her, leaving a few inches between them. “So what’s a nice girl like you doing in a musty garage like this?”

She laughed again, uncrossing her long legs and turning toward him, her eyes full of mischief. “I bet you use that line on all the girls.”

“Only the ones I find in musty garages.” Up close like this, he could see that her dark eyes were a milk chocolate brown and framed by long, sexy eyelashes. She lifted her beer and took a sip, and he suddenly found himself jealous of the bottle in her hand.

“I know why you’re hiding,” she said as she set the beer next to her on the bench.

He smirked. “Okay, tell me why I’m hiding.”

“Brittany. She’s playing matchmaker again.” His eyes widened and she gave him a knowing smile. “It wasn’t that hard to figure out. For the last hour, she’s been sending women to you like they’re going through the turnstile at a ride in Disneyland, and you keep sending them away.” She flicked her fingers to demonstrate.

He lifted his eyebrows as he studied her face, then teased, “You’ve been watching me? I haven’t seen you before now.”

She cocked her head to the side, rolling her eyes. “Amateur. I’ve spent most of my time hiding. You obviously haven’t known Brittany for long.”

“About a year.” While they’d gone to high school together, they hadn’t been friends. He’d gotten to know her through Randy.

She laughed again. “I have about thirty years on you.”

Thirty years? Had she gone to school with them?

She gestured to his beer. “Since you have exceptional taste in beer and hiding spots, I’ll be generous and give you a few pointers.”

“Should I be taking notes?” he teased. While she was flirty, she wasn’t coming on to him, and it only intrigued him more.

She shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt, but I suspect we’ll be seeing each other again in a month, so I can give you a refresher course at the wedding.”

Finally. Something to actually look forward to at the wedding.

“First,” she said in a conspiratorial tone,“Britt comes across as this sweet and unassuming woman, but don’t let that fool you.”

“No?”

“No,” she said, pointing her finger at him. “She uses her charm to get you to do what she wants.” She stabbed his chest to make her point. “Look at poor Randy.”

Tyler was loyal to the people who stood by him, and he was about to defend Britt until he saw she was teasing. There was no doubt that Randy had been ensnared by Brittany, but it was just as obvious the adoration went both ways.

“You have to be firm.” She brought her hand down sideways onto her open palm, like a karate chop. “If you show the slightest sign of waffling, she’ll pounce.”

“So,” he said slowly, “you’re saying I haven’t been firm enough? That I can’t hold my own?” He gave her an arrogant grin. “Because I have a nickname that disputes that.”

“Oh, really?” she asked, her face lighting up in mock surprise. “Are we talking about cute nicknames that your guy friends have given you? Like The Terminator? Or Maverick?”

He shook his head and laughed, trying to think of the last time he’d enjoyed a woman’s company so much. “Sounds like somebody’s been binge-watching eighties movies on Netflix.”

“Busted.” She laughed, leaning her head to the side and exposing her long neck.

A wave of lust washed through him, and he struggled to control it. It was obvious she wasn’t an easy conquest. Oddly enough, he considered playing the long game with her.

What the fuck was wrong with him? He wasn’t supposed to be playing the game at all.

She shook her head, her grin tugging at the corners of her full lips. “So what’s this awesome nickname of yours? I take it my suggestions came from the wrong decade.”

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