Page 39 of Until You

“A restraining order?” Lanie asked. Tyler took it as a good sign that Lanie was still in his embrace and making no effort to get away.

“We dated. Last spring.” He tilted his head, trying to downplay the incident. “Things got a little intense on her end, and I had to have the court intervene.” He knew he should tell her more, but the truth would probably fuck with her head, and he hadn’t missed her surprise earlier when Britt had announced that he hadn’t dated in five months. After that kiss, he definitely didn’t want to scare her off.

Brittany be damned.

She released a soft laugh. “You make it sound like it happens all the time. Does it?”

“No. And I haven’t seen her since last April.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “In court, I presume.” She studied him for a moment, then took a step back. “It’s been a long day, and I think I’m ready to call it a night.”

Shit. Maybe he could still salvage this. “Lanie—”

“Will you take me home? You can get the jacket and tie you loaned me.”

That was the last thing he’d expected. A grin spread across his face. “It depends. Do I need to worry about you disfiguring me again?”

Her eyes danced. “No promises.”

“Then I guess I’ll take my chances.”

“Good answer.” She leaned forward and gave him a soft, lingering kiss. “I have to get my purse and tell Stephanie that I’m leaving. I’ll be right back.”

“Your assistant won’t mind?”

A knowing grin spread across her face. “In this instance, no.”

“Okay.”

He watched the sway of her hips as she walked to a table in the back. He shifted to try to ease the throbbing in his pants.

“Earth to Norris.”

Tyler turned to see Matt standing next to him. “Hey. You just saved me a walk to our table to tell you I’m leaving.”

“With Lanie?”

Tyler looked at him in surprise.

“Kevin told me who she was. I also saw Nina.”

“Yeah, but Nina left without any drama.”

Matt looked uncomfortable. “Hey, I know this is the first woman you’ve been interested in since the whole Nina thing, but she’s Brittany’s cousin. Maybe you should stop and think that one through. What happens when it all crashes and burns?”

“Who says it’s going to crash and burn?”

“It always crashes and burns, Ty,” he said without malice.

Matt had a point. Matt had seen it all—the good, the bad, and even the ugly last spring.

“Look,” Tyler said. He wanted this too much to admit there might be a problem. “Lanie’s short term. She made that clear. She’s here for a month and then she’s moving on to the next job. Unencumbered. Her word.”

“Believe it or not, I’m worried about you.”

Tyler started to laugh, then realized Matt was serious. “Me? What the hell are you talking about?”

But Lanie was walking up to them with her purse hanging from her arm.

“Everything good with your friend?” Tyler asked.

“She’s summoning an Uber even as we speak.” She smiled up at Matt. “Hi, you must be Tyler’s best friend.”

“Lanie,” Tyler said as he slapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “This is Matt. And he knows we’re leaving.” He stepped away from the bar, wrapped an arm around her lower back, and ushered her toward the door.

“Bye, Matt,” Lanie called over her shoulder, then glanced up at Tyler with a grin. “What’s the hurry? Worried I’ll change my mind?”

He stopped on the sidewalk and turned toward her, keeping his hand at the small of her back. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and a jolt of electricity shot straight to his crotch. “Should I be?”

She grinned, looking mischievous. “What’s life without a little mystery?” She pressed a lingering kiss to his lips, then leaned back and smiled. “Take me home, Tyler.”

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