Page 66 of Until You

“Obviously, I’ve said or done something wrong. You started acting weird when I told you about quitting my job and looking for another one. I know you don’t want to share personal information, but that seemed benign enough.”

He held up his hands. “Whoa, whoa. Back up. When did I say I didn’t want to share personal information?”

“In the car, you didn’t want to talk about your brothers.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “In my defense, no man wants to talk about his brothers when the gorgeous woman next to him is giving him a hand job over his pants.”

She grinned and nodded, feeling slightly better. “Fair enough.”

“What other evidence do you have to present?” he asked, with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Oh,” she cooed. “You’re sexy when you talk all lawyerly.”

“I’ve got plenty more legal talk where that came from,” he teased, then turned more serious. “But I still want to know why you think something’s wrong.”

“You got weird when I talked about quitting my job. This isn’t some pathetic attempt to trap you,” she said. “I swear to you that this is all coincidental. The week after the wedding, you don’t have to worry about me showing up on your doorstep telling you I have no place to live and no job to support myself. Then the next thing you know, I’m mooching all your food and Internet and giving you lazy sex.” She chuckled when she saw his stunned face. “Sorry. That was me back when I was twenty-six and stupid. I mean, I didn’t do it. It happened to me.” She lifted a shoulder into a half-shrug. “He sucked up all my Internet for his video games.”

He started to say something, then stopped. She was surprised at the seriousness in his eyes. “Lanie, I know we haven’t set any rules here. We just started this. But here’s the thing—I’ve really liked being with you the last few days.”

“You mean the amazing sex.”

A wicked gleam filled his eyes. “I won’t deny that sex with you is mind-blowing and probably the best I’ve ever had, but it’s more than that.” He paused. “Look, I know you’re leaving after the wedding, and I think you’ve figured out that I’m not a long-term kind of guy. So this is perfect for both of us. So—if you’re willing—I’d like to spend more time with you before you go. And I don’t want you to worry about oversharing. I just want you to be yourself and tell me as much or as little as you want.” He leaned closer and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “Because I want to hear everything you’re willing to tell me.”

Alarm bells went off in her head. Her brain wasn’t totally on board with that suggestion, but it wasn’t volunteering a reason why. But her heart was all in, and that was the part she chose to listen to. There was no denying he turned her on like no man ever had, and that she loved his sense of humor. And she just liked him. He wasn’t anything like she’d expected. “Does that mean you’ll share with me too?”

“I’m an open book,” he said, picking up her fork and handing it to her. “The eggs are getting cold.”

She took a bite and watched him, wondering how open he would really be. “Not only can we still not tell Britt, but we have to be much more careful. We were careless today. If Britt even sniffs a hint that we’re seeing each other, on top of me looking for another job, she’ll blow this thing between us out of proportion in an attempt to keep me here.”

“And you won’t consider staying here?”

“Would it make you feel better if I promised not to look?” Then she grinned.

He didn’t laugh. “Lanie, I want you to do what’s best for you. If that’s here…” His voice trailed off and she wasn’t totally convinced.

“The eggs are really good,” she said after another bite.

He had to know she was attempting to change the subject, but went along with it anyway. “You must really be hungry, because they’re just scrambled eggs,” he teased as he turned her stool just enough to face him. He parted the opening of her shirt to expose her black bra and panties. “Ah…that’s better. And my offer still stands to help you go to sleep.”

“That’s one of the perks of this arrangement,” she teased. “I plan on taking advantage of it while I can.”

***

Lanie woke up the next morning, warm and cocooned with Tyler’s bare chest pressed against her back and his arm draped over her stomach. She stirred, and he snuggled her closer.

“No. Don’t go,” he mumbled.

“Okay.”

He rolled her on her back to face him, and he smiled down at her. “Good morning.”

She smiled back, surprised by this feeling of happiness. Usually she couldn’t wait to leave a man’s bed and get back to her own space, but she actually wanted to be here. “Good morning to you too.”

He smoothed the hair from her face, his fingertips brushing her cheek. “How soon do you need to get home? Any pressing plans?”

Her smiled dimmed. “It might be Labor Day, but I need to get some paperwork done before heading to Britt and Randy’s barbecue.”

He searched her eyes. “And write your letter of resignation?”

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