Page 103 of Just One Fake Date

Tyler’s downward glance was rueful. “My tailor talked me into it last fall, but I’ve never worn it.”

“You should.”

“I tend to wear more conservative suits. Navy. Charcoal.”

“I’ve noticed. I like that you’re mixing that up a bit. It makes you look younger.”

“You mean less stuffy.”

“You could never look stuffy.”

“Boring.”

“Not boring either. Reliable.”

He raised his hands and made a sound of anguish, one that she knew was supposed to make her laugh. She did, then went around to the passenger side at his gesture.

When Tyler reached for the door handle, she saw the ring. It was gold with a Celtic knot design and he was wearing it on his right thumb. She stared at it in surprise, then reached out to touch it with a fingertip, as if it might be a mirage.

“I bought it at my sister’s show,” Tyler admitted. He pulled back his cuffs. “And a new pair of cufflinks.”

They were silver and sculpted, each one with a small gemstone. One was a dragon’s head, with a red stone for its eye, and the other was a phoenix’s head, holding a small pearl in its beak. They were intricate but substantial, beautiful but not feminine. “They don’t even match!” she said, astonished that he’d chosen them.

“Well, they’re a set, but not the same.”

“A phoenix and a dragon.”

“It’s that yin yang duality thing, apparently.” Tyler shrugged. “I just thought they were kind of cool. It’s hard to believe that Katelyn made them.”

“I like them,” Shannyn said, wanting to encourage him. “And that ring is hot.”

“Hot?” He looked up.

“It draws attention to your hands, and you have great hands.”

“Thank you.” Tyler smiled and that familiar heat crackled between them.

“Next you’ll be getting a tattoo and shattering all my assumptions.” It was supposed to be a joke, but Tyler’s expression turned thoughtful.

“Where did you get yours done?”

“An artist named Chynna. She has a shop called Imagination Ink. I think she does great work.”

“So do I.” His voice was dangerously low and his gaze dropped to her lips.

Shannyn raised a finger. “Lipstick warning. And it’s a fake date anyway.” She wondered who she was trying to convince, but slid into the seat. She felt the heat of Tyler’s interest and glanced up in time to catch him looking.

“You have great legs,” he murmured and the back of his neck colored a little, as if he hadn’t expected to say that out loud.

“Is that a good thing?”

“The fact that you routinely hide them away is a tragedy beyond all reason, maybe a crime against humanity.” His tone was light but she sensed that he meant the words.

“I want people to look at me, not my legs.” As soon as she said the words, Shannyn regretted them because Tyler remembered his manners and averted his gaze.

He went around the car and got in, then backed out and headed for the expressway. There was a tension in the car she hadn’t expected and Shannyn wondered whether it was her fault. “If you’re worried about furniture, I promise not to spot any,” she said. “I’ll close my eyes.”

Tyler chuckled. “I’d promise not to look at your legs, but I’d have to close my eyes. That might not be a good idea.”

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