Page 136 of Just One Fake Date

If this was his new normal, it suited Ty just fine.

Seventeen

Much later,after the first dances, Shannyn was flicking through the images on the viewfinder, reviewing the pictures she’d taken and ensuring she hadn’t missed anything obvious. She’d even gotten a shot of Cole and Amanda. She’d been surprised to see them in attendance, then recalled that Cole was in the same group of friends as Lukas. She’d used her zoom for that one and was proud of her composure.

She reminded herself that she didn’t care about Cole. He wasn’t part of her life anymore and that was just fine.

“Do you get a reward now?” Tyler asked and she felt his hand fall on the back of her waist. He was carrying two glasses of sparkling water in his other hand. Shannyn’s heart went thump at the sight of him.

“Just making sure I got everyone. Thank you.”

“Grandmas?” he asked, surveying the crowd.

“All four.”

“Grandpas?”

“Both.”

“Auntie Myrna?”

“I have lots of her. Isn’t she fun?”

“She’s great.” Ty touched the rim of his glass to hers. “You’re really working hard.”

“I want it to be perfect.”

“Looks like everything has gone like clockwork.” They sipped as one. “Did you get all the guests, or are you supposed to?”

“I think I have everyone in at least one shot, even you.” Shannyn turned to scan the crowd on the dance floor and her heart stopped cold.

Cole was working his way across the crowded dance floor, obviously targeting her. And that wasn’t the worst of it. The woman he was dragging toward her by the hand had to be his new wife, Amanda, and she had a visible baby bump. Shannyn felt hurt rise even as an icy chill swept over her.

He was coming to gloat, the bastard. She could tell by his expression, and it made her feel sick.

“What?” Tyler asked with quiet urgency.

“My ex, closing fast.”

“Then turn toward me,” he whispered, bending lower as if telling her a secret. “And look up and smile, as if you’re completely unaware of him.”

Shannyn did as he suggested. His gaze was intense, much to her surprise, but his attention was fixed on her. “Done,” she said quietly.

Tyler smiled his slow and dangerous smile. “Do you really want to prove to him that he broke your heart?”

Shannyn opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again, unable to argue under that perceptive gaze.

“It’s surrendering power to him. Don’t give him that.” Tyler leaned closer and she felt his breath against her ear. She closed her eyes and shivered. “He doesn’t deserve it.”

“No.” She released the word like a sigh, and realized she wasn’t thinking about Cole anymore. She reached up and touched Tyler’s mouth, tracing the line of his lips with a fingertip. He smiled and his gaze warmed, and she wondered if he was remembering what she’d said about his mouth. “What he deserves is far, far worse.”

Tyler turned slightly, then kissed her fingertips. His other hand was stroking her back gently, turning her bones to butter. His gaze was locked with hers and Shannyn felt her heart skip. “Tell me,” he invited in a low rumble.

“He deserves to have someone trash his car,” Shannyn said. “To throw his stereo under a bus.”

“That’s all?”

Shannyn took a breath and met his gaze. “To have his balls cut off and fed to him, with his ego finely diced on the side.”

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