Page 26 of Just One Fake Date

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But I think it does.”

Ty was well aware that Kyle was watching him. He tried to be a little less savage with the files.

“I know you,” Kyle said. “You’re only in a mood when things don’t follow your expectations. Your brilliant plan lies in tatters about your feet because the lady of choice has declined to play along.” He waited for confirmation but Ty didn’t say anything. “You could ask Sonia to the wedding, you know.”

“She’s an employee!” Ty didn’t hide his exasperation.

“Oh, yes, pesky principles.” Kyle stood up then leaned in the doorway again, instead of disappearing through it in the way Ty would have preferred. “Actually, though, you and Sonia wouldn’t be good together. You’re too much the same. All that discipline and temperance. It’s unnatural.” He made a face. “No one would ever have any fun, but maybe you’d like it that way.”

“Don’t you need to be somewhere else? Seattle maybe? Melbourne?”

Kyle continued as if he hadn’t heard Ty. “You need yin for your yang. You need someone who shakes things up, someone who rattles your tidy expectations, someone who makes you work for it. Someone who is your polar opposite. A wild spirit who can astonish you at regular intervals.”

It did absolutely nothing for Ty’s mood to realize that Kyle was describing Shannyn.

“I don’t need anyone,” he insisted. “I don’t have time anyway.”

Kyle nodded wisely as if Ty hadn’t spoken. “Someone with a tattoo. Maybe two.”

“There’s something ironic about you giving matchmaking advice.”

“There is!” Kyle laughed, untroubled. “I think I’m good at it, though.”

“You think you’re good at everything. Remember I’m not listening to your advice ever again.”

“Too bad. You only get lucky when you do.”

“Not true.” Ty looked up from his laptop. “You must have something more interesting to do than harass me.”

“You’re right, I do. I was just thanking you for taking over with Shannyn. I almost didn’t recognize her.”

“This from Mr. Perception.”

“Wasn’t she going to be a teacher?”

Ty had to think about that. “You’re right,” he acknowledged, his curiosity stirring again. “I wonder how she ended up doing freelance photography.”

Kyle shrugged without interest. “Who knows.”

Ty bet the answer had something to do with the jerk who’d broken her heart.

He wondered whether he’d ever know.

“She’ll be back Saturday,” he told Kyle. “She wants candid shots of each of us, then a group shot.”

“When’s Theo back?”

“He’s flying back today and will be in by noon tomorrow.” Ty had gotten an email from Theo earlier in the day. He’d been off for a few weeks, having gone home to the UK because his dad was ill. He was probably in the city now, but jetlagged.

Kyle frowned a little. “Maybe we should play a game of pick-up. Partners and staff vs. a few regulars.”

“That’s a really good idea.”

“Of course, it is. I am the high king of all good ideas, the source from which brilliance flows.”

Ty snorted.

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