Page 7 of Just One Fake Date

“It is,” he finally said, his tone crisp. He was offended, which was probably safer if it meant he’d turn off the charm. Tyler reached over to shut down his laptop, as if some decision had been made. He picked up his suit jacket, moving with an athletic grace that made Shannyn’s mouth go dry. What did he look like naked? One enquiring mind really wanted to know. “And there’s no time like the present. What would you like to see?”

“Everything,” Shannyn said in her surprise, but he took her words at face value.

“How long do you have to take the pictures?” He was polite now, shrugging into his jacket, but his gaze continued to simmer.

And he was still watching her, his gaze assessing.

Like he was trying to figure her out.

It was more than a little disconcerting to have his undivided attention, but Shannyn guessed it wouldn’t last.

“Until Saturday,” she said. “I just got the job twenty minutes ago, so it’s a bit of a rush. The hired photographer has apparently disappeared.”

“Happens, I guess.” He nodded and indicated the door. “Tour?”

“You don’t have to show me around.”

Tyler’s gaze clung to hers in a very satisfying way and his voice dropped even lower. “Maybe I want to make the most of opportunity. It would just be wrong to let you leave without me even trying to prove to you that I’m one of the good guys.”

Why did he care what she thought?

Tyler lifted a brow when she didn’t speak. “Unless you’d prefer otherwise. I could ask Kyle.”

“Why would I prefer otherwise?”

“The words ‘smug asshole’ come to mind.”

“You forgot entitled.”

Shannyn earned a hot look for that.

“I didn’t forget,” Tyler said, biting off the words. “I’ll never forget.”

Hewasinsulted. Well, it had been an insulting thing to say to someone but she’d never imagined he would pay attention.

Let alone remember for twelve years.

“And it pisses you off.”

The question obviously surprised him. “Shouldn’t it?”

“I don’t know why it would. We were just classmates in a huge survey class.”

“It did and it does.” He obviously noticed her skepticism and his voice rose a little. “Why wouldn’t I want to defend myself?”

“Why would you care?” Shannyn replied.

“Trust me. I do.” He headed for the door with purpose. “We can start with the rock wall...”

“A tour of your empire is not going to change my mind about anything,” she said before she could stop herself.

Tyler froze, then pivoted, his gaze locking with hers again. His eyes blazed in a way that thrilled her to her toes. “Then what will?”

Oh, that quiet question was an invitation to trouble.

A fake date, even to a wedding, isn’t that complicated and negotiation is in your skill set.

Shannyn recalled Kyle’s words, the ones that she’d overheard, and the proverbial light went on. What was it like to be with Tyler? She’d always been curious. Her new philosophy was to live in the moment and this was the perfect opportunity to find out.

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