Page 72 of Just One Fake Date

“It doesn’t matter.” Shannyn went back to the kitchen, letting the door slam behind herself. She was disappointed, annoyed and confused, a combination that wasn’t unusual in Tyler’s presence.

Or apparently his absence.

Fitzwilliam had emerged from his hiding place and was fastidiously sniffing the furniture that had invaded his domain. Shannyn was aware that Aidan had followed her, that her fridge was a lot more empty and that she was hungry.

She’d been fantasizing about tapas.

About dinner with Tyler.

About celebrating their teamwork, maybe in a very earthy way.

But he’d justleft.

“He thinks we’re a couple,” Aidan said and Shannyn pivoted to stare at him in shock.

“Why would he think that?”

“Did you tell him you have a brother?”

“No. It didn’t matter. You were in Tajikistan.”

Aidan lifted a brow, which made him look both skeptical and diabolical. “We don’t look alike, remember.”

Shannyn turned and looked after Tyler’s car, which was probably halfway back to the city by now. “But he’s smart.”

“That doesn’t make him psychic.” Aidan peered into the milk carton and shook it a bit, oblivious to her reaction, then handed it to her. “You’re out of milk.”

Shannyn took the carton automatically, too busy thinking about Tyler. Even if he did think she and Aidan were a couple, why would he care? Why would that make him leave so quickly?

No, he must have gotten a call while making that second run for furniture. He must have something better to do.

Which was disappointing, but not crazy. She had pushed him out of his comfort zone and as much as she’d enjoyed it, it was easy to believe that he didn’t.

She’d expected more of him, though.

She put the carton into the recycling, telling herself not to take his departure personally. She knew she wasn’t his type.

Aidan had opened the fridge, then the freezer, and was clearly unhappy with whatever he found or didn’t find. Fitzwilliam trotted into the kitchen at the sound of the fridge door and hopped on the counter, flicking his tail expectantly. Aidan rubbed him under the chin and Fitzwilliam took a swipe at him with one paw before yowling in complaint. “Missed you, too, buddy,” Aidan said, peering into the fridge again as if its contents might have magically changed. “Don’t you have any beer?”

“No. I don’t drink beer. You drink beer and you were in outer Mongolia.”

“The hazards of surprising you,” he said with a sigh.

“Remind me why I missed you.”

Aidan looked up. “He seemed like a nice guy.”

“Don’t be fooled,” Shannyn said, feeling cheated of Tyler’s company.

He shut the fridge. “You really do like him, don’t you?”

“Tell him that and I’ll have to kill you.”

“Not much chance of that happening, is there? I mean, the skid marks will take years to fade.”

Shannyn resisted the urge to throw something at her kid brother.

“Leave the door unlocked for me?” he asked with a smile.

---