Page 124 of Just One Fake Date

“No matter how much I save, I’ll run out of money in a hurry this way.” Aidan was scanning his notes with a frown. Shannyn was glad to see him thinking of the whole challenge.

“Maybe he’ll give you the option in exchange for something else. A keg every sixty days.”

“I get it.”

“Be creative,” Tyler said to Aidan. “Money is the hardest thing to get. You can always work harder or put in more hours. You can barter for what you need. Your sister’s good at that.” He flicked a smile at Shannyn. “Just get everything in writing. Whenever you make a deal, you want to be able to prove exactly what the terms are, just in case someone tries to change them.”

Aidan sat back, surveying his notes. “This is a shit-ton of work.”

Tyler yawned. “Which is why so many great ideas never amount to anything.”

Aidan didn’t look deterred. “When I have a business plan, would you look at it?”

Tyler blinked with surprise. “Sure.”

“It’s going to be a couple of years.”

Tyler handed Aidan one of his cards. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Aidan offered his hand. “Thanks. I hadn’t even thought of most of these questions.”

“Glad to be of help.” Tyler stood up and glanced toward the window at the falling darkness. “I’d better get some sleep. I have a feeling morning will come early.” He came to Shannyn’s side and kissed her. “Thanks for lunch and dinner,” he said quietly, looking into her eyes.

“Thank you for making my roof happen.”

He smiled, just a little, and brushed his fingertip across her mouth before turning to head into her bedroom.

“Can I use your computer?” Aidan asked with enthusiasm. “I’ve got so much work to do.”

Shannyn put the last of the pots away, not wanting to appear too hot to get into bed with Tyler, then left Aidan working on her computer. Fitzwilliam was asleep on that keyboard when she eased open the door to find Tyler sound asleep in her bed.

She smiled, stripped down and pulled on a nightgown, then eased into the bed beside him. He rolled over, spooning behind her, the weight of his arm around her waist and his breath in her hair.

Shannyn dared to believe for just this night, then fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

Ty didn’t wantto open his eyes.

He just wanted this moment to stretch out to eternity.

He was in Shannyn’s bedroom. There was no mistaking that with her softness curled against his side and her head on his arm, her breath fanning his hand. Her bed was smaller and softer than his, but he had no complaints. He wanted to lie there forever, just holding her as she slept.

Then he wanted to make love to her another thousand times.

And a thousand after that.

He could hear birds, which was another clue that he wasn’t downtown in his apartment. There were faint sounds of traffic, but nothing like in the city. Her house creaked a little as the furnace came on and the hot water radiators heated, but it was wonderfully serene.

Ty felt a conviction that he was exactly where he should be, that this was home. He ran his hand down the length of Shannon and she nestled closer, prompting him to smile in recognition of why he felt that way.

Home was, after all, where the heart was.

Even if he hurt in places he hadn’t even realized he had.

And it would take another day to finish the roof. He’d gone to bed in his briefs and a T-shirt and fallen asleep before Shannyn had joined him. He didn’t even know when she’d come to bed, but she was nestled against him. Ty didn’t care whether that had been for the sake of appearances or because there was nowhere else to sleep. He stretched and groaned a little bit, knowing he’d have to do some stretches to warm up before he got on that roof again.

But still, he wouldn’t have been anywhere else for the world.

Tyler rolled to his back, trying to keep from disturbing Shannyn, and a weight landed hard on his chest, driving the air out of his lungs.

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