Page 82 of Just One Fake Date

Her tone only gave Ty more questions. They stopped outside Flatiron Five Fitness and he put the machine back down at her feet. “I would give you a ride,” he said. “But I have this meeting.”

She smiled up at him. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Absolutely. I was the one who jumped to conclusions. I’m sorry I left.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Aidan. It really never occurred to me.” Their gazes locked and held, and the world had an infinitely higher measure of promise than when Ty had left work. Shannyn’s next words undermined that. “I’ll see you at the wedding.”

“You sold the furniture already?”

She frowned. “No. Epic fail on that plan.”

“How so?”

“I was so sure that one of three excellent candidates would buy the furniture, but no.” She counted them off. “One is broke. One is moving in with a new partner who already has furniture and, if you can imagine the nerve, is disinclined to chuck out his stuff in favor of this fabulous score.”

Ty chuckled at her expression of incomprehension.

“And the third just bought new furniture. Brand new! All my preconceptions have been shattered.” Her brow furrowed, which made her look determined and adorable. It was tempting to not solve the problem, just to watch her take on the world—but that wasn’t Ty’s style. “I’ll find someone, though. It’ll just take a bit longer. There will be a roof in my near future.”

“Sounds like you might need me, after all.”

She looked up at him, wariness in her gaze. “Need is a strong word, Mr. McKay.”

Ty held up his phone. “You need me. You need this.”

“I have a phone.”

“It’s not the phone. It’s the message.” He scrolled through them to Paige’s latest, then turned the phone for Shannyn to read it. “Exhibit A. This is the seventh message from my sister, Princess Paige, since Derek’s return home on Saturday. It’s only distinguished from the earlier ones by the increasing air of desperation.” He handed the phone to Shannyn.

“That makes it Exhibit G,” she said but took his phone. Ty enjoyed watching her eyes widen as she read the message. She scrolled back and read it again before meeting his gaze. “She wants the furniture!”

“Yes.” He sighed with mock regret. “She’s used to getting what she wants.”

“She wants to have Derek trade half the price of my roof for it!” Shannyn’s expression was so delighted that Ty grinned. “I should call her...”

“No! Let her wait for it.”

“You just don’t like that she gets what she wants.” She rolled her eyes. “Princess Paige. I’d smack Aidan if he ever called me anything like that.”

“Because you wouldn’t deserve it. I think it won’t hurt her to wait.”

She eyed him. “And you have a plan.”

“Come to the bridal shower with me next Sunday and make your deal there. The terms might get better by then.”

“Diabolical,” she whispered but she was fighting a smile. “Dinneranda bridal shower.” Her eyes were dancing, so Ty couldn’t take offense. “Does that neat little solution give you joy? Not only do you solve my roof issue in exchange for dinner, but you also negotiate my attendance at a family function.”

“I do like it.” He had to admit as much. “It’s elegant.”

“And so there will be dinner, practice and studying, in order to make sure that we ace the shower appearance.” She didn’t look as if she thought that was a bad thing. “But not tonight. You have your meeting.”

“And I’m late. Tomorrow?” He pointed back the way they’d come. “There’s a great Italian restaurant right down that next street on the right.”

“Of course. This is Manhattan. There’s a great Italian restaurant right down every street, usually on both the left and the right.”

“I like this one.” He told her the name of it. “I’ll make a reservation for seven and send you the link.”

“Sounds good.” Then she turned and smiled at him, the warmth in her eyes making everything worthwhile. “Thank you, Tyler.”

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