Page 110 of Firecracker

Could this really be happening?

Tyler was working in the bathroom, his phone playing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” loud enough that he probably didn’t hear her. She checked her coffee cake, her hands shaking a little as she pushed a wooden pick into the batter. Yep, it was done. She pulled it out of the oven and set it on a rack.

She laid her hands on her cheeks and stared across the apartment.

All kinds of feelings swirled inside her. Yes, she liked being with Tyler. A lot. And not just for the orgasms, although they were remarkable. She also liked givinghimorgasms. She liked laughing with him. Going to the farmers’ market. Walking home from work and telling him how her day had been. Hearing about his job.

She thought about him a lot. She missed him the days he was at work, and looked forward to seeing him. More than she probably should.

She checked the time. She had to get ready for work.

She walked down the hall toward the bathroom, peering through the plastic curtain Tyler had taped around the door. Once again, he’d taken off his shirt, and while she couldn’t see him clearly, she could make out the shift and bulge of muscles as he sanded the drywall. He glanced over and saw her and stopped.

He moved over and pulled the plastic aside. His hair was snowy with drywall dust, some even on his eyelashes and cheeks. “Hey.” He grinned at her.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Good.”

“I made a coffee cake. Help yourself to some when you want a break. I’m going to work now.”

“Okay. See you later.” He leaned over and smooched her mouth, and she continued into her bedroom to change with fingertips pressed to her lips.

* * *

Shenanigans was busy that night. Liam seemed distracted and grumpy. She was at the bar when he knocked a glass off that shattered on the floor.

“Jaysus suffering fuck,” he yelled.

“Chill, Liam,” she said calmly. “It’s just a glass.”

He grumbled as he retrieved the broom and began to sweep up the pieces.

“What’s wrong with you tonight?” she asked, patiently waiting for a round of drinks.

“Nothing’s wrong with me tonight,” he snapped. “I’m totally boxed off.”

“Well, I have no idea what that means, but I beg to differ.” Although he was her boss, they’d become friends too. “Did you drink too much last night? Geez, you’ve had a whole day to recover.”

Now that she thought about it, he’d been kind of quiet last night too, after they’d left the supper club. She’d been all wrapped up in her anger at Tyler for being such a jerk, but thinking back, Liam hadn’t exactly been the life of the party. In fact, he’d sat there staring into a glass of Jameson the rest of the evening.

“I didn’t drinkenoughlast night,” he muttered, disposing of the broken glass into the trash.

“You didn’t enjoy the show?” She followed him down the bar. “I thought it was so fun.”

“Sure. Fun.”

She eyed him. “Mmmkay. If you say so. Still need the gimlet, the mai tai, and two Guinness.”

“Coming right the feck up.”

When the pub finally closed, Arden was happy about the large bundle of bills she stuffed into her purse. Tips had been great all evening. She was even getting more used to being on her feet.

Tyler hadn’t shown up at the bar, as he usually did when he wasn’t working. She stepped out into the cool night air. Clouds covered the sky and the wind had picked up, tossing tree branches. She looked around for Tyler’s truck, thinking he might be parked outside waiting. But he wasn’t there.

She frowned a little, shrugged, and started walking. The air felt like rain was coming. Maybe a thunderstorm? Tyler would like that.

If he was home.

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