Page 39 of Tempting the Heart

“Because I know one day, I’ll die happy.” I shrugged. “I’ll have lived a kind life, a fulfilling life. I don’t know. It probably sounds crazy.”

Tyler shook his head slowly, keeping his gaze fastened to mine. “Not at all, Mayflower. It sounds beautiful.”

Brad stumbled over, holding the empty trays. “So, what’s the plan? How can we help?”

“I’m going to weed-whack the mess along the road and driveway,” I told them both.

“Look at you go, Mae,” my brother teased.

I rolled my eyes and wandered toward the car as Brad and Tyler discussed removing more of the fire hazard inside the house and dumping it into the bins outside.

Now, that was a task I wouldn’t want, and I didn’t envy it, either. I set my drink on the top of the car and opened my trunk.

I grabbed my extension cord and electric weed eater as Brad grimaced and looked at the house while Tyler filled him in. I set the whacker on the drive and wandered over with the extension cord, holding it up.

“Where can I plug this in?” I asked.

“Right over here,” Tyler said, grabbing the end and reaching behind an overgrown azalea to reach the plug.

He seemed less tense than a few minutes ago, which made me feel happier about staying. Sometimes, friends didn’t know what was best for them until things were underway.

And that was what we were.

Friends.

Even though I secretly hoped for a kiss last night, I knew better. It wasn’t going to happen.

And I had to make peace with that.

Sharing a kiss with Tyler would probably only make things worse. With years of practice under his belt, I’d probably melt on the spot.

Shoot.

Even when he accidentally touched my hands or helped brush away some stray hairs, I nearly lost my mind. The electricity shooting between us couldn’t be missed. I could see it in his eyes last night.

We both wanted something we knew we shouldn’t have.

I shoved on my protective glasses, pulled on a sexy mask, and started the weed eater.

Nothing screamedkiss me like a woman dressed up in protective gear.

I looked at all the workers surveying the property and shook my head.

Shirts off, muscles gleaming, eyes sparkling, hard work happening. Audrey would be going nuts with all this testosterone around.

I should be enjoying the view in between taking down the weeds. Instead, I couldn’t help myself from stealing looks at Tyler as he hauled out stacks of papers, magazines, and things I couldn’t even figure out.

He’d rolled up the sleeves of a red and white plaid flannel shirt, exposing his strong forearms, that was untucked and hanging over a baggy pair of jeans.

Tyler looked sensational. There was no denying that he’d only gotten hotter as the years went by.

I revved the weed eater and demolished the overgrown crabgrass, dandelions, and giant hogweed lining the road, only stopping to glance at what Brad and Tyler were hauling out of the house.

Each time they came out of the house, their expressions looked even more sour than the last.

As I finished the weeding around the road, I started the patch along the driveway as Brad and Tyler took a break and discussed something with one of the contractors.

I wiped away a little bead of sweat along my hairline and returned to destroying the determined weeds that had enjoyed years of neglect on this property.

---