Page 12 of Forbidden Love

Tyler straightened, still a head taller than me, even in my heels. Then he grinned. “Thanks for joining me. I was initially thinking we could get coffee, but I’m kind of hungry. Want to do lunch?”

Before I could say no, because I wanted to limit our time alone together, he’d gripped my elbow and guided me down the sidewalk. “You always dress like this to meet an old friend?”

I scoffed. “This is a business meeting with a potential associate.”

Tyler glanced down at me and winked. “And catching up with an old friend.”

“We weren’t friends.” Especially not that night when we’d given in to our desires.

“Are you sure about that?” His breath ghosted over my ear.

I barely suppressed the shiver that his proximity gave me. “I’m positive.”

He’d worn jeans and a light jacket over a T-shirt. He was casual, and I wondered if he’d decided to play this meeting a different way. No matter what his plans were, I’d keep it professional. There’d be no talk of the time he’d seen me naked.

He’d obviously felt bad, or he would have talked to me about it a long time ago. Instead, he’d kept it hidden—our little secret from everyone.

He opened a door for a pub-style restaurant, and as soon as we stepped inside, I relaxed. I was used to men in France taking me to fancy restaurants, but this was more how I’d grown up. I enjoyed the casual atmosphere, the dark wood paneling, and the deep booths.

“Is this okay?”

I raised a brow as the hostess led us to a booth in the back. “It’s a little too late to ask now, isn’t it?”

Tyler chuckled. “You’re a fun date. Sweet and kind, with a fire simmering underneath.”

We sat across from each other as the hostess handed us the menus. When she left, murmuring something about returning for our order, I said, “I’m only like this with you.”

It was like he’d lit a match in me at eighteen, and it had been burning bright for him ever since.

“Is that right?” he asked with a slight cock to his head.

“It’s nothing to get a big head about,” I said as I scanned the menu. I wanted a big, fat, juicy burger, but I’d be good and get the seared salmon with a side of vegetables.

After we ordered, Tyler set his elbows on the table. “Watching your weight?”

I frowned. “Why would you ask that?”

Tyler tipped his head. “You ordered the salmon when you wanted the burger.”

I chuckled and glanced around self-consciously. “How do you know that?”

“When we were kids, you were a burger-and-fries kind of girl.”

“You paid attention?” I’d always annoyed my brothers and their friends.

“I noticed you.” His voice was softer.

There was something about his admission and the way he couldn’t quite hold my gaze. We had a few moments, like the time he carried me to the lodge when I broke my arm, the few times we found ourselves in the same hiding spot, and of course, when we hooked up. But I never thought he saw me as anything more than the Wildes’ younger sister.

Before I could figure out how to respond, he cleared his throat. “I believe we’re here to discuss our future partnership.”

I held up a hand to stop him. “I never agreed to anything. I said we could talk about it.”

Tyler grinned, his earlier discomfort gone. This was the Tyler I remembered from when we were kids. He was quick to flirt and charm. “You want to provide a service to kids who need something, and we can provide it.”

I barely suppressed an eye roll. “How so?”

“You want to help out teams who don’t have dugouts, and we can supply the materials and labor.”

---