Page 47 of Forbidden Love

On the way home, I tried and failed to think of Tyler liking me that way. Even if something happened between us, I couldn’t imagine it being anything more than physical. Tyler wasn’t looking for anything more, and neither was I.

CHAPTER 13

TYLER

The rest of the week, there was a flurry of messages from Kylie advising me of the games and times that we could distribute flyers. Tonight was the night we’d agreed to do it.

I hadn’t anticipated that it would be so warm. When I arrived at her cabin, Kylie was in a white tank top, frayed jean shorts, and white sneakers. Even though it was a casual outfit, everything looked expensive. There was some embossed lettering on the shoes, and I was almost positive she was wearing a Gucci belt. There was something inherently sexy about her outfit, and it wasn’t the expanse of bare skin.

“It’s so hot out today,” she said as she fanned herself with the stack of flyers.

“I think you’re just not used to it yet. In July, this will seem like nothing.”

“I haven’t been home in so long; I don’t know what to expect.”

“Where to?”

“I thought we’d hit the places on Main Street and then the fields.” Kylie turned on the radio. I swear she smelled like honeysuckle, a scent I hadn’t detected since the days of hiking in the woods behind the lodge.

She put on some pop song, and I couldn’t even protest. I was too aware of her tan legs, and the globes of her breasts were visible above her top when she leaned over to change the radio station. I bit my lip when it seemed like they were going to spill out.

“You don’t like the music?” she asked as she sat back.

“It’s fine.”

“You seem quiet today.”

Because I’m too busy ogling you to make small talk. “I have a lot on my mind.”

“With work?”

“I can’t decide on what I want for my house. It’s holding everything up. We can’t order supplies if I don’t know whether I want brick or stone.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I would have thought you’d have your dream home picked out already.”

“I never even thought about what I’d want. Maybe I thought I’d be with someone and they’d have an opinion.” That didn’t make sense, because I never wanted to be in a serious relationship.

“Do you need help? You know I love looking at houses.”

“I might take you up on that.” I parked at one end of Main Street. “I figured we could do it together or split up. You take one side, and I’ll take the other.”

“Splitting up probably makes the most sense.”

I was disappointed, but it made the most sense, and I’d have some time to cool off. We each took one side of the street, going into one store after the other and asking if we could post the flyers. Most store owners were okay with it. I only ran into one or two that didn’t allow it.

The only thing that slowed me down was the questions about what we were raising money for. A couple of people even handed me cash.

When I was finished, Kylie sat on the tailgate of my truck, a drink in her hand and one next to her. She lifted the sweating container and pressed it against her forehead. She closed her eyes, obviously enjoying the coolness.

I wanted to step up to her, push her legs wide enough to let me in, and lick the sweat off her neck. Before my imagination could get away from me, I sat next to her. “Is this for me?”

She slowly opened her eyes. “What took you so long?”

“A few of the shop owners wanted to hear more about it, and a couple of people gave me money.” I tossed her the cash.

Kylie’s eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. “That’s great news. I hope this means people will be into this. I was a little worried we wouldn’t raise enough money to help everyone.”

“It could be an ongoing project where we raise money continuously to build more.”