Page 31 of Forget Me Not

Tyler rests his arms on the gate, the dimples in his cheeks pronounced. “Do you make a habit of planting flowers in your pajamas…” He glances at the invisible watch on his wrist. “…at five o’clock in the evening?”

I press my fist to my thigh and steel my shoulders. “Maybe I do,” I shout back with a playful tone. “That a problem?”

He laughs. “You’re kinda weird, ya know that?”

“I’m…sorry.” I shrug my shoulders, but we both know I don’t mean it.

“Don’t be. I happen to like weird. It matches my personality.”

I downcast my eyes, giggling like a teenager, as heat creeps up my neck. Am I actually smitten by him right now?

I’m not usually drawn to boys my age—ever, for that matter. My attraction has always been toward older men because in my line of work, that’s where the money is.

While I have found a handful of my clients attractive and I’ve actually enjoyed my sexual interactions with a few, none of them ever left me with that edge-of-my-seat infatuation. There was never a desire to see any of them again after our nights together.

But right now, I'm surprised to find that I don't want Tyler to walk away. I want him to stick around for a little bit because something about being in his presence makes me feel better.

“I gotta get going,” Tyler says. “Still down for playing it unsafe tonight?”

My eyes go wide. “Tonight?”

“The bonfire. Don’t tell me you forgot.” He tilts his head, smirking.

I actually did, until now. The butterflies in my stomach are urging me to tell him I’ll be there, but there’s another part of me that thinks I should lie low until I’m certain Alaric Banks is long gone.

I’m not going to pretend there isn’t a fear instilled inside me that Alaric might come looking for me after last night. The elevator attendant said Alaric has no problem seeking vengeance for anyone who double-crosses him. But he also said he was checking out this morning.

After the way he turned the tables on me last night and knocked me out cold, I can’t trust he’s not lurking around town right now, waiting for the opportunity to exact his revenge for my thievery.

It seems I’m forgetting who I am as I all but crumble to pieces at this moment. I’ve outrun men with enough power to cripple an entire nation. Fuck Alaric. If he’s as rich as I think he is, he doesn't give a damn about the nine hundred dollars I stole from him. Hell, he might have wanted me to take it because he felt sorry for what he did. Regardless, I refuse to cower.

“Actually,” I flash him a smile, “I’m very much looking forward to it.”

“Happy to hear.” He shoots a thumb to his right. “I’m already late for work, so I better go. I’ll see you soon.”

“See ya.” I watch him leave with my arms crossed over my chest. His strides are wide and determined. I'd hate to be him, walking into work late. Taryn's probably cursing under her breath at this very moment. After about five feet, Tyler stops and looks back at me briefly before giving a faint wave.

I quickly wave back, smiling from ear to ear as he disappears around a lamppost and into the tavern.

When my nipples pucker against my crossed arms, I remember I’m not wearing a bra. I bet I look like good ole white trash out here in my pajamas with no bra. Hey, maybe I do fit in here after all.

ChapterTwelve

RHEA

“I’m leaving, Gladys,”I holler from the door before pulling it open. A gust of cold wind whirls inside, mixing with the aroma of Gladys’s apple pie that's in the oven. When she doesn’t respond, I credit it to the sound of the mixer going. Probably for the best, considering she’ll want to chat, and I’m already running late. I told Tyler I’d be there at ten when his shift ends, and it’s already a quarter after.

I step outside and close the door behind me, thankful I’m somewhat warm in these clothes. I’m not exactly dressed to impress in a pair of worn jeans, my work shoes, a borrowed black Lockhaven football hoodie with yellow lettering, and a white beanie that Gladys found for me to wear out of a box of things from past guests. I won’t be getting frostbite, so there’s that.

Tyler is already standing outside the front door of the tavern. He’s wearing a gray down jacket with a hoodie underneath that’s pulled over his head and a pair of blue jeans. His hands are cupped around his mouth and a cloud of steam rolls out. The minute he sees me, he begins to walk my way, quickly eating up the space between us.

“Sorry I’m late,” I tell him regretfully.

“No worries.” He gives me one of those genuine smiles and I instantly feel comforted. “I literally just walked out the door. Taryn forced me to make up for the ten minutes I was late at the start of my shift.”

“Why am I not surprised?” I chuckle.

“Because it’s Taryn.” Tyler nods to the right and I follow him around the building. “I get it, though. She’s running a business and she has high expectations of her staff. I’d probably be the same way.”

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