Текст книги "One Wicked Night"
Автор книги: Kelly Jamieson
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
Chapter Two
“What? Who?” But he knew there was no fooling Nick. The guy knew him, inside and out.
“You know who. She looks good.”
Tyler’s chest tightened. Of course she looked good. She’d always looked good.
Other than that day…fuck. His stomach still swooped every time he remembered Kaelin walking in on him and Nick and Tracy Brown. He’d known it was risky, doing what they were doing right there in the family room. His parents and Avery had been out, not expected home for hours, but still, the possibility that they could walk in on them had added an edge of danger to the whole scene, increased the thrill factor. And Kaelin showing up hadn’t actually been a complete surprise.
But when Tyler had looked up and seen her standing there open-mouthed, frozen, he’d been shocked at how truly god-awful he’d felt, seeing the hurt on her face, his guts twisting into knots, his heart squeezing painfully.
“She still thinks we’re depraved assholes,” he muttered.
Nick rubbed his forehead. “We are.”
Tyler snorted. “Yeah. True enough.” Then he sighed.
“Actually,” Nick said, “I didn’t get that vibe from her.”
“Of course you don’t. It’s just me. She always hated me. That just sealed the deal.” Nick opened his mouth to speak, but Tyler rushed on. “And what was with the big bear hug?” he demanded before Nick could say something stupid, like some kind of stupid denial that Kaelin had hated him. Because he didn’t want to hear that, or think about that, or feel that goddamn guilt again. “Like you’re long lost friends.”
“We are friends,” Nick said quietly. “I always liked Kaelin.”
“Yeah.” Bitterness edged Tyler’s voice. “I know.”
Nick laughed. “You’re fucking jealous, man! I can’t believe it.”
“I am not.” He scowled.
“Yeah, you are. For Chrissakes, Ty, I can’t believe you still have a thing for her after all these years.”
“A thing?” Tyler laughed. “What the hell does that mean? I don’t have ‘a thing’ for her.”
“Whatever. Come on, we better join the others.”
They went outside. Tyler accepted another drink, only because it was alcohol and he needed it to get through this ordeal. His irritation increased as he found himself continually looking at the doors to the patio, waiting for Avery and Kaelin to rejoin them. He half listened to his mother telling Scott’s parents about the new furniture she’d just bought for the patio, how they’d had to put in a special rush order so they’d have it for the wedding.
God, he just wanted to get this wedding over with and get the hell back to Chicago. Although, there were nothing but problems waiting for him there too. He and Nick were in the middle of a massive difference of opinion on a potential client who wanted to sign with them. A big potential client, huge potential client with lots of money to spend on advertising that could really get their fledgling agency off the ground. Shit.
But he was here for Avery, his big sister, happy for her that she’d found a great guy like Scott. Though he wished with all his heart she and Scott had just eloped. What the hell was she thinking, planning a big family wedding that was torture for everyone? Tyler took a big swallow of Scotch as Avery appeared in the French doors, followed by Kaelin.
His eyes went straight to her. So pretty. So different from Avery. Not the pretty part—his sister was pretty too, he supposed, but in a different way. Avery was all blonde highlights and makeup; Kaelin was a sweep of silky brown hair and big brown eyes. In high school she’d been an intimidating overachiever, top marks, all kinds of academic awards, involved in the student council and about a dozen different clubs and committees. Just like Avery.
Tyler’d been disturbed to find that, as he entered his teenage years and started thinking about girls differently, he’d started thinking about his big sister’s best friend differently. She’d always been at their place, as comfortable as if she lived there. Memory of one morning when he’d encountered her in the upstairs hallway after she’d slept over with Avery had fueled his hormone-driven fantasies for years. She’d been wearing tiny little plaid shorts that revealed her long, smooth legs, which okay, he’d seen many times in the summer, but also a ribbed cotton tank top with no bra. She had great tits, high and full and round with prominent nipples, and the sight had sent him back to his room for a fast and furious hand job.
From his seat in a corner of the patio, he watched her now, smiling and laughing and making conversation with the other guests. Her blue and beige plaid sundress was far from revealing, with its full knee-length skirt and modest straps. But it did show off a lot of smooth bare skin—arms, shoulders, a faint hint of cleavage, the snug bodice hugging her breasts and small waist. She accepted a glass of wine from his dad, earning a smile of approval from him that Tyler’d never seen directed his way. He frowned. Everyone loved Kaelin. So polite, so responsible.
“Would you snap out of it!”
Tyler jerked at Nick’s low-voiced command, and looked up at his friend standing there. He frowned. “What?”
“Everyone’s afraid to talk to you. You look like you’re going to snap their head off if they say a word to you, sitting there scowling like that. Would you at least try to act normal?”
Only Nick would say that to him. Only Nick could get away with talking to him like that. Anyone else, he’d be pounding the shit out of him. With a sigh, he rose and moved toward the others, a smile firmly in place, and made conversation with the soon-to-be in-laws.
More guests arrived, which in a way was good, because it kept his parents too busy playing host and hostess to bug him. His mom was pulling out all the stops. She must have been cooking for days, which he knew she loved, but still, it was a lot. Also a full bar setup outside, torches and lights and candles around the glowing turquoise pool in their backyard.
When he found himself face-to-face with Kaelin, somehow, their glances collided and bounced away from each other. Tyler’s skin tingled. He licked his lips and searched for something to say.
Kaelin looked down at the glass of wine in her hand. After the conversation she and Avery had just had about Tyler, now he was right there in front of her. She had to put all that old crap out of her head and act like an adult.
“Avery says you’ve been busy helping with this wedding,” Tyler said, still all chilly politeness, as if she was the one who’d done something wrong.
“I was happy to help. With her living in Los Angeles, it would have been impossible to get things done.”
He nodded. “That was nice of you.”
Oh yeah, here it came, the sardonic comments about how nice she was, what a good girl she was. She waited, her gaze flickering up to his. But he didn’t say it. “Um. Thanks.”
“When’s the rest of the wedding party getting here? I thought there were three bridesmaids.”
Men. He didn’t even know who else was in the wedding party. “Just two. Me, and Avery’s friend in L.A., Maddie. Scott’s best man, Hardeep, is her boyfriend. They should be here tonight.”
“Just two, huh?” He nodded, looked out over the pool.
“Your mom wanted her to have ten.”
His head snapped around, eyes wide. “Ten?”
She smiled. “Yep.”
He rolled his eyes. “Jesus Christ.”
Their gazes held for a moment of shared amusement and understanding. Kaelin felt a wave of heat wash over her body and her skin tightened and tingled. Tension hummed between them, memories of that summer flooding back.
“Well, my goodness, Tyler! I haven’t seen you in forever!” An older woman approached them and gave Tyler a hug.
“Hi, Aunt Mona.” Tyler smiled. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? But I think you look even younger. How is that possible?”
Mona giggled. Giggled! A fifty-year-old woman with dyed red hair and a double-D bosom giggled like a pre-teen girl. “Oh, you,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes. “I hear you’re doing well in Chicago. Your mom tells us about all the big, important clients you have and how much money you’re making.”
“She does?” Tyler’s eyebrows drew together.
“She talks about you all the time! So proud of you.”
Now his eyebrows flew up and he made a choking sound. “I’ll bet,” he muttered just as Mona turned to Kaelin.
“Kaelin. How are you, dear?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” She smiled at the other lady.
“Where’s your young man tonight?”
“There is no young man, Mona. We sort of…broke up.”
“But I just saw you together the other day!”
“Yes, well.” Kaelin glanced uncomfortably at Tyler taking in their conversation with a frown. “We’re still friends.”
“I thought you were getting married.”
Kaelin shifted position, acutely aware of Tyler’s interest. “We were,” she mumbled. “But it wasn’t going to work out.” She straightened her shoulders and gave Mona a bright smile. “We’re both fine with it.”
Mona shook her head sadly. “That boy is crazy about you, Kaelin. And he’s a good catch! A police officer. Good steady job, a nice boy.”
Kaelin caught Tyler’s eye roll and her stomach tightened.
“You know, I’m so glad to see you,” Mona continued, blithely unaware of the tension snapping between Kaelin and Tyler. “I need one more person to work an hour at the church bake sale next weekend.”
Kaelin wanted to close her eyes. The church bake sale. Could Mona make her life sound any more pathetic to Tyler? “Next weekend,” she repeated. “Not this coming weekend.”
“Oh no, of course not! This weekend is the wedding! This is the wedding of the year in Mapleglen! It’s next Saturday. We need someone there for nine in the morning.”
Kaelin smiled tightly. “Sure. I can help.”
“Thank you, dear. You’re such a good girl.” Mona patted her cheek. “Now I must go meet that handsome groom of Avery’s.”
Kaelin tossed down the last of her wine in three big gulps, again waiting for Tyler’s amusement. This time he didn’t disappoint.
“A police officer, huh?”
She met his gaze head-on. “Yes.”
“A nice boy,” he repeated.
Kaelin pressed her lips together.
“How come you broke up?”
She did not want to talk about this to Tyler. In fact, she almost wished she’d let Brent talk her into bringing him along tonight. A boyfriend beside her would have gone a long way to helping her deal with Tyler.
But she didn’t really have a boyfriend and she wasn’t going to tell Tyler why exactly things hadn’t worked out between them. Brent kept calling her, dropping in to see her, still hopeful that she was going to change her mind, but deep down inside she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“That’s not really your business,” she said stiffly.
“Sounds like he’d be perfect for you,” Tyler continued. “Since you’re such a good girl.”
His words ricocheted around in her head, memories of teenage Tyler mocking her about how good she was, laughing at her for being disappointed because she’d gotten a B+ on a test, making fun of her for spending Saturday night studying. She remembered how Tyler’s teasing had started to bug her because…well, because it was him. Because she didn’t always want to spend Saturday nights studying, but she didn’t have a crazy social life like he did, and because sometimes she had no choice, she had to stay home on Saturday nights. Remembered hurt and frustration rushed through her.
She fought for control of her surging emotions and lifted her wineglass again. Empty. Dammit.
“You probably don’t want another glass of wine,” Tyler said. “One’s your limit, right?”
She lifted her eyes to his face. “You’re still an asshole,” she said quietly.
His jaw tightened, though he kept his smile in place. “Yep,” he said. “I sure am. Are you surprised about that?”
“No,” she said. She tipped her head. “Though I don’t know why you feel a need to take out your frustrations on me. I never did anything to you.”
His smile disappeared. “Frustrations?”
Now he looked pissed.
Good.
“Yes. You obviously have some deep-seated sense of inferiority that makes you need to make fun of others to make yourself feel better.”
His mouth dropped open. “What the fuck.” His eyes narrowed, flashing blue sparks at her.
“Oh, don’t even look at me like that,” she said. “You have no right to be mad at me. I’m the one who should be mad.”
“Oh for Chrissake. Lighten up a little. You always were Miss Serious.”
They faced each other, glaring. Kaelin’s fingers curled tightly around the stem of her wineglass, almost snapping it. He thought she was upset about him teasing her! Jesus, how stupid could one man be? Did he not even realize what he’d done?
But there’d never been anything real between them. As they’d spent time together that summer, her feelings for Tyler had grown into something they shouldn’t have, and when he’d kissed her—just once—she’d foolishly believed he was starting to feel the same about her.
And the very next day she’d walked in on that scene.
She fought to control the long-suppressed rage surging inside her, shocked by a desire to hurt him back. The urge to physically hit him, the way she’d wanted to that night. Before she’d run out of the house then run all the way out of Mapleglen and back to college, a week early. And then to her horror, her hand lifted, swung back—and she did it.
Right in the middle of a big party of friends and family, she slapped Tyler Wirth’s face.
Chapter Three
Tyler automatically lifted a hand to his smarting cheek and rubbed it, stunned into speechlessness. Kaelin stood there, big brown eyes wide, mouth in an O of horror. The chatter of the guests faded into silence, only the faint saxophone strains of the jazz CD playing quietly on the outdoor speakers drifting on the evening air.
Jesus fucking Christ. She did not just do that.
The two of them stared at each other, the air around them hot enough to burst into flames.
“Omigod,” she said. She closed her eyes. Opened them. “Omigod.”
She turned as if she was going to run, and he reached out and grabbed her upper arm. “Oh no, you don’t,” he said through gritted teeth, heat still stinging his face.
“Tyler.” His mother appeared at his side and he became aware of everyone around them, gawking at them as if they were a car wreck on the freeway. Shit. He glanced at his mom, took in the tightening of her mouth, the snapping in her eyes. “What are you doing?” She hissed the words out quietly.
What was he doing? What the fuck? He was the one who just got decked!
Nick appeared now, too, calm, controlled. He looked back and forth between him and Kaelin.
“I am so sorry,” Kaelin whispered to Tyler’s mom. “I didn’t intend to cause a scene.”
Mom looked at Kaelin. “What did he say to you?”
Kaelin just stared back at her and shook her head. “I—it wasn’t his fault,” she finally stammered, shocking Tyler. His mom cast a look of disbelief his way. Of course it was his fault. It was always his fault.
“I’m outta here,” he muttered, trying to push his way past Nick. “Let’s go.”
But Nick didn’t move, despite Tyler’s shove, and then Avery arrived, her eyes wide and darting back and forth between everyone.
“Don’t go, Tyler,” she begged. “Please.” She grabbed hold of his arm. “Come with me.”
He let his sister drag him to the far end of the deck. Chatter started humming again as people began talking, punctuated with a couple of nervous titters. He couldn’t help but follow Kaelin with his eyes even as Avery talked to him.
“Please, Tyler, don’t go,” she said. “It’s my wedding and I want you here.”
He watched his mom pat Kaelin’s shoulder reassuringly before going back to her other guests. He watched Nick standing there, head bent to Kaelin, talking to her.
What the fuck was he saying?
“Tyler.” Avery pushed at his shoulder.
He tried to focus on her. “Why do you want me here?” he demanded. “It’s just making everyone nuts.”
“You’re my brother,” she said, voice thick and teary. “And I’m getting married. And I want my family with me. All of my family.”
Christ, what was he supposed to say to that? She was his sister and it wasn’t her fault he was such an asshole that he got slapped in the middle of a party. He rubbed his face, hardly able to believe sweet little Kaelin Daume had done that.
And created quite a scene. A girl who lived her life as carefully as possible so as not to attract attention or risk embarrassment. Wow. He looked over at her again, nodding to Nick.
A slow smile tugged his mouth.
“Why did Kaelin slap you?”
He focused back on Avery. “Because I was being an asshole to her. As usual.”
She frowned. “God, Tyler, haven’t you grown up yet? You always did like to yank her chain. Geez, you were like a little boy with a crush…” Her voice trailed off and her gaze sharpened. Tyler’s gut tightened. He looked away from her penetrating gaze. Avery opened her mouth to speak, and he shot her a glare. She closed her mouth.
“Well,” she said. “Then I guess you deserved it.”
“Of course I did. I always do. Right?”
She sighed and closed her eyes briefly. “I’m not so sure of that. Why do you just keep digging yourself deeper?”
“I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.” He smiled. “I’ll stay, but just for you, Sis. Just keep me away from Mom and Dad or I might kill them.”
“And away from Kaelin, apparently,” she murmured.
He couldn’t stand it. What were Kaelin and Nick talking about over there? Without him? Probably about him and what a jerk he was. “I’ll behave,” he promised Avery, moving back toward Kaelin and Nick as if drawn by a powerful magnet.
He stopped beside them and they both looked at him.
His gaze glanced off Nick and landed on Kaelin. Fuck, why did he keep hurting her? What was wrong with him?
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, I’m sorry. I was being a jerk.”
Kaelin and Nick exchanged glances that confirmed his suspicions about what they’d been discussing.
“I’m kinda tense right now.” Tyler rubbed the back of his neck, keeping his voice low. “It isn’t easy coming back here after all this time.”
“Well, maybe you should come home a little more often,” Kaelin snapped. “I’m sure your parents miss you.”
Fuck. She had no idea what had happened. And he wasn’t about to tell her. “I doubt it,” he snarled.
“If I leave you two to go get us drinks, will another brawl break out?” Nick interjected.
Kaelin wrinkled her nose at him adorably. Sure, for Nick. “Of course not.”
Nick nodded and headed to the bar. Kaelin twisted her fingers together. Sticky silence surrounded them, there in the middle of a noisy party.
“That was about more than just my bugging you, wasn’t it?” He met her eyes.
She held his gaze but didn’t answer, and her pretty bottom lip quivered. And made him want to kiss it. “Fuck,” he muttered, dropping his head. His neck and shoulders were as hard as stone, that tight pain spreading up the back of his scalp. What could he say to her? How could he ever explain things?”
“It was a long time ago,” she said, her words clipped short. “It doesn’t matter.”
He lifted his head to look at her again. “Ah, Kaelin. You have changed.”
She lowered her chin. “You think?”
He smiled. “The Kaelin Daume I knew would never have slapped a guy’s face. Especially in the middle of a party.”
She licked her lips and it was so fucking sexy he forgot to breathe. “Well,” she said. “I don’t think that’s a good thing. And you’ve changed too.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I thought we just established that I’m still an asshole.” Her cheeks went pink and he shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
She bit her lip and looked up at him through her eyelashes. “I mean you’ve changed because you actually apologized. And admitted you were acting like a jerk.”
His mouth twisted and he had to fight the urge to shut her up by slamming his mouth over hers.
Nick returned carrying three glasses, handed one to Tyler and a wineglass to Kaelin. “Here,” he said. “I think we can all use this.”
“What is it? More Scotch?” Tyler grimaced.
Nick grinned. “Sorry, bud.”
“Better make sure there’s gonna be beer at the wedding,” Tyler said and took a swallow. His eyes damn near watered. “Avery!” he called to his sister. She turned, gave him a look, held up a finger as she finished a conversation with Aunt Mona.
“There will be beer,” Kaelin said. “I should know, since I booked everything.”
Tyler slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. “Oh, thank Christ.”
He hadn’t thought before he’d done it, just reacted, but the feel of her soft, warm body against his, the smell of her hair, a sweet, fruity, floral scent that filled his senses, almost took him out at the knees and stalled his breath. He wanted to press his mouth to the top of her silky head, wrap her up and… His eyes met Nick’s over Kaelin’s head, Nick’s steady, knowing gaze, and he released Kaelin and stepped back.
She blinked and tugged at the neckline of her dress, cheeks even pinker now.
Avery arrived and her gaze tracked over Kaelin’s flushed cheeks, and Tyler’s own face heated up. “What’s up?”
“I was going to ask if there’d be beer at the reception, but Kaelin tells me there will be.”
Avery laughed. “Beer. Gawd, Tyler. Come on, my other bridesmaid just arrived. Come and meet her.”
Nick and Kaelin followed brother and sister to the French doors into the house where Scott’s best man Hardeep and his girlfriend Maddie stood. Kaelin had met Avery’s new friend a few times. She liked her, but sometimes it was hard not to feel left out when she and Avery talked about all the things they now had in common that Kaelin wasn’t part of. Plus, with Maddie and Hardeep being a couple, and Hardeep and Scott being good friends, the four of them spent a lot of time together. Maddie lived in Avery’s new world, with other friends Kaelin didn’t know. Although Kaelin and Avery shared a history and they would always be friends, their relationship had changed.
Last time Kaelin had visited Avery in Los Angeles, Avery had suggested Kaelin move there. “Don’t be silly,” Kaelin had said. “I can’t move away from Mapleglen.”
“Why not? Seriously. Your mom and dad are gone now. You can easily get a job here at some law firm.”
Kaelin looked down at her wineglass now, remembering how ridiculous and scary that thought had been, and yet…her life in Mapleglen was not the life she somehow had anticipated living. She didn’t even know exactly what she wanted, but she knew there was a hole in her life, an empty dissatisfaction that shifted from mild discontent to aching loneliness.
Maybe she should think about that idea again.
“Okay?” Nick asked in a low voice for her alone.
She smiled at him. “Of course.”
He’d talked to her after she’d slapped Tyler, made sure she was okay, agreed with her that Tyler could be a real jerk, made her laugh. And then he’d hugged her and a warm rush of affection had flowed through her. Well, and a little tingle of something else. Nick was really buff, big and strong and hard.
And so was Tyler. She sighed, thinking about her body’s reaction to Tyler’s casual hug. Man, maybe she should go back to Brent, just so they could sleep together. She was obviously sex-deprived. But sadly, sex with Brent hadn’t been all that great.
Avery introduced people and fetched drinks, and the evening sped by in a blur of conversation and laughter, a lingering awareness sparking her nerves every time she and Tyler locked glances, or she and Nick shared a smile.
“We’re heading out now,” Nick murmured to her later. “Guess we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Oh. You’re not staying here at the house?”
Nick shook his head. “No. Tyler wanted to stay at the hotel.”
“At the Red Maple Inn?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. Well. That’s good, you’ll be right there for the wedding. And the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. Mrs. Wirth has booked a private room there for dinner.”
“I won’t be at the rehearsal dinner.”
“Oh.” The dinner was the one part of the weekend Kaelin hadn’t had a hand in planning. Avery had allowed her mom to do whatever she wanted for the rehearsal dinner. Kaelin licked her lips, and looked up at Nick. “I guess it’s just for the wedding party.”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “No big deal. I can amuse myself for an evening.”
“I’m sure you still have some friends here.” Nick’s parents had moved away a few years ago, she knew, which was why he had an excuse for never coming back even if Tyler didn’t.
“Yeah. A few.”
Tyler walked up. “Ready to go?”
“Yup.” Guests had started leaving a while ago and the party was winding down.
“I told Avery I’ll help with whatever she needs done tomorrow,” Tyler said. “Apparently there’s all kind of shit to do—picking up decorations and crap.”
Kaelin grinned. “Yeah. Avery will be busy having her spa day.”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “I suppose you’re going with her.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “It’s not my thing, but Avery insisted on treating Maddie and me to manicures and pedicures and some kind of body scrub thing.”
Tyler eyed her body and heat followed his gaze.
“If you’re picking up the decorations, you can bring them to my place,” she said. “So I can take them on Saturday.”
“Where do you live, Kaelin?” Nick asked.
“Same place. My parents’ house.”
“Okay.”
“So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she rushed on a bit breathlessly.
She watched the two men leave out the front door, her nerves twitching, skin tingling. Exhaustion fell over her like a heavy blanket. Wow, what a roller coaster ride of an evening. Seeing Tyler again had her emotions all over the place, leaving her both drained and excited.
Bad. It was so bad.
She’d been so focused on pulling off this wedding for her best friend, making it everything Avery wanted it to be, she’d barely even thought about what it was going to be like to see Tyler and Nick again. It added a whole other dimension to everything, an unexpected, unsettling dimension. She covered her face with one hand briefly and lowered it just as Avery approached her. Avery wrapped her arms around her and hugged her.
“I’m sorry about the scene, Ave,” Kaelin said, hugging her best friend back.
“Don’t even worry about it. Every party needs a little excitement.”
“I don’t think your mom would agree.”
Avery snorted. “You know what she’s like.” She released Kaelin. “What was that about anyway?”
“Um…you mean with Tyler?”
“Yeah.” Avery’s searching gaze had Kaelin turning away to pick up some empty glasses off a table.
“Oh, he just drives me crazy.” She tried for a light and casual laugh but nearly choked on it. Avery followed her into the kitchen with more dishes.
“Mmmm.” Her noncommittal response made Kaelin nervous. “He’s such an intense guy.”
“Intense?” Kaelin shot Avery a glance over her shoulder from the dishwasher. “That’s not a word I would have used to describe Tyler. He always seems like he doesn’t give a shit about anything.”
“He seems that way,” she agreed. “So. Let’s talk about what’s happening tomorrow.”
The party finally over, the guests all gone, the kitchen spotless once again, Margot poured herself one last glass of wine. Ken had already gone up to bed, but she needed a few minutes to wind down. Her nerves were stretched taut, her face hurt from the smile she’d kept firmly in place all evening and she was exhausted from making small talk and her constant efforts to make sure every detail of the party was perfect. She really had to get over that, but it wasn’t so easy to let go of the few things she felt control over in her life.
She also wanted to sit down and think about her son.
Tyler. He’d walked into the house and her heart had leaped with joy at the sight of him. He was a man now, taller than his father, broader than his father, though with the same lean athletic build. Everyone said both her children looked like her, with blond hair and blue eyes, but she saw Ken’s strong jaw and high cheekbones in Tyler’s handsome face. She longed to run her hand over his cheek, as she had when he was small, to enfold him in a hug, except now he was a good seven inches taller and probably sixty pounds heavier than she. She smiled wistfully and carried her glass of wine toward her office.
But Tyler hadn’t been so happy to see her. Her heart constricted remembering his cool greeting, the way he’d rebuffed her attempt to hug him, the way he’d avoided her and any attempts to talk to him all evening. Now she ached, deep down inside, a sad painful ache.
She shouldn’t check her email again. There’d been nothing from him earlier, and now it was after midnight there likely wasn’t now. But she knew she was going to. Because chatting with him, telling him about her children, telling him what had happened with Tyler without having to hold anything back, was a bright glowing spot in her bleak, exhausting evening.
She opened the door to her office and stopped short in the doorway. Her husband sat at her computer. He turned to her, his eyebrows drawn into a bewildered frown, his mouth open. “Margot.”
Her heart actually stopped, and she put a hand to her chest as it then hurdled into a rapid, uneven rhythm. “What are you doing?” She thought he’d gone to bed.
“What are you doing?” he asked slowly, gesturing to her computer. “Who is this man you’ve been emailing with?”
Her mouth went dry and she swallowed. “Just a friend.”
He rose to his feet and stood here, looking back and forth between her and the computer. “You never mentioned a friend.”
“Ken.” How could she explain this to him? Why did she feel guilty? She’d never met Jeff in person. It was just a friendship, as she’d said. Someone to talk to and laugh with and maybe even flirt a little, but it had never gone beyond that.
He gazed at her and moved his head slowly from side to side. “Margot. I don’t understand what’s been happening with you.”
“I’ve tried to tell you,” she whispered. She clutched the glass of wine in both trembling hands. “I’ve tried.”
He squinted at her, as if having trouble seeing her. Since their children had both left home, she’d been increasingly unhappy with her life. She’d tried to keep busy, with the charity work she knew Ken liked her to do, with her golf and tennis and her friends. Shopping and decorating the house. But lately it hadn’t been enough.
The most embarrassing thing was that she wanted sex. Lots of sex. All the time. She’d chalked it up to some premenopausal hormonal surge. She’d bought sexy lingerie and tried to seduce her husband. It worked. Just not as much as she wanted it to. Perhaps sex every day was a little unrealistic for a sixty-year-old man, but she still believed a couple of times a week was reasonable. Wasn’t it?
