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Chapter 1
Tori
“Tori, sweetheart. Am I gonna have to get down on my knees and beg you? Because I will.”
I gaze up at the beautiful man standing in front of me and try to keep my cool.
Tyler drops to his knees and flashes that panty-dropping grin. The one where the corner of his mouth quirks up and he looks smug yet sweet at the same time. The one that always, always sends a pulse to my lady parts.
Those rich, mahogany eyes look up at me. “Please?” he rasps.
I have to squeeze my thighs together to keep the ache between my legs at bay. Because having Tyler Grant on his knees, his face inches from my midsection as he begs me has my cavewoman brain going to some very, very filthy places.
My imagination takes over. Tyler and I are in this same position but somewhere else…my bedroom. I’m naked. He’s naked. He runs his tongue along the seam of his lips before his gaze falls between my legs. I run my fingers through his thick, black hair. He closes his eyes, moaning softly. His square jaw bulges, like just the touch of my fingers through his hair turns him on. He rests his palms on my thighs, gently parting them open. And then he looks up at me.
“Please?” he growls.
“What are you doing?” My best friend Becca’s voice interrupts the naughty fantasy unfolding in my brain. She’s standing in the open doorway behind the counter of her mega-successful ice cream shop Sweet Cheeks, where I work.
Shaking my head, I clear my throat and turn to her. She’s aiming a confused expression at Tyler. When I look at him, he’s still smiling, looking smug as ever.
His mahogany gaze cuts to me. “Just trying to get Tori to give me the last bite of her s’more cookie.”
Becca chuckles. “You’re shameless, Tyler.”
“For the best cookies in the world? Always.” He turns back to me and sticks out his bottom lip.
“No way I’m letting you have the last bite.” I dangle the chunk of cookie in my hand. “I’ll split it with you though.”
He hops to his feet and fist-pumps the air. His impressive bicep flexes. I try not to gawk as I break off a piece of my cookie and hand it to him. When he pops it in his mouth and starts to chew, his eyes roll to the back of his head.
He moans. “God, I love you.”
That weak-in-the-knees feeling hits me again. But then he pats me on the shoulder before walking to the back of the ice cream shop.
I instantly wilt. It’s the kind of pat you give your friend. Or your little sister.
I swallow back the disappointed sound that almost seeps out. God, I’m pathetic.
I’m thirty-one years old with a crush on a guy who I know I shouldn’t be the least bit interested in.
Because he’s a ladies’ man. Because he hooks up and breaks hearts like it’s his hobby. Because everyone—including his brother and sister—has warned me to never, ever get involved with him.
I swallow back the flash of embarrassment that burns through me. And then I tell myself I know better. That I’d never in a million years date Tyler. That our friendship is just that—friendship. With a fun little side of flirting.
I take advantage of this quiet lull in this busy afternoon at the ice cream shop and wipe down the counters. When I head to the back to drop off the dirty rags, I catch a glimpse of Tyler darting in and out of the back door of Sweet Cheeks, carrying a massive container of ice cream in his muscled arms each time. My gaze lingers on his broad back and shoulders, the way his muscles flex under the fabric of his hoodie.
He comes here a couple of times a week and picks up ice cream for Se’bon, the high-end restaurant he works for here in Denver. It’s owned and run by his dad, celebrity chef Andre Thomas Grant. Tyler’s brother Gage, the TikTok star, also works there as a sous chef. For the past year, Tyler has been working for the restaurant as the do anything and everything guy. He does almost every job, from deliveries to maintenance work to kitchen prep and even waiting tables when they’re short-staffed. He helps out wherever it’s needed.
When Tyler walks back in, he huffs out a breath and aims that killer smile at me and Becca.
“Ladies, thanks again for the ice cream. We should be set at Se’bon for the rest of the week.”
Becca beams. “No problem. Tell your dad thanks again for the order. And say hi to Gage for me.”
“You want me to tell your boyfriend, who you live with and saw this morning, hello?” Tyler says in a mock annoyed tone.
Becca flashes a shy grin. “Yeah. We miss each other when we’re away at work for the day.”
