Page 37 of What Started In Deception

He smiled because even though they were still figuring things out, he couldn’t deny that the last couple of nights hadn’t been half bad.

He chuckled now, remembering the many times that Lydia had laughed while they watched their movie and the way she’d turned her head and grinned at him when they both attempted to reach into the box of popcorn, then the bag of gummy bears at the same time.

But his smile faded as he realized that Lydia tended to be on his mind a lot, whether she needed to be or not.

He glanced at the clock again as he thought of Danny’s warning, figuring that an afternoon by himself wasn’t a bad way to go, either. Grabbing a workout at the gym was definitely an option.

He and Lydia were doing okay. When he’d backed out of her driveway last night, they’d left things on a good note. Dinner tomorrow night was good enough. Seeing her tomorrow would be soon enough.

Chapter Eleven

Lydia studied the three stories of windows glistening in the early evening sunshine as she walked up the path to Ty’s temporary condo. It felt slightly odd to be at a home that he was pretending was his own, but when it came to Ty and their interesting new arrangement, strange was definitely the norm.

They’d spent yesterday apart—their twenty-four-hour fake relationship pause. She’d enjoyed a day to herself—the quiet and relaxation—but she also couldn’t say that dinner with Ty was something that she was dreading either.

She raised her hand to knock, dressed in the black spaghetti strap V-neck romper and sandals that she’d changed back into after her laps in the pool, but Ty opened the door before she could.

He smiled, wearing blue jeans and a sleeveless white shirt that showed off his excellent arms. The black bandana that he’d tied around his forehead accentuated his bold blue eyes and the dark scruff that he hadn’t shaved off his jaw. The effect was mouthwatering and not at all fair. “I saw you coming up the walkway.”

She smiled back, noting that he was barefoot, too, which only added to his sex appeal. Ty Corddry, completely relaxed and at home. “This is a nice spot.”

He nodded, opening the door wider. “As far as fake houses go, I can’t complain. Come on in.”

“Thanks,” she said, stepping into the small entryway, breathing in a combination of his aftershave and the scent of their dinner, noting the steps that led to the downstairs garage or up to the living space on the second story. “It smells great in here.”

“The sauce has been simmering for a couple of hours, so it should be pretty tasty. Come on up,” he said, gesturing for her to walk up the stairs before him.

She headed upstairs, surprised by the large open-concept space, complete with a designer kitchen, a big living room with cozy, masculine furnishings, and a large dining room with a sturdy table that sat eight. “Wow.”

“Not bad, right?”

“It’s great.” She turned a slow circle, still taking everything in, studying the pretty accents cleverly placed here and there. “None of this stuff is yours?”

He shook his head. “This place was empty before I got here. They had an interior decorator stage it for me. When I leave, all of it will go away.”

The idea seemed sad somehow, reminding her of just how phony everything about this situation was. “Huh.”

“Let me show you the upstairs. I think you’ll like it.”

“Sure.” She followed him upstairs and down a hall past two bedrooms and a primary suite to one more set of stairs and a glass door.

“Check it out,” he said, opening it so she could walk out onto a fantastic rooftop deck.

The summer sun warmed her skin as she stepped onto the outdoor carpeting, studying the beautiful six-piece patio set and the outdoor table and chairs. “Holy crap.”

He chuckled. “So, you like it?”

“Yes.” She walked to the railing, staring out at the view of downtown Oliver Heights. “Ty, this is amazing.”

He joined her at the edge. “We can eat up here if you want.”

She nodded enthusiastically as she grinned at him. “Absolutely.”

“We can also hang out up here whenever you want over the next couple of weeks.”

She nodded again. “Right about now, I’m loving that we’re dating.”

He laughed. “Those are words I never thought I would hear you say.”