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“What are you doing here?” My tone isn’t friendly.
“I work here,” Piper says, deliberately intercepting the question as she rises and grabs the bag from me.
Sending an irritated look my friend’s way, I turn to Tyler, who doesn’t appear in the least apologetic for being here.
“I had to check out a book and ran into Piper. We’ve been talking for a while now. Your friend has a vast knowledge of business procedures,” Tyler says, and he kicks back in the chair as if he doesn’t plan to go anywhere in the near future.
“I’m here now, so you can leave.” Tyler’s eyes narrow the slightest bit.
“Well, since we’ve managed to run into each other and I haven’t been able to get you on the phone, I think now’s a good time to discuss business.”
“Do you normally stalk your attorneys?”
I don’t want to allow him to set a precedent of showing up any time he feels like it at my stomping grounds. But it appears Tyler, as always, will do whatever he pleases.
“I do business wherever I feel like it. I didn’t become as successful as I have by sticking with convention.” We have a stare-off for several moments, during which I’m pretty sure the library heats up a few degrees.
Then Piper interrupts. “I’m going to have lunch. Are you guys joining me?”
I’m not thrilled my best friend’s entertaining the man who’s driving me insane, but I quickly quash the sentiment. What should Piper have done? Tell him to go away? That sounds much easier than it is. The guy doesn’t listen. He stopped doing that when he hit puberty — most likely before, actually.
“If we’re going to meet, we might as well eat. I’m hungry,” I finally say.
“Good. Me too.” Piper grabs her sandwich and kicks back, pretending she doesn’t notice the tension brewing.
I sit in the seat across from Tyler. At least this table’s too wide for him to play footsies with me. I don’t think I can handle him touching me right now. My nerves are scraped raw.
“I can’t finish this whole thing. Do you want half?” Piper asks.
“Thanks. Don’t mind if I do,” Tyler replies with a smile.
“What do you want to discuss?” I ask while slowly unwrapping my sandwich.
“We can eat first, talk later,” he says, seeming content to munch on the turkey and Swiss.
“Fine by me. I’ve started billing from the moment I sat.”
“Why don’t we call it an even eight hours today? That way you won’t get anxious,” he says, taking a bite and sitting back without a care in the world.
“I’ve got a full schedule,” I point out. “I don’t plan on meeting with you for eight hours.”
“You never know where things will lead,” he says right back. My friend’s whipping her head back and forth between the two of us, and I send her a silent plea for help.
Piper smiles. “Do you need me to leave so you two can get it on right here in the library?” I gasp. Tyler looks thoughtful for a moment before giving Piper his award-winning smile.
“I’ve heard rumors about the stacks,” he says with a wink. I turn red before ducking my head. I don’t know which person I’m more irritated with at the moment — Piper or Tyler.
“You both should keep your voices down. We are, after all, in a library,” I snap.
“Yes, but it’s slow today,” Piper says. “Talk all you want.”
Tyler finishes his sandwich and rises from the table. With wary eyes, I watch him move to the trash can and throw away his garbage before moving back to the table and taking the seat next to me.
“So,” Piper asks, “what have you done that’s making my best friend antsy?” Tyler throws her a smile before shifting in the chair and brushing his leg against mine. I refuse to move. If I show this man the effect he’s having on me, he’ll win. He likes winning. So do I.
The problem is, little fingers of delight shoot through my body where he’s touching me. And from the look my best friend’s shooting my way, Piper clearly knows exactly what’s going on across the table from her. Dammit!
“I plan on being her lover,” Tyler says.
