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“Good. Then what will it take to get your best friend in my bed?” This question is followed by a moment of silence. Tyler has shocked Piper, and I’m too horrified to say anything. Finally, Piper smiles, and my stomach sinks.
“First of all, you have to make it past her best friend,” Piper tells him.
“And do you approve?” he asks. She smiles again, and I watch as the two of them bond right in front of me.
“You’re growing on me.”
“Well, neither one of you is growing on me,” I say.
“Tsk, tsk, Livie. It’s not good to lie,” Tyler says.
“I’m done with this.” I rise from the table, shoot both of them a dirty look, and then storm away. This would be so much easier if I really did hate the man. But I don’t. I only want to. And being stuck with him isn’t making my life easier.
ChapterTwenty
Olivia
When my doorbell rings late on Saturday night, I jump and set my book aside. I have no doubt who’s at the door. Ignoring Tyler’s calls apparently isn’t working like I hoped it would. But it’s okay. I’ll say I went to bed early, apologize for the phone problems, and promise to do my best to help him — when Monday morning comes.
After the disastrous library meeting on Tuesday, I managed to confine our meetings to public places, then Friday night I turned off my phone. I can only take so much of the man.
Ranting and raving about him all week to Piper didn’t do me any good either. Piper’s convinced I’m lying to myself, and I need to sleep with the man again then either marry him or dump him. I don’t know what she’s talking about. I ignore the knock, switch off my bedside lamp, and tuck myself beneath the covers, with my head securely under my pillow.
I watched romantic movies all day — stupid move — and then soaked in a hot bath. The way the water glided over my breasts made me think about sex — sex with one Tyler Astor. I hear the front door open and then hear voices. Piper’s home early. She was driving for her brother earlier, so I thought I was safe, that no one would answer Tyler’s knock.
Footsteps sound outside in the hallway and I hold my breath. I can pretend to be asleep and hopefully the two of them will go away. Heck, Tyler and Piper get along great. Maybe the two of them can hook up. Why is this thought so incredibly depressing?
“Livie, you have a visitor,” Piper calls through the door.
“I’m trying to sleep,” I call back, which is stupid — now theyknowI’m awake.
“Coming in.” This is my only warning before my door’s thrust open and the light flips on.
“Look who I found on our doorstep. He insisted on seeing you. Since you’reneverin bed this early, I figured you wouldn’t mind.” Piper gives me a wink behind Tyler’s back, then makes a kissy-face before she turns and leaves.The traitor!
“You’ve been avoiding me, Olivia,” Tyler says, moving confidently into my room. He looks around, and I blush as I look to see if anything’s out of place. Of course things are. It’s mybedroom.
He moves over to my favorite chair, a dark green stuffed armchair that’s seen better days, but is the most comfortable piece of furniture I own, and picks up the nightie I have hanging on the back. The look he sends me makes me blush and sputter at the same time.
“Don’t touch my stuff,” I snap. I want to jump out of the bed, but the nightie I’m wearing is even more minuscule than the one he has in his hot hands. Not the sort of thing to parade around in front of a man I’m not going to have sex with.
“I like it,” he says. “Do you always wear silky little nighties? And what are you wearing right now?”
“None of your business.” He looks at my comforter as if he can see through it, and this makes me clutch it tightly.
“It smells marvelous in here. Are you burning a candle?”
“I did earlier, but then I decided to go to sleep,” I growl.
“At...” He looks at his watch, then looks back at me. “Nine on a Saturday night?”
“It’s none of your business when I do or don’t go to bed, Tyler. And your presence in my bedroom’s a clear invasion of privacy. You’re trespassing.”
“Do you have any idea how sexy you look right now with your hair rumpled, the top of your nightie dipping deliciously low, and your eyes spitting fire?” Dang. I didn’t realize my comforter slipped down. I tug on it.
“This is so not appropriate,” I gasp. If only I could say this with some sort of force.
“When will you realize there isn’t a question here? We’re going to be together, and that’s indisputable. You have nothing to feel guilty about by wanting me.”
