Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [113]
"Is that part of the date? I thought you would serve me. In fact, I thought you would feed me."
"Not likely." She slid across the blanket, resting her back against the coffee table. Tyler made the same move a second later, his shoulder touching hers, their legs stretched out in front of them.
"I'm not that hungry yet, are you?" he asked.
"Not really," she admitted. Although, if they didn't eat, they'd probably have to talk or, worse yet, they'd find something even better to do.
For a moment they just sat. Then Tyler said, "Is everything okay, Kate? With your sisters?"
"Why would you ask that?" She turned her head so she could look at him.
"You seem preoccupied. A little down, not your normally cheery self."
"Is that the way you see me? An overly perky woman?"
"I think you try to be cheerful, even when you don't feel like it. You're big on putting up a front. A don't-let-anyone-see-you-sweat kind of girl."
"You're the same. You hide what you're thinking behind those unreadable eyes."
"You mean you can't read my mind right now?" His eyes had darkened, and his gaze focused on her mouth. Her lips tingled. She felt as if he was kissing her, yet he hadn't even touched her.
Tyler put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close until her head was resting against his chest. She should have pulled away, but it felt too good.
"This is better," he said
"I can hear your heart beating."
"Thank God for that."
Kate slipped her hand inside the neck of his polo shirt. "It's beating faster new."
"Want to see how fast it can go?"
"Tyler -- "
"Shh." He pressed her head back against his chest. "Did I tell you what I did today?"
She relaxed a bit at the casual question. Maybe they could just sit and talk. "Besides grill my sister? No."
"I stopped at the drug store."
Her body tensed again. So much for just talking. She knew what was coming. What she didn't know was what she would do about it.
"Like a good boy scout, I'm prepared," he added lightly.
"That will be nice for whatever girl scout you run into."
"I don't want a girl scout, I want you."
"I thought we just agreed ..."
"I think the only thing we agree on is that we both want each other."
She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes. "That's true, but --"
"No buts." He paused, his eyes very serious. "I know there are a hundred reasons why we shouldn't do this, but I can't stop thinking about you. This kind of feeling doesn't happen every day of the week, you know. I can't make any promises. I can't offer you my heart and my soul, because, in truth, I don't know what's left of my heart. It took a big hit a long time ago when my father ripped my family apart. I don't really know how to love."
She was touched by the admission. "You knew how to love once," she reminded him.
"It almost killed me."
"I understand."
"I know you do. That's why we keep coming back to this place."
Their eyes met in a moment of deep connection.
"I can't stop thinking about you, either, Tyler, but I've never been one to leap without looking. And I'm afraid to look where you're concerned."
"I think there was a time when you could leap. Then you got hurt, and you grew wary, and safe seemed better than sorry."
"It still does," she admitted.
"We're a lot alike."
"In some ways."
"Whatever happens between us tonight is separate from everything else," he said "There's no past, no future, just tonight. I want to make love to you, Kate. You and me, nothing between us, no clothes, no secrets, no questions, no lies, no memories, no ghosts. Just the two of us."
She drew in a breath and slowly let it out. She was tempted, but it was madness. They couldn't escape the reality of the morning, could they? And how would she feel then?
His hand stroked the side of her face, a gentle, tender caress that made her heart skip a beat. What was