Part 10 (2/2)

”This morning, you acted as if you had to know who she was. How could you forget about her so easily, anyway?” As soon as she'd asked the question, Carlie wondered if she was losing it. She was purposely treading on very dangerous ground.

”You don't want to hear about my conquests, remember?”

”Ah, so it was a conquest. Not that I'd ever doubted otherwise, given your reputation. But it is unfortunate the lady was masked, don't you think? Otherwise, it might have been her here now, and I'm sure she'd be more appreciative of your charms than I am.”

Tyler caught Carlie's hand, demanding her attention. ”It isn't like that, Carlie. I-”

His innocent look of confusion infuriated her. ”Isn't like what? I like you, Tyler, I really do. But I don't appreciate being treated like a fool. Does it make you feel macho to come on to every woman you meet, even those you don't really want?”

Tyler looked startled by her anger. He visibly collected himself. ”I like you as a friend, too. More than I've ever liked a woman. I feel completely at ease with you. And I'm not 'playing' with you, Carlie. You're a woman. That's an irrevocable fact. I can't help being-”

”Don't you dare tell me again that you're curious!”

His hand came up to cradle her cheek. Smiling slightly, he said simply, ”Then you'll have to stop being so unique, so intelligent and witty and fun to be with.”

”So.” Carlie tightened her mouth, and moved out of his reach. ”What about your masked lady? Have you given up on finding her?”

She could see the frustration that replaced his smile. ”I don't know.” He gave her another smile and shrugged. ”You know, I'd never met a woman who could so easily confuse me, and now I've met two. Not really sporting, is it?”

”Tyler...”

”Shh. Stop fending me off and just relax, okay? I promise not to attack you again. I won't lose my head and have my wicked way with you.”

He was back to normal, or what she accepted as normal. When he talked complete nonsense, she was comfortable with his attention. Carlie finally smiled, then playfully slugged Tyler in the arm before giving her attention back to the movie. ”You're impossible.”

Carlie wanted to linger once the movie ended, but Tyler didn't invite her to stay, and she didn't know how to ask. It didn't feel as though he was tired of her company, but rather that he was tired of his apartment.

He said, ”I'm not here all that often. I only come home to sleep.” Then he laughed. ”I've probably only used that television a handful of times. But it was fun today, with you.”

She berated him all the way home for showing her such an outrageous movie. And then he reminded her she owed him dinner.

”All right, though I don't think you played fair. You'd already seen the movie and knew what to expect.”

Tyler grinned. It was still storming, and the driving was slow. The inside of the car was warm and humid and Carlie's hair had once again rebelled. She tried to get the damp tendrils back into place, but gave up after Tyler shook his head at her. He reached across the seat and took her hand with easy familiarity. ”I suppose I did have the advantage. So how about I help you grade your papers, anyway? I wouldn't mind.”

Carlie smiled. It would probably be best to refuse, but he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, and she found herself agreeing. ”Very sporting of you, Tyler. Thank you.”

”You're welcome. And I'll bring dinner. Pizza or something. Okay?”

”Why are you so conciliatory all of a sudden? You're making me very suspicious.”

They pulled up in front of Carlie's house. Tyler put the car into Park and turned off the engine, then s.h.i.+fted in his seat to face her. The air, sealed by the heavy rain outside, smelled of damp flesh and wet hair and Tyler, masculine and seductive.

”I meant what I said today, Carlie. I can't recall ever enjoying another person's company as much as I enjoy yours. I like helping the kids and I like the exercise. But I think I like arguing with you most of all. You get riled so easily.”

”Arguing with you is my pleasure. And as to the rest, the children and I should thank you. You're making a difference, and we appreciate it.” Tyler looked embarra.s.sed by her praise. She knew she shouldn't, even debated with herself for several moments, but she couldn't resist inviting him in. ”I don't have anything pressing to do. We could play cards or something.”

”I thought that if I sat here in the rain, looking forlorn long enough, you would finally ask.”

Carlie indicated the rain las.h.i.+ng the windows. ”Are you ready then? We'll have to make a run for it.”

Tyler grinned at her. ”I'll race you.”

They each dashed from the car as the rain pounded them with stinging force. They huddled together, Tyler protectively putting his arm around Carlie, trying to cover her as best he could. Laughing, they nearly tripped each other in their race for the house.

Stumbling onto the front stoop and under the tiny roof, they collapsed against the door. Gasping and winded, with rain dripping from their bodies, they s.h.i.+vered from the chill October air and tried to stifle their laughter.

Carlie pulled off her gla.s.ses and swiped at her eyes. She looked at Tyler, then burst out laughing again, falling against his shoulder. ”Oh, Tyler, you're soaked!” She reached up and pushed a wet strand of dark hair from his forehead.

Tyler didn't move. She was huddled under his arm, her hair plastered to her skull, her gla.s.ses in her hand. He raised a finger and brushed gently against her eyelashes, spiked from the rain. Carlie smiled up at him.

Then his eyes dropped to her lips, and she parted them, without speaking, without even breathing. The tension was back, nearly choking her now. She ached so badly...

”Carlie?”

His voice was husky. Carlie tried to lean away, but he held her firm. His eyes drifted over her face and she blinked at the tenderness there.

And then he kissed her.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Carlie gasped and squirmed against him. The sound of Tyler's breathing was even louder than the rain pelting the roof of the overhang. Carlie felt his tongue touch the seam of her lips, and without conscious decision, she parted them. He groaned low in his throat, held her face between his hands and slanted his mouth over hers, stroking deep inside, imitating the lovemaking she was only recently familiar with. It made her body tingle with remembered heat.

He released her mouth, his lips traveling over her cheek and temple and the bridge of her nose. ”Carlie...” He murmured her name wonderingly, over and over again. His hands slid down her shoulders, and one palm ventured forward to cover her breast, rubbing over her nipple with tantalizing expertise.

It was that expertise that brought her to her senses.

Shoving him away, Carlie covered herself with her hands. Tyler stood staring at her, apparently dazed. ”Carlie...?”

”You...you...” She couldn't believe what she had almost let happen. Her thoughts were in turmoil, her emotions sensitized, and it was all his fault. ”How dare you!”

He frowned, his eyes black with a mixture of pa.s.sion and frustration. He shook his head the tiniest bit, then growled, ”I don't know. I...h.e.l.l.” He turned his back, his hands flexing, but when Carlie began struggling with her keys to unlock the door, he jerked around to face her.

She flinched from the hand he reached toward her. She felt so confused and angry at Tyler for complicating things further, for apparently wanting his mystery woman, but willing to toy with her, as well. She concentrated on the anger, unreasonable as it seemed. ”Don't you touch me! You lied!”

”About what?” His shout matched the volume of her words.

”You said you wouldn't attack me!”

”I didn't attack you, dammit! I kissed you. There's a big difference.”

”You... you pawed me.”

<script>