Part 17 (1/2)
It hit Carlie then. Tyler, too, had an alter ego, just as she did. In fact, more than one.
There was Tyler the businessman, the astute lawyer who handled cases with flair and savvy. And there was also Tyler, the ladies' man, with a reputation well known by the female population. In fact, Carlie now realized that reputation had been encouraged more by the ladies than by Tyler himself. The things he valued in a woman, as far as she could tell, were intelligence and laughter, not her measurements and unfailing willingness.
And he was also a very perceptive man, considerate and indulgent, with a gentleness toward all things weaker or smaller. That was why he dealt so well with children.
Tyler looked up and caught her scrutinizing him. He strolled over, dribbling the ball. With a slight smile, he stopped directly in front of her. ”I know what I'm thinking. Are your thoughts the same?”
Carlie shrugged, stealing the ball away from him. ”I was thinking you should get married and have children of your own. You're very good with them.” She glanced at him, saw his shock and smiled with satisfaction. ”That's all.”
”That's all! Hey, wait a minute.”
He was too late. She blew the whistle and the children lined up. For the next two hours, Carlie made certain she kept her distance from Tyler, always making sure she had at least one of the kids close to her. It was an ingenious plan-and it was obviously frustrating Tyler. He scowled at her throughout the last fifteen minutes of the practice.
Tyler walked two of the children out to their parents' cars, talking with the moms and dads a few minutes before coming back to the gym. She wasn't going to bother asking him what the discussions were about this time. He'd never confided in her last time. When he noticed she was still in the gym, he headed toward her, falling into step beside her as she started for the locker room.
”I want to talk to you, Carlie.”
”Can't right now. I'm running late as it is.” That was an easy truth to give, though Tyler didn't accept it.
”Late for what, dammit?”
She didn't look at him. ”Don't curse at me, Tyler.”
”Then stop avoiding me!”
”In other words, if I don't, you're going to continue to blast me with your foul language?”
He grabbed her arm, halting her. ”Talk to me. Please.”
It unnerved her, seeing him so abjectly sincere. ”I'm sorry. Really. But I'm starting some night courses and I'm running late. I should have left ten minutes ago.”
He searched her face. ”What time will you get home?”
”Late.”
”Too late to see me?”
”There's no reason for me to see you. I told you that.”
”And I didn't accept it. I guess we're at an impa.s.se.”
”We aren't anywhere. I'm late and you should be getting home. Goodbye.”
”No. I'm not leaving until you tell me what you meant by that crack about children.”
”It wasn't a crack.” She glanced at her watch, a deliberate show of impatience. ”You'd make an excellent father. You should find yourself a woman like Bren, and settle down. It would relieve the boredom you're forever complaining about.”
”I haven't complained about being bored since I met you. And I don't want a woman like Bren. I want a woman like you.”
It took great willpower not to react to that statement. Her stomach had lurched and her pulse had skipped a beat. But he was only being Tyler, flirting and teasing. She couldn't take him seriously. ”You want a woman who doesn't want you back? I don't know, Tyler. That might be kind of hard. Didn't you tell me that all the women want you?”
”No. I don't recall saying that. But I know you do, Carlie. Shall I prove it?”
Carlie flushed, silently cursing him for challenging her, especially when she knew she couldn't win. ”I can't deny I enjoyed s.e.x with you, Tyler. That isn't what I meant, and you know it. Why don't you take up a hobby? Collect stamps or something so you can entertain yourself without annoying me.”
”I wasn't trying to annoy you! I'm trying to talk to you. I want you to forgive me, I want-”
”You're forgiven.”
”That was a little precipitous, wasn't it?” He eyed her suspiciously. ”What are you forgiving me for?”
”I have no idea. You're the one who wanted forgiveness.” She raised her eyebrows politely. ”You tell me.”
He took a deep breath. ”I'm sorry for yelling at you, for jumping to conclusions and saying hateful, uncalled-for things.”
”They were called for. And you were justified.” She looked down at her clasped hands and made the necessary effort to relax. ”Will you forgive me, also? For deceiving you and using you and causing you embarra.s.sment?”
”Carlie.” He pulled her against his chest, despite her stiff, unyielding posture. ”There's nothing to forgive, honey. I understand why you didn't tell me.”
Carlie slowly stepped away, then started toward the gym door. ”It's in the past, Tyler,” she called over her shoulder. ”Forget about it. We're both obviously very sorry and determined not to make the same mistakes again. That's good enough for me. Now, I have to go. I'll see you Wednesday.”
”Carlie...”
She didn't stop, didn't turn to him, didn't slow her pace at all. But she could feel his eyes boring into her and just before the heavy back door swung shut behind her, she heard a bang that sounded suspiciously like a fist hitting a locker.
”You're going to have to help out here, Bren!” Tyler said as he paced the kitchen, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Carlie was being entirely unreasonable. She wouldn't see him beyond practices and wouldn't take the time to talk to him when it wasn't absolutely necessary. He'd about run out of ideas. And he was getting desperate.
Brenda and Jason stared at him as he paced. Brenda shook her head. ”Carlie would never forgive me if I got in the middle of this.”
”Just try talking to her for me. She'll listen to you.”
”Not a chance. Carlie won't listen to anything I have to say. Not with things so fouled up.”
Tyler glowered at her. ”Things are not fouled up! Carlie and I being together is not a mistake.”
”Hah! Carlie's more determined than ever to stay away from men. She won't even go out with that old school-board guy, and he's certainly no threat.”
Tyler halted, then looked at Brenda. ”What are you talking about?”
”There's some old stuffed s.h.i.+rt on the school board-”
”He's only thirty-six, Bren,” Jason interrupted.
”Well, he seems old, he's so uppity.” She gave her attention back to Tyler. ”Anyway, she's gone out with him a couple of times. Mostly to talk over school stuff, or so he says. Personally, I think he's trying to ingratiate himself. Now he wants her to help him head up a new fundraiser at the school. Carlie said she needs to get together with him this weekend to discuss the particulars.”
”Where?”
Jason stood. ”Now, Tyler...”
He ignored his brother. The thought of Carlie with another man made him see red. He repeated, ”Where?”