Page 86 of Let Me Keep You

Growing impatient, I ring it again just as the door swings open.

Tyler stands in front of me with only a towel wrapped low around his waist. Water drips down his chest using his muscles as a path to his happy trail. I bite down on my lower lip, not prepared to get a show before we talked.

“Gemma,” he snaps. “Everleigh’s not here. She’s at the boutique.”

I tilt my head. “Right, but I actually came here to talk to you.”

He doesn’t budge and continues to stand while keeping the door cracked. “Okay, go ahead.”

“Don’t you want to get dressed first?”

I’m tempted to push past him and let myself inside since he didn’t offer.

“I’m kinda busy. Will this be a long conversation?”

With every passing second, I grow more frustrated. He’s not being his typical self and isn’t acting like the Tyler I know. He’s acting like I’m the biggest inconvenience of his life, and honestly, I don’t like this side of him.

“I want to talk about what happened between us the other night. So you want me to stand right here and have that conversation? Or do you want to invite me inside where we can have some privacy?”

He shrugs but doesn’t say anything.

Fine then.

“We need to get back to normal. My dad asked what’s going on because he noticed things have changed between us. I don’t want him to get suspicious, so can we act like we’re friends at least? For the sake of working together every day?” I hate how desperate my voice comes out but talking to him and being this close to him when he looks like that makes me anxious.

Tyler crosses his arms over his chest. “It was nothing more than a heated kiss and a mistake, Gemma. That’s it. You’re engaged, and like you said, it never should’ve happened, so let’s pretend it didn’t. It meant nothing to me anyway, so you can go back to planning the wedding of your dreams.”

Excuse me? My blood boils as my adrenaline spikes. “It meant nothing to you?”

I’m not sure what I wanted or expected him to say, but it wasn’t that. If he’s saying that to hurt me, it’s working.

“That’s what I said. You. Are. Engaged.” He stresses every word.

“I am. But that doesn’t mean you have to lie, Tyler. I felt something, and you fucking did too.”

“Sorry, I didn’t,” he says calmly. “It’d been a long time since I touched a woman, so perhaps you got the wrong signals.”

My breaths are shallow as my anger rises, and when I open my mouth, I see a gorgeous brunette walking down the hallway wearing nothing but a towel.

She smiles wide as I look her up and down. She rocks a short pixie cut, sleeves of tattoos on both arms, and bright blue eyes. The woman looks like she fell off the pages of a fitness magazine as she saunters toward us. She oozes confidence, and the closer she comes, the smaller I feel. My heart stops when Tyler smiles suggestively at her. It’s not hard for me to put all the pieces together since they’re both wearing towels.

Fuck, I’m an idiot.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.”

Tyler grips the side of the door as though he’s ready to slam it in my face. “It’s fine. Do you need anything else or are we done here?”

“I guess we’re done.”

The woman moves beside Tyler, and we make eye contact. Her perfect smile has my jealousy burning me alive.

“Hey, I’m Ruby.” She holds out her hand, and I reluctantly take it.

“Gemma. I’m Tyler’s sister’s best friend.”

“Nice to meet you! From what Tyler’s told me, Everleigh’s awesome.”

I swallow hard at how sweet she’s being and know I won’t be able to hate her for having a crappy personality. “She is.” Blinking hard, I stare at how radiantly beautiful Ruby is. “How’d you meet Tyler?” The words blurt out, and I mentally slap my forehead.