Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
I scoff. “You will stand out regardless.”
The moment I say it, I realize he’s gonna throw every other guy in the shade once he enters a room—any room—and of course, there’s the matter of girls who’ll most likely hit on him. Elena and Kat received invites, and they liked to flirt with any man who came near me, including Martin. Martin entertained them, of course, which didn’t bother me. But a heavy weight settles on my stomach when I think of them flirting with Tyler.
“You okay?” he asks, his fingers grazing my arm.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
“Not yet.” He smiles and takes out a small box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a gold necklace with at least a dozen round stones alternating with small diamonds. The design reminds me of fish bones, and I love it.
My hands go to the lock on my serpent diamond necklace. Without a second thought, I unclasp it and drop it into my purse.
“Happy birthday, little fairy,” he murmurs, stepping behind me to clasp the necklace around my neck, his fingers brushing my collarbones and the sides of my neck. It shouldn’t feel as good as it does.
“Thank you.” I turn to face him, my hand touching the necklace almost reverently.
I don’t know how it’s possible, but Tyler has a sheepish look on him. “I know you’re probably used to expensive diamonds the size of my fist, but Erika’s girlfriend is a jeweler. She made this for you. The red and pink stones are spinel, which is one of your birthstones.”
A lump of emotion lodges in my throat. No one has ever given that much thought to my gifts before. Yes, I get expensive items. But all of them pale in comparison to this. It’s beautiful and worth more than all my jewelry collection combined.
“Thank you, Tyler. This is beautiful. I love it. Truly.”
Tyler nods. “It’s not much—”
“I said I love it.”
He probably sees the truth in my eyes because he smiles. “It belongs in a set, but Lanie can’t rush them all. This is the only one she finished.”
“I should’ve known.”
“Know what?”
“That you like jewelry as much as I do. With your piercings and all.” I give him the stink eye. “Don’t take them off next time. I like those little blings.”
“Little bl—” He bursts out laughing and wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me to him. “I don’t want to mess up your makeup, so this will have to do for now.” Tyler kisses my forehead, and butterflies flutter in my belly. Why do I find that so intimate? More intimate than the soul-sucking kiss we shared the other day at the park.
Without warning, he sweeps me into his arms and deposits me on the passenger seat of the Bronco. I yelp and smack his arm. “Tyler!”
“We don’t want the birthday celebrant to be late.”
After he slides into the driver’s seat, I touch his arm. “Is this yours?”
“Yes. I’m not a fan of cars in general because they feel claustrophobic, but I take this out when the occasion calls for it.” Tyler turns serious as he runs a knuckle along my cheek. “Is this okay for you? It’s no limo.”
“You really should give me more credit. I love Broncos. You haven’t seen my car, but it’s actually a truck.”
“Really? I would have pegged you as a sports car kind of girl.”
“You don’t know me that well.”
“Not yet, no. But I intend to know everything about you, little fairy. Every little thing.”
Is it just me, or is there some kind of promise behind those words? Because honestly, there’s only one birthday gift I want, and he’s sitting right beside me.
If this night leads to where I hope it will, then it’s going to be the best birthday ever.
“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever tattooed on someone?” I ask Tyler while we sway to the music.
I admit I was a bit nervous introducing him to my parents, but aside from Dad’s subtle eyebrow raise and Mom communicating to me with her eyes—she’s going to pepper me with questions once we’re alone, I’m sure—they’ve been doing their best to make Tyler comfortable.
I love them for that because while my parents have been grooming me to take over the real estate business since I was probably two, they understand that all the other aspects of my life are off-limits. The one with Martin? That’s on me. Everyone fully expected us to get together, so I was like, “Why not?”
There was nothing really. No spark. No chemistry. Rarely any conversation between us, and if there was any, he was the one doing the talking.
Tyler is different. Things are happening too fast, but it feels right.
He thinks about my question. “A middle-aged woman came to the studio in the middle of the night, just as we were about to close shop. She wanted me to tattoo a gravestone of her ex-husband on her back. Like, her entire back.”