Home > Keeping You Away(16)

Keeping You Away(16)
Author: Kennedy Fox

Though it’s late, it’s still humid as hell, which doesn’t help how sticky I already feel from the beer I’m wearing. I walk beside Everleigh as she chats about posting our photos early next week. Tyler walks behind us, and I swear I can feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.

“Good night, you two,” Everleigh sing-songs when the storefront comes into view. She waves her fingers with a teasing smirk. “I’ll text you tomorrow!”

I chuckle at her obnoxiousness. Her house isn’t too far so she’ll make it home fine. “Goodbye!”

Once I find my keys, I hand them to Tyler with a shaky hand. The nervous tension returns when Everleigh is out of sight, and it’s just the two of us. Guess there’s no amount of whiskey or tequila that can hide it.

“Here, let me help you before you break an ankle.” Tyler unlocks, then opens the door for me. It’s the first time we’ve been this close, and I can smell the faint hint of his cologne and soap. Memories flood in from years ago, but I push them away and climb inside. He cranks the car and grins when it rumbles to life.

“What?”

“I’ve always wanted to drive one of these.” When I graduated from college, my dad fully restored a 1967 Ford Mustang for me and painted it jet black.

I lean my head against the seat. “Just be careful, she wants to go ninety all the time.”

“Noted. So am I taking you to your fiancé’s house or…”

“No, you’re taking me home.”

“Tell me where that is.” His voice is velvety smooth like chocolate.

“It’s where it’s always been.” I chuckle. “The house behind my dad’s.”

The same place he took my virginity and where we spent endless nights having sex.

“The Snow White cottage?” he asks, pulling out onto the road.

“Yep. Remember when we used to hang out there after I graduated?”

I immediately clamp my mouth shut, but it’s too late. The alcohol makes me blurt out those words. Bringing up our past has been on the tip of my tongue all night. The summer I spent with Tyler often feels like a lifetime away, but also seems like it was yesterday.

“How could I forget? It was the best summer I’ve ever had here.” He finally glances over at me, and I’m thankful it’s dark so he can’t see the heat rising to my cheeks.

We stay silent, listening to the radio until Tyler pulls into the driveway. After getting out of the car, we walk around the house to the cottage. He follows me, and when I turn to look at him, I nearly trip and bust my ass.

The only thing that saves me is Tyler’s quick reflexes. For a second, the world momentarily shook on its axis, but he caught me before I embarrassed myself. I look up into his brown eyes and suck in a breath. For a moment, it feels like we’re suspended in time as we stare intently at each other. He swallows, and his mouth opens, and I notice his heartbeat pulsing in his neck.

“You okay?” he asks, sounding more confident than he looks.

I shake out of his trance. “Nearly twisted my ankle, but I’ll live. These damn shoes. This is why I hate wearing heels, but Everleigh insisted.” I bend over to take them off, then walk barefoot the rest of the way.

“You gotta come inside and check the place out. Might shock you compared to the last time you saw it. It took Dad and me an entire summer to renovate and add a kitchen. One reason I’m not looking forward to leaving. Too many memories.” I don’t know why I mentioned that last part.

He hands over my keys, and I unlock the door. Thankfully, I cleaned up a couple of days ago, so there are no bras or leggings thrown around.

Tyler walks in with a smile that nearly touches his eyes. It’s so genuine and contagious, I’m grinning wide as I watch his expression. He looks impressed as he glances around with his arms crossed over his broad chest.

“Wow, you did an amazing job, Gemma. This is…perfect. Cozy. And so you.”

He studies my mother’s paintings on the walls, steps around my quaint kitchen, and runs his fingertip across the marble island that my dad built.

As I watch him take it all in, the sticky clothes start to irritate me and become uncomfortable. I remove my dress and let out a sigh of relief. Next, I pull my hair up into a high bun, then grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Wait, how are you getting home?” The realization that he doesn’t have a car hits me.

“Walking,” he says from behind me.

My eyes widen as I turn around. “In the dark? That’s way too far.”

A laugh escapes him, and it’s something I didn’t realize I missed until it echoes against the walls. “I lived in Vegas, Gemma. I’m not scared of walking at night here. Aside from the stray cats and crickets, the only terrifying thing in this town is how fast the gossip mills run.”

I snort at the truth in his words as I go to the living room and plop down on the sofa. “You could always stay.” I pat the throw pillow with an old Mustang on it. A gift my dad got me one Christmas.

“Where? The couch?” He arches a brow at how small it is, which causes me to laugh. His long legs would probably hang over the edge. Immediately, I’m brought back in time and remember what it felt like to be wrapped up in his arms and how it made me feel so tiny.

“Yeah, why not? It’s pretty damn comfy.” The room spins, and I blink hard until it stops.

When I look up at him, I notice he’s staring down at the ring on my finger. The light makes it sparkle and brings unnecessary attention to it. A lump forms in my throat, and the urge to change the subject hits me hard.

“Damn. Where are my manners?” I stand and go back to the kitchen. “Want something to drink? I have bottled water, Diet Coke, sweet tea...”

He chews his bottom lip as he shakes his head, then lowers his eyes down my body.

Tyler clears his throat. “Might want to put on some clothes?”

My body is on fire with embarrassment as I remember I’m only in my bra and panties.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. “Shit. I’m sorry, hold on…” Blushing, I turn and hurry to my bedroom.

I wasn’t thinking straight, and the wet dress and alcohol flowing through my veins didn’t help. I feel like the emperor when he realizes he’s walked around in his birthday suit and want to smack myself for being so dumb.

When I return in shorts and a T-shirt, he’s standing against the island. “Better?” I chuckle to ease the tension, then step in front of him. “Please don’t walk home.” The thought of him being out this late has me concerned. He might not get mugged, but too many stupid people are driving around this time of night, and that scares me.

Tyler takes me by surprise when he gently places his hands on my shoulders. It’s the first time he’s touched me, causing an internal freak-out of emotions. His hands are warm against my skin, and the scent of his cologne is more prevalent this close to him. “Gemma, don’t worry about me. I’ve dealt with plenty of shady people throughout the years. I promise I’ll be careful.”

I lick my lips and stare at his features—something I never thought I’d see again. “Earlier, you said I’d changed. But one thing that hasn’t is how much I worry about you.” I meet his eyes and feel as if I’m floating as our gaze locks. The electricity streaming between us nearly has me losing my breath.

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