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“My family…” Ty took a deep breath, held it a moment, then exhaled. The word dysfunctional immediately leaped to his mind. He was an only child who had been raised with money and privilege, but it was not a substitute for the type of closeness Mac had with his family—the type Angie had just described. The predominant memory from his early years was the constant fighting between his mother and father. His parents had finally divorced when he was in high school, but it hadn’t stopped their ongoing battles.
And then there had been his disastrous two-year marriage shortly after he had graduated from college. Hardly a day had gone by without some sort of argument or at the very least enough tension to fill a football stadium. Family? A happy, loving marriage and close family was something he had never seen or experienced firsthand. It was something he would have said didn’t exist if it weren’t for the single exception of Mac and his family. But marriage and emotional closeness were things he would never know and he didn’t want to try to capture it with another attempt at a relationship—an attempt he knew would be doomed to failure from the beginning.
He extended what he hoped would be a confident smile. “I was an only child, born and raised in Seattle. My parents both live in the Seattle area, my mother in Bellevue and my father on Mercer Island. I think that about covers it.”
“That’s certainly succinct and to the point.” She returned his smile, letting him know she was not offended by his brief and evasive answer to her question even though she found it puzzling.
Lunch continued in a more comfortable vein. After the initial time of finding out a little about each other, the conversation turned to more casual topics and a surprisingly fun-filled two hours with lots of laughs. Each relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful day. Following lunch, they walked back to the offices.
“You know, Mac is going to be tied up for several days. My time is a lot more flexible than his right now so I’ll be happy to show you around—” his gaze locked with hers for an intense moment, sending a heated wave of desire through his body “—if you don’t mind the last-minute tour guide substitution.”
“No…” A sizzling second of eye contact told her more than she wanted to know about the sexual magnetism of Tyler Farrell. A little shiver of trepidation tried to work its way to the forefront. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Do you have plans for this evening?” The tightness returned, like a band pulling across his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. “I could pick you up at Mac’s house at seven o’clock.”
“That will be perfect.”
Ty watched as she got in her car and drove away. He took a deep breath and held it for a moment. He slowly exhaled as he entered the building, crossed the lobby and walked down the hallway, but it did nothing to calm his inner turmoil. Angie Coleman had made a definite impact on his senses and he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
He paused at Mac’s office, leaning casually against the door frame. “I’m back from lunch.”
Mac looked up from his work, glancing over Ty’s shoulder. “Where’s Angie?”
“She left. I suppose she went back to your house.”
“Thanks for filling in for me and taking her to lunch.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mac.” Ty flashed his patented smile. “It was certainly my pleasure.”
“I’ll have to make it up to her tonight. Maybe take her out to dinner or something.” Mac glanced at the clock on his desk. “If I can get out of here at a decent hour.”
“No need for you to quit earlier than you want to just so you can rush home to an empty house. I’m taking Angie out tonight.” He cocked his head and tried to suppress his grin. “You know…pizza and a movie, just like you suggested.”
Ty noted the cautionary look on Mac’s face, but didn’t want to start a conversation about it. He didn’t want his business partner asking what his intentions were toward Angie. He didn’t want to think about what his intentions were, to define the disjointed feelings and sensations that had been floating around inside him from the moment he had seen Angelina Coleman framed in the office door.
Angie checked the clock. She still had about an hour before Ty would be picking her up. She had spent the afternoon working on her resume. When Mac had told her he was busy and wouldn’t be able to take her to lunch, she had been disappointed. She wanted the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with him, dig into the operational procedures of the company, create a viable niche for herself in the organization, then pitch the idea to Mac about hiring her.
She wanted a job with Mac’s company, but she didn’t want him to hire her just because she was his sister—to once again come to her rescue, to take care of her. She wanted to prove herself to him and earn a job based solely on her own merit. She wanted him to respect her as a capable adult rather than protect her like a child. She wanted his approval.
Then her thoughts turned to Ty. If she had an ally within the company she just might have a better chance of Mac paying attention rather than in essence telling her to run along and play—to not worry her cute little head about anything. That was what had happened six months ago when she had first broached the subject of a job with Mac’s company. She’d had her mother mention the job possibility to him. It was right after she had broken off her engagement. Her insecurities were at odds with her aspirations. She had been too scared and intimidated to approach Mac herself. All he had done was laugh and say how cute it was of little Angie to want to go to work for him. At that moment it was obvious to her that she needed to prove herself first if he was ever going to take her seriously.
Ty was not family. He wouldn’t have any preconceived notions about who she was or what she should be doing with her life, what predetermined category she should fit in. She furrowed her brow into a slight frown for a moment. At least she hoped Mac hadn’t put any preconceived ideas into Ty’s head. If she could enlist his help, she was sure the two of them could get Mac to listen to reason and shed his old notions.
Angie glanced at the clock again, then put away her work materials so she could get ready for her date with Ty. She paused a moment, a reflective mood coming over her. Date…it wasn’t a date. He was just being polite, seeing that she wasn’t having dinner alone while Mac worked on his deadline project. That was all it was. Nothing more. She closed her eyes and an immediate image of his dazzling smile and good looks popped into her mind. The same sensation she experienced when he had clasped her hand began to spread across her skin. Her breathing quickened and a tingle of excitement told her there was something very special about this man whether she wanted it to be that way or not.
She brushed the last stroke through her hair just as the doorbell rang. She rushed to answer it, stepping aside as Ty entered the house.
“You didn’t say where we were going.” She glanced down at the simple skirt and blouse she had chosen, then made eye contact with him. The glint in his hazel eyes sent a little shiver through her body. “I hope I’m dressed okay.”
“You look gorgeous.” He forced a calm to his voice that he didn’t feel as he blatantly stared at her. She was far more than merely gorgeous. She had brains and personality in addition to stunning looks. He had never been involved with a woman who had it all. Involved—that word had popped into his mind without him realizing it. Where had it come from? He certainly wasn’t involved with Angie. She was his best friend’s sister, a best friend who also happened to be his business partner. A business partner who had managed to tell him “hands off” without ever saying a word.
He tried to shut out the feelings coursing through him, feelings that admittedly were mostly lust. But there was a hint of something else, too. Something he couldn’t quite grasp or define. Something that made him nervous. His attention became riveted to her perfect mouth, her slightly parted lips tinted with a soft russet color. He felt himself being drawn in against his conscious will.
He leaned his face into Angie’s. It started as an innocent brushing of his lips against hers, but it ignited a burst of unbridled desire. Ty wrapped his arms around her and captured her mouth with a kiss that did nothing to hide the passion coursing through his veins. Her body stiffened in his arms followed by a moment’s hesitation.
A touch of panic invaded his reality. Had he just made the most colossal blunder of his life? Was this going to cost him more than he had anticipated? Possibly even the friendship of his best friend and business partner?
Two
Angie’s initial shock quickly vanished. Ty’s kiss held everything she had imagined it would and was everything she feared it might be. She slipped her arms around his neck and allowed the sensuality of his magnetism to flow through her. It was the last thing she had anticipated at that moment, but certainly not an unwelcome turn of events. Her thoughts faded into the background. Her breathing quickened. Her only conscious reality centered around his lips on hers and the fire he lit inside her. It was the type of heated desire her ex-fiancе had never been able to ignite in her, a sexy aura he had never possessed.
The kiss lasted for what seemed like forever before Ty finally broke the contact. It was a kiss unlike any she had ever experienced—a kiss that demanded more and promised everything in return. It was also a kiss that frightened her in its magnitude and the way it sent waves of longing crashing through her body. She took an unsteady step backward in an attempt to escape the lingering warmth of his embrace and the connection of their bodies pressed together. She nervously ran her fingers through her short hair. A kiss like that could only lead one place and she was not prepared to let that happen regardless of how attractive and desirable she found him.
There was a brief moment of eye contact. The intensity in his eyes sent a little shiver up her spine. It didn’t matter how much she tried to convince herself that it was nothing more than an innocent kiss. She knew the truth was far removed from what she was trying to make herself believe. The ominous silence following their kiss grew louder and louder. She self-consciously shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Uh…where are we going tonight?” With any luck her words didn’t sound as unsure to him as they did to her.
Angie’s question broke into the thoughts running rampant through his mind—thoughts about the sensuality of this incredible woman and where the kiss was headed. He was thankful for the distraction. He started to speak, but a huskiness momentarily closed off his throat and no words came out. He tried again.
“I thought…uh, Mac had suggested…how does pizza and a movie sound to you?” He forced a smile that he hoped looked casual rather than something awkwardly pasted on his face.
“Pizza and a movie?” A teasing grin played at the corners of her mouth and an undeniable humor surrounded her words. “Yes, that sounds like Mac’s idea of what his kid sister would enjoy.”
She saw the quick look of hesitation dart across his face as if he wasn’t sure how to take what she had said. She couldn’t stop the laugh that quickly erupted. “I happen to like pizza and I like movies. That sounds like a perfect evening’s activity to me.”
And it was a perfect evening. Angie picked out a movie for them to see and afterward they went to a local pizza parlor. It was close to midnight when Ty pulled into Mac’s driveway, then walked Angie to the door. He took her hand in his as he leaned against the wall next to the front door.
“Thank you for joining me tonight. I really enjoyed it.” He suddenly felt like a teenager who was not sure how to go about ending a date. Should he try to kiss her again? Had it been a mistake to have kissed her the first time? Should he just leave? It had been a long time since he had been so unsure of himself. His dates usually ended in bed, but he knew that tonight would not be the usual. Tonight would be different, tonight he was with a very special lady.
“It was my pleasure. I enjoyed it, too. Would you like to come in for a few minutes?”
A quick rush of anticipation darted through his body. He stared at the closed front door for a moment, turning her question over in his mind. What was she expecting? Was he reading something into her invitation that wasn’t there? Was Mac home? So far it had been a stress-free evening without the pressure of trying to impress anyone—just the comfortable situation of two people enjoying each other’s company without the underlying layer of jockeying for control and pursuing ulterior motives.
He was very unhappy with the internal battle over which he seemed to have no control. He tried to gather his determination and regain the upper hand over his emotions. If her ability to kiss was any indication, Angie was definitely a woman who had not spent her life cloistered away from social situations or men.
She knew the score and had spent time out there in the real world of men and women despite what her brother preferred to believe. But that did not negate the fact that she was totally different from the women he usually dated. Maybe it was true that she knew the score, but there was no way she promiscuously slept around. She would be selective and when she did take that step it would be because it meant something special to her. A little shiver of anxiety told him she was definitely not the type he was accustomed to.
And then there was her brother. He had a responsibility to Mac that couldn’t be ignored. The uncertainty ran rampant inside him, creating havoc and indecision, something that did not normally cross his life.
“Ty?” Her words interrupted his wayward thoughts as she repeated her invitation. “Would you like to come in and have a glass of wine?”
He searched her face and looked into her eyes. She was all fresh enthusiasm, trusting honesty and an underlying sensuality that had been driving him crazy from the moment he had encountered the adult version of the young girl he had met fourteen years ago. She was just the type who could sneak up on a man and have him fall head over heels in love with her before he knew it. Her type of woman was more dangerous than any predator—two-legged or four-legged.
As much as he wanted to ignore the realization and avoid the obvious, he knew she scared the socks off him. He also instinctively knew that he would never be able to walk away from her without returning. But as far as tonight was concerned…
The tremor of anxiety assaulted his senses again. “Well…uh, I think it would be best if I leave.” It was the last thing he wanted to do. “I know Mac has been working long hours and I don’t want to disturb his much-needed sleep.” He may have been able to decline her invitation, but he could not stop himself from leaning his face into hers. But just as he was about to press his mouth to her lips, the front door swung open to reveal an irritated Mac dressed only in his pajama bottoms.
A startled Angie quickly stepped back, putting some distance between herself and the much-anticipated kiss Ty had started to initiate. She finally found her voice. “Mac…I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to wake you.”
Mac’s gaze darted from Angie to Ty as he pointed to the wall where Ty had his arm and shoulder pressed against the wood siding. Mac’s words held a caustic edge to them. “It was a little difficult to sleep with someone leaning on the doorbell.”
Ty quickly straightened up, a guilty and embarrassed expression registering on his features. “I didn’t realize it. Sorry about that.” He glanced at Angie, gave her an apologetic smile and turned back to Mac. “I was just leaving. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Ty waited until Mac went back inside the house, then again turned his attention to Angie. His voice became soft, matching his warm smile. “Thank you for spending the evening with me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Angie watched as Ty returned to his car, backed out of the driveway and drove down the street. She went inside the house and closed the door.
She turned a questioning look toward her brother who had not gone back to his bedroom. She noted his nervousness and awkward mannerisms. “What is it, Mac? What’s bothering you?”
“I’m not trying to pry into your life—”
“Uh-oh…here comes the but.” Angie cocked her head and leveled a steady gaze at him. She made an unsuccessful attempt to suppress the teasing grin that flirted with the corners of her mouth. “But, what? What is it you want to say that really isn’t prying into my personal life?”
He ran his fingers through his sandy-brown hair, then shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “It’s…uh…it’s nothing really. I just, well, I just wanted to say a couple of words about Ty.” He cleared his throat, a nervous mannerism she had associated with her brother for as long as she could remember.
Mac tried again to say what was on his mind. “Ty has a certain reputation where women are concerned.” He glanced away for a moment, as if trying to gather his thoughts. “It’s not that he’s really a womanizer in the true sense of the word. He isn’t a love-’em-and-leave-’em type, but he does seem to always be dating someone new and never settles down. He’s the type of man who has had lots of experience with lots of women.” He managed to hold eye contact with her in spite of his obvious embarrassment over the subject. “He’s the type of man you haven’t had any experience with.”
He gave her a brotherly hug. “I just want you to be on your toes and not be taken in by his charm and smooth lines.”
“Are you trying to say that Ty would make improper advances toward me and refuse to take no for an answer?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” he said, a frown of concern wrinkling his forehead, “not exactly. It’s just that Ty travels in the fast lane. What is commonplace for him is way out of your realm of experience. I’m worried about you being able to handle what might be an…uh…well, an awkward situation.”
She could see her brother’s discomfort in trying to deal with the topic in a dispassionate way. She also saw his deep and sincere concern. Her spontaneous laugh filled the living room. “Do I need to remind you that I grew up with five brothers and learned how to take care of myself around a bunch of unruly guys?”
“Okay.” He returned her smile. “Enough said.” He gave her a kiss on the forehead and returned to his bedroom.
Angie hurried down the hall toward the guest room where she was staying. She didn’t know whether to be amused or annoyed by Mac’s attempt to protect her. She had almost asked him if he really thought she was still a virgin, but decided against it. She didn’t want to totally shock his sensibilities where his kid sister was concerned. However, his words about Ty’s antics with lots of women did not escape her attention.
Thoughts of Ty flooded her mind, sensual thoughts that seemed to come from nowhere and insisted on lingering in her consciousness. She felt confident she could get him to help her convince Mac that he needed to hire her, but using her feminine wiles to manipulate a man was not part of her nature and certainly not the way she wanted to approach this problem. A quick stab of guilt poked at her, touching on her deeply buried insecurities. She was not a deceptive person, nor was she dishonest.
So why was this guilty feeling jabbing at her? She was not using Ty. She would never do that type of unethical thing, but if he could help her, why shouldn’t she explore that possibility? She tried to shake away the guilt as she touched her fingertips to her lips, reviving all the heat and passion of the original kiss. A moment later any thought of a job with Mac’s company, trying to get her priorities straight or her true interest in Ty and whether she was trying to use him totally left her head. Logic…thoughts…concerns…none of it mattered. Her entire reality at that precise moment was filled with the remembered sensation of Tyler Farrell’s lips against hers and the heated desire he stirred in her.
Angie undressed and went to bed, but sleep did not come easily. Her thoughts continued to center around Ty and the heated moment they had shared earlier that evening. She knew she could not allow this sexy man to sidetrack her from her goals.
She had allowed her ex-fiancе to make decisions for her. It had resulted in a disastrous relationship. She had vowed to never again put herself in that position. It was up to her to set her life on a forward moving track and secure her future. That was her goal. She gathered her determination. It was her only goal. She would not be dissuaded from it—certainly not by a handsome playboy whose kiss made her skin tingle, her pulse race and her heart pound.
She turned over, pounded her pillow into a comfortable shape and closed her eyes. She finally succumbed to a restless sleep filled with images of the very sexy and desirable Tyler Farrell.
The next morning Angie wandered into the kitchen to make some coffee after taking her shower. She paused when she saw the note stuck to the refrigerator door. She looked at the clock. There was no getting around her brother’s workaholic nature. Not even seven o’clock yet and he was already gone. She shook her head and furrowed her brow as she read the note.
Angie: Lots to do. Will be buried under a ton of work the next few days. Hope you didn’t mind too much being stuck with Ty yesterday. As soon as I finish this design project I’ll be able to spend time with you, help you get settled into your own apartment and find a job. I think one of our clients has an opening in his company for a receptionist. Come by the office and I’ll try to make some time to have lunch with you.
Angie scanned the note again with a soft sigh of resignation. Nothing had changed. A receptionist job—it was obvious Mac didn’t have a clue what type of job she wanted, what she was qualified to do and what type of work experience she had. His only thought was to help her find an entry-level office position somewhere. How typical of Mac. He assumed she only wanted a job until she could find a husband rather than wanting to build a career for herself.
Then she turned her attention to the other part of the note. A little grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. Did she mind being stuck with Ty? He might as well have asked her if she minded if Prince Charming paid a little bit of attention to her. A shiver of trepidation accompanied her thought and was followed by a sudden rush of excitement at the memory of the passionate kiss they had shared. She tried without success to dismiss the heated desire the memory evoked. Maybe it would be better if she found some other way of achieving her goal rather than spending a lot of time with Tyler Farrell in an attempt to elicit his help.
And maybe tomorrow Prince Charming would sweep her off her feet and declare his undying love for her.
Angie felt her eyes widen in shock at the full impact of the errant thought that had invaded her consciousness. She didn’t know where it came from, but she certainly needed to get rid of it as quickly as possible. She renewed her determination. One kiss did not mean anything. It was an enjoyable little interlude and that was it. She would let Ty know her areas of expertise and show him she was qualified for a responsible position with the company. In a few days Mac would be finished with his project and she could talk to him about it, too. Plain and simple. She breathed a sigh of relief. What felt out of control a few moments ago was now reined in and controlled.
Angie busied herself around the house until mid-morning, then dressed and went to Mac’s office. No sooner had she entered the lobby than someone grabbed her arm and spun her around. She found herself looking into the handsome features and bright hazel eyes of Tyler Farrell. His devilish grin sent little tremors through her body. The place where his hand rested on her arm radiated a sensual warmth.
“This is quite a coincidence. My lunch meeting just cancelled out on me so I have the next few hours free. I was just about to call to see if I could persuade you to have lunch with me. I already have a reservation at the Space Needle. Perhaps we could do the harbor cruise after lunch.” Ty cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. “So…are you available?”
He flashed a devastatingly sexy smile and she melted on the spot. “Lunch?” She suddenly felt like a fifteen-year-old, all tongue-tied and flustered in the presence of the captain of the high school football team. She pulled in her rampaging desires and did her best to project a calm, confident persona. “Yes, I’d love it.” She tried to convince herself there was nothing wrong in having lunch with him again. It was nothing personal. After all, she had to eat anyway and Mac had asked Ty to take her sightseeing while he was busy.
She would keep the conversation turned to business in general and specifically to available or upcoming positions in the company. Ty’s comment the day before about the company’s expansion plans hinging on Mac’s design continued to swirl around in her mind. Expansion meant new jobs, possibly in areas that did not currently exist. It was a perfect time for her to put in her bid for one of those newly created positions.
But in the meantime there wasn’t anything wrong with an innocent afternoon of fun.
Ty’s voice cut into her thoughts. “We have a little while before lunch. Has Mac shown you around our facility?”
“No, I haven’t seen anything beyond the lobby and offices.”
“Would you like a tour? I could show you around the design room, the lab and the shop where we do the actual boat construction.”
Her entire manner leaped to rapt attention. “I’d love to have a guided tour.” It was perfect. She would have an opportunity to see how things worked, get more of a technical tour than Mac would ever take the time to give her. She could ask Ty questions she couldn’t ask Mac and certainly get more useful answers than her brother would give her. It would be the perfect setting to start her campaign to win Ty over to her side. She was certain Mac would listen to Ty. After all, Ty was his business partner in addition to being his best friend.
Ty escorted her through the lobby and down a hallway, pausing a minute at the door to Mac’s office. “I’m going to take Angie on a tour of the facility.”
Mac looked up from his work, then glanced at his watch. “Yes, a tour would be nice.” He looked at Angie. “I’m sorry I haven’t had any time to spend with you.”
“I assume this means lunch is out?”
A sheepish expression crossed his face. “I’ll try to be home for dinner.”
“No need to worry about Angie being alone for dinner. I’ll take her out to grab something to eat.”
She glanced questioningly at Ty for a moment. He hadn’t mentioned anything about dinner. She returned her attention to her brother. “He’s right. There’s no reason for you to pull yourself away from your design project before you’re ready. You stay and work as late as you need to and don’t worry about me.” She glanced at Ty. “I’ll be in good hands.”
An involuntary glance toward Mac told Ty what he didn’t want to know. Mac’s expression was neither gracious nor distracted. Unlike many occasions when Mac’s thoughts had him so preoccupied he didn’t notice what was going on around him, this time there was no mistaking the fact that he was fully aware of his surroundings. It was obvious to Ty that Angie’s comment about being in good hands had caught Mac’s undivided attention.
Ty turned toward Angie. “Are you ready for the VIP tour?”
“Ready and willing.” A little shiver of something, she wasn’t sure what, told her she might be ready and willing for a lot more than a tour of the building and a business lunch.
They left Mac’s office and Ty spent an hour showing her what they did and how they did it. Each step started with Mac’s initial design, computer testing of the design, a miniature model, tank testing of the miniature, then the finished product custom-built for the client. She was very pleased with the way Ty assumed she’d understand what he was talking about and didn’t reduce everything to the level of a ten-year-old.
The phase of the process she found most interesting was the design of the interior areas such as cabins and galleys so that they made maximum functional use of the space available yet were still attractive. They had a computer program that allowed the customer to see what the interior would look like with different fabrics, colors, woods and fixtures rather than simply picking something from a catalogue without being able to see it as part of the whole.
After the tour Ty and Angie took the ferry across to Seattle. They enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Space Needle. The bright sunny day provided views of the Olympic mountains to the west and the Cascades to the east with Mt. Rainier looming large on the horizon to the southeast. The mountain views served as a spectacular backdrop to the water and greenery of Puget Sound and the expanse of the Seattle metropolitan area.
Conversation was casual, but far more superficial than she wanted it to be. She made several attempts during lunch to turn it to business matters while pursuing her goal. And each time he managed to deftly switch to a different topic.
Angie toyed with the stem of her wineglass as she made another attempt to procure information about the company. “Did I hear you correctly yesterday when you said something to Mac about the outcome of his design project having an impact on expansion plans for the business?”
Ty took a sip from his wineglass before answering her, as if he was determining how much to say. Or perhaps it was her guilty conscience that made it seem that way.
