Impetuous

Tyler lay relaxed beside her, one heavy muscled arm circling her belly, his hand splayed over her hip. He was even beautiful when he slept, she thought, when the lines of his face softened, making him look almost vulnerable.

Of course, he could never know the truth. She would be mortified if Tyler ever discovered he’d made love with his sister-in-law’s dumpy best friend. Tyler didn’t even look at women like her, let alone sleep with them.

Not that she wanted it any other way. She was dumpy by design, choosing her clothes with an eye for concealment, rather than enticement. She didn’t want a man, any man—not now, not ever.

Relationships hurt. She’d learned that lesson after her marriage failed. And she’d also learned she could rely on no one but herself. Not on the grandfather who’d raised her after her parents’ death, treating her more like a burden than a grandchild, nor on her brother, who’d made it clear she was to deal with her mistakes on her own.

But marriage had been her biggest mistake. One she wasn’t likely to forget.

She could never tell Tyler the truth, but at least she’d learned something valuable; she wasn’t frigid. Her husband had been wrong, his accusations unjust. Probably, it had just been another of his attempts to destroy her self-confidence. But now she knew the truth, and for that, if nothing else, she was glad she’d stayed with Tyler.

He shifted in his sleep, and she stilled, watching him closely, but he didn’t awaken. She leaned down and very gently kissed him on the corner of his mouth, then slipped from the couch.

By the time Tyler woke, a smile of anticipation on his face, Carlie was gone.

3

”YOU CAN’T TELL anyone I was at the party.”

Brenda tugged Carlie through the kitchen door and then quickly shut it. “I wondered all night what happened to you. Where did you go? Why did you leave so soon? I thought for sure you were going to enjoy yourself.”

Wincing, Carlie gave Brenda an apologetic look. She had enjoyed herself, all right, just not the way Brenda had expected. She pulled out a chair at the round wooden table and slumped into it. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m sorry.”

“So what happened? Why did you run off?”

Hesitating, Carlie tried to decide how much to tell her friend. It wouldn’t be the whole truth, that was for certain. Somehow, the night seemed…magical, something she could tuck away and keep to herself. She couldn’t share it, not even with Brenda. But she had to tell her something….

“Brenda…I felt really foolish…in the costume. Maybe if I hadn’t been wearing something so…”

“Sexy?”

Carlie spared her friend a quick look, and saw Brenda was smiling. “Yeah, well, maybe. I just couldn’t face all those people looking like that.”

“I’m sorry I pushed, Carlie. I just wanted you to realize how attractive you are. Those damn baggy suits you wear make you look fat.” Brenda pursed her lips, then idly traced the wood grain in the table with a fingertip. “Tyler noticed you.”

Carlie felt her heartbeat race. “I… Did he say something to you?”

“He asked who you were.”

“You didn’t tell him!” Carlie nearly choked on her embarrassment, waiting for Brenda’s reply.

“No. I just told him you were a guest.” Then she patted Carlie’s arm. “Hey, calm down. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Tyler took a liking to you. You have to admit, he’s gorgeous.”

Oh, yeah, he was gorgeous. Carlie licked her lips, then said carefully, “He, ah, approached me.”

“He did?”

“Yes.” Carlie cleared her throat, then immediately launched into her rehearsed story. “We talked for a while. In, ah, the pool house.”

When Brenda’s eyes widened, Carlie reminded her, “It was raining, remember? And we went inside to stay dry. He, well, he was attracted to me.”

“No kidding?”

Carlie hated the note of fascination in her friend’s tone. She also hated lying to her, but she didn’t see any way around it. Brenda leaned forward. “So, what happened?”

Carlie shrugged. “He didn’t recognize me.”

“Well, of course he didn’t! He’s used to seeing you looking like this!” Brenda indicated Carlie’s dark, frumpy suit. With her honey blond hair in a tight braid and a pair of glasses perched on her nose, she looked nothing like the harem girl of the night before.

“This isn’t funny, Brenda!” Carlie felt like strangling her. “And you can’t ever tell him, either. I don’t want him to know it was me he was…flirting with.”

Brenda looked skeptical. “Ah, Carlie, don’t you think—”

Whatever Brenda was going to say was cut off by a loud voice from the living room. Seconds later, Jason and Tyler strode into the kitchen. Carlie stiffened, all her defenses jerking into place. But her face remained impassive. Almost painfully so. There was absolutely no way she would let Tyler know she was the woman he’d spent the night with. She didn’t even want to think about how mortifying that would be.

Brenda didn’t miss a beat after shooting Carlie an I’m not-responsible-for-this look. “I thought you fellas were going fishing. What happened?”

Tyler reached Brenda first. He leaned down and lifted her from her chair, giving her a tight bear hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Brenda’s face turned pink. “What did I do to deserve that?”

Tyler’s smile was so warm and sincere, Carlie had to look away. “You invited me to your party.” Then he added softly, “Thanks.”

Jason shook his head, and Carlie had the horrifying suspicion that Tyler had confided to him what had happened. Don’t blush, don’t blush! She glanced at Jason, but he was looking at his wife.

Leaning down, he kissed Brenda, then nodded briefly to Carlie. “The fish weren’t biting and it’s damned cold out there. Besides, Tyler can’t seem to sit still today.”

Tyler pulled out a chair and straddled it, crossing his arms over the chair back. “Could I have some coffee, Bren? Then I need to talk to you.” He glanced at Carlie, and smiled. “Hi. Ah, Carlie, isn’t it?”

“Hello.” Carlie mentally applauded her calm response. She was more than a little surprised Tyler remembered her name. She prayed it was all he remembered. And then she looked at him, and despite herself, she remembered lying beside him in the pool house, remembered that magnificent body of his leaning toward her… She looked away, trying to collect her thoughts. Good looks only took a person so far, and from what she knew of Tyler, his had taken him around the block more than a few times. Last night had been a milestone in her life; to Tyler, it had probably been no more than a good time.

Carlie breathed a sigh of relief when she realized he hadn’t connected her to the party. His expression had been friendly, nothing more. Already he was ignoring her, dismissing her easily.

“I’ll have the coffee ready in just a minute.” Brenda was grinning affectionately at Tyler, obviously more than pleased to cater to him.

Tyler tapped his fingers on the table with an excess of energy. His gaze took a turn around the room, then settled on Carlie again. “So. What are you ladies up to today?”

She felt her heart flutter and color rise to her cheeks. Carlie wanted to smack herself. Enough was enough. She would not be an idiot around this man. She composed her features and met his look squarely. “We were talking about the new sports program I’m working on for the school.” She paused, then decided to elaborate. “It’s a way to help the kids who have trouble socializing. They’re not bad kids but they just aren’t sure how to conduct themselves with their peers. They need guidance and a chance to interact, with supervision. If they’re playing a sport, they’ll be getting exercise, burning off energy and learning to work together. I think the program will go over pretty good. I thought I’d try basketball first. The kids have to play together, but since it’s not really a contact sport, tussles ought to be kept to a minimum. Brenda and I were just discussing how great it is that Jason has agreed to be an instructor.”

Tyler listened, his eyes intent on Carlie’s face, watching her so closely she felt herself near to blushing again. “Sounds like you really care about these kids.”

His tone was soft, almost disbelieving, and Carlie stiffened. “Of course I do. I care very much about all my students.”

Tyler rubbed his chin, still watching her. “And you really think you can make a difference?”

Carlie leaned back in her chair, forgetting her embarrassment, forgetting last night. The gall of the man, to question her like this! With her hands in fists, she replied, “I’ll certainly do my best to. At least I’m trying to do something to help.”

Jason looked at Carlie, then Tyler. A smile appeared. “I, ah, suppose I should tell you something, Carlie. I won’t be able to help you, after all. Some things came up at the office.” His grin widened, and he shrugged. “I talked to Tyler this morning, and he agreed to do the project with you, instead.”