Chapter 26: Chapter 26

KATE

Nicolette and I faced each other on my couch, legs crossed and our hands in each other’s.

“I can’t thank you enough, Kate. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

My baby sister, for the first time in her life, was appreciating something I’d done. We’d just returned from setting up the new bank account and were waiting for Piper to join us.

She was up to something secretive. I couldn’t imagine why she wasn’t telling me what it was.

My phone obnoxiously vibrated on the coffee table. My sister and I untangled our hands so I could answer.

“Hello?”

“Babe,” Tyler said, sounding strange. “Jason’s about to text you a picture. Look at it and tell me if you know this person.”

I put the call on speaker so I could open my text messages. Nothing yet.

“Who do you think it is? And where are you?” I asked. Loud noises rippled through the phone speaker.

“We’re at the Mojito Steakhouse.” He paused and whispered something to his brother. “She walked into the restaurant and looked familiar, but in a bitchy, stuck-up, horrible way.”

Nic and I raised our brows, wondering who the hell he was talking about until my phone beeped with an incoming text. The unrecognized number surely belonged to Jason.

My anger boiled as I enlarged the photo, showing a woman wearing a gold cocktail dress, with dark tresses falling to her butt and a diamond on her finger so big that I spotted it even before zooming into the picture.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Nicolette mumbled.

“Yes,” I spoke to Tyler, “I don’t know how you figured, but that ~is~ our mother, unfortunately. Good to know she’s in the city. That means this is happening sooner rather than later.”

I talked to him for a few more minutes, deciding I’d go to his apartment in a bit. Nicolette had to leave to meet with her fashion mogul boss, and I was still waiting on Piper to show up.

The few moments I had to myself in the penthouse were nice but also boring. I had been so busy, I hadn’t had the time to relax or even think by myself.

I wasn’t surprised that the only person I wanted to think about then was Tyler. Admittedly, I did have my doubts when I’d first met him, what with him being younger, unbelievably attractive, and a professional athlete.

I had assumed he would be a heartbreaker, yet all he’d done was show me support and kindness.

My daydream came to an abrupt halt when Piper stalked into my living room. Plopping herself down on the other end of my couch, she lifted my legs and laid them over her own.

“So what were you doing?” I asked her with a questioning wink.

“I went to my parents,” she answered without eye contact. “What time are you seeing Tyler?”

I sighed wistfully. “In a bit. I feel bad. I’ve been so busy, Pipe. He’s going to get bored.”

Her hand slapped my shin. “Shut up. He will not get bored with you. He understands you’re who you are. He’ll be patient.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he totally loves you.”

I reached behind me and threw a cushion at her head. She shouldn’t have been making assumptions like that. Even more, I shouldn’t have felt all the butterflies and excitement at her assumption.

Through all my work, family affairs, and everything taking up my time, I’d realized Tyler was my only day and source of light. The rest of my world was night, dark, and unknown. He was my one and only; I had to tell him that.

He opened his apartment door for me. I kicked it shut, not afraid of being aggressive. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my fingernails digging into his skin, and pulled him into me.

The tingly feeling I always felt with him swarmed my body. The rugged sexy scent of his shampoo and deodorant flooded my senses, making it difficult to think straight.

Finally, we pulled away, but I didn’t want that feeling to end. Ever.

“Well, I missed you too,” he whispered.

“I owe you an apology, Tyler.”

His large, callused hands gripped my arms. “What’re you talking about?” he asked, worry lines fresh on his face.

“I’ve been so busy with work. I’m still trying to get the hang of everything. You know, I was kind of blindsided when Dad died, and I’m working hard to learn everything I need to know.

“Please don’t hate me and my stupid busy schedule.” I blushed, knowing I was rambling like an idiot. “Don’t give up on me.”

Tyler started to laugh. Leaning in, he pressed his lips against my forehead. “I know you’re busy. I am too. We both have demanding careers and that’s not going to change.

“I’m by your side, Kate.” Our lips mashed together until he moved away from me again. “I don’t plan on ever giving up on you.”

~Tell him you love him, Kate. Tell him. Tell him.~ I chickened out. “Thank you for being you.”

Tyler and I sat on the floor in front of his couch, eating our takeout sushi. A to-die-for spicy tuna roll and hockey on his TV were all I needed to be a happy woman.

Not to mention, the stud of a man by my side. He had his long legs stretched out in front of him, with an arm wrapped around my shoulders, tugging me closer.

“I can’t wait for the warm weather,” I said, gazing out his window at the snow falling to the ground. Winter was always beautiful, but definitely too cold.

“Yes,” he agreed. “That means you with less clothing.”

“Same goes for you.”

He laughed. “You’ve wanted me for my body since day one.”

“Pretty much,” I agreed.

In one swift movement, my food was pushed aside, and he was lying on top of me. His hands had my arms pinned above my head, his mouth moving to find its way to my neck.

“Ms. Martin,” he said between kisses. “I believe it has been far too long since I’ve had you alone. A full week, I’d say.”

I groaned into his shoulder. “That’s much too long,” I agreed. “Please don’t make me wait that long ever again.”

“I don’t plan to.”

I raced Tyler to his bedroom, literally running like a little girl. His deep, rough laughter followed me close, and then he tackled me onto his bed.

Once inside, I noticed his bedroom looked completely different. I looked down at his bedspread. Also completely different. “When did you redecorate?” I asked.

I may have been mistaken, but I thought I saw his cheeks redden a little.

“I had someone come in and do the bedroom. She said if I like it, she can do the rest of the apartment. What do you think?” He sounded younger than normal, waiting for my opinion.

“I think it looks amazing. Have her do the rest.”

That topic was quickly forgotten. His body intertwined with mine, not leaving any inch of me uncovered. His skilled mouth, wicked smile, and beautiful dark eyes were a lethal combination. Everything about Tyler was lethal.

An hour later, we fell with our backs on the bed, breathless and dripping with sweat. I turned on my side, looking into his eyes. “You’re so perfect, you know that?” I asked him.

“I’m far from perfect, Kate.” He paused, stroking my hair. “When can we stop hiding us?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. Hopefully one day soon,” I replied, looking up at him with a loving smile. I knew one day we’d get our happily ever after. Honestly, ~he~ was my happily ever after.

I wasn’t a fan of our relationship being under wraps, but as long as I had Tyler, my friends, and my family by my side, I had the world in my palms.

Tyler traced his fingers down my stomach, working his way lower with slow, torturous movements. “Again?” I yelped. “Your stamina is like no other.”

He grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “I’m a professional athlete, babe. Did you forget?” Then he climbed back on top of me, making me feel vibrant and alive yet again.

Butt naked, Tyler moved around the kitchen making eggs for breakfast. I was seated on a bar stool, staring at him. He had the most muscular ass I’d ever seen.

I was in the nude as well, feeling more comfortable than I’d ever felt in my life. Something about Tyler made me feel safe. “So tell me about this Brandon kid from high school,” I said.

He turned away from the stove, looking confused. “What?”

“Your dad told me this story about you and him. The crappy girlfriend you had, and how you broke Brandon’s nose and he knocked out your tooth.”

Tyler shook his head back and forth. “Why the fuck do my parents have to tell stories like that?” He laughed, then reiterated the same story his father had told me.

“I like your family.”

“I like yours too,” he said. “But I think John and Fred are going to be pissed when they catch wind of us.”

“They will,” I agreed, even though I hated to think of that.

We stayed quiet for a few minutes while he finished up the eggs. He set a plate in front of each of us. “Thank you for cooking for me,” I said with a smile.

“I’ll cook for you whenever you want. I’m not that good, but practice makes a man perfect.”

I climbed off the stool, stood between his legs, and gazed into his dark mischievous eyes.

“I love you, Tyler. I am so in love with you,” I blurted out.

His grip tightened around my body. His shoulders dropped, and I prayed I hadn’t scared him.

“You said you love me,” he whispered. I nodded nervously. “I didn’t realize you felt that way. I mean, I knew you liked me.”

I inwardly cursed myself for confessing my feelings. “I’m sorry,” I said. “It just slipped out. I guess I thought you should know.”

He shoved his plate away and lifted me onto his lap, letting my legs easily fall around his waist.

“I’m unbelievably in love with you, Kate Martin,” he said. “Nothing makes me happier than hearing you say those words. I love you.”

We didn’t bother finishing our eggs. We stumbled over one another, making our way back to the bedroom. We didn’t get that far though.

He threw me onto the couch, having his “rough hockey player” way with me, and I loved every single moment of it.

Tyler and I were deeply in love. Not just lust, for our feelings flowed much deeper than that. He preoccupied my thoughts, my dreams, and my every moment. We needed each other in different ways.

I couldn’t ever figure out why he needed me, but I knew why I needed him. He made me feel calm and at home. Feelings I hadn’t felt in…forever.

I had spent my entire life working toward everything I had in front of me then, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to realize something was missing. That something was Tyler.

He made me feel alive and strong. I could run the Martin Financial business empire, a hockey team, uncountable investments, and charity projects, all at once.

I was finally on the easy side of life, with someone who was supporting me, cooking for me, and was head over heels in love with me.

It had taken me twenty-seven years to understand that I hadn’t lived my life to the fullest for one moment until he had walked up to me inside that darkened bar in November.