Until You

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Hey, if you can’t laugh about a woman stalking you and tying you up in your own bed, then what can you laugh about? Nina was harmless.”

  “Maybe so, but it was still scary as shit.”

  Tyler shrugged, but it had scared him enough to swear off women for a while.

  “You’ll find a good woman. Look at me and Britt. And Kevin and Holly.”

  Tyler curled his upper lip and said derisively, “Who the hell says I want that?”

  “Everybody wants someone.”

  “Not me.” Tyler shook his head. “Look, I’m not knocking what you and Britt have, but it’s not for everyone.”

  Randy looked dubious. “Maybe so, but you’re not even dating casually right now, unless you consider your romantic relationship with your hand dating.”

  Tyler released a mock laugh. “Ha, ha, funny guy. I’ve already endured my fill of uncomfortable situations this morning. Just give me the damn tie.”

  Randy gave him a strange look, then led him to his office and rapped on the door.

  “You need to knock on your own office door?” Tyler asked suspiciously.

  “I left someone in there and I want to make sure she’s okay with us walking in.”

  “Do you have Britt tucked away in there with an overcoat and nothing underneath?”

  Randy frowned and shot him a look that said Don’t think about my fiancée that way. “No.” He pushed the door open a crack and looked around before opening it all the way. “It’s clear.”

  “What’s going on? You’re acting like you’re hiding Donald Trump’s tax returns.”

  “I just had a client this morning who was…a little shy.”

  “And you locked her up in your office?”

  Randy shot him a grin. “Long story.”

  Tyler shrugged. “Fair enough.”

  Randy handed him an ice-blue tie, and Tyler looped it over his neck and began to tie the knot, trying not to think about knotting his tie on the sexy brunette.

  “Why do you suddenly look constipated?” Randy asked.

  “What the hell?” Tyler said in disgust. “I do not look constipated.”

  “Well, you looked weird. Stop it or you’ll scare the clients.”

  “I never scare the clients. You scare the clients.”

  “Well, in this instance, if you show them that look, they’ll run for it. So stop it.”

  “Being in love is screwing with your brain, Randy. Now, let’s go to the deposition.”

  But as Tyler walked out of the room, he couldn’t help wondering if the sexy brunette was screwing with his brain.

  Because he would have bet money that he smelled her perfume in Randy’s office.

  Chapter Seven

  Late Saturday afternoon, Lanie groaned when her phone dinged with another text. Britt was driving her crazy.

  Don’t forget we’re meeting at seven!

  As though she could forget. How many brides had a full wedding attire photo shoot one month before their wedding? This was the fifth reminder in the past three hours. But this was only the beginning. There were three more photo shoots after this one, along with several other bridal party activities.

  “I really liked the last interview. Patricia,” Stephanie said as she tapped on her tablet. “She has experience as a manager and she seems eager. What did you think?”

  Lanie sent a quick text to Brittany—Thanks for letting me know that the time hasn’t changed. AGAIN—then she glanced at her assistant. “It’s my crazy cousin.”

  “The one who suggested I take her yoga class? She didn’t seem that crazy.”

  “She’s getting married. That’s clue enough that she’s crazy, don’t you think? Not to mention that she’s having multiple photo shoots before the wedding. Remember?”

  “You’re going to the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum tonight, right?”

  “Yeah, we’re taking photos in front of the giant badminton birdies.”

  Stephanie looked her up and down. “You’ve been in a weird mood since you came back from meeting your cousin’s fiancé yesterday. What happened?”

  Lanie scrunched her nose. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.”

  Stephanie tilted her head and studied her. “No. You’re not. You met a guy.”

  Lanie froze. Was she that transparent? “What? Why would you think that?”

  Stephanie’s eyes lit up. “You’re hiding something. Spill it.”

  Dammit. Stephanie had been fishing, and Lanie had fallen for it. “There’s nothing to tell.” There was no way she was going to tell Stephanie about her run-in with Tyler…For some reason, knowing his name only increased her interest. She reminded herself that she was far too busy to get involved with some self-centered guy who was interested in a quick lay…but when she thought about it, she wondered what the downside of that would be. Maybe that’s what she needed to distract herself from her current career crisis.

  “Lanie, we’ve worked together for five years,” Stephanie said with a grin. “I know when you’re lying. Now, what happened yesterday?”

  “Isn’t our next interview in five minutes?”

  “Plenty of time to tell me about your guy.”

  Steph could be relentless when she wanted to be. Better to throw her a bone and get her off the scent. “I already told you. I took my contract to Randy for him to look it over.”

  Rolling her eyes, Stephanie put her hand on her hip. “Is that the best you can do?

  What could she tell her? Then it hit her. “Aiden’s coming to town. He wants to go out tomorrow afternoon.”

  “A date? I thought you two were just friends.”

  “We are…It’s just a Royals game. He said he needed to talk to me about something.”

  Stephanie frowned. “Sounds ominous.”

  “I know.”

  Lanie’s phone rang. She was trying to decide if she was going to send Britt to voice mail when she saw the California number and cringed. “Shit. It’s Eve.”

  Worry filled Stephanie’s eyes. “Why would she be calling on a Saturday afternoon?”

  Lanie gave her a wry look. “You’re one to talk. We’re working at four on a Saturday afternoon.” She walked to back of their rented office space and answered. “Hello, Eve.”

  “I don’t like what I’m hearing, Lanie.”

  That was no surprise. “Tell me what you’re hearing, and I’ll tell you if you should worry.”

  “I don’t appreciate your attitude. The store is behind schedule, and you’re being flippant.”

  “With all due respect, Eve, I’ve done this twelve times. I know what I’m doing.”

  “I hope you do, because we have a lot riding on this opening.”

  Lanie wanted to say, “No, you have a lot riding on this opening,” but she wisely kept it to herself. “My reputation is on the line too. We’ll open, and it will be on time.”

  “We’ll see,” Eve said. “I’m working on some reports and I need your August financial report to me by nine.”

  “Tonight? They’re not due until the fifteenth. Today’s the second.” Pulling the data together would take several hours, and she’d promised Britt she’d be at the photo shoot at seven.

  “Your delays are making me nervous, so I need that report. Tonight. And that’s nine central time, not Pacific…Is this a problem?”

  Lanie was silent for several seconds as the truth hit her. Eve was setting her up to fail. “No.”

  “Good. I’m looking forward to it.” Then Eve hung up.

  Lanie released a groan as a young woman walked through the door. The woman gave Lanie a startled look, and Lanie held up her hand. “I’m sorry. Ignore me.”

  Stephanie glanced up, obviously dying to ask questions, but their next interviewee kept her silent.

  Lanie walked over to the table and picked up her purse. “I have to do something for Eve, so I’m going to let you handle the last few interviews.”

  Stephanie looked worried, so Lanie gave her a reassuring smile, even i
f she wasn’t feeling reassured herself.

  Lanie walked over and shook the young woman’s hand. “I’m Lanie, but I’m going to leave you in Stephanie’s capable hands. If you impress her, then I’ll see you again next week.” Then she headed out the door to walk the four blocks to her apartment.

  It was the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, and the heat was still oppressive. She normally liked walking to and from work, but her nerves were shot after her phone call and wisps of her hair had plastered themselves to her forehead. She decided to make sure wherever she ended up moving to wouldn’t be so humid. Maybe she should look out east. But then she stopped in her tracks as the reality of her situation hit her.

  Her entire life could be about to change.

  Putting her hand on her stomach, she took a deep breath and told herself everything would be okay. She’d never been one to run from hard work. She’d find a new place in the world. But the thought was overwhelming and coated with loneliness. Stephanie wouldn’t be going with her this time.

  Lanie was drenched in sweat when she reached her apartment, so she took a quick shower, put on shorts and a tank top, and got to work. She was deep in a spreadsheet when Stephanie called.

  “What’s Eve got you doing?”

  “She wants the August financial report by nine.”

  “You’re kidding?” she asked, sounding indignant. “They’re not due until the fifteenth.”

  “Well, now it’s due today.” Which was ridiculous and unrealistic, but because Lanie was a dedicated employee, she was killing herself to get it done anyway.

  Why?

  She’d busted her ass for this company for ten years, and things weren’t going to change. Maybe it was time Lanie made things change.

  Was she seriously thinking about quitting?

  “What about your photo shoot?” Stephanie asked.

  Lanie’s stomach twisted. How was she going to get the report done? “I’ve got about another hour or two of work. So now I have an excuse to come home early.”

  “Lanie, that’s never going to work. The shoot starts in twenty minutes, and the report’s due in at nine. Let me work on it.”

  “Twenty minutes? I’m not even ready.” Shit. How had she lost track of time? Brittany was going to kill her.

  “I can help,” Stephanie said in an authoritative tone. “You get ready and go to the photo shoot, and I’ll finish the report, then when you finish with the photo session, we can meet at O’Dowd’s for drinks.”

  “Steph…”

  “Come on. If you don’t let me do this, I’ll just go back to my empty apartment and watch pathetic rom-coms while I eat pizza and drink a whole bottle of wine by myself. Don’t think I’m doing you a favor. I’m doing this all for me.”

  Lanie grinned. “Well, when you put it that way…”

  “So just send me the files you’ve worked on, and I’ll take over. Now, go get ready.”

  “Thanks.”

  She ran to the bathroom and touched up her makeup, but left her hair down, since Britt wanted a more natural look. After she got into her dress, a quick check of the time told her she needed to hurry. The art museum was only several blocks away, but it was too hot to walk.

  She found her phone on the table and requested an Uber. Just as the request went through, a text from Britt popped up.

  Do you happen to have any insect repellant?

  What? No.

  Okay. Never mind. We’ll take care of it.

  Well, crap. Was the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum infested with mosquitoes? Lanie had half a mind to stop for some spray, but she was going to be late as it was.

  Lanie didn’t do late and it was grating on her nerves. She was also oddly nervous about seeing Britt and Randy together again. Her reaction at the shower had been unsettling. She’d never yearned for relationships. Her career had been enough. But suddenly all she was seeing was what she didn’t have.

  Wallowing did not become her.

  She opened the refrigerator and pulled out an already opened bottle of Riesling. Unscrewing the cap, Lanie put the bottle up to her lips and took a big gulp. While she could bring herself to admit that she was jealous of Brittany’s life, she could think of about a thousand things higher up on her list of problems. She took another generous gulp.

  Her phone rang, and she was sure it was Britt calling to ask why she wasn’t there yet, but she was relieved to see it was Aiden.

  “I’m in town, Lane,” he said when she answered, “and you still haven’t sent me your address.”

  She took another drink from the bottle. “I’m a little busy, Aiden.”

  “You said that when I called yesterday. You could give a guy a complex.”

  Her car was going to be there any minute, and she still wasn’t ready. She needed to find her shoes. Britt had had three-inch-tall pumps dyed to match the lilac-colored bridesmaids’ dresses, and she could have sworn she’d brought them to the living room. “I promise to give you my full undivided attention tomorrow. Right now I need to go my cousin’s wedding photo shoot.”

  He laughed. “Oh my God. You’re a bridesmaid? You used to make fun of that shit.”

  “And wine coolers used to be my drink of choice. But then I grew up.”

  She sloshed the wine in her bottle and wondered how much pregaming was too much. The more the better. She gulped down another drink as she spotted her shoes next to the sofa.

  Her phone buzzed in her hand, probably alerting her that her Uber driver was waiting in the no-parking zone in front of her apartment, and she still wasn’t ready. “I have to go. My car’s here. I’ll text you my address when I’m on my way.”

  “Go play Bridesmaid Barbie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Lanie grabbed the bottle and took one last drink, shocked when she realized how little wine was left.

  She’d drunk over half a bottle of wine in less than five minutes.

  Well, crap. There was nothing she could do about it now.

  It was showtime.

  Chapter Eight

  Tyler stuffed his finger between his collar and his neck. The app on his phone said it was eighty-nine degrees, so it could have been worse, but that didn’t mean shit when sweat was dripping down his back. Of course, it was more than the heat making him sweat. He hated weddings and went out of his way to avoid them. And now he was in one.

  “Okay,” Britt said, lifting her hands in surrender. She looked out of place standing on the grass in front of a twenty-foot-tall shuttlecock in a wedding dress. “Guys, you can take off your ties for now.”

  “Just our ties?” Randy’s brother, Rowdy, asked in dismay.

  “We’ll get the formal photos, then you can take off your jackets and we’ll do some informal ones.”

  “So why haven’t we started yet?” a whiny blonde asked. She wore a long, sleeveless lavender dress that, unlike a lot of bridesmaids’ dresses Tyler had seen, actually complemented her figure. What no one else realized was that Tyler already knew her. He hadn’t remembered her when he’d seen her at the shower, when she’d walked up to him and flirted, hinting that they should hook up again. It hadn’t been until later that night that he’d figured out that he’d dated her four years ago. And he used the term dated loosely. Hooked up a few times was more accurate.

  But amazingly, he hadn’t been tempted when she’d approached him at the shower, and she had definitely been his type of girl. Maybe the Bachelor Brotherhood had ruined him for life. Maybe a life of celibacy was in his future. But all he had to do was think of Britt’s sexy brunette friend to know that wasn’t true. His taste had changed. Maybe half of his problem with women was that he’d gone for the flash instead of the substance.

  Women like his mystery brunette.

  He didn’t really know much about her, but he instinctively knew she was different. Was it because he was different now? She’d been the only woman to affect him in months. When the photo shoot was over, he planned to ask Brittany about her.

  But unfortun
ately, the blonde bridesmaid hadn’t caught on that he wasn’t interested. She gave him a seductive look as she sidled up next to him and clutched his arm. “Tyler’s melting.”

  “I’m fine,” he said, pulling his arm away from her grasp. He turned to Brittany, doing a poor job of hiding his aggravation, and said, “But Celia’s right. Why haven’t we started yet?” He wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

  “Celesta,” the blonde said with a hint of irritation.

  Hell, he’d slept with her multiple times and he couldn’t even remember her name. What a prick. Still, he didn’t feel bad enough to start something with her again, so Tyler took another step to the side.

  Brittany held her hands out and gave him an apologetic look. “My cousin’s not here yet, but she’s on her way.” She held up her phone. “I just texted her, and she said her driver took a wrong turn.”

  “She has a driver?” Tyler asked in surprise.

  “Uber,” Randy said offhandedly, then turned to his brother, cajoling him into leaving his jacket on.

  Holly had been standing in the periphery, but all the whining must have gotten to her because she moved into the middle of the group and gave them a big smile.

  “Since our last bridesmaid is on her way,” Holly continued, “why don’t we start setting up the first photo?”

  Celesta shrieked, and a loud slapping sound followed. “I just got bit!”

  Tyler looked around for a stray dog or toddler. “What bit you?”

  “A mosquito!” she said, rubbing her arm.

  Sure enough, a welt was already starting to raise on her bicep.

  Brittany’s eyes grew wide, but Holly patted her arm. “Not to worry. The photographer can Photoshop that out.”

  The photographer nodded her agreement.

  “But it still itches! I can’t work under these conditions.”

  Work? Was she a model? He honestly couldn’t remember what her profession had been, but she was already on his last nerve. Tyler gritted his teeth. Please dear God, don’t let him be stuck with her at the wedding.

  “We have some insect repellant on the way, Celesta,” Randy said with a plastered-on smile. “If you like we can make a human shield around you until it arrives.”