He had definitely imagined it enough times though. When they attended all those charity affairs together, serving as the other’s date, Tyler had dreamed of taking her in his arms and making up for lost time.
His conscience and his honor always stopped him. He was still trying to dig himself out of an ugly hole of his own making, paying literally and figuratively for the mistakes of a single night. He had promised that summer to keep Regan as far from the ugliness of his life as possible, and he honored that promise every day.
It had been hard, but not impossible, until this last year. Enter Brandon Hockney, and suddenly Tyler saw his chances to eradicate his problems before Regan committed herself elsewhere slipping through his fingers. Was Brandon going to be the man that finally came between them? Tyler clenched his fists with rage at the idea and paced the length of his apartment for the hundredth time.
Why hadn’t she called yet? It was late there. She should be home already – alone. Rage gave way to insecurity. What is she was there and not picking up? Could she be avoiding him? Tyler had worked so hard to stay friendly, close without asking for too much, supporting her work, her dreams, being there for her as Regan rose to the top of the business world.
She had been grateful for his friendship; Tyler was sure of that. Regan friendships changed as she became more successful, and not for the better. Many of her friends disappeared, others grew distant.
“Do I threaten them?” she would ask, bewildered. “The ones with husbands and kids, I understand a bit better, but why would my working friends be so aloof?”
“Maybe you do threaten them,” Tyler conceded over a night out last year. They had stopped on their way home from a fundraiser for a nightcap. Tyler was grateful for an extra hour with Regan, away from the crowds.
“What would I do without you, Ty? I would have no friends at all.” She looked bereft sitting under the soft lights. Bereft and beautiful. Her eyes were midnight blue in the shadowy bar, and brimming with unshed tears.
“You would always have Missy. She may be your sister, but she has always been your best friend too. And now you have Charlotte. You and Keeli are close. You are even friends with Sloane, Ree. It is just a new group of friends instead of the old ones. Friends who are not intimidated by your success; friends who love you for you.”
Regan took Tyler's hand with a warm smile. "You're right, of course. It just makes me sad.” Regan gave his hand a reassuring squeezed. “But I do appreciate that you are always there for me.”
“And I always will be, Regan. No matter what.”
No matter what, Tyler thought with disgust. Sure, he realized now, he would be there for her, but that didn't mean she would be there for him. Tyler couldn't have her, but he would be damned if he would let her go. Especially to Brandon. Sure the senator seemed perfect, but both Tyler and Wyatt had their suspicions.
Grabbing up the phone, he hit Regan's number on speed dial. With superhuman effort, Tyler had waited almost fifteen minutes before calling again. He listened to it ring wondering what lame message he could leave if she didn't pick up. About to disconnect, he heard the click. Before she could even say hello, Tyler was speaking, nervous energy propelling his words.
“Regan?”
“I’m here. What’s up?” She sounded weary.
“Where the hell have you been? Why didn’t you call me?” So much for being subtle and not prying. He was grilling her.
“Chill, Tyler. I just got in from a late dinner. I was about to call you.” He could hear her sipping something. Wine? She liked to drink wine and chat with him in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe this was a good sign.
“Drinking Rombauer?” he asked, hopeful.
“You know me too well,” came Regan’s laughing response.
“Our whole lives,” he agreed. “Who were you out with? You sound tired.”
“I am tired, Ty, I am ready to come home and get back to work.”
She avoided his question. Who had she been with? He guessed it was that senator again. It didn’t matter. She was coming home. Tyler tamped down his elation at Regan’s words. “So, when will you be back?”
He was pretty sure he sounded nonchalant asking the question. Tyler didn’t want Regan to know how thrilled he was to have her close to him, and far away from Brandon. “Everyone will be happy to have you home.”
“I imagine Ethan will be thrilled to have me take some of the pressure off him at work. He’s not ready for this much responsibility.”
Tyler nodded, before remembering that Regan couldn’t see it. “Yeah. All this travel is forcing him to step up a little faster than he expected. He’s growing up fast, Ree. You’re doing a great job mentoring him.”
“Charlotte is doing the lion’s share of that, but he is learning fast, isn’t he?” Regan’s voice swelled with pride speaking of her younger brother. “He’s more man than boy now, although I still struggle to wrap my head around that one.”
“So, when are you coming home?”
"Tomorrow– early. Missy says my father is in a snit about my absence at Sunday dinners. I think there is more to it than family meals. Something is going on. Will you stop by after dinner?”
Did she sound like she wanted him to stop by, or was that just wishful thinking on his part? Did he want to drive up to Lake Forest? She was worth it.
"I could if I am in the suburbs. Do you want me to?" OMG, how needy did that sound?
“Sure. Everyone would love to see you.”
Everyone? Not much of an indicator, but Tyler plowed forward. "We'll see. Anyway, I just wanted to be sure we are still on for the Rita Hayworth Ball."
“That’s still a few weeks away, Ty. Why don’t we talk about it when I get home.”
“But you’re still my date, right?”
“Yes, Tyler. I am still your date.” She sounded exasperated.
“Great…” Tyler couldn’t think of anything else to say as an awkward pause lengthened. “I should let you get to bed.”
“I guess,” Regan agreed. “It’s been a rough night.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
"Not really. Not tonight," Regan mumbled. "Not with you."
“Not with me? What the hell are you hiding, Regan?”
“Not tonight, Tyler. I am going to bed.”
He heard the click as she disconnected the call. He had handled that all wrong. Did she want to talk, but not with him? He knew those words, recognized that tone.
Shit, shit, shit. Something terrible was happening, and Tyler was not in a position to stop it.
Chapter Seven
Tyler
“You did what?” Tyler’s voice rose above the noise in Hugo’s Frog Bar. Tyler turned to Wyatt in astonishment feeling his heart thudding as his blood chilled. “What the hell could you have been thinking?”
Tyler’s stomach dropped at Wyatt’s pronouncement. After all, his best friend wasn’t asking a question, he was presenting a fait accompli. How could he wriggle out of this? Raking his fingers through his hair with nervous energy, he caused it to stand up straight. Impossibly, his messy hair only made him even more attractive. Two passing beauties caught his eye and flashed him come-hither smiles.
“It’s a brilliant idea,” Alex Gaines praised, slapping Wyatt on the back with enthusiasm and recapturing Tyler’s attention. “Did you come up with it on your own or was it Regan’s idea?”
“No way Regan came up with this plan,” Randall Parker asserted. “She might be his plus one for every event in town, but that friendship is strained to the breaking point.” Randall put air quotes around ‘friendship’ watching Tyler cringe as he did so. “Haven’t you noticed?”
”Guys, I really don’t need this shit right now, I have too much going on.” He loosened his already loose tie and struggled not to down his expensive whiskey in a single gulp. These men knew him too well; they would see too much.
“Like what exactly?” Wyatt pinned him with a stare. Tyler knew making eye contact with his o
ldest friend would be a serious mistake. He would know something was going on. Tyler fidgeted with his cellphone and ignored Wyatt’s prying for more details.
It was a busy Friday night and the men were tucked in a corner of the trendy North Side bar where they went unmolested and they could usually hear each other over the din. Although women tried to catch their attention repeatedly, none approached. Had they tried, they would have been swiftly rebuffed. It was boys’ night out.
At least once a month, the four gathered in the bar above Gibson’s Steak House. They claimed it was to catch up, although they spoke almost daily in the earliest hours of the morning while working out at the East Bank Club. These Fridays were a ritual the men had carried over from their graduate school days and now, after more than ten years, they considered the time sacrosanct.
“I offered you to head up Lyons Howe,” Wyatt repeated with a smug grin. He was clearly enjoying Tyler’s discomfort.
“What’s the problem?” Randall egged Tyler on, rolling up the sleeves of his custom-made shirt and leaning into the conversation with his characteristic gusto. “You don’t care about the girl, you have the skills, Wyatt is willing to facilitate the time away from Tech Solutions, and it will be another notch on your resume.”
“Notch on your belt,” Alex corrected calmly. “He’s right, Ty. If you ever abandon Wyatt, it would look fantastic on your resume.”
“Thanks, man,” Randall smiled at Alex and slapped him on the back. “Appreciate the backup. It’s not like you care about her, right, Ty? You’re not in love with her or anything?” Randall’s tone, and his broad grin told Tyler his friend was fully aware that he was irritating a sore spot.
Tyler considered throwing a punch in Randall’s smug face. He had never discussed Regan with any of them, not for twenty years, and he didn’t intend to start now. Wyatt had approached the subject earlier in the year and Tyler regretted the brief conversation. He had shared too much of his feelings then, but he didn’t intend to do it again. What could he say to make them all understand without saying too much?
“Get off my back, Parker,” Tyler hissed. “That train has left the station.”
“Yeah, and Tyler is not abandoning me, guys, so do not give him any resume ideas.” Wyatt got the conversation back on track.
“Well, it’s not a bad idea to jump ship if you are so willing to banish me,” Tyler challenged. “I thought we were partners. I don’t understand why the hell you would agree to this. You should have at least consulted me first.”
A constant buzzing of text messages to Tyler’s phone caught his attention, giving the three men time to discuss the situation without him. They were obviously in favor of the arrangement.
“He really would do a fantastic job and it would give him a chance to spread his wings a bit,” Randall said.
“I love the idea too. It will be a real growth opportunity for Tyler, but, Ivy, you know better than to play matchmaker,” Alex warned his friend.
“Matchmaker?” Tyler rejoined the conversation. “Is that what this is about? Me and Regan?”
“No, of course not,” the three answered in unison.
“It is a real step up for you, Tyler, and you know it. You went from the law firm to my company. This is a chance to be in charge of something. You have worked your whole career for this moment.”
“I like being your legal counsel, Ivy. Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Not a chance,” Wyatt reassured him. “Truth is my father was hollering at Regan about being away too much…”
“Well, damn it, she is away too much,” Tyler interjected, earning him a knowing look from his friends.
“From the office, away from the office, I meant.” Tyler moved to finish off his drink, but found the glass empty. Shit. He needed to do something about these nerves. He twirled the glass slowly between his palms. Damn these guys, they never let up.
Wyatt laughed at Tyler’s hangdog expression. “My father made a compelling argument. He said the Board was complaining.”
“Ethan? Couldn’t he fill in?”
“Even I know Ethan isn’t ready,” Randall interrupted. “He is still too immature to guide the giant deals. The competition would eat him alive.”
“He’s coming along, but Randall is right, he’s not ready yet,” Wyatt agreed.
“He isn’t even 30 guys, give the fellow a break,” Alex reminded them.
“Yeah, AJ, and how many companies were you heading by thirty?” Wyatt pressed his friend.
Tyler appreciated having the spotlight off him for a moment and tried to keep the topic alive. “Yeah, see AJ agrees with me about Ethan. He might turn out to be a child prodigy. After all, Alex was.”
“I was not a child prodigy and my situation was different,” Alex countered. Alex was whip-smart and born responsible, so his ability to take the helm of two major corporations at a young age was no surprise to any of them.
“Ethan isn’t you, Alex.” Wyatt stated the obvious.
“Hey, why didn’t anyone ask Charlotte? She could do it for sure.” Alex bragged about his wife, who was Director of Finance for LHRE.
“Well, Regan is obviously more considerate about your wife’s current condition than you are,” Wyatt sneered at his friend. “Come on, that was not an option and you know it.”
“I am not inconsiderate, but I know Charlotte plans to return to work six weeks to the day after the baby is born.” The other men, unaware of the happy news, offered hearty congratulations.
“Another round of drinks,” Randall hollered to the server. “We’re celebrating over here. You know, Alex, Sloane said that too, and she didn’t go back to work for twelve weeks, and then not without buckets of tears.”
“It’s easier for Sloane, too,” Wyatt reminded his friends. “Keeli provides her with daycare on the premises. Charlotte will have to leave the baby home. Anyway, AJ, it’s just bad timing or she would have been Regan’s first choice. I am sure of it.” Tyler listened with sinking heart as Wyatt shot down his other options.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Alex conceded, mollified by the explanation. “Frankly, I am surprised Regan agreed to Tyler at all. Not that you aren’t exceedingly qualified, Tyler, “ Alex continued when Tyler was about to argue with him, “but your relationship is…”
“Friendly. Totally and absolutely friendly. Regan knows I would walk across hot coals for her, for all of you.”
“Great. So you’ll do it,” Wyatt concluded.
“Hey wait a sec! I never said that,” Tyler argued, realizing that he had just walked himself right through the door and allowed it to shut behind him,
“Yeah, Ty, I think maybe you just did,” Randall confirmed with a smile.
“I’ve been had. You planned this. Not fair,” Tyler complained but the friends swore they had not arranged or even known anything until Wyatt had brought up the subject.
“You’ll be great though, and if, as you say, Regan is just a friend, you will have no problem working closely with her. Very closely. Wyatt, this is a great plan.” Alex slapped Tyler on the back, “Buck up my friend. You just got a big promo, Mr. CEO.”
“Ty, remember what you said to me a few months ago, that it was time? I think you were right, man. Whatever has been holding you back, it’s crunch time.” Wyatt stared hard at his friend, communicating without a sound.
Tyler groaned, laying his head on his arms that rested crossed on the high top until the server arrived with their drinks.
“I don’t know what I was thinking when I said that, Wyatt, but things are different now. Don’t think I don’t know what you are up to.”
“Hey, don’t complain,” Randall defended his friend, “if you are very lucky, Ivy will succeed.”
“And we all know you want him to,” Alex seconded.
Instead of agreeing or disagreeing, Tyler looked again at his phone, buzzing on the table.
“Who keeps texting you?” Wyatt asked. “Is it work?”
“No, it�
��s nothing,” Tyler responded, distracted. “Let me just deal with it. I’ll be right back.” Taking his phone, Tyler headed toward the doorway. He looked over at his friends and moved out of their line of sight to prevent them from seeing his increasing agitation with the caller. He hung up quickly overhearing his friend’s conversation as he approached.
“What do you think that’s all about?” Alex asked.
“No clue, but he’s been getting a ton of texts at work the last two weeks. He is playing it very close to the vest.”
“Maybe its legal and he can’t talk about it.”
“Nice try, Randall, but he works for me. He could tell me.”
Tyler returned to the table, gratefully sipped his replenished drink, and offered no excuses or explanations. “So, where were we?”
“We were wondering who you were talking to?” Alex answered bluntly.
“No one AJ, it was nothing.” Tyler sat silent for a moment, wanting to unburden himself to his friends. But, how to explain now what he was unwilling to share twenty years ago? Tyler further messed his already messed hair, took a deep drink and opted to keep silent a bit longer. That’s why he’d paid all that money, after all, to prevent anyone from knowing.
“Oh yeah, we were talking about my great new job. So, when do I start?”
“As soon as you and Regan can arrange it. You’ll have to work out the details with her. You’ll need Board approval. I am releasing you from Lyons Tech, but she has to actually hire you into Lyons Howe.
“Jeez, it sounds like you guys own the world,” Randall joked.
“Not all of it, Randall, just most of it,” Alex teased.
“Yeah, AJ. You own the rest, right?” Randall shot back, causing the four men to laugh. Any remaining tension dissolved and the conversation turned to hockey and their winter vacation plans.
“AJ, if Charlotte wants to skip a Blackhawks game or two, you know who to call,” Randall offered. “I could be very comfy in that box of yours.”
“Randall, you know I can make room for you anytime Sloane will let you out of her sight, or both of you could join us. You’d have to leave Amelia with a sitter, though.”
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