When a server came by with a tray of champagne, Tyler was on it before she could open her mouth. “No, thanks, but would you bring us two glasses of sparkling water, please?”
“Thanks, Tyler,” she said to him when the server left.
He bent toward her and kissed her cheek, and she felt as if everyone around them was watching, curious to see who she was. Tyler had told her the guests would include a lot of people who worked for the family business, so it made sense they were nosy about the owner’s son, a person who would be their boss one day.
The two of them walked around with their water and Tyler plucked finger food off trays and tables and fed her. She tried not to get turned on by it, but thanks to the erotic nights they’d been having lately, her core heated right up when his fingers touched her lips.
He stopped and talked with most of the guests, introducing her as his girlfriend again and again. Yeah, she could get real used to that.
“Ty!” A handsome dark-haired, athletic hunk strode toward them. As he got closer, Caroline saw his eyes and jaw resembled Tyler’s.
After a bro hug, Tyler said, “Caroline, this is my little baby brother, Caleb.”
Caleb reached out his hand. “He likes to call me that because he is jealous that I’m four inches taller than him.”
Brina laughed. “Nice to meet you, Caleb. I hear you are a South Forker.”
“That’s right,” he said. “Once it was clear my dad was going to keep me posted down there I decided to make the move. Got sick of taking the ferry.”
“Nah, he just wanted to be around the movie stars that live in the Hamptons,” Tyler said. “Did you bring that supposed up-and-coming actress to the party?”
Caleb smirked. “You are such an ass.” He turned from his brother to Caroline. “Don’t ask me what you see in this guy.”
“Aw, I think he’s kinda cute,” she said.
Caleb looked behind Caroline. “Hey, there’s Mom and Dad. They are going to want to meet Caroline.”
She turned to see a handsome older couple ambling toward them and butterflies started in her belly.
“Nice to meet you, Caroline,” Caleb said. “And it’s okay to tell Tyler how much better looking I am. He can take it.” Then he gave Tyler a playful punch on the arm. “Later, bro.” And he sauntered off.
Tyler waved to his parents, then took Caroline’s hand. So, maybe this was indeed the “meet the parents” moment.
After stopping to chat with other guests along the way, Mr. and Mrs. Westfall walked up to her and Tyler.
“Caroline, I’d like you to meet my parents, Thomas and Mindy Westfall.”
“Lovely to meet you, Caroline,” his mother said, shaking her hand. Thomas nodded and did the same.
“You have a very beautiful home,” Caroline said, feeling stiff as a board.
“Why, thank you,” Mindy said. “You will have to come back for lunch this week and I can show you the inside. I love to decorate and chose every piece in the house myself.”
Caroline smiled. “You must be where Tyler gets his eye from. He did a great job with his home.”
Mindy frowned. “Except for that horrible enormous two-story sculpture with flying things that remind me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.”
Caroline held back a laugh, knowing Mindy was talking about the sculpture by Luna. But Tyler jumped to her defense. “You only think that because your taste is so limited. That is my all-time favorite piece of art.”
“Don’t insult your mother,” Thomas said, stepping in and then changing the subject. “So, Caroline, I hear you are one of the owners of Three Girls Roasting Company.”
“That’s me.”
“And you have a line of coffees that you sell to retail shops?”
“Yes. Mostly on the East Coast, but we recently started selling in California too.”
“Impressive,” Thomas said. “I’ve been there a couple times. Had a great lunch. Coffee was terrific. And most important—the place was packed.”
“We try.” Caroline felt her cheeks flame at his praise.
His mother noticed and gave her an “aww” look. Mindy patted her on the shoulder. “Well, congratulations on your success, Caroline.”
“She has worked really hard to make it happen,” Tyler added.
“I’m sure there is plenty of competition,” Thomas said. “Like the wine scene these days. You know, everywhere you look there is another vineyard. And now it seems like each time I turn around there is a new coffee shop.”
Caroline shrugged. “Always room for more.”
Thomas nodded. “That’s true. It’s not like I’m the only one selling yachts out here on the East End.”
“Bring it on,” Caroline said. “Nothing like a little competition to keep you sharp and on top of your A Game.”
Thomas flashed an approving smile. “Caroline, I like your attitude. Lots of spunk. I can see already you are going to fit right into the family.”
When Caroline’s eyebrows shot up at his comment, Tyler laughed and said, “Easy, you guys. Don’t scare her away. She’s a keeper.”
“By the way, I see you are drinking spring water,” his mother said.
Uh-oh. Caroline braced herself. Had Tyler told them she’d had a drinking problem a few years back?
Tyler stepped in. “She’s a health junkie. Their coffee is organic. Daily salads. Great influence on me.”
His mother beamed. “I can see that.” Mindy’s eyes scanned Caroline’s dress, and then she turned to her husband with an approving nod. Guess Brina had been right on what to expect here, judging by his mother’s outfit and her own conservative yet expensive-looking apparel.
“How did you two meet?” Mindy asked.
Caroline gave Tyler a nervous glance and he turned to his mother with a short laugh. “We were both on a dating app. When I saw Caroline’s profile saying she was interested in marriage and children and I saw we liked the same kind of music and hobbies—and of course her sweet face attracted me—well, I figured she was a solid, sensible woman that I would like to meet.”
Caroline’s stomach was in knots. She’d had no idea those were the reasons Tyler had chosen her on the dating app. She never would have guessed it. Maybe Brina was right all along about what some men wanted. Even hot hunks like Tyler. It sounded like he was looking for a wife. And while she had definitely fallen for him, the truth was the whole marriage thing still scared the hell out of her.
When his parents moseyed on, Tyler took Caroline to one of the open tents where they got some more substantial food. But she could hardly swallow. Something about being here felt surreal. The usual ease she and Tyler had each day was somehow replaced with an odd sort of playacting. She guessed it was all about having his parents and the people important to them give them their approval.
Caroline turned to Tyler and asked, “Lady’s room?”
He lowered his glass and pointed. “No problem. One inside the pool house. Or you can keep walking to the main house, central hall beneath the stairs.”
“Did you say beneath the stars?” she said, feeling giddy.
“Cute, but not exactly. Although, across from the door on the wall there is an old photo of my dad with Barbra Streisand taken at a Save Our Oceans benefit.”
“Wow. I’m a fan. I’d love to see it.”
After using the bathroom, Caroline paused to check out the picture. Nice to see Tyler’s tough businessman dad involved in a fundraiser aimed at giving back. Actually there were more grouped next to it showing Tyler’s father arm in arm with other celebrities and what looked like important people in the boating community. She was curious about the rest of the house and thrilled that his mother had invited her to come to lunch. Wow, things were getting serious.
As Caroline exited the sliding glass doors leading to the patio, she overheard her name being mentioned as part of a conversation. The voices came from an Arabian Nights-style cabana next to the pool. Through the cabana’s soft, white translucent curtains, C
aroline could see the fuzzy silhouettes of two men seated on a sofa and engaged in what sounded like a confidential talk. Ordinarily she would have kept walking, but when someone drops your name…
“So, Tyler pulled it off,” the guy on the left said.
“Sure looks that way.”
“And I hoped I’d be taking over for him permanently.”
“Don’t think so. The old man seems pretty happy.”
The first man leaned in closer and dropped his volume. “Here’s the story behind it, but this is classified. Got that?”
“I’m listening.”
“A little birdie told me—and again this is top secret.”
“Yeah, yeah,” the second man said. “Now tell me.”
“The kid is putting one over on the old man and his mother—the whole thing is a spoof.”
“Spoof?”
“Total fake-out, Matt.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Thomas lost a big sale on account of Tyler’s screwing around with the client’s daughter. So he fired him. Then he told Tyler the only way he could get his job back was to quit acting like a teenage kid always on the make and grow up. In other words, find himself a woman to settle down with.”
“And this is the lady?”
“Yeah. Little does this Caroline know she was being auditioned for a temporary role just so Tyler could return to his dad’s good graces. Once Thomas puts Ty back on the job, my guess is the kid will wait till things calm down and his job is secure, then cut her loose. Go back to his freelance approach with women, only use his head and not get caught this time.”
“I feel bad for her.”
“Ahh, she’ll be all right.”
Caroline froze. Without warning, the air in her chest had suddenly been knocked out of her as if she had walked head-on into a bus. All the jubilant energy that had been keeping her walking on air just got sucked away by some monster.
And that monster had Tyler’s face.
Fight or flight came next. And right then all systems were set for takeoff. She had to get out of here. Leave. Call Brina to come pick her up sneak out. Let Tyler wonder where she went.
But then her inner co-pilot came up with a better idea. Make him pay. Switching over to fight mode, Caroline thought she should go out to the party and embarrass him in front of the guests and tell his parents the truth. But that would only make her look bad. And she might end up crying in front of all these people and come off as pitiful.
What was that old French saying? “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Yes, she would cool her jets, wait until he took her home. Then when she felt safe on her own turf, she would let him see the full force of her rage.
She returned to the party on the lawn and found her boyfriend. Yeah, right.
What past life sins had she committed to reap this kind of karma with men? First a cruel, two-timing husband who had zero respect for her. And now this? A sweet-talking but heartless con artist.
Caroline managed to keep up a front until it was time to leave. Her goodbyes to his parents were ironic, as she felt an odd sort of camaraderie with them since they were being duped by their son too.
On the drive to her house Tyler was ebullient, saying how well it went, obviously thrilled that he had pulled off his stunt so successfully. At least she had gotten some summer fun on the water, good dinners, and great sex out of it.
Too bad it was at the expense of her heart.
When they reached her Three Girls Roasting Company, Tyler walked Caroline to her door. The cafe was closed by now and he followed her inside. He was no doubt expecting to be invited upstairs to her apartment, hoping for an after-party roll in her bed.
She closed the front door behind the two o f them and turned to him. “So, when were you planning to tell me about this great spoof you played on your parents? Or were you going to continue using me for a while and then when it was convenient just end it with one of those canned phrases about moving on?”
Tyler went pale. “What are you talking about?”
“Cut the act, Tyler. I heard all about your predicament with your parents and the ultimatum they gave you about finding a woman and settling down.”
“From where?”
“I overheard a conversation.”
“Who was it?”
“A guy who said he is filling in doing your job now and he called the other guy Matt.” She shook her head with a disgusted snort. “So then it is true.”
“No! I mean, yes, kind of, but…”
She burst into tears, hating herself for letting him see her cry. For the last couple hours Caroline had been fighting it back and had managed to suppress the deep sobs bubbling up in her chest. But hearing Tyler admit this was all a game—that she was only a game to him—well, that broke her.
Tyler reached for her. “Please, don’t cry. I can explain.”
She stepped back, crying freely now. “Don’t touch me, you selfish bastard.”
“Look, I admit joining that dating app was a strategy to help me keep my job. But then I began to see that maybe I really did want to find a partner. That possibility had been tickling my mind from the beginning. I just never expected to actually fall in love so quickly.”
“What would you know about love? You’re just a spoiled little rich boy.”
“Hold on a second.” He fumed. “I worked like a dog for my parents’ company. And for the center I founded.”
She fisted her hands at her sides. “I worked like a dog too, for the one dream since I was twelve years old. And after two heartless men ruined my art career and nearly destroyed me, I had to claw my way up the mountain all over again just to reach normal. So I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you—”
“Since you were twelve years old that was your dream?” His complete switch in demeanor and seemingly innocent question surprised her. “Do you still want to make art?”
“Of course I do, you idiot!” she screamed at him through her tears. “But why would you care? Just go now. Get out of my life.”
“Please listen to me, Caroline. I’m not going to lie to you.”
“You’ve done nothing but lie to me!”
He shook his head, his tone pleading. “No, everything was real. Every word I said; every thing I did. Yes, I started dating you as an attempt to find someone who would make my parents think I was getting serious.”
“How could you do that to a woman? Why do all men think—”
He held up a stop-sign hand. “Let’s be real. Women aren’t exactly saints either. I know plenty who play nasty games. Or who marry guys just for their money. It goes both ways.”
“Why didn’t you just hire an actress to fool your parents? You can afford it. Why play with someone’s feelings?”
“Breaking news—I was never by nature a shallow person. Fearful of getting involved maybe. But I was never a heel or a womanizer. Not by any stretch.”
“Apparently there are some who think otherwise.”
His jaw tightened. “At least give me a fair trial. Never base reality on the words of two strangers, not to mention boozed-up blowhards like the two you overheard gossiping at the party. The one who made that statement about wanting my job is Larry Triola. He’s a good salesman, and he’d love to see me gone from the company so he can take my place, and as to relationships with women, he is totally screwed up. His partner in crime, the ‘Matt’ he was talking to, is Matt Fleming. He works in our service department. He is dependable and knows his shit when it comes to engine parts but is hardly a reliable source when it comes the inner workings of my father’s mind or mine.”
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest. “But you yourself just admitted it was a planned strategy with your goal being to please your father and get your job back.”
“Only in the beginning. And what is so wrong with wanting a win-win? Getting my job back plus the chance of finding a person I could really care about? When you think about it, isn’t all dating one big experiment
? It’s anybody’s guess where you’ll end up with someone. Meanwhile, under the surface I learned fast about who I really am. After our first date I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And it didn’t take long to see we were perfect for each other. Originally, I thought at the very least I would find somebody I could introduce to my parents—and that part worked—I just had no idea how hard and fast falling in love can be. Caroline, I’m in love with you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes. Because it’s the truth.” He stepped toward her again, but she held up her hands as she backed away.
“Just go, Tyler. You and I are over.”
“Please, Caroline, don’t do this. I’m sure we could be really happy together.”
“Well, I’m not. And last time I checked the dating app I had over fifty messages from men who are interested in meeting me. So I think I’m going to continue an ‘experiment’ of my own to see what it’s like to date as a Plain Jane instead of as an artist named Luna. Speaking of which…”
She took off her earrings and necklace and handed them to Tyler. Then she turned away quickly because the expression of deep pain and sorrow on his face had the potential to weaken her resolve.
“Please don’t do this, Caroline. What we have is—”
“Goodbye, Tyler.” And she ran up the stairs.
Chapter 13
POW!
Tyler caught him with a right to the chin. Instantaneously he felt himself being spun around and having his breath cut off as Caleb’s bicep closed off his wind pipe in one of those damn choke holds his loving brother had learned to execute so well over the years.
Tyler struggled to spit out his words. “Larry Fucking Triola? You big mouth jiu jitsu bastard.”
“Okay, I get what this is about. And I don’t blame you. But can we please not fight?” Caleb released him and stood there wiping the blood from his mouth where Tyler had split his lip.
Tyler massaged the muscles in his neck while reading the emotions on Caleb’s face. He’d seen it many times before on his roguish brother. The same guilt-ridden expression a twelve-year-old Caleb once gave a neighbor after teeing up a golf ball in their backyard and sending it through Emma Peterson’s dining room window.
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