by Lucy Kevin
“I’ll do it. He obviously feels safe with you, so you should stay with him.”
Tyce wasn’t just gorgeous, he was sweet too, she thought as he headed back inside the club.
Less than five minutes passed before he came back with a bowl of water in one hand and what looked like broken up hamburger in the other. He also had a roll of bandages tucked into his belt.
He slowly went down on one knee in front of the little dog, then held out bits of meat on a flat hand. The scruffy looking mutt sniffed at them for a second or two, then flinched and started shaking.
Whitney’s heart broke in two as she wondered what had happened to the dog before she found it.
“It’s okay,” she said softly, hoping he’d understand her the way he seemed to before. “Nothing bad is going to happen to you again. I promise.”
She took the meat from Tyce and held it out in her palm. This time, the dog cautiously ate the food. When he had eaten it all and drank some of the water from the bowl Tyce brought out, she gently put her hand on top of the dog’s head and stroked it.
At first the terrier shook at her touch. “Didn’t I promise you I wasn’t going to hurt you?” she whispered to him. “I’m simply going to bandage up your paw now.”
She could feel Tyce’s eyes on her, and despite the cool air, she felt warm all over. Maybe he thought she was strange for talking to the dog, but she’d always had such a strong connection with animals.
The perfect assistant, Tyce passed the bandages to Whitney. She lifted the little dog’s paw, wrapping it up as carefully as she could. He cringed again, but didn’t pull his paw away.
“Good boy,” she murmured as he stilled to let her wind the bandage slowly around his leg.
When Whitney was done, she looked up into Tyce’s eyes, and her breath caught in her throat at the way he was gazing at her.
“You knew exactly what you were doing, didn’t you? He really trusted you.”
“I took a few animal science classes in college, but it’s not like I’m a vet or anything.” Feeling suddenly shy at his compliment, she changed the subject by saying, “Do you know anyone who could take in a very sweet little dog? I wish I could take him home with me, but I can’t.”
Her new building had a strict no-animal policy. She thought it was a silly rule, but the location had been perfect for getting into the office with the minimum of traffic. Besides, with her new responsibilities at work, she wasn’t going to have much free time anymore. She couldn’t stand the thought of leaving a dog all alone in her apartment while she put in long hours at the office.
Tyce slowly reached out his arms for the dog. The Terrier sniffed his hands for several moments before suddenly leaning into the singer’s arms.
Tyce picked him up. “Actually, I think I do,” he said with a slow grin.
Oh my, weren’t they a cute pair? The gorgeous rocker with the mangy mutt tucked under his arm.
Still she had to say, “That’s very sweet of you, but a dog needs a stable home, not someone living on the road.”
“My life’s a lot more stable than you’d think,” he informed her with the same sexy grin. “So, how about you let me take you for a drink to celebrate my new dog? Or,” he said looking at the terrier who was already snuggling into his strong arms, “perhaps we should go for a walk instead.”
Whitney didn’t know anything about Tyce besides the fact that he was a great singer...and had a major soft spot for dogs in need.
Well, she thought as she also grinned, that was enough for a walk, wasn’t it?
Pushing aside the unwelcome thought that a guy like Tyce wouldn’t fit into her corporate life at all, she said, “I’d love to go for a walk with you.”
After she texted Annette to let her cousin know the change of plans, they headed off. As they walked, Tyce ran his hand over his new dog’s fur, gently untangling it with his long, strong-looking fingers.
“Do you know what you’re going to name him?” she asked.
Tyce stared down at the dog for a moment. “I think he looks like a Milo.”
“That’s a perfect name.” Whitney reached out and Milo immediately burrowed his head beneath her palm. “Hello, Milo. You really are adorable, aren’t you?”
“Clearly, he feels the same way about you,” Tyce said. “So, how long until you’re officially a vet?”
“I’ve dreamed of being one since I was just a little girl,” she said, then shook her head. “But I’m going to be taking over a new position in my family’s business soon. Tomorrow, actually.”
Tyce frowned. “Will you still be able to pursue your dreams?”
She took a deep breath, working to center herself before saying, “Maybe. One day.” Not wanting to ruin what had turned out to be an exceptional evening so far, she said, “Let me guess, your dream is to play packed stadiums while people chant your name?”
“Actually,” Tyce said as he stared out at the bay, the water a dark purple, “my dream is a lot simpler than that. I just want to write a perfect song one day. And I want someone to really be moved by it.”
They kept talking, and walking, until Whitney completely forgot about both Annette and the club. It felt like the night was just beginning…
* * *
Whitney came back out of her memories in a rush, with Tyce still holding her tightly as they danced at the Rose Chalet. When she was in his arms again, it was so easy to feel like everything was the same as that night.
Only, so much had changed since then. Too much for her to be standing here dancing with Tyce.
Too much for this moment to ever be more than an illusion.
She wasn’t the same girl she'd been five years ago. And her life had changed to the point where the feelings she was having for Tyce were horribly inappropriate.
“I’m getting married here in four months,” she reminded Tyce.
Tyce’s muscles tensed against hers as she spoke. A tension that was matched by her own suddenly stiff muscles.
He lifted her hand to look at her engagement ring before saying, “Tell me about your fiancé. Does he make you laugh? Does he make you happy? And tell me why he isn’t here with you tonight? Because if I were your fiancé, I wouldn’t want to risk some other guy coming in and stealing you away.”
Whitney froze in his arms. She couldn’t do this. She shouldn’t this.
“Whitney?”
Knowing nothing she said tonight could change the past—or a future that was already set in stone—she did the only thing she could.
She turned and fled the dance floor, not stopping until she was completely clear of the Rose Chalet.
Chapter Three
The morning after.
Tyce Smith couldn’t make up his mind whether the worst part of the morning after was getting over having a little too much fun the night before, or helping to clean up the Rose Chalet grounds after a wedding.
He packed up his amps before pitching in with the others on cleanup. Everyone was there but Phoebe, who still hadn’t surfaced since she’d disappeared with RJ’s brother after Marge’s wedding.
Rose, the chalet’s owner, was dressed in jeans and a sweater today, rather than one of her well-tailored suits. RJ, the chalet’s handyman, had just started taking apart the reconstruction of Tara that he’d built for Marge Banning’s wedding. Even the chalet’s dress designer Anne had shown up, which was something of a surprise. Normally, the blonde haired, blue eyed designer came and went at hours that only really made sense to her. Her wedding gowns were so spectacular that Rose rarely, if ever, complained about her strange work schedule.
Tyce picked up a wilted rose and pricked himself hard, wincing. He couldn’t concentrate on anything but Whitney.
She’d been so beautiful yesterday. So perfect. And there had definitely been chemistry between them.
For Tyce, it had felt like the intervening five years hadn’t happened at all. If only she hadn’t run out like that…
Yet she had, and Tyce knew he ought
to leave things alone. Not only was Whitney getting married in the fall, she was getting married at the chalet. Rose would kill him if she thought he was trying to steal away one of their brides, and Tyce seriously doubted that telling his boss about his amazing night with Whitney five years ago would do anything to help.
Yes, leaving Whitney alone was the smart thing to do. The right thing to do.
So then, if leaving things alone was so smart and right, what explanation was there for the way fate had stepped in, bringing Whitney into his life not once, but twice?
And how could he possibly ignore the fact that Whitney had been with him every second since their dance? In his head. In his heart. In his dreams when he’d finally fallen into a restless sleep.
“I’ve got to switch out some of this gear at my place,” Tyce said, hefting his guitar and pedal board. “I won’t be long.”
Rose frowned. “Is this just a ploy to abandon us in the middle of the hard work?”
“Would I do that?”
Rose raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“You’ve still got us,” Anne pointed out to Rose. “Hasn’t she, RJ?”
The look RJ gave Rose lingered just a little too long. “Yes,” his friend said to their boss, “you have me.”
“I won’t be long,” Tyce promised before he headed over to his van and loaded it with his gear.
Last night, after he’d made a pathetic excuse to Marge about Whitney rushing off to take an important call, he’d gone into the back kitchen and pulled out his phone to look up Whitney Banning on the internet. What a difference a last name made. Tyce had quickly learned that she was Vice President of Operations for Banning Wellness Corporation and worked downtown in their office complex.
Now he drove through the city, cutting through the traffic to get to her as quickly as possible. He parked across the street from the tall building and was just heading for the large gold-trimmed glass doors when Whitney stepped out into the sunlight.
Even in a charcoal grey business suit she was beautiful.
Beyond beautiful.
Her expression was both intelligent and focused as she spoke into her cell phone, gesturing with her hands to make a point to her wireless audience.
It was so different from the way she’d talked to Milo in the alley that night they’d met, when she’d been so gentle, so soft. And yet, he could still see that gentleness, that softness, in every move of her hands, in the purse of her full lips as she smiled at something her caller said.
She had just slipped the phone back into her bag when he got to her.
“Whitney.”
“Tyce?” He saw a flash of pure joy sparkle in her eyes before she tamped it down. “What are you doing here?”
“You ran off so fast last night, we didn’t get much of a chance to talk.”
“We don’t have anything to talk about.”
“Are you sure about that?” Tyce asked. “After our dance last night, you really don’t think there’s anything to say? Ten minutes, that’s all I’m asking for.” For now.
Whitney paused, and as he waited for her to make a decision about whether she would allow herself to talk to him, Tyce was worried she might shut him down. Completely.
Forever.
“All right,” she said at last. “Ten minutes. But this is my only chance for a break today, so I’ll need to get some food.”
He hated to see her like this, so tense, so rushed. “This was the job you were starting five years ago, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Her answer was clipped, but even in that one short word, he could hear the strain in her voice.
“Are you still planning to go to veterinary school?”
Her mouth tightened, her lips pressing against each other for a moment before she said, “Maybe one day.”
Only, Tyce could easily hear the maybe not that was far closer to the truth.
Hating the way she seemed to have tossed aside her dreams so casually, he said, “So that’s it, you’ve given up on the life you always wanted for yourself?”
“I’m helping to run my family’s business. I’m making decisions that have an impact on thousands of people’s lives. Besides,” Whitney shot back, looking him square in the eye, “have you written that perfect song of yours yet? Or are you too busy with your job at the Rose Chalet?”
When she turned to walk away, he reached for her hand and said, “That’s nowhere near ten minutes.”
Whitney looked down at her fingers linked in his, a beautiful flush spreading across her cheeks. “You’re really going to keep me here for every second of it?”
Tyce worked to get a grip on his emotions, but he couldn’t stop himself from saying, “I’d do whatever I had to for one more second with you.”
“Tyce,” she said softly as she slipped her fingers from his, “you can’t—”
“Please. Just give me five more minutes.”
She bit her lip as she made her decision. “Okay. Five more. What do you need to talk to me about?”
Tyce had rarely ever felt nervous. Big stages and audiences had never fazed him. But this moment with Whitney was so much harder.
And so much more important.
“Your wedding.”
Her eyes widened. Then narrowed. “We already talked about that last night. Besides, it doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“Tell me about the guy you’re marrying.”
It killed him to ask, but he needed to see if her eyes lit up when she talked about her fiancé. He needed to see if she really loved the guy...or if marrying was just another family duty she felt she needed to fulfill.
“Kenneth,” she said quickly. “His name is Kenneth. He's a very nice man and he's going to be a really great husband.”
Relief flooded every cell in Tyce’s body. Because she definitely didn’t say the guy’s name like a woman desperately in love.
“You don’t really want to marry him, do you?”
“My god,” she exclaimed, “how can you even say that?” Whitney demanded. “You don’t know anything about him.”
“No, but I know you, Whitney.”
“One night,” she reminded him. “That’s all you and I had together. Whereas Kenneth and I have been friends practically forever. We even work together.”
His chest clenched at the thought of another man kissing her, slipping a ring on her finger. Especially a man she didn’t love.
Whitney deserved real love...not a pleasant marriage to a friend that almost sounded like a business deal.
“I’ve seen a lot of couples get married over the past five years,” he said softly. “I know what real love looks like, and I know when people are getting married for all the wrong reasons.”
“The wrong reasons?”
Her expression was somewhere between shock and anger. But she wasn’t walking away yet and he prayed that meant he still had a chance.
“It’s only four months until your wedding and neither of you has been into the chalet to check it out and plan the big party to kick off your future together. As far as I know, there haven’t been any talks about the dress, the food, or the music. When couples are really eager to marry, we have to find ways to slow them down and remain patient until the big day.”
“You don’t know anything about my relationship,” she told him in a low voice. “For your information, Kenneth has more important things to take care of than wedding details. He isn’t exactly going to fly over from China to pick out the color of our napkins or decide between salmon and chicken.”
With every angry word, she moved closer to him. One of the hardest things he’d ever had to do was not reach for her, not pull her against him...not kiss her the way he’d dreamed of kissing her again for so long.
He’d known this wouldn’t be easy, had known Whitney was too strong to let him convince her so easily to give him a chance. But fate wasn’t going to visit them a third time.
Which meant he had to make this one count.
“I’m s
ure he’s a nice guy, because I can’t see you ever going out with some loser, but are you really telling me that what you feel for him is as intense as what we both felt that one night?” He paused before laying himself completely bare. “Are you telling me that your feelings for him are anywhere near what the two of us are feeling right now?”
“Tyce—”
He reached for her, then, simply couldn’t stop himself from touching her face. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t feel the same. Tell me that you don’t still feel what’s between us as intensely as you did that night when you were in my arms. Do that, and I’ll go.”
Whitney’s eyes were locked on his and she took a deep, shaky breath as she contemplated her answer. And then, suddenly, she looked past his shoulder.
Her eyes went wide as she saw where he’d just taken her. “The Happy Pig hot dog stand. I haven’t been here in years. Not since—”
She blinked up at him, and five years fell away.
* * *
Five years ago, after walking hand-in-hand for hours...
“A hot dog stand?” Whitney said. “Tyce, I can’t, I’m a vegetarian.”
Tyce smiled, still holding Milo in his arms. “So am I. Luckily, it’s a vegetarian hot dog stand.”
“There are vegetarian hot dog stands?”
“There’s the Happy Pig.” Even late at night there was a line. But then, the place did make the best hot dogs in the city, vegetarian or not.
“So, which one should I have?” Whitney asked him.
Tyce cocked his head to the side. “Let’s ask Milo here.”
“You’re serious?”
“Why not?” Tyce asked.
“I’ve never met a guy who’ll actually talk to his animals. I mean, I used to talk to my family’s cat all the time, but most people don’t get that.”
Tyce smiled and then stroked Milo’s head. “Ah well, Milo here says you can’t trust anything a cat has to say.”
That got a laugh from her, but it wasn’t just laughter that Tyce wanted right then. He looked down at the small dog in his arms.
“What’s that, Milo?” he said. “You think I should do what? Yes, I think you’re right.”