Purr For Me: Bad Boy Autos (Drive Me Wild Book 2)
Page 20
“Thanks.” He had no appetite.
“Oh, by the way, a woman dropped by this afternoon. Said she was a friend of your sister’s and wanted to see how Hayley was,” Allison said. “I told her Hayley was at dance class. She left her cell number and the name of the hotel where she’s staying. She wants you to call her.”
Tyler’s breath caught in his throat. She wouldn’t dare. Casually, so he didn’t convey the sudden tension in his body, he asked, “Did she leave a name?”
Allison nodded. “Emily Stanford.”
Painful memories warred with erotic images of a sexy blonde rolling around naked in his bed. Images from four years ago that still burned in his mind.
Guilt swamped him as it always did when he thought of Emily, his younger sister’s best friend. Lizzie…a single mother at eighteen, dead at twenty-one, she’d been wild and uncontrollable. But he should’ve tried harder to reach her. Being three years her senior, he should’ve taken his role as her big brother and protector more seriously. If he had, she might be alive today.
He would always blame himself—and Emily.
Blame her for distracting him, and worse, for covering for Lizzie. That night, Emily had said she loved him yet she betrayed him in the same breath. If only she’d told him what Lizzie had been up to that night, Lizzie would be alive today, and Hayley would still have a mother.
Tyler would never forgive Emily. His fist tightened around the piece of paper, crushing the note Allison handed him into a ball before shoving it into the pocket of his navy blue suit jacket. He’d call Emily when hell froze over.
His cellphone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the number lighting the screen. He silenced the call from his latest lover with a heavy sigh.
Allison raised an eyebrow. “I’m here. You haven’t been out for almost four weeks. That’s not healthy for a handsome young man like you.”
He bent and placed a kiss on his elderly housekeeper’s forehead. “What would you know about handsome men like me?” he teased.
“I was young once, you know. And I know you. I’ve found enough women’s lingerie left around here to open a Victoria’s Secret store.” Her raised eyebrow and waggled finger told him what she thought about his lifestyle.
Tyler began pulling his tie from around his neck as he made for the stairs of his Central Park penthouse apartment. “I’ll read to Hayley first, and then maybe I’ll go out if you don’t mind.” He hesitated at the bottom of the stairs.
“Be happy to.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary. You’ve done a lot for me over the last few years.”
“You’re sure I can’t persuade you to stay on? I’ll double your salary. I mean it. I’m that desperate.”
The smile left Allison’s face. “I wish I could, but my husband and I have our trip planned. At our age, you can’t take anything for granted. It’s our time now.”
“What about when you get back? I’ll find a bigger place, and you and your husband could move in with us.”
“But we’ll be away for an entire year on our world trip. You need someone now, so you better get on it. I’m sure you’ll find the right person. Or better yet, you might meet a nice lady and settle down.”
Tyler laughed. “Why is it that women always push men to get married? I’m perfectly happy on my own.” He grinned. “I’m not lacking for female company.”
“But Hayley is. Your priorities have changed now, Tyler,” said the no-nonsense housekeeper. “Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to give her a cousin to play with?”
Her words drew him up short. He tried to imagine what his childhood would’ve been like without Lizzie in it. And God knew how lonely he’d been since she’d been gone. He didn’t want Hayley to be lonely, but have his own children?
Having a family wasn’t in any of his plans for the future. His corporation, Horizon Enterprises, and making money, were both his baby and his mistress. He loved the rush of the deal almost as much as he loved sex, and he was equally skilled at both.
He knew what family meant. Responsibilities. At fifteen his father had left and Tyler had to step up. He didn’t resent the fact he’d had to take charge but he wasn’t in a hurry to be responsible for others again. Lizzie’s death under his care taught him a lesson he’d never forget.
Alison interrupted his musings. “Well, I can see I’ve given you enough food for thought. Go read to Hayley and then go have some fun. You need to blow off some steam.”
“Okay. Thanks again.” As he went upstairs to his warm bundle of responsibility who waited for her story, he thought that blowing off steam was definitely in order.
Thinking about the women that the employment agency had sent filled him with dismay. The first four he’d interviewed had immediately been rejected by his niece. It had pained him to decline number three, a sexy brunette with breasts the size of ripe melons, but he’d realized that sleeping with the help wasn’t a good idea.
He hadn’t been sure he’d be able to resist the temptation. He also didn’t want Hayley to get used to a woman he’d soon tire of and let go. His rule of thumb was to keep his relationships brief and casual so no one got hurt. He never wanted to endure that kind of torture again.
Later, as he stood under the shower spray, after having read to Hayley until she’d fallen asleep, he thought about the woman who visited his dreams far too often of late. The image of Emily naked as she swam at their favorite watering hole slipped into his brain.
Tyler genuinely liked women and loved sex. Always the considerate lover, he enjoyed giving as much pleasure as he received. There was nothing better than feeling a woman come alive, surrendering herself under his talented hands and mouth.
But Emily was the one woman he’d never stopped craving. Even now, his body hardened as memories of what it had felt like to have her slim legs wrapped around him as he’d sunk deep into her slick heat. Christ. His hand strayed lower over his tight groin. Maybe he should take the edge off before he went out tonight. He was a cocked gun, primed and ready to go off.
No. He’d been doing too much of that lately. Damn you, Emily. He’d thought he’d crushed her memory under the weight of her betrayal. He turned the shower jet on cold to cool his overheated body, but it didn’t work very well.
Thirty minutes later, the memory of Emily’s gorgeous face and the pleasure they’d once shared were still with Tyler as he drove his silver Porsche through the city streets. He wished the memory of her taste, touch and scent no longer haunted him. But, more than anyone, he knew you didn’t get anything by wishing, only by taking action.
When he’d left his apartment, he’d been determined that at least for tonight, the woman who’d ripped his heart from his chest would be vanquished from his mind in another woman’s bed. So why was his Porsche heading downtown, when his current lover lived uptown?
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs, Brandy and Duke.
www.bronwenevans.com
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Also by Bronwen Evans
Historical Romances
Wicked Wagers
To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield – book #1
To Wager the Marquis of Wolverstone – book #2
To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood - book #3
Wicked Wagers, The Complete Trilogy Boxed Set
The Disgraced Lords
A Kiss of Lies – Jan 2014
A Promise of More – April 2014
A Touch of Passion – April 2015
A Whisper of Desire – Dec 2015
A Taste of Seduction – August 2016
A Night of Forever – October 2016
A Love To Remember – August 2017
A Dream Of Redemption – February 2018
Invitation To Series
Invitation to Ruin
(Winner of RomCon Best Historical 2012, RT Best First Historical 2012 Nominee)
Invitation to Scandal
(TRR Best Historical Nominee 2012)
Invitation to Passion
July 2014
(Winner of RomCon Best Historical 2015)
Invitation To Pleasure
Novella February 2020
Imperfect Lords Series
Addicted to the Duke – March 2018
Drawn To the Marquess – September 2018
Attracted To The Earl – February 2019
Contemporaries
The Reluctant Wife
(Winner of RomCon Best Short Contemporary 2014)
Coopers Creek
Love Me – book #1
Heal Me – Book #2
Want Me – book #3
Need Me – book #4
Drive Me Wild
Reckless Curves – book #1
Purr For Me – book#2
Other Books
Dukes By The Dozen Anthology Boxed Set
Christmas In Kilts Anthology Boxed Set
Highland Wishes And Dreams