Somebody to Love (Tyler Jamison #1) - April Wilson Page 0,11
gritted teeth. “You’re supposed to be at home! Did you sneak out?”
My smile widens because, God, he’s hot when he’s pissed. I’d do it again in a heartbeat just to feel all this intensity. “I’m here for the same reason you are! I thought I’d ask around, see what I can find out.”
He shakes his head and points toward the exit. “You’re leaving—now!”
I reach into my pocket and pull out some cash, which I toss onto the bar. “Roy!” When he looks my way, I point at the cash. “Gotta go!”
And then, I swear to God, Tyler marches me out of the club, his hand gripping the back of my neck as curious eyes follow us to the door.
The cool night air feels good on my hot face. And it’s nice not to have to scream to be heard.
Tyler steers me to the right. “This way.” He walks me to a black BMW parked just a couple blocks away, opens the front passenger door, and motions for me to get in. When I do, he shuts my door before walking around to the driver’s side.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he says as he slides behind the wheel. He’s staring straight ahead, his body rigid. His hands fist the steering wheel.
“This was one of Eric’s regular hang-outs. I wanted to find out if he was here the night he was—you know.”
“Murdered?” Tyler turns to glare at me. “And was he?”
“Yeah. I talked to the owner, Roy, who said Eric had been coming there a lot recently. He was pretty sure Eric was there Friday night.”
Tyler’s thumbs brush the leather steering wheel, and he sighs. “Ian, you shouldn’t have come here tonight. You shouldn’t be out at all right now. It’s not safe.”
I turn in my seat to face him. “Eric was my friend. I owe him.”
He turns the key in the ignition, and the engine roars to life. “Buckle your seatbelt. I’m taking you home.”
I feel a thrill at his words, even though he didn’t mean them the way they sounded. God, I wish.
After he pulls out into traffic, he spares me a quick glance. “How did you manage to leave your townhouse undetected?”
I laugh. “That’s my secret. If I tell you, it’ll never work again.”
He glares at me, clearly not amused. “This isn’t funny, Ian. The police protection is for your own good.”
I smile. “You called me Ian.”
“Quit smiling,” he says, again not amused.
“Sorry.” But I can’t help it. I love it when he’s bossy. I’ll bet he’s domineering in bed. Just the thought raises my body temperature. “How did you find me?”
“I was making my rounds to all the clubs you listed, talking to the owners and the staff. When I arrived at this club, I spotted you at the bar.”
He doesn’t say another word on the drive to my house. When we arrive, he pulls into the driveway and parks behind the police cruiser. The officer on duty does a double-take when we walk past his vehicle up to the front door.
Tyler follows me inside, shutting the door behind us. Hard. He’s still pissed. He runs his fingers through his dark hair. “Look, kid.”
I laugh as I switch on the lights. “Kid? Fuck, Tyler, I’m twenty-eight. I’m not a kid.”
“You might as well be a kid, especially when you act like one. You had no business sneaking out to Diablo’s tonight.”
He’s dressed as I’ve always seen him, in a black suit and tie. I wonder if he’s always so polished and professional. I’d give anything to see him let his hair down.
I walk right up to him, standing nose to nose, and he takes a step back, coming up against the door. I catch a flash of something in his eyes. Was that panic? Holy fuck.
His nostrils flare as he sucks in a breath. His eyes are locked on mine, and he’s staring at me like I’m something he doesn’t quite understand. His eyes glitter beneath the lights of the chandelier, like sunlight dancing on water.
My gaze locks onto his lips, which are beautifully framed by his dark beard. Right now, those perfect lips are flattened in irritation. God, I want to kiss him, so damn badly. “Tyler.”
He shakes his head as if answering no to a question I haven’t even asked. But God, I want to ask.
Do you like men?
Do you like me?
Do you even know what you like?
I suspect he doesn’t.
I wonder how he’d react if I simply kissed him. Right now. Right