to the marina today to check on the repairs to my boat. Would you like to come?”
He turns to me with a grin on his handsome face. “I’d love to. What else?”
“It’s Friday. I usually meet the guys at a club around ten.” I practically hold my breath as I wait for his reaction. Going out with friends, cutting loose and dancing are a big part of my life. It’s something I look forward to.
He shrugs. “Okay. As long as you don’t expect me to dance. That’s just not my thing. But you can. I like watching you.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?” I find the idea of bringing Tyler with me to a club very appealing. The thought of him watching me dance, knowing his eyes are on me, damn. “Since Diablo’s is closed, the guys have been hanging out at Sapphires.”
When he sits up, the sheet falls to his waist. My gaze roams down his torso, past his broad shoulders and muscular arms, past his abs, to the happy trail that leads below the sheet.
“Honestly, I don’t mind,” he says. “Relationships are all about give and take, right? You want to dance, so dance. As long as you’re okay with me just watching.”
Relationships. Is that what we have? A relationship? My heart stutters before kicking into overdrive. I sit up beside him and turn to face him, cupping his cheeks and pulling him close for a kiss. “I’m more than okay with that.”
* * *
We decide to take my Porsche to the marina, since I have a member’s permit to park there and Tyler doesn’t. The weather’s nice this morning, so I put the top down. I grab my Ray-Bans from the glovebox and hand Tyler a spare pair.
I peer into the rearview mirror at my own reflection, and then tilt the mirror so he can see himself. “Damn, we look boss.”
Tyler grins at me as I start the engine and back the car out of the carriage house.
It’s a short drive to the marina. I take the access road down to the private club and park. There’s a members-only clubhouse at the end of the boardwalk with a café that serves up an awesome breakfast.
We walk along the pier to the restaurant, passing a bait and tackle shop and a ski jet rental business. When we reach the clubhouse, Tyler opens the door for me. Quite the gentleman. I get goosebumps when he ushers me inside, his hand grazing my lower back in a fleeting gesture. No guy has ever done that for me before.
Breakfast is in full swing, but there are a few tables available. We don’t have to wait long. A young woman escorts us to a table for four. Tyler pulls out a chair for me, and I sit. Then he takes the seat catty-corner from me, instead of opposite me.
Our server comes to the table and pours us each a cup of coffee.
“The food here is great,” I tell Tyler. “Try the breakfast special. It’s got a bit of everything.”
Tyler lays down his menu. “Sounds good to me.”
I notice he drinks his coffee black. I pour French vanilla-flavored cream into mine and several packets of sugar. I notice him staring at my fingers as I stir my coffee.
Tyler scowls as he watches me take a sip. “It that supposed to be coffee or a milkshake?”
I laugh at his expression and reach over to lay my arm across his shoulders. An older couple sitting near us looks our way and stares unabashedly. Noticing them, Tyler shifts uncomfortably away from me, and I drop my arm.
I shouldn’t let it get to me. He’s obviously not ready for displays of public affection. He might never be ready for that. This is all new to him, and it’s going to be an adjustment for both of us. Still, I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sting. I pick up my menu and pretend to be engrossed in it.
Our server comes to take our orders.
“I’ll have the breakfast special,” Tyler says.
My heart is thudding hard and I avoid looking at him. Instead, I glance up at our server. “I’ll have the same. And some orange juice, please.”
She collects the menus and leaves to fill our orders. I can feel Tyler’s gaze on me. I look anywhere but at him.
After a long moment of dead silence, Tyler lets out a heavy sigh. “Ian, I’m—”
“No, don’t,” I say, lifting a hand to cut him off. My throat is so tight it