Now Kyle was saying she was getting a new bedroom. How was it possible? Which is what she asked him while barely holding on to her temper.
“More money has come in!” he said with exasperation. “What is it with you, huh? Why is it so hard to believe that you can have something good here?”
“Are you serious? Look at the reason I’m here, Kyle! Does any of that seem good to you? My sister is dead! My niece is orphaned! Tell me how I’m supposed to see anything as…as good anymore?” she cried.
And the weird thing was, Kyle—probably more than anyone—understood exactly what she was saying and her frustration. Maybe that’s why she felt so at ease arguing with him like this. It wasn’t something she normally did. Most days, she was relatively timid and agreeable, but something about him just…made her feel different.
Bold.
It could be that she was possibly venting all of her anger and frustration with him from years ago. Maybe. But for whatever reason, she could almost appreciate having him as some sort of punching bag.
No matter how unfair it might be to him.
Ugh…maybe I’m the worst…
His expression was a combination of fierce and compassionate and she knew he was holding back from responding.
Letting out a long breath, Sydney forced herself to lower her voice and calm down. “I didn’t know more money had come in, and as much as I appreciate it, I hate the thought of being such a burden or charity case.”
“Sydney…”
“No, please…I’m sorry. You threw me off guard when you said we could do the bedroom.” She paused. “Actually, I was even thrown a little when you agreed to do the downstairs, but I just figured someone crunched the numbers and made it possible. I know I’m being a pain in the ass, and you have the unfortunate task of being stuck dealing with me…”
“I’m here because I want to be,” he said, his expression softening. “Truth be known, this is the first job Jake’s let me take the lead on and I’m enjoying the challenge of it.” He grinned, gently nudging her shoulder. “All the challenges.”
“I really am sorry. This…this person you’re dealing with isn’t me. I mean…it’s me but…it’s not. Does that make sense?”
Nodding, he said, “I know who I’m dealing with, Syd. I know you. And for what it’s worth, I hate that you have to handle all of this. Death is never easy. It’s even less so when it’s senseless.”
She couldn’t have uttered a word even if she wanted to.
They sat like that for several moments, side by side on her bed.
“I promise to try to be a little less…tense,” she said with a mirthless laugh. “It may take some time, but I swear I’ll work on it.”
“You have good reason to be tense.” The next thing she knew, he reached out and took one of her hands in his. “And I promise to try to give you less reason to be annoyed.” His eyes met hers and something was suddenly…different. And familiar. “Like you, it may take some time, but I swear to do my best.”
It was magnetic. There was no other way to describe it, but she felt herself leaning toward him. They were shoulder to shoulder and it was like someone flipped a switch. They weren’t teasing; they were two people having a heartfelt conversation. Sydney felt inexplicably drawn to him and damn if she was going to do anything to stop it.
“Kyle…” she whispered even as his head began to lower toward hers.
“I promise to start…later,” he said gruffly. He released her hand and instead reached up and cupped her face as his lips touched hers.
All thoughts of renovations, budgets, and the overall feelings of sadness were gone and the only thing she could focus on was the feel of Kyle’s kiss.
And it was the least annoyed she’d been with him in years.
5
He was certainly going to hell for this, but he couldn’t find the will to care.
One minute they were talking and the next…he’d felt like he couldn’t breathe…couldn’t form a coherent thought because he was consumed with kissing Sydney. And from the way she was kissing him back, it wasn’t completely one-sided.
Thank God.
Awkwardly, Kyle undid his tool belt and pushed it aside. Then, as if of one mind, they reclined on the bed and shifted until they were lying down. She felt so good—smelled so good—and he had a hard time finding the line between past and present. He’d always been drawn to