to the west, over the lake. The sky is a stunning orangey-pink-red this evening.
“Let’s walk back,” Tyler says.
As we step onto the sidewalk, Tyler takes my hand, holding it securely in his. Holding my hand in the restaurant was a magnificent gesture, and I appreciated it greatly, but this? This is epic because the sidewalk is bustling with pedestrians, and traffic is heavy. People can see us.
A passing car honks, and Tyler flinches, but he doesn’t let go of my hand.
“You don’t have to hold my hand,” I tell him. “It’s the thought that counts.”
He just smiles at me and tightens his grip. As we walk home, my chest tightens with each step. Tyler’s really pushing his comfort zone tonight, just for me. This night couldn’t possibly be any more perfect.
“Thank you for tonight,” I tell him when we reach the townhouse. “Everything was perfect.”
It’s nearly ten o’clock, and the sun has dipped below the horizon. There’s only the faintest orange ribbon of glow hanging on the horizon, and that will be gone in a matter of minutes. Thanks to a clear night sky, a multitude of stars are visible tonight.
As we climb the steps to my door, Tyler still has my hand squarely in his. He pulls out his house key—one I had made for him after we decided he was moving in—and opens the front door.
Once we’re inside, he hangs up his jacket and holster in the hall closet. Then he turns to me, pulling me into his arms. “I have a surprise for you, up on the roof.” He takes my hand and leads me to the back staircase.
We climb the stairs to the roof and step out into the greenhouse. Tyler flips on the strands of fairy lights, and I gasp when I see the transformation. The old futon has been replaced with a king-sized bed in a black, wrought iron bedframe. The bed is made up with pristine light gray sheets, a matching blanket, and pillows. In the center of the bed is a tray containing two empty champagne flutes, scattered rose petals, and little chocolates wrapped in gold foil.
Next to the bed is a nightstand holding a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice.
I stare, dumbfounded. It’s beautiful. It’s a secret oasis tucked in amongst all the greenery. The profusion of plants blocks anyone from looking down through the glass. No one can see the bed. No one can see us together. We can sleep up here—we can be together up here—and no one would ever know.
I turn to Tyler, my vision blurred by tears. “You did this for me?”
He nods. “I thought you’d enjoy sleeping under the stars.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “How did you manage all this?”
“Miguel and a couple of his buddies from McIntyre Security took care of it this evening while we were at dinner. I gave him instructions and a key. He took care of delivering the bed and setting it up so I could surprise you. He did it all. The champagne, the rose petals, the chocolates.”
My teary gaze sweeps the cozy sleeping nest. Fresh air, no walls closing in on me. He brought the outside in. He knows me. Tyler knows me.
Overwhelmed, I shove my hands into my hair, gripping the strands hard. He knows my greatest weaknesses, my greatest fears, and instead of thinking less of me for them, he does this.
“Hey, easy.” Tyler gently pries my hands from my hair. “It’s okay, Ian. Just breathe.”
My face is hot, and my eyes are burning as I face him. “I don’t know what to say.”
He pulls me into his arms. “You don’t have to say anything. Come check it out.”
Tyler moves the tray to a side table, and we both kick off our shoes and crawl onto the bed. It’s spacious and comfortable and perfect. We lie on our backs and gaze up through the greenery at the stars overhead.
Tyler reaches for my hand and links our fingers together. “Let’s sleep up here tonight.”
Nodding, I roll to my side to face him. He rolls toward me.
“I—” The words stick in my throat. There’s so much I want to say, but I’m afraid it’s too soon.
He brushes my hair back. “What is it, Ian? You can tell me anything.”
I take a deep breath. “When my birth mom locked me upstairs in a dark room, I used to pretend that someone was coming to rescue me. Sometimes I fantasized it was Superman, or Batman, or GI Joe. Sometimes, it was a policeman or a fireman who came to set me free. But that never happened. In the end, it was Child Protective Services that came for me. I suppose you could say they rescued me.”
I lean close and kiss him tenderly. “I think it’s fitting that you, Tyler, a real-life police officer, are the one who truly rescued me.” I swallow against a painful knot in my throat. “Even if it’s too soon to say this, I need you to know. I love you, Tyler.”
Tyler’s eyes glisten with tears. “It’s not too soon. I love you, too.” He leans close to kiss me. “And I think you got it backwards. You’re the one who rescued me.”
That’s it for now…
I hope you’ll come back for more of Tyler and Ian’s journey.
Books by April Wilson
McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series:
Vulnerable
Fearless
Shane – a novella
Broken
Shattered
Imperfect
Ruined
Hostage
Redeemed
Marry Me – a novella
Snowbound – a novella
Regret
With This Ring – a novella
(with more coming…)
A Tyler Jamison Novel:
Somebody to Love
(with more coming…)
Coming Next!
I hope you’ll want to stay tuned for the next installment of Tyler and Ian’s journey. They have a lot more story coming, new challenges, and many new joys.
If you’re a fan of my McIntyre Security bodyguard series, stay tuned for more books on the way, including books for Sophie McIntyre and Dominic Zaretti, Hannah McIntyre and Killian Deveraux, Liam McIntyre, Jason Miller and Layla Alexander, Cameron and Chloe, Ingrid Jamison and Joe Rucker, and many more! There are too many books in my head and not enough hours in the day!
For updates of future releases, follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter. I’m active daily on Facebook, and I love to interact with my readers. Come talk to me on Facebook by leaving me a message or a comment. Please share my book posts with your friends. I also have a phenomenal reader group on Facebook where I post daily with new book updates and share weekly teasers for new books. I also love to run giveaway contests. Come join me!
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Visit my website: aprilwilsonauthor.
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Acknowledgements
As always, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the generous people who help me bring my books to life.
Thank you to my sister and best friend, Lori, for being there with me every step of the way. Her tireless support and encouragement are priceless.
Thank you to my personal assistant, Julie Collier. I never realized how much I needed a PA until she started making my life easier.
Thank you to Sue Vaughn Boudreaux for her extraordinary editorial support. She has single-handedly prevented me from making so many disastrous blunders.
Thank you to my dear friend Rebecca Morean for her friendship, mentoring, and support. You mean the world to me.
Thank you to my amazing team of beta readers who share their invaluable feedback with me.
Finally, I want to thank all of my readers around the world and especially the amazingly kind and wonderful members of my reader group on Facebook. I am so incredibly blessed to have you in my life. Your love and support and enthusiasm mean the world to me. You’ve become dear friends to me, and I am grateful for you all. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for every review, like, share, and comment. I wouldn’t be able to do the thing that I love to do most—share my characters and their stories—without your support. I thank my lucky stars for you every single day!
With much love to you all… April