Stephanie Julian - No Reservations

Greg shook his head, not losing the smirk. “Because you’re an idiot if you let her get away. You’re right about everything you just said, but you didn’t add that she’s willing to bend for you. Are you willing to work a little harder for her?”

“You think that’s all I need to do? Work a little harder? If I work any harder, I’m going to end up in the psych ward because I won’t have a brain left.”

“And that’s the underlying problem, right there, isn’t it?” Greg shook his head. “How long are you going to let that fear rule you? You’re not your mother.”

No, he knew he wasn’t bipolar. But he did have issues. “I know that, Greg. That’s not what this is. There’s just so much shit that requires my attention right now and I don’t want to give her less of me than she deserves. I know I can’t have everything—”

“Why not?” Greg shrugged. “My parents both had careers. My dad coached my little league team, and my mom volunteered at the school and the local theater where my sister and I acted. And they still love each other after all these years. You’re getting too old to let opportunities pass you by, Tyler.”

Something about Greg’s tone made Tyler bite back a sharp response. Pushing aside his own shit for the moment, he looked at Greg. Really looked at him. Something was up. Something he’d missed because he’d been so damn preoccupied.

“What happened?”

Greg’s expression didn’t change. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yeah, you do. What’s going on?”

Greg shifted his gaze out the window. “Let’s just say I’ve had a crash course in missed opportunities recently.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes as Tyler considered everything Greg had said. And hadn’t said.

“Do you mind if I abandon you tonight? I feel like taking a ride.”

Greg’s wry smile finally made an appearance. “No problem. I’m sure I can find some way to amuse myself for a few hours.”

“I’m sorry to call you out so late, Sabrina. I totally appreciate your help and your willingness to come over.”

Sabrina Rodriquez waved a hand as she took Kate’s apartment by storm Thursday night. The five-foot-two part-time coffee shop worker had a personality that didn’t need the stimulant of caffeine to keep her at a constant bubble.

“No problem, chica. It’s not really that late and it’s not like I had any plans. The men around here are dumb as stumps, I swear. Did I tell you about . . .”

Sabrina launched into a story about one of her many cousins, not needing Kate to do more than nod at the appropriate places as Kate had Sabrina get up on the stand in her workshop and stand there with her arms out while Kate got to work.

The twenty-two-year-old was taking classes toward an associate’s degree in hotel-restaurant management and worked as the assistant manager of the catering service Talia used for most of her weddings. She also filled in at the coffee shop down the street.

Sabrina had been modeling for Kate for the past couple of months when one of the burlesque companies had asked her to make a costume for a performer who almost perfectly matched Sabrina’s measurements of thirty-eight, twenty-two, thirty-two.

After Sabrina had stopped laughing, she’d said she’d be happy to model, as long as Kate supplied her with panties that didn’t creep when she spent long hours on her feet.

Worthwhile trade, considering it only took Kate an hour or so to make the panties now that she had the pattern and Sabrina had to stand, sometimes for several hours and get stuck with pins.

Most people couldn’t believe the two women were friends, mostly because no one could figure out how either got a word in edgewise. Kate admitted it could be a little nerve-wracking for anyone listening.

Tonight, Kate let Sabrina hold up most of the conversation. Apparently her younger cousin had stolen one of another cousin’s boyfriends and that was making for some interesting family dynamics.

Sabrina’s stories about her four brothers, three sisters, and nearly twenty cousins usually made Kate happy to be an only child. There were times, though, when she wished she had a clan to visit and drive her crazy.

Annabelle had added Jared to her admittedly small clan. Kate wondered if she’d ever be able to include Tyler in hers.

“Kate, you know I don’t know a damn thing about sewing. But shouldn’t the shiny side of the material be facing out?”

Kate sighed and removed the piece of satin she’d been about to pin into place wrong side out.

“I’m sorry. My brain’s just not into this tonight, but I need to get this finished.”

“You wanna tell me where exactly your brain is tonight? Maybe with that hunky guy you’ve been seeing?”

Oh no. “What hunky guy?”

Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Oh please. The coffee shop was buzzing the other morning about your new guy.”

Kate grimaced. “Shit. What were they saying?”

“Only about how you’d picked up some awesomely hot, rich guy who might be named Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent because apparently he’s superhero material.”

Swallowing a groan, Kate gave up all pretense of trying to work, removed the costume, and waved Sabrina off the box. “I think I need a drink for this conversation. You want something?”

“I’ll take an orange soda if you’ve got one.” Sabrina hopped down, pulled on her jeans and T-shirt, and followed her to the kitchen. “So come on. Spill the beans. Who is he?”

“Well, I can tell you he’s not Clark Kent.” She pulled out a soda for Sabrina and grabbed a bottle of wine for herself. “His name’s Tyler Golden and he’s—”

“Holy shit! You’re dating one of Pennsylvania’s most eligible bachelors? Seriously? When—Where’d you meet him?”

“You know who Tyler is?”

Sabrina’s expression was classic exasperation. “Hell, yes. We studied the GoldenStar in my business class. My professor is a major fan.”

“And you probably got an A in that class, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Not a surprise. Sabrina had an incredible work ethic, probably because every cent she earned from modeling for Kate and working for Tracy’s Catering went toward paying for her education. She and her mom had been scrimping and saving pennies for years to send Sabrina, the oldest of eight, to college. She’d be the first in her family to attain a college degree. Hell, she’d been the first in her immediate family to get a high school diploma.

And, if Sabrina had her way, she’d be the first member of her family to own her own business.

When Kate didn’t respond right away, Sabrina prompted, “So, when did you meet him?”

“At a New Year’s Eve party, but we didn’t start dating until after Arnie and I broke up.”

Sabrina brushed that last hurried statement off with a wave of her hand. “No offense, Kate, but you and Arnie . . . That just wasn’t meant to be.”

She grimaced. “Did everyone think that way but just didn’t tell me?”

Sabrina’s raised eyebrows kept her grimace in place. “Would you have listened?”

“Alright, stupid question. Of course I wouldn’t have.”

“You came to the right decision in the end. Don’t sweat it now, sweetie.”

Kate hesitated before voicing the question she’d been dying to ask someone. “Have you seen Arnie lately?”

“Oh yeah.” Sabrina brushed off her concern. “He seems fine. You know Arnie. Nothing seems to rattle the guy.”

Guess she wasn’t that unforgettable, which was a shitty thing to think considering she’d broken up with him.

“Damn, there goes my mouth again.” It was Sabrina’s turn to grimace. “I’m sorry, Kate. That doesn’t mean he—”

“No, no. Stop. I’m being foolish. It’s been weeks. I’m glad he’s moved on.”

“So tell me more about this new relationship. What’s Tyler like?”

Kate smiled and tingled just thinking about him. Something she’d never done with Arnie. And there was that guilt again. “He’s smart and handsome and sexy and—”

The knock on her door made them start like teenagers caught talking about sex by their parents, which made them burst out laughing.

“Hold that thought.” Kate headed for the door and turned the knob. “I’ll be— Tyler!”

She had a bare moment to process the fact that he was there before he reached for her, one hand around her neck, the other on her hip, pulling her tight against him. His lips landed on hers and, in the next second, he was kissing the hell out of her.

After a brief moment of shock, she returned it, wrapping her arms around his neck and opening her mouth so he could slide his tongue against hers.

He felt so damn good and she’d missed him, so much more than she’d ever admit.

She forgot all about Sabrina, all about everything but the feel of him against her and how she responded.

Apparently, he felt damn happy to see her, if the ridge in his jeans was anything to go by.

He hadn’t even made it in the door yet and, without breaking the kiss, she tugged him through and closed it behind her.

Just before she could manage to climb him like a tree and embarrass the hell out of him, her, and Sabrina, she pulled away.

At least, as far as he’d let her get, which wasn’t far at all.

“Tyler—”

“I’m sorry for not calling first.”

His low tone made her body tighten in interesting places. “I’m glad you’re here. I’d like you to meet someone.”

His gaze immediately searched the room, spotting Sabrina.

He grimaced for a split second before wiping it away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to inter—”

“No, it’s okay. Really. Come say hello.”