Shannyn held his gaze even as her heart did a somersault.
Damn, he was hot. She hadn’t counted on him being more sexy when he was pissed off. It was his self-control that was a game-changer. He was seething and she knew it, but he showed such restraint that she wanted to push him over the edge.
She wanted to find out what it took to make him completely lose control.
She wanted to peer into the heart of the volcano when he did.
No, she wanted to be naked with him when he did. That was when it would be hard and fast, a sure sign that he had surrendered to temptation, and it would be awesome. She licked her lips without meaning to do so, and Tyler’s gaze dropped hungrily to her mouth. She saw him catch his breath. Could they possibly be thinking the same thing?
“We. Need. To. Study.” He bit off the words with precision.
She stepped closer so that they were toe-to-toe and glared up at him. “We. Do. Not.”
His eyes flashed again. “This is only going to be credible if we know details about each other.” He punctuated that with a scorching look. “A lot of details. I need your phone number and there should be a cute picture of you on my phone. I have sisters. They’re going to look.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Tyler demanded, his voice rising slightly. “We need to know about each other’s families and jobs, what we like to eat and what we hate, our dream vacations and romantic histories, and everything else to pull this off. My family is never going to believe that I’d bring a woman to my sister’s wedding as a first date.”
“Too bad you didn’t negotiate that, then,” Shannyn replied brightly and watched him seethe. “We have a deal. The terms are agreed.” She pointed to the bedroom. “That in exchange for one wedding date. You’ve delivered, now I will.” She hefted her bag to her shoulder. She waved her fingertips at him playfully, provoking him again. “Text me the details. I’ll meet you there.”
It was satisfying to see how well her ploy worked. Tyler’s eyes flashed and when he flung out his hand, Shannyn nearly ducked. “You can’t possibly mean that.”
“Of course, I do.” She recited her phone number and he quickly typed it into his phone, obviously convinced that she wouldn’t repeat it.
He was right about that.
“My aunt is hosting a bridal shower a week from Sunday,” he said and she gave him points for persistence. “It would be best if you came and met everyone.”
“Best for who?”
“For both of us.” He impaled her with an intense look. “For plausibility.”
“Plausibility isn’t in the plan.”
“Shannyn!” He growled her name in a way that made her forget three awesome orgasms in rapid succession and burn for a fourth.
She couldn’t stop herself. She tapped a finger in the middle of his rock-hard chest for emphasis.
“You’re thinking about what you want,” she said. Tyler didn’t move. He just glowered down at her like a vengeful god. She wanted to slam him back into the wall and kiss him into a better mood. Drag him back into the bedroom until he begged for mercy.
Oh yes.
But no.
“I don’t care if your family thinks my presence is plausible,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice that she sounded a bit breathless.
“I do.”
“Too bad you didn’t negotiate that, then,” she said, then smiled at him. “Maybe Kyle’s wrong about your mad bargaining skills.”
“Shannyn, we have a deal...”
“Which does not include dinner or conversation or anything about making this fake date look more real.” She patted him on the chest, then straightened his tie, as if he was harmless, but Tyler gave no sign that he noticed. No, his eyes glittered a little more. He’d noticed. Shannyn felt alive in a way she’d forgotten. She brushed an invisible speck of lint from his perfectly tailored lapel, feeling the heat coming off him in waves, then smiled up at him. “If you want to strike a new deal, Tyler, then you have to think about what you can offer in exchange.”
“We could do it again,” he said immediately.
It was satisfying how quickly he offered that option.
Shannyn shook her head, as if it wasn’t as tempting a prospect as it was. She knew her limits. Getting used to having sex with Tyler would just set her up for disappointment.
“One and done,” she stipulated. “You’ll have to think of something else.”
He stared at her. Clearly, women didn’t turn down Tyler McKay.
Shannyn headed for the door, taking advantage of his shock. “I’ll see you, maybe, when I come to take the pictures. Do you think all the partners will be here on Saturday?”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thanks, Mr. Fix-it.” She paused at the doorway. “You conquered two challenges but not the third. Oh well. I’d say better luck next time, but there won’t be a next time.”
Shannyn hadn’t expected to leave Tyler behind and she was right about that.
He followed her grimly, slamming the door to his apartment, and marched down the corridor to the elevator behind her. He pushed the button hard. “Which one is outstanding?”
“Obviously, I’m not convinced that you’re nice.”
She got an exasperated look for that. “What about that was not nice?”
“The fact that you’re trying to charm me into doing what you want. I told you: being nice to pursue an agenda isn’t the same as being nice on principle.”
Tyler swore then, more thoroughly than Shannyn would have expected, then spoke through gritted teeth. “I used to think you were sweet, but you’re actually the most irritating woman I’ve ever known.”
“Do I get a gold star?”
He glared at her. “You didn’t negotiate for it.”
Shannyn laughed, surprised into it, and his eyes gleamed with a satisfaction that almost—but not quite—made her forget about annoying him. “The wedding should be fun, then. Hey, we could have a fight and break up at the reception. Throw dishes. Make a scene. Would that be plausible?”
“Very,” he ceded. “The way I’m feeling right now, it’s not just plausible, it’s inevitable.” He flicked one of those sizzling looks at her as they waited for the elevator. “How is it that you’re better than anyone at pissing me off?”
“Call it a gift,” Shannyn spoke lightly, trying to hide how she was simmering. There was a moment of silence between them and she heard the elevator coming closer.
Salvation was on its way.
But Tyler’s voice dropped low. “What’s it like when you have sex with someone you don’t hate?”
Shannyn did her best to hide her reaction to that silky tone. It reminded her of dark chocolate, and made her just as interested in over-indulging. She smiled at Tyler instead. “You’ll never know, will you?”
He didn’t look troubled. “I might take that as a challenge.”
“It’s another one you’ll lose.”
“Will I?” He surveyed her, smiling slightly, and Shannyn was snared by his gaze all over again.
She knew she should have been relieved when the elevator chimed and the doors opened.