Page 7 of Firecracker

He was over that high school crush. Way the fuck over it.

She was here and he was an idiot.

He’d been trying to imagine what it would be like to see Arden again. It had been, what—eleven years since he’d seen her? Nah, he’d seen her one year at Christmas when she’d been home…so maybe nine years ago? Whatever. So he’d had a crush on her. That was a long time ago. He’d been a kid then, and she’d married someone else. She was a widow now, mind you, but still. They were different people.

And he’d just embarrassed them both.

A few minutes later, Arden appeared, now dressed in a pair of cropped black leggings and a loose tank top. And yeah, she was still just as beautiful with those big brown eyes, creamy smooth skin, and sweetly curved lips.

“Well, that was a great reintroduction, wasn’t it?” Tyler said with a grin. “I really am sorry. I had no idea you were already here. I came to get some measurements so I can get started on your bathroom next week.”

She still seemed shaken and annoyed. “I guess there was a miscommunication about when I was arriving.”

“Yeah. I’m going to murder your brother.” He frowned. “I’m surprised he didn’t come running to your rescue. That scream was loud enough that everyone in Lincoln Park probably heard it.”

“He’s not home,” she admitted. “He and Mila went out to get breakfast a little while ago. They’re going to bring back something for me, so I jumped in the shower.”

“What? They’re not bringingmeanything?”

“Actually, I think they are, but they didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Oh. Okay.” He paused. “So you screamed for him even though you knew he wasn’t here.”

She made a face and her lips twitched. “I figured a burglar wouldn’t know that.”

“Quick thinking. Luckily I’m not a burglar.”

“How did you get in?”

“Through the door.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You have a key?”

“Yeah. Uh…is that a problem?”

“I’d kind of like to know when someone’s coming into my apartment.”

“Interesting concept.”

She frowned, and he couldn’t stop his grin. Jamie and Mila wandered at will in and out of every other apartment, and he’d learned to lock the door if he really needed privacy.

“We hardly ever lock our doors inside, since the outside doors are always locked. But we all have keys to one another’s apartments just in case. I’m in this unit all the time working on it. But I’ll try not to get in your way.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Jamie told me you’re still working on this place. I knew that was part of the deal.”

Right, right. Apparently she’d had to sell her house. Jamie’d told him that she’d discovered after her husband had died that he hadn’t exactly been in good financial shape.

She moved past him to the kitchen and reached into a cupboard for a bright yellow mug. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Got some, thanks.” He picked up the travel mug that had bounced off the floor minutes ago. Luckily the lid had stayed tight.

He watched her pour coffee into the mug. “You haven’t changed at all,” he blurted. Maybe she had a bit—that smile she’d beamed around seemed to have dimmed a little.

Her lips curved up reluctantly and she curled her hands around the mug. “Thank you. You sure have.”

He rubbed his face. “You really didn’t recognize me?”

“I think you were sixteen the last time I saw you. You weren’t even shaving, probably, and you had braces.” Her gaze swept over him, lingering on his chest and shoulders. “And you’ve…filled out.”

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