Page 20 of Be With Me

“That’s not what I hear from people who’ve seen you two together.”

People needed to mind their own goddamned business. “You’re wrong, Ailee.” God, this was almost funny. “Willow is my sister—”

“Not by blood.”

“No, but—”

“Thank you for the coffee, Tyler. But last night…shouldn’t have happened. It was wonderful, really it was. But it shouldn’t have happened. So, let’s leave it at that and walk away as friends. Okay?” She stuck out her hand.

I glanced down at it but made no move to shake it. “I wish you would reconsider.”

“I don’t think I will.” She pulled her arm back and gathered her things. “I don’t have time for these kind of complications in my life.”

So, now I was a complication?

Fuck. I shouldn’t have told her anything.

“But I wish you the best. Really. And thank you for reminding me there are other things in life besides work.” Her blue eyes shone with sincerity.

Did she really not know how alluring she was? I crossed my arms over my chest. Her blasé attitude was beginning to piss me off. “If you’re about to throw cash at me for services provided, please don’t. I never finished the job.”

She froze, her eyes flying to my face. “That’s not what I’m trying to say here.”

“I know.” I scrubbed my face with my hands. I wasn’t being fair to her. She had every right to be cautious. She didn’t know me. Not well, anyway. She wasn’t being unreasonable. She was being smart. Much as I hated to admit it.

Before I could say anything else, she turned and started walking out the door. As I watched her retreating figure, my chest felt like it was caving in on itself. My head told me to let her go. But every other part of me told me to stop her. I decided to listen to that part. I couldn’t let her walk out of my life. I just couldn’t.

“Ailee, wait!” I caught up to her before she could escape into the night. “At least let me walk you home.”

“That’s really not necessary.” She walked out the door.

I followed her, gently grabbing her arm before she could get too far away. “Please, Ailee. I swear I’m not trying to be creepy. I just want to make sure you get home safe.”

“It’s a small town, Tyler.”

“Strange things happen in small towns, too.”

She stared up at me, and I tried my best to hide the desperation I felt to keep her near me.

“Alright. But you’re not coming up.” She pointed her finger in my face and used her best “mom” tone on me. It didn’t scare me. I’d heard that tone before from my actual mom. It had no effect back then and it had no effect now.

My smile held a hint of triumph. I knew it, but the best I could do was keep it out of my voice when I told her, “I would never be so presumptuous.”

Somehow, I don’t think she believed me.

We started walking, neither of us in any great hurry. “Thank you again for the coffee,” she said.

I looked down at her. This was my last chance. I searched the dark street for inspiration, but saw nothing but wet roads, trees showing the first hints of fall lining the sidewalk, and the occasional pedestrian. It was getting pretty cold, and I wanted to pull her in close to me, but I knew physical closeness wasn’t what would ultimately convince her to give me a chance.

Play it cool, Ty. “Where did you grow up?”

She glanced over at me as I walked casually beside her, hands shoved deep in my front pockets. I lifted an eyebrow as I waited for her response.

“Um. In the northeast.”

I waited for her to say more. She didn’t. “In a city?”

“Uh, no, actually. It was a small town. Smaller than this one.”

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