Part 6

Lydia knew he was going to ask that question. She should have kept her head together, but being so close to him for the last few days had her reeling. "I'm not sure I know exactly what you're asking," she replied instead. "I'm also not sure this is a conversation I want to have with you," she said quickly as she disentangled herself, grabbing her robe and scooting from the bed before he could reach her. She found his pants and threw them at him. "Get dressed," she said, walking down the hallway.

Tyler was angry now. They had just shared an amazing experience, and she needed to know how special it had been. But she was angry, her back straight, her head high. He shoved his legs into his pants, looking for his shirt. He shrugged into it, marching up the hall after her.

"If you're asking why you, I certainly didn't plan this. And I can guarantee I wasn't waiting for you to come back and sweep me off my feet," she said with a little bite in her voice.

"That's not what I meant," Tyler started. "If you would give me a minute, I could explain."

"Whatever," she said. "I know you don't want to hear my sob story."

"Why are you so angry with me?" he demanded. He stalked across the kitchen, grabbing her arm and turning her. Now she was forced to look at him. Tears were the last thing he expected to see. He couldn't handle tears. "Baby, don't cry," he said helplessly.

"I really think that you should go," she said, wrenching herself from his arms, again. She liked it better when his arms were wrapped tightly around her, but he was getting a little too close to some very touchy subjects. She felt his warmth against her back as he came to stand behind her. She liked the symbolism, but knew he wouldn't always be there for her.

"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, his breath brushing her ear. He felt her stiffen at that comment. This was not going to end well.

"Yes you are," she replied fiercely. "When the wedding is over, you're gone. And that's part of the problem, Tyler. You're leaving again." She took a deep breath and wiped her face. She turned back to him, her face blank. "I think you need to go back to the apartment now."

That went well, Tyler thought angrily as he stalked across the yard to the little garage apartment. For the last few days he had been with her way too much. He had felt the pull when Josiah had told him who the apartment belonged to, but he had tried to ignore what he had been feeling. She was right, too. When the wedding was over, he was leaving. He was going back to his island without her. That didn't make him as happy as it should have. Not looking forward to another sleepless night, he climbed the stairs to the tiny apartment, resisting the urge to slam the door off its hinges as he entered.



The bells above the door tinkled and Josie looked up. She grinned as Tyler came through the door of her music store. She liked Josiah's friend. Not only was he sexy, but he was intelligent, polite, and he made Lydia smile. "You look like hell. What's up?" she asked cheerfully.

She was rewarded with a smirk that made her laugh. There was only one reason for this mood. It could only be her best friend.

"What is Lydia's deal?" he asked. There was no point beating around the bush. Games were not on his agenda for today. Neither was the way that Josie laughed at him.

"I knew it had to be her. You aren't the first one to ask me that," she couldn't help but tease him. He was in such a bad mood, she had to.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," he said through clenched teeth. He stopped, took a deep breath, and started over.

"What have I done that made her so mad at me?" he asked.

Suddenly Josie knew what had happened. When she had spoken to Lydia that morning, she had seemed out of sorts. Now Tyler was asking about her. The haggard, sleepless look on his face was another clue. "You had sex with her, didn't you?" she whispered. They were alone in the store, but this was still not news that needed to be broadcast in this little town. "Oh, Tyler, what have you done?"

Tyler took offense to that. "We are both consenting adults," he replied in a hushed whisper of his own. "It's not like I forced her."

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean it like that," Josie hurriedly tried to placate him. "She hasn't had the easiest time over the last few years. But this is really something that she should tell you."

"She won't talk to me. I can't get her to stop long enough to look at me, much less have a conversation."

Josie fought with herself. She could help Tyler out, knowing that her friend must have deep feelings for him. But did she want to hurt her friend even more by pushing her closer to a man that wasn't staying? Were they all wrong?, she wondered. Would he stay for the right reason?

Making a snap decison, hoping her intuition was right, she blurted out quickly, "She's teaching a dance class tonight at 6. She's done by 7. Make her talk to you."