Love Me (Coopers Creek Book 1) Read online

  *****

  “Hey, dumbass,” Tyler said when he answered his cellphone the next morning. He hit the speaker button and sat it on the bathroom sink counter. “What do you want?”

  “For starters, I want to know why you let Emily stay alone in a hotel room in New York City instead of putting her up for the night,” Ric replied. “She came all that way to see Hayley and you didn’t even spend the evening with her?”

  “Shit!” Tyler’s razor slipped at the mention of Emily’s name.

  “What? You’re breaking up. Did you answer the phone while you’re on the shitter? Christ, Tyler!”

  Tyler pressed a hand towel to the cut on his chin. “No! I cut myself shaving! Don’t be stupid. Answering the phone while you’re on the throne is Chase’s thing, not mine.”

  Ric laughed. “I know and I hate it. Thank God he doesn’t Skype in the shower anymore. Well, at least not with me. Just because you have a water resistant phone doesn’t mean that you should shower with it. Anyway, back to Emily.”

  Tyler’s hand clenched around the razor handle. “What about her?” Isn’t it enough that I had to take care of my needs last night just so I could get a few hours of sleep instead of lying awake with a rock hard dick? Now you have to call me—

  “TYLER! Did you fucking hear me?”

  Ric’s angry voice yanked Tyler out of his reverie. One that included images of Emily’s naked body. “What? I’m a little distracted, Ric. I’ve got a full day ahead of me. Cut to the chase.”

  “I said that I need a change of scenery and you need to take some time with Hayley. She hates New York and she doesn’t know you all that well. She called Emily because she’s miserable. I’ll come take over the office there and you can move here with Hayley for a while. Getting past her grief over your mom’s death would be easier here and it might do you some good, too.”

  Tyler scrubbed a hand over his face, biting back the caustic words that bubbled up into his throat. Ric had one of the biggest hearts he’d ever seen, especially where kids were concerned. He treated Hayley like a princess, so it was no wonder that he’d be concerned about her.

  “Look, Ric, I know you mean well, but I’ve got too much going on here to just up and leave. It would take a while to bring you up to speed and vice versa. Too much of a hassle.”

  Ric grunted. “I’m not backing down on this. You’re not dealing with your mom’s death and you need to. Rumor is that you’re not quite on your game right now.”

  “What? Who said that? You mean because of the Morgan acquisition falling through last week?” Tyler pounded the counter. “That wasn’t because—”

  “Bullshit,” Ric said. “Your head isn’t screwed on straight right now, Tyler. You’re a ruthless shark in the boardroom, but even sharks bleed when they’re wounded. We don’t need any other mistakes right now with the Lisbon assholes just waiting to snap up clients. So you need to make this switch with me. You know I’m right.”

  Tyler wanted to smash the mirror in front of him because Ric was right. They’d lost the Morgan case in part because he hadn’t had the time to properly keep on top of his subordinates and he’d had to miss a couple of important meetings.

  Maybe taking Hayley back to Cooper’s Creek for a while was the right thing to do. She hadn’t had time to get to know anyone here and she missed playing outside with all of her friends. But how could he stand being around Emily all the time?

  By being a man and doing what was right for Hayley—and for the company that he and his best friends had worked so hard to make a reality. It wouldn’t be fair of him to stand in the way of Hayley’s healing or to jeopardize their business.

  “I’ll do it on one condition.”

  Ric’s voice held a smile. “Name it.”

  “I get to drive the Beast the whole time I’m home.”

  “Aw, hell no.”

  Tyler laughed as he finished shaving. “A deal’s a deal, bro. You get to come here, so I get the Beast. Besides, you can’t run that thing on these streets. Denver’s different, though. It won’t look a bit out of place there.”

  Ric groaned. “All right, but please, please, I beg of you, keep it in one piece! Uncle Johnny left it to me and—”

  “It means the world to you and blah, blah, blah,” Tyler interjected. “I’ve heard it a hundred times. I get it. I won’t wreck it. Now shut the hell up and let me get off the toilet.”

  “Hey! You said you were shav—”

  Tyler tapped the end button and laughed before hitting the screen shortcut icon on his phone for their other best friend and third business partner, Chase McIntyre. He wanted to tell Chase about the switch before Ric could. They were all highly competitive, even about little things like that.

  “Talk to me, good buddy,” Chase drawled in his Texan accent that he’d purposely never lost when he’d moved to Cooper’s Creek at the age of fifteen.

  “Well, good buddy,” Tyler said. “I’m moving back to Cooper’s Creek for a while and Ric is taking over here. We’re swapping.”

  “What? Why are you leaving New York? I thought you loved it there. And why does Ric get to switch? Is this because I’m younger? We talked about that, Ty. Why are you leaving again?”

  Tyler grinned at his unconventional friend’s rambling. “I didn’t tell you why yet.”

  “Oh. Well, hurry up. I’m about to make hot, steamy love to the even hotter blonde in my shower,” Chase said.

  Tyler cracked up. “I’ll call you later. Go have fun.”

  “You better believe it. I’ll be right there, darlin’! Bye, jackass.”

  Tyler’s mood turned morose as he hung up. There was a hot blonde he’d like to have in his shower right about then, but that was never going to happen again. It didn’t matter that he’d kissed Emily last night. It had been a simple knee-jerk reaction. He wouldn’t repeat that mistake.

  Putting that out of his mind for the moment, he went to get dressed. He had important business today and he had to bring his A-game. No more screw-ups, both professionally or personally. No, it was time to get back in the driver’s seat and take a firm grip on the wheel.

  Chapter Four

  Tyler was in the middle of composing a letter to the president of their stockholder association when his administrative assistant, Gwen Barton, buzzed him.

  “Mr. Jeffries, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but there’s an Emily Stanford here to see you.”

  Twice in one morning, Tyler had a strong reaction to Emily’s name. His fingers jerked on the keyboard and he accidently deleted half of the letter he’d just typed. Thank God for the Undo button, he thought. His stomach tightened as he remembered the hungry kiss that he and Emily had shared the night before.

  “Sir? Do you want to see her?”

  Composing himself, Tyler said, “Send her in.”

  Tyler stood up as Emily opened the door. His greeting died on his lips as Emily walked towards his desk with a determined look on her face. Her low-ride, dark blue jeans molded to her shapely legs and slim hips, and the white peasant’s blouse she wore clung to her in a way that left no doubt that she was female.

  Those luminous hazel eyes of hers defiantly met his gaze and he wanted to bury his hands in her thick, wavy, sunshine hair. Her pale pink lip-gloss drew his attention to her lush mouth, one that he’d kissed so many times in the past. What he wouldn’t give to taste her sweet lips right then. He yanked his mind away from that as Emily walked quickly over to his desk.

  “I’m not going to waste your time or mine with a lot of chitchat, Tyler,” she said.

  Tyler just raised an eyebrow.

  “Hayley is miserable. We both know it. New York is not good for her right now. She needs familiarity and to be with people who can take care of her properly,” Emily said.

  “Emily, I—”

  “Shut up!” Emily said. “You’re going to listen to me for a change.” She stabbed the desk with her index finger. “I don’t want to see you any more than you want to see me, but Hayley is
more important than our feelings about our past. You need to put her first and realize that she needs to move back to Cooper’s Creek because that’s what’s best for her.”

  Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “I am putting her first.”

  “Oh, really? By taking her away from the only home she’s ever known? By trying to hire some bimbo she doesn’t know to take care of her? By hardly ever being home to see her or help her with her homework?”

  “It’s the end of July. School is out for the summer.”

  Emily threw her arms wide, pulling her blouse tight over her chest. Heat surged through Tyler as he thought about how pretty and pert those perfectly rounded breasts were.

  “School starts in less than a month. What are you going to do then?”

  Tyler frowned because he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

  “Hayley needs someone who can make her feel secure and give her the things she needs, Tyler, and you’re not that person.” Emily’s voice had softened. “Be honest with yourself. You’re not equipped to raise a child.”

  He didn’t need her to point out what he already knew about himself. His main focus in life was his career, which didn’t leave him much time for children or a family. But he wouldn’t just abandon Hayley. He would take care of her in honor of Lizzie, but also because he loved her. And he’d do a better job than he did with her mother.

  He was not his father.

  However, it irked him that Emily was right about this. The nasty part of his nature rose. “So what do you propose? What’s your solution?”

  The small pulse at the base of her throat beat rapidly, giving away her nervousness and he had the urge to kiss and lick it. “Let me take her back to Cooper’s Creek and take care of her.”

  His jaw clenched. “Like the way you took care of Lizzie?”

  His barb hit its mark. Emily went pale and stiffened. The pain in her eyes gave him satisfaction. He wanted her to hurt the way he still did.

  “Are we back to that?” Emily said. “Lizzie’s death was not my fault and you need to open your eyes and see that.”

  Tyler’s temper rose to a simmer. “What I see is the woman who had the power to prevent Lizzie’s accident, but didn’t. If you had only told me she was going out that night I would have been able to stop her. No one should have been driving in that snow storm. And now you want me to entrust you with the care of my niece? Like hell I will.”

  “You bastard!” Emily came around the desk to stand only inches from him. Her eyes blazed with anger and Tyler thought she was beautiful in her rage. “I never did anything to hurt Lizzie and I would never do anything to hurt Hayley. I’m trying to put aside the fact that you’re the biggest ass that’s ever lived so that I can do what’s right for Hayley. But your oversized ego won’t let you do the same thing.”

  “You should’ve told me what Lizzie was planning on doing that night,” Tyler said. “I would’ve stopped her.”

  “Maybe you would’ve stopped her that night, but what about the next night, and the next?” Emily rejoined. “What were you going to do? Lock her up? Lizzie was a grown woman and made her own decisions, Tyler. When are going to get that through that thick skull of yours?”

  “I’m not getting into this with you again.”

  “You brought it up!”

  Tyler’s anger had reached its boiling point, but he put a lid on his roiling emotions, unwilling to let her see how much she’d gotten under his skin. Coolly, he said, “And now I’m ending it. You’re right about Hayley needing to go back to Cooper’s Creek, but it’ll be on my terms.”

  Emily blinked her eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m moving back to Cooper’s Creek with Hayley,” he announced.

  “What?”

  His mouth curved in a smug smile. “Surprised you, huh? I’m moving back to Cooper’s Creek with Hayley for about a year. Then I’ll start making the transition to New York with her. I’ll do it gradually so that it’s not such a culture shock to her. Now, I’ll need to stay in Denver sometimes, which means I’ll still need a live-in nanny for her.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Emily backed away from him and he wanted to grab her and haul her back. “You’ll have to put an ad in the paper or call an agency in Denver.”

  Tyler advanced on her, a sudden plan forming in his mind. Hayley needed them both, reluctant as he was to admit it. “There won’t be any need for that. I already have someone in mind.”

  She frowned in confusion. “Who?”

  He closed in on her like a wolf stalking its prey. “You.”

  *****

  Emily felt dizzy with shock as she met Tyler’s silver gaze and she couldn’t breathe for a moment. “Me?” she squeaked once her lungs started working again. “Please tell me you’re joking.” While she’d discussed this option with Ric she’d never considered living in. Maybe a day nanny but living with Tyler?

  She bit her lip. Wasn’t this what she wanted. To be able to care for Hayley as Lizzie had asked her to. To fulfil her friend’s wishes and to ensure Hayley got the love and attention she needed right now. It might not be such a bad idea.

  “You want Hayley to move back to Cooper’s Creek and this is the only way that’s going to happen,” Tyler said. “You said that she needed stability. What better way to give her that than to have you living with her full-time?”

  Emily shook her head a little. “Living with you is not going to be easy.”

  “Can’t hack it, huh? I thought you were fearless? You used to be,” he taunted her.

  “We hate each other. Why would you want to live under the same roof?” Emily asked, suspicious about his motives.

  “For Hayley’s sake,” he said, his expression turning serious. “Wouldn’t you rather be with her when I’m away instead of having someone she doesn’t know taking care of her?”

  Emily couldn’t refute his words. Being with Hayley full-time would be wonderful, but living with Tyler? I can’t believe it, but he’s serious.

  “I don’t have a lot of time, Emily,” Tyler said. “My housekeeper, Allison has been watching Hayley for me until I found a nanny, but Allison is leaving at the beginning of next week and the agency hasn’t come up with anyone suitable. So, do I send Hayley home with you tomorrow, or do I keep her here with me until I get everything squared away? You can stay at my place tonight so that Ric doesn’t bitch at me again and that way you can help Hayley pack and spend time with her.”

  Emily was further surprised. “I thought you just said that you weren’t going to let me be responsible for her?”

  “I’ll be around enough to make sure that you’re doing your job,” Tyler replied.

  Emily’s nostrils flared. “Really? How dare you imply that I wouldn’t take care of her properly!”

  “I don’t have time for hysterics, Emily. Are you going to do this or not?”

  He was backing her into a corner, using her love for Hayley to bend her to his will. When did he become so calculating? She knew the answer to that. He’d always been ruthless when it came to business, but she kept remembering the fun-loving, kind man she’d fallen in love with, not this cruel caricature of him. His father’s deceit and desertion changed him. He’d had to grow up too quickly and being left in charge made him a tad overprotective. If only he could see it.

  The only sign that he still had a beating heart in his broad chest was his concern for Hayley. Emily conceded that the only reason he’d be suggesting something so insane was for his niece’s sake. Of course, she also understood that it would give him plenty of opportunities to take jibes at her about Lizzie.

  But he’ll be in Denver a lot and I can deal with him whenever he’s home. He’s not as slick as he thinks he is. What am I saying? I must be as crazy as he is. But this is Hayley, we’re talking about. My goddaughter.

  Stepping towards Tyler again, Emily raised her chin and met his gaze squarely. “I accept, but there are ground rules. If you don’t agree to them, the deal is off.” Those were terms he would understand. Tha
t’s right, Emily. Keep this business-like.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and the action drew the arms and shoulders of his gray Armani suit tight over his flesh. There was no hiding the fact that he was in fantastic shape. Turn me on, mouth-watering shape…stop that!

  “What are these ground rules?”

  Emily fought the rush of hormones his nearness sent flowing through her. “We are not a couple. There won’t be any kissing, touching, or anything of a romantic nature. And no overnight visitors for either of us. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have adult sleepovers in front of Hayley. Can you agree to that?”

  The air suddenly crackled between them. Desire shimmered in Tyler’s eyes and Emily’s stomach dropped pleasantly as awareness of him threaded through her. However, she held her ground as she waited for his answer.

  His gaze cooled. “Yeah. I agree. I didn’t plan on bringing women home. I haven’t since Hayley came to live with me. When I’m in need of company, I’ll go to her place.”

  Emily’s heart thudded in her chest. “Are you involved with someone?”

  His smug smile told her that he’d seen her jealousy. He shrugged. “It’s nothing serious. I don’t do serious.”

  “No, you just do anything in a tight skirt with big tits,” Emily tossed back.

  Amusing him hadn’t been her goal, but that’s exactly what happened. Tyler burst out laughing and put a hand on his stomach. Emily’s annoyance piqued and she turned away from him, heading for the door.

  “Emily, wait!” Tyler said with a laugh. “C’mon. You have to admit that that was funny.”

  Reluctantly, Emily turned back around to face him. His smile was too hard to resist and she let out a giggle. She’d never been able to keep a straight face when his laughter was genuine and it looked like that hadn’t changed. Damn it!

  He sobered. “I promise not to bring anyone home.”