Chapter 170

Lily's expression hardened, her hair and red lipstick very dramatic paired with her red strapless dress. “Because it’s true. You’ve got Tyler and me and your family to help you. But you can’t shut Tyler out of the baby’s life. And if you do, he has every right to sic his lawyer on you. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. The baby belongs to both of you. Where is the fairness in you keeping the baby from him?”

Lily's statement hurt. But she knew she was right, “Keeping the baby from him wasn't the plan. The marriage proposal just came so suddenly. You know it's Tyler. You know what his family was like growing up and even now, he's never been a fan of marriage or getting married. The sudden change of heart on the matter scares me, that's it,”

“Well, a baby is involved now, and if you ask me, that's a pretty good reason to have a change of mind,” Lily pulled Lexi close for a hug. “You will both be fine, okay? Go talk to him tonight,”

_________

Lexi flung open the bedroom door and peered inside. No Tyler. Not even in the balcony.

She left her room and marched down the hall and to his bedroom, intent on barging in on him. Rather than knock, since such gestures hadn’t been high on his list of priorities, she shoved the door open and stepped right inside.

The first thing she noticed was the binders and loose papers strewn across the bed. The second was Tyler sitting in the middle of it all, back propped against the headboard, reading some official-looking document.

“Problem?” he asked, watching her expectantly.

She just stood there, mouth hanging open, probably looking like a trout stuck on a hook. He was wearing a pair of jogging pants, a Texas A&M T-shirt, and his feet were bare. He set down the papers he’d been reading. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”

She said the first thing that popped into her head, and she said it with… enthusiasm. “I think us getting married would be a mistake.”

He shrugged. “Okay.”

Now what? Now that she’d just made a complete ass out of herself. “I just wanted you to know that. Because I’m finding out that some people don’t think it is.”

“Really. Do these people have names?”

“You…. And Lily. The thing is, Lily doesn't think so.”

He folded his arms across his chest, looking intrigued now. “Oh, yeah?”

“She thinks that I planned to shut you out of the baby's life, but that's not what I intended. I don't want to fight or argue about this anymore, so I’d like us to sit down and talk and figure things out.”  she added. “In other words, I want us to get along.”

“There’s only one problem with that,” he said. “Your idea of getting along is when I shut my mouth and agree with everything you say.”

The accusation stung, and she was about to snap right back at him when she realized that would only start a fight. “I'm sorry that I've been…. Difficult lately. I've just been scared and worried, but I've decided that I'm going to keep the baby,” His face lit up as she continued, “And I want us to get along and agree on what to do,”

“I'd love that too,” Tyler replied.

__________

It began as a walk on the beach. The air was warm and a full moon hung low in the sky, lighting their way. They didn’t even say much. Just strolled quietly side by side. Then Tyler suggested they walk to the village for a drink, which sounded pretty good to her.

When they got there they found themselves in the middle of a carnival. Colorful lanterns and twinkling lights lined the street, and the air was scented with a mouthwatering combination of sugar and spicy fried food. They snacked on treats, drank juices and danced to a live band.

The evening was a blur of bodies, bumping and grinding, laughter and fun. Lexi could remember the last time she’d felt this relaxed and…alive. It was in Olkfield with him. Hadn’t it always been that way with Tyler? The man excelled at having a good time.

It was well after midnight when they headed back. They were halfway there before she realized Tyler was holding her hand and she liked the way it felt. She didn’t pull away. She didn't even mind that they'd barely spoken about the baby or marriage.

It was dark and still. Probably everyone else was already in bed. As he walked her up the stairs, disappointment began to tug at her insides. She didn’t want this night to end. She wanted to make this last, to feel happy and not worry just a little while longer.

She wanted to invite him into her room. She wanted him naked in her bed. When they reached her bedroom door, she turned to him. To tell him she’d had a good time. But before she knew what was happening, Tyler was kissing her. And she was kissing him back. Not just your run-of-the-mill making out, either.

They were ravaging each other, as if they were battling over who wanted it more.

His mouth still on hers, he backed her into the room and shut the door. She couldn’t comprehend much over the moans and breathless sounds she had begun making, but she was pretty sure she heard the lock turn. Then Tyler was walking her backward. She wasn’t sure where until the backs of her thighs collided with the mattress.

She was vaguely aware that she was pulling at his clothes. She wanted skin. Didn’t matter where. Just something to put her hands on. She needed to put her hands on him. Before she could get his shirt pulled from the waist of his slacks, she was on her back lying sideways across the bed, her calves dangling over the edge. And she couldn’t touch Tyler because he had her wrists pinned over her head with one of his hands.

Then he was kissing her, pushing her clothes out of the way so he had more area to explore. More to touch. Her stomach, her rib cage, and…oh! Her breasts. First through her bra, then he pushed that out of the way, too. Then she felt his mouth, hot and wet, and as long as he kept touching her, just like that, she didn't care about anything else.

She felt his hand on her thigh and the sensation was so exquisitely intense, she gasped and jerked with surprise.