Tyler leaned against the front of his desk, his arms crossed. She almost lost her breath. He shouldn’t look so edible.
She cleared her throat and took her first step into his office.
“I heard you’ve made a decision.”
He nodded. “I have.”
She didn’t know how much longer she could wait. She bit her lip. “Well?”
Tyler’s broad chest rose. “It’s you, Brooke. Only you.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? I won?”
He bowed his head in her direction. “Your design was impressive. Unique. Inspired. It was the only one I even considered.”
Her palm flattened over her heart. She tried to stop it from beating out of control. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
Tyler broke his stance and walked toward her. “Why don’t you take a seat? We have to discuss your obligations to the project at this point.”
“Obligations?” She sat on the leather sofa across from him. There was a coffee table in between them.
“You have heard Lee and I discuss the how crucial the project to our return to Denver. Launching the foundation is the pinnacle of our careers. It has to be flawless. The creator of the brand needs to be at the announcement. You are the vision, Brooke. You can’t miss being on an international stage with something so critical for the foundation.”
“We agreed if I won, I would be free.” She started to shake. There was a catch. She should have seen it coming.
“Yes. We did. You won. You can go. I’m a man of my word. I’m not breaking it.”
She exhaled, looking at Lee. He was wearing a sad smile.
Tyler continued, “I’m asking you to do this for the foundation. I’m asking you as the artist who created something beautiful, to see your vison shared the way it is supposed to be.”
Her chest prickled. Her blood rushed with heat. “You’re asking me to stay on?”
“I’m asking you to see this through to the very end. Represent your art.”
“You’re going back on your deal, Tyler,” she fired.
He shook his head. “No. I’m not. You can get up and walk out of here if you want. I won’t stop you. I swear.”
She looked at the set of double doors over her shoulder. “You’ll let me freeze out there.”
Lee sat next to her. “No one is going to freeze. We will have you safely delivered to wherever you’d like to go. As usual, Ty is being a dick about explaining what we’re trying to say.”
She shook her head. “I-I don’t understand.”
Tyler exhaled. “Thanks, man. Brooke, now that you’re free, I’d like you to stay because you want to see the project finished. At least return here and there over the next few weeks while we work on the details. We only have six weeks left at the cabin. And honestly, that’s not much time with a project this size.” He smiled devilishly. “I promise Lee and I can make those visits worth your while.”
She felt more heat rush through her. It spread between her legs and rushed to her nipples. Shit. What kind of effect did this man have on her? Was this even legal what he could do to her body without even touching her?
“You want me to come back?” she whispered.
He raked his teeth against his lip and she thought she might melt off the couch.
“Or just stay.”
Was it crazy she wanted to consider this? She could see it. Living here as a free woman. Hikes with Lee. Discussing art with Tyler over a glass of brandy. Building campfires in the backyard. Snuggling up together for movie night. Holy shit.
“You won’t regret it,” he urged. “Think about your career. Think about Dreams with Wings.”