The Love Game

Lily seemed startled. “I haven’t thought about it. I’ve had other things on my mind.”

“Like what?” Iris sipped her cucumber water. It was the first time Lily had made the beverage. It wasn’t that bad.

“Just other things.” Lily shrugged. “My career for example. I’m not looking for love. If it happens, it happens. In the meantime, I’m busy living my life.”

Iris was impatient with Lily’s philosophical attitude. “Don’t you want someone to share your busy life with?” She sounded wistful even to her own ears. “Someone to plan your evening with or to be spontaneous with?”

Rose snorted. “Someone whose schedule conflicts with yours. Someone you have to compromise with every time there’s a decision to make.”

Iris gave her older sister a pointed look. “Someone who cheers you up when you’re in a bad mood.”

Rose was stubborn. “Someone who leaves the toilet seat up or squeezes the toothpaste from the middle of the tube.”

Lily gave Rose another concerned look. “Perhaps we should change the subject.”

Iris was more than willing to comply. “What should I do about Ty? Should I confront him, ask him why he doesn’t trust me?”

“Why? So he could lie to you?” Rose snorted.

Lily shook her head. “Just be aware that you’re at a disadvantage. You’ll have to be extra careful and triple-check your work.”

“Why should she have to work that way?” Rose pointed at Iris with her fork. “If I were you, I’d march into his office and tell him what he could do with his suspicious, little mind.”

“I need the money, Rose.” And the campaign is exciting—not to mention Tyler himself, even if he is infuriating. “Regardless of what the two of you think, I believe I can change his mind about me.”

Was that challenge part of Tyler’s appeal? There was something undeniably compelling about Anderson Adventures’ vice president of product development. He challenged her—and infuriated her. He made her heart beat faster.

“Good luck with that.” Rose ate a forkful of salmon.

Iris smiled at her sister’s sarcasm. “I have the skills to prove you wrong.”

“I believe in you, Iris.” Rose’s voice was somber. “It’s your client I don’t trust.”

Maybe she was being foolishly optimistic. But despite her annoyance over Tyler’s comment, she was confident he’d treat her fairly, unlike her previous employer.

With or without her rose-tinted glasses, she’d gain his trust. She needed it for this product launch. And she wanted it for something more that she wasn’t prepared to accept. Not yet.

* * *

“Hard at work, Ty?” Lauren’s greeting interrupted Tyler’s train of thought.

With great reluctance, Tyler saved the file on his computer screen and rose to his feet. “Hello, Lauren.”

Why had she come to his office and how long was she planning to stay?

“You look busy.” But rather than walking away, Lauren stepped into his office.

“There’s a lot to do.” And he was running out of time. “Are you meeting Xavier for lunch?”

Tyler checked his watch. It was a few minutes after noon on the second Thursday in April. He had an appointment with Iris in about three hours to discuss the internal launch. His excitement over their upcoming meeting was out of character. He usually did everything he could to avoid them. But in this case, he actually looked forward to the excuse to spend time with her.

“Yes, but I thought I’d stop by to say hello.” Lauren came to a stop in front of his desk.

Really? When did we become friends? Tyler mentally shrugged. He’d play along. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Lauren’s smile was stiff. “How’s the product launch progressing?”

“It’s going well.” Tyler shoved his hands into the front pockets of his beige khakis, hoping to mask his impatience.