Needing You Close (Ex-Con Duet 2)

“What’s he doing here?” he hisses.

Tyler wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close before kissing and stealing my breath away. I melt into him, finally tasting him again, and I’m happy to have an audience to witness it all.

Dad’s lost, and Robert looks as if he’s going to blow a damn gasket. Before either of them can speak up, Tyler pulls a piece of paper from his back pocket. He takes his time unfolding it and holds it for Robert and my dad to see.

“What the fuck is this?” Robert says between gritted teeth after he studies it. “Is this a damn joke?”

I smile like I’m Vanna White presenting the key phrase. “It’s our marriage certificate.”

“Whose?” Robert furrows his brows.

“I’m so glad you asked. It’s Tyler’s and my marriage certificate,” I proudly say.

Dad’s eyes are as wide as saucers, and Robert lets out a growl.

Tyler clears his throat. “Right. And it’s dated seventeen days ago, which means when you filed your certificate, we were already married.” He turns and looks at me, placing another soft kiss on my lips. Nothing else in this damn room matters right now, but him.

With a grin, Tyler continues. “Which means, your marriage isn’t legal because you can’t be married to two people at the same time.”

“But the deed in my name certainly is,” I confidently add. “Oh, and just in case you haven’t figured it out by now, I won’t be going anywhere with you tomorrow. I guess what I’m saying is you can fuck off.”

As the realization sets in, Robert grows more furious. Dad is smiling, so damn proud of what I’ve done. It’s impossible not to notice how humiliated and angry Robert is, and I burst into hysterical laughter as Tyler pulls me closer.

“You stupid bitch! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Robert barks, forcefully shoving his plate out of his way and standing.

“Beat you at your own fucking game. When I ended things, I told you I wasn’t marrying you, Robert. I meant every single word.”

Chapter Twenty

TYLER

NINETEEN DAYS EARLIER

My phone rings, and I see it’s Gemma. Just seeing her name has my body buzzing. We had the most amazing night last night. I can’t wipe off the stupid grin on my face as I think about how it felt to be inside her and claim her as mine.

Quickly, I answer it. “Baby, I’ve been waiting for you. Didn’t you get my texts?” She dropped me off hours ago, and I’d been waiting to go hiking with her.

“Sorry. No, I haven’t had the chance to check them. But we need to talk about.”

“Okay. What’s going on?”

She lets out a breath that has me concerned. “I’m so sorry, Tyler, but I’m marrying Robert.” Her voice trails off.

“What? What happened?” I ask, slipping on my shoes, ready to go to her and have this conversation face-to-face.

“Please listen,” she says in a strained tone. “Robert came to my cottage and—”

“I’m on my way,” I tell her, not waiting any longer.

“You can’t. I’m not home. I’m at Robert’s.”

I stop moving as my heart pounds hard in my chest. “Why?”

Gemma lets out a whimper, and I swallow hard. “He moved everything out of the cottage and into his house. I was given an ultimatum to marry him or…” She chokes up, and I wait patiently for her to finish. “He’ll destroy my dad’s house and the cottage.”

“Baby, he can’t do that.” My anger level increases, and I become volatile, ready to beat the fuck out of him. The consequences be damned.

“He can, Tyler. He’s backed me into a corner.” She continues explaining the deed and how Robert weaseled his way into owning her dad’s property. With each sentence, she becomes more emotional, and I can’t handle it. She’s never been this upset before, and it’s breaking us both in the process. Robert needs to pay for hurting her.

“You don’t have to do this,” I press.

“I don’t have a choice. I’m so sorry.” She sniffles, and her voice gets quieter. “I never wanted to marry him, but it’s the only way he’ll sign it over to me. Once we’re married, I’ll get the deed, and Dad’s property will be safe.”

I pace my bedroom and realize I’m chewing my bottom lip as I try to think of something to get her out of this. Never would I have imagined he’d stoop so low, but I should’ve. I didn’t trust the guy the first time I laid eyes on him.

“Did you ask your dad about any of this? Double-check that Robert wasn’t making shit up?” I run my fingers through my hair and sit on the edge of my bed, then suck in a deep breath.

“I did,” she nearly whispers, the defeat in her tone evident. “It’s true.”

Staring at the wall, I think about our future, and I refuse to let it slip through my fingers. Not this. Not ever.