Accidental Tryst (Charleston #1)(86)



"I took the picture," Armand said, looking pleased, then seeing my face sobered somewhat. "Sorry. I thought it was funny."

"Just read his profile," Annie begged. "Please?"

My skin throbbed with heat and betrayal. I felt like I was in some elaborate joke. I stood. "No."

"No?"

"What is this?" I asked, my voice beginning to shake. "Do you think it's some kind of joke to put me in this position with him?"

"He asked us to. He asked for help." Annie chewed her lip, her eyes large as she realized how upset I was.

"He did? Why?"

Armand came and put his arm around me. "Emmy. He likes you. He really likes you."

"But . . . I can't be with him."

"Why not?" Annie touched the top of my hand.

"Because Trystan doesn't do relationships."

"He wants one with you," she said.

I swallowed, my tongue feeling like it might slip down and choke me. I was lightheaded. Probably from shock at being railroaded by my supposed two best friends.

"Yeah, well why is he putting himself on a dating app, then? And to do it Charleston and right under my nose? What the hell? How is that supposed to make me see him as relationship material?"

"Could you just look at his profile, already?" Annie whined.

I squeezed my eyes closed. "I don't want to. I thought we were going to hang out here, then I was going to get an early night because I have to get to the airport and meet D'Andre and David tomorrow morning. It's a big day for me. I can't do this right now. I love you guys. I'm sure Trystan made it sound like a great idea. And I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt me." My eyes stung with unshed tears. "But I can't do this."

Armand looked stricken, Annie confused.

I stood up.

I double clicked the home button on my phone and swiped up, effectively closing the app and closing the door on Trystan. "Bye," I managed to my two friends and grabbed my purse.

I burst out of the café into the muggy evening. It was still light. Taking a deep breath, I secured my purse on my shoulder, turned for home, and stopped dead.

Trystan stood outside the gate to my cottage, leaning against the wall in sneakers, dark jeans, and a light gray T-shirt that molded to his upper body. He pushed up when he saw me. His face was open, hopeful. His eyes in the evening light caught the color of his shirt and almost took my breath away.

Great. I had been set up completely and then caught in mid run by the very guy I was running from.

Whatever he saw on my face made his expression turn serious. He raked the fingers of one hand through his brown hair and grabbed the back of his neck.

"It didn't go well in there." I nodded behind me to indicate the café. My tone was somewhat accusing. I wasn't good at being blindsided.

"I'm gathering that." He grimaced. "I'm sorry, Emmy."

We stared at each other. It felt like the first time when we stared at each other over the phone screen, finally getting to see the person we'd imagined in our minds from our brief meeting and through pictures.

"Please, can we talk?" he asked.

I walked closer and dug in my purse for my keys. "Why didn't you come and talk to me if you needed to. Why did you enlist my friends? I hate feeling manipulated. You know that."

"I wasn't manipulating. I wanted to show you something. To tell you something."

"And that was?" I asked as I unlocked the gate. A cool breeze blew, making me feel underdressed in my blue and white sundress.

"Can we talk inside?"

I exhaled, my shoulders lowering. "Trystan—"

"Please, Emmy."

"Fine." I pushed open the gate, and he held it over my shoulder as I went in then followed me. Dammit, the smell of him like pine trees and waterfalls made me feel high.

I unlocked my front door, my heart pounding with nerves, entered, and dumped my purse on a kitchen chair. "So you talked to my friends and came up with some stupid idea of meeting me on a dating app? I can't think of what else it was. What in the hell kind of idea is that?" I turned with my arms crossed over my chest.

Trystan closed the door and looked around. Then he stuffed his fingers in his jeans. "Apparently not the best one. I wanted you to know something before I came and tried to talk to you in person. So Annie suggested it."

"And what was it you needed me to know? That you're thirty-one?" I started counting on my fingers. "You no longer go by Jeff? Good job not lying. That you love cats now instead of dogs? That you look sexy as shit in a suit? I already know that. That you may be open to hooking up with someone in Charleston too, instead of just in Manhattan?" Ugh. "Lucky me," I added with a sarcastic tone.

"No. That I'm all in, Emmy. Whatever this is between you and me, I'm all in. That's what I wanted you to know."

I closed my eyes, too afraid to let myself believe his words. My palms felt sweaty.

"And you thought I'd get that from a dating profile?" I stalked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of white wine I'd opened a few days ago. Pulling the cork out, I took down a wine glass from the upper cabinet and poured a hefty serving. Then I left it sitting on the counter as I turned to face him.

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