Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(15)

“Okay,” I breathed in awe, gazing excitedly at the windows all around. “Don’t rush on my account.”

Giggling, she strolled off in search of Cole, while I walked toward the windows. Why wasn’t there anyone around? As soon as I looked out at the sea of lights, all thoughts of everyone else ceased to exist.

“Wow,” I murmured. It was amazingly breathtaking. Alas, my moment of enjoyment quickly dissipated at the sound of a particular voice behind me.

“If you think this is awesome, you need to check out the observation deck upstairs. It’s a different experience when you’re outside.”

When his reflection showed up in the window, my heart sped up at the sight of him. Tyler was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a light blue T-shirt. I blamed my reaction on the adrenaline from being so high up in the sky.

“So I guess me blowing you off at the track was too subtle for you?” I remarked dryly.

His chuckle made me shiver. “No, actually I got the message loud and clear. I just chose not to listen to it.”

Rolling my eyes, I huffed. I didn’t want him to know he affected me. “You’re a fool then.”

In the window, I watched him smile and shake his head before coming to stand right beside me. I didn’t want to appear weak, so I stood my ground, even when his arm lightly brushed up against mine.

“I’m not a fool, Kacey. An ass, most definitely, but never a fool. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to get to know someone. Even after your harsh words at the track, I still want to try. There has to be a reason you detest people like me and I want to know why.”

“Like that’s what you’re doing,” I blew out. “I know what guys like you are about and talking isn’t one of them.”

Tyler nodded his head and watched me through the reflection in the window. “And you’re right. Most guys like me only want one thing. Tonight, however, isn’t about that.”

“Then what is it about?” I asked boldly, glaring at him.

His hands closed over my shoulders and I reluctantly let him turn my body toward him, his fingers slowly sliding down my skin. “It’s about you,” he murmured gently. “I don’t know who you are or what’s going on in your life, but Bree’s been worried about you. She said you hadn’t seen much of Vegas and I thought this would be a good place to start.”

“It was your idea to come here? I thought it was Cole’s?”

Tyler’s eyes twinkled and he chuckled, which actually made me smile. “Nothing against Cole, but his idea of seeing Vegas would be visiting the casinos. I figured you’d appreciate the true beauty of it all.”

Gazing out the window, a genuine smile splayed across his lips as the lights below sparkled in his gray eyes. “How long have you lived here?” I asked.

“My whole life,” he replied. “It’s my home.”

I wish I had a place that felt like home. My grandmother was all I had and now that her health was failing, it would only be a matter of time before I’d really be alone.

“What about you?” he asked. “I know you just moved here. Where did you come from?”

“California. I moved out here to take care of my grandmother,” I responded. “I don’t know how much longer she has left.”

“So is that what Bree meant when she told me you had a lot going on?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, among other things. I honestly don’t know why I’m even talking to you about this.” Turning on my heel, I started toward the elevator, my heart thumping wildly.

Grabbing my arm, he turned me around before I could go any further, his demeanor heated . . . almost angry. His hold on my arm wasn’t tight, but he wasn’t about to let me go either. “Your preconceived notions about me are starting to piss me off. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I tell it like it is. If all I wanted was to f*ck you I would’ve told you that at the very beginning. I’m honestly trying to do the right thing for once.”

We stood there staring at each other, neither one of us backing down. “So you’re saying that at the end of the night you’re not going to try to hook up with me?”

Lips tilting up in a smirk, he chuckled and shook his head. “Not unless you wanted to. I know when I’m not wanted, Kacey. All I want to do tonight is have a little bit of fun.”

“What kind of fun?” I asked nervously.

Tyler winked and grabbed my hand. “I think it’s time you found out.”





I HAD NEVER laughed or screamed so hard in my life. At the very top of the Stratosphere, they had three thrill rides as well as the sky jump—there was no way in hell I was doing that. The adrenaline coursing through my veins was phenomenal. For the first time in a long while, I actually let myself enjoy having fun.

“So what did you think about that?” Tyler asked as we got off of the Insanity thrill ride.

Through my tears from laughing so hard, I looked at him and wiped them away. “If I don’t throw up I’ll let you know. Other than that, it was awesome.”

“See? I knew you would have fun,” Bree squealed excitedly, holding onto Cole’s hand. “But it’s getting kind of late. Don’t you need to get back home?”