Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(78)

I couldn’t wait.





One Week Later




MY BROTHER HAD his surgery, but only time would tell what the extent of the damage would entail. The last I heard, he still couldn’t walk because of the numbness. Word traveled fast of his demise and I couldn’t go anywhere with Tyler without someone asking questions. His father told us to take the week off, so we spent it at his house, locked away from everyone. It was hands down the best week of my life.

However, the week had come and gone and now we had to get back to work. I still had a job at the gym to do and so did Tyler, even though he was taking a break from training. In just a few short months, he would be the owner of his family’s gym, acquiring all responsibility. We were both taking the next step in our lives.

In front of me sat the realty magazines and my budget list. I was pretty good at numbers, so handling the books was going to be one of my many jobs once Bree and I got our restaurant started.

I was too engrossed in the pictures in front of me to notice Tyler standing in front of my desk, staring at me.

“I could sit here and watch you all day, but there’s something I need to show you.”

Smiling, I shut the magazine and lifted my head. “Oh yeah? Does it happen to be something in the back room that you grew especially for me?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not exactly, but I’ll be more than happy to show you that later.”

Getting to my feet, I joined him in front of the desk and he kissed me.

“Have you found any more places you like?”

“No,” I sighed.

He led me out the doors to his truck and opened the door so I could get in. My wrists had healed somewhat, but they were still sore and I had scars. It was always going to be a reminder of that bittersweet night.

“So where are we going?” I asked.

Tyler just smiled and started us down the road, throwing a blindfold in my lap. “You’ll see, but right now I want you to put this on. And don’t ask questions, or peek. If I catch you peeking, I’ll have to reprimand you.”

“Wow, okay, this just got interesting,” I teased, tying the blindfold at the back of my head. I figured I would humor him. With Tyler, there was no telling what he was up to.

About ten minutes later, he put his truck into park. “Keep the blindfold on, beautiful. I’m going to get out and help you. Don’t you dare peek, or I’ll bring the wrath down on you.”

He got out of the truck and came around to my side. Holding both of my hands, he led me slowly up a couple of steps where, I heard the slide of a lock and a door opening. When I giggled, the noise echoed in the room.

“Where are we?”

Slowly, Tyler untied the blindfold and lowered it. When I opened my eyes, I gasped. It was the place I had wanted to buy for my restaurant, but was told someone had bought it. The place wasn’t built to be a restaurant, so there was still a lot of work to be done, but it was in a prime location and we had a ton of space to work with. It would be the ideal place to own a restaurant.

“What are we doing here?”

Tyler smiled and walked to the middle of the room. The hardwood floor was dark cherry, the walls a deep beige with an elegant wrought iron spiral staircase leading to the top loft. It was everything I could ever want . . . classy and modern.

When he turned around, he spread his arms wide. “It’s all yours, Kacey. Well, yours and Bree’s.”

“I don’t get it. How is it ours? The realtor said we were too late.”

Tyler walked toward me and put his arms around my waist, pulling me to him. “You were too late, but I used my magic and persuaded the new buyers to sell it to me.”

Exasperated, I shook my head. “Yeah, but at what cost? You shouldn’t have done that, Tyler. I can’t imagine what you spent. How much do I owe you now?”

With a mischievous grin on his face, he led me toward the spiral staircase and I followed him up. “Well, now that’s what we need to discuss. I figured you would owe me the money for the place, which I know you already have, but then you would also owe me interest.”

“Interest?”

When we got to the top of the stairs, I didn’t realize how huge the loft was . . . and there in the middle of it all, was a bed of cream-colored wool blankets with pillows scattered around. Picking me up in his arms, Tyler led me over and set me down on top, covering me with his body.

“Yes, interest,” he murmured heatedly. He lifted my gray Rushing’s gym T-shirt over my head and tossed it onto the floor. “The removal of this shirt paid for one percent of the interest. Do you want to pay off more?”

Biting my lip, I unfastened my bra and slid my arms out. “How much did that pay off?”

“Hmm . . . let’s see,” he replied, lowering his lips to my breast. Closing them over my nipple, he moaned, suckling it. “That’s another one percent because you taste so f*cking good.”

While he licked and sucked my nipples, he slid my shorts down my legs and I kicked them off. Now that I was completely bare, he swiftly got to his feet and took off his own T-shirt and lowered his black gym shorts before spreading me wide again.

“So how much does this pay you back?” I asked. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he pushed inside of me, gently.

He kissed me softly on the lips and smiled. “Unfortunately, that’s where I have to draw the line. You’re only allowed to pay me back two percent a year.”