Chapter 62

Rachel POV

The Smiling Elephant Thai Restaurant

"A booth in the back. Privacy is important."

Tyler offered a folded bill to the hostess whose smile widened even as her eyes darted to me and away again as if she didn't want to attract my attention.

I refused to think about what kind of woman she might think me to be if my dinner date wanted privacy with me even in the restaurant. There was no sense in getting upset over what Tyler wouldn't have considered before making the request. I knew he lived in a world where his expectations were meant to be met without question.

He didn't intentionally make me sound like an escort---but I was going to tease him about it as soon as we were alone.

"Sparkling water for us both. Thank you."

The hostess gave a short nod, surprise evident on her face as she left us at the table.

"I don't think she's used to taking orders. Especially not for Mister Man and his Lady of the Night."

I fluttered my lashes at him, holding my hand up to half-hide my smile. I wished I was wearing more bold makeup. I found I wanted to make a splash if Tyler wanted to take me out.

"I don't care what she's used to. I paid her to get us a comfortable table and something to drink. You're supposed to be watching your water intake. When did you last have a glass?"

A flush of some emotion I couldn't name bloomed on my face. I wasn't used to anyone taking care of me. When did I have a drink last? I thought it was before the last two tracks or maybe three? It was hard to keep track of time in the closed recording booth.

I waited on the water to be given to us, waving away her offer to open the bottle for me. I drank half a glass before feeling better. I was glad for the ice, too. It helped with my flush.

"Happy I got your water?"

"Smug is a bad look on anyone," I said, fiddling with my menu to avoid looking at Tyler.

"You like spicy food? Right?"

There was more hesitance in Tyler's voice and I knew I must have given him pause. I hoped we wouldn't have to learn how to talk to one another as if we were completely unfamiliar with each other. I chose to let his tone go without comment in favor of answering the question.

Smiling, I nodded, "Yes. I've always had a thing for heat. I love peppers of all kinds. My mother used to make these stuffed jalapenos you would never believe. She used pepper jack and mozzarella cheese with finely diced serrano and habanero in the filling. I'd eat them until my lips would feel as if they were on fire. I loved how they made me feel warm from the inside out. Mama said spicy food made for a spicy life."

My mother had been right, too. All the fire in my life felt as if it went out when my mother died. We stopped having unique, inventive meals in favor of whatever I could microwave. Everything was bland, packaged, and I got to the point where it was easier to just go out with Nathan for my meals or eat with his family rather than with the remnants of my own.

"My mother never cooked with peppers. She did love cheese."

We had talked about Tyler's mother less than we had shared multiple meals in the same day. I didn't want to let on how curious I was about her.

Taking a sip of my water to slow down my response time, I was careful as I asked, "Did she cook often? My mother cooked almost every single day. I think she felt most at home in the kitchen."

"Yes. She was a typical mother, I think. She made most of our meals. We couldn't afford to eat out except once maybe twice a year. Her birthday. We went out for her birthday. Given what you've said of Moonglow? It's likely the kitchen was the safest place for a woman to be."

I hadn't considered my mother's pack might have influenced her after she'd gotten away. I found myself hoping she hadn't spent all those hours in our kitchen out of a sense of obligation rather than genuine joy.

"Do you want to share dishes?"

Tyler let me change the subject to ordering -we got three entrees to share and I was glad I would have the leftovers for lunch the next day- but I found I wasn't in too big a hurry to leave our conversation behind. We had been together so long without sharing; I wanted to know him more than I wanted to keep myself safe from any painful secrets my own past hid.

"Are you in contact with her? Ever, I mean."

I straightened my silverware to avoid staring Tyler down. I had never gotten brave enough to ask him about his mother directly. He was already so angry all the time---the last thing I wanted to do was send him into a rage.

"No. My father doesn't want her coddling me."

I found I had to look at him then, my thoughts troubled as I wondered what John Wright would have to say about the raising of my daughter.

"You're a grown man. Do you think she can 'coddle' you now?"

Tyler shrugged a shoulder with a jerky motion I half expected to sound like rocks grinding against one another. His face might as well have been carved from stone for all the emotion he showed.

"I don't care to bother her to find out."

"She's your mother, Tyler. You can't 'bother' your mother. That's not how it works."

Tyler showed a hint of irritation and I knew I would have to back off even before he replied, "You're an expert now? Being pregnant has brought you infinite wisdom on the relationship of a mother and child?"

I went back to my water and tried to avoid looking at him while he took some deep breaths.

I appreciated he was trying to get himself back under control, but I would have preferred he kept his temper in check. Why was he always so angry? Was it all because I had started things between us wrong? Had he been an angry man before he'd ever met me?

I hoped I hadn't turned him into the fire-breathing dragon he seemed to be.

Enough sins could be laid at my feet. I didn't want to have to answer for Tyler Wright's anger management problem, too.

Our food kept us busy when it arrived. The heat from the chilis made me laugh even as sweat beaded on my brow and even a bit on my chest between my breasts. I felt as if I were lit up inside from the Thai dishes as well as Tyler's attention.

He steered the conversation to innocuous subjects. We talked about my music being produced and his contracts being revised. We complained about starting our day with decaffeinated coffee. We laughed together as we agreed life wouldn't be worth living without Jo's cinnamon rolls.

"Could we take a short drive before I take you home? I just---I want to enjoy your company a little more."

I agreed without hesitation.

If we were on better terms, I would have offered to let him come in at the apartment or to go home with him for a visit.

Neither option felt safe with our relationship only just beginning again.

Tyler passed the packed remainders of our meal to Adam when we left the restaurant. I realized he must have texted him to bring the car around before we left. I was glad because it had started to drizzle rain which was giving me a chill and stealing away the blissful heat of my dinner.

We curled into the backseat of the sedan again. I made sure to sit as close as possible to Tyler. I wanted to get his smell all over me so I could dream of him when I crawled into my empty bed that night.

"Do you think I could have a kiss?"

I barely let the words pass over his lips before I crashed mine into his.

Tyler tasted of heat and spices and an exotic place I wanted to see one day. His tongue stroked my own and I gasped as he gave a playful nip at my lips.

"Do you think I could convince you to come in at my place for a while?"

I think if he'd asked me to come home? I might have said yes.

Instead I remembered we were coming from two different places and I wanted us to stay in our respective lanes a while longer.

"I think you should focus on kissing me for now. If you leave a good impression, I'll call you tonight to wish you goodnight before you fall asleep."

"So I'll dream of you?"

"So you'll dream of me," I agreed, kissing him back with a fervor born of lust and a burgeoning fondness I hoped would turn into love.

I realized Tyler and I had never reached any understanding about either of our mothers; I wondered what kind of mother he expected me to be when our daughter got here.