Free The Beauty Within by Savannah J. Frierson Page A

any woman,
    however. His usual methods would fall flat with her. Pretty words were
    doubted, enticing looks scorned. He actually had to be himself completely, and
    he was decidedly out of his element with that. Also, he thought he’d played his
    hand too early with his parting confession. Afterwards, he’d hit his head
    against the steering wheel at every red light he had on the way to his house in
    self-chastisement.
    Intoxicated, indeed.
    “I better not have a niece or nephew running around in nine months,” Da-
    mon had said after he, grudgingly, had passed over Tyler’s home contact
    information.
    “A baby can’t run at birth,” Gunnar had said absently as he looked over the
    address. He had a vague idea of where the street was, and he was already
    mapping out the route to get there from his house. “And you haven’t married
    Wendy yet!”
    “You bein’ smart with me?”
    Gunnar had raised an eyebrow. “You bein’ insubordinate with me ?”
    Damon hadn’t been the least bit intimidated, especially since both had
    known there was nothing behind the threat. Damon had warned Gunnar if
    these training sessions were some big elaborate scheme to get in Tyler’s pants
    he might as well put an end to it. The scheme would fail and lead to castration.
    “And it wouldn’t be me,” Damon said, a smirk coloring his face. “Their last
    name is ‘Carver’ for a reason!”

    50
    Savannah J. Frierson
    His lap twitched as he remembered the caution, and it didn’t help he found
    Tyler’s home to boot.
    It was a simple one-level brick structure with white shutters framing the
    three windows. She had a decent-sized yard, and a pick-up truck was in the
    driveway. That made him smile. Of all the cars he’d imagined her driving, an
    old-model Ford F-150 had not been among them.
    He pulled his Jeep behind her truck. He wasn’t in a hurry, so he decided to
    inspect her vehicle. It was tan, and though it was at least ten years old, it
    looked like she took good care of it. The interior was clean, and there was a
    new stereo system installed with a CD player.
    Somehow, it fit her personality.
    Grinning, Gunnar moved away from the truck to the front door. He rang
    the rusted rectangular doorbell and waited, the fake flowers on the door a
    cheery, feminine touch.
    “Who is it?”
    “Gunnar.”
    Locks tumbled, and a second later Tyler appeared, another large shirt,
    sweatpants, and bandana completing her look. “Afternoon. You found the
    place okay?”
    “Damon gave good directions. You ready to go?”
    “I need to grab my water bottle and coat and I’ll be set. You can come in if
    you like. I know it’s a little nippy.”
    He followed her inside her living room, and the first thing he noted was
    how cozy everything seemed to be. Neutral and brown was the color scheme,
    from the bran-colored shag carpet to the oaks, mahogany, and cedar furniture
    throughout the room. There were wooden African masks on the light yellow
    walls as well as abstract African art prints, and there were magazines ranging
    from Essence to Sports Illustrated fanned out on the coffee table. The red microfi-
    ber couch he’d stopped behind looked comfortable, as did the matching easy
    chair and ottoman opposite it. Though this wasn’t the most opulent living
    room he’d ever seen, Gunnar thought it was among the most pleasant.
    “All right, I’m ready.”
    Tyler came across the room from the kitchen, and Gunnar slipped her bag
    from her shoulder and put it on his. “I can take this.”
    “Full service. You’re expecting a ginormous tip, aren’t you?”
    “I’m sure we can arrange something,” Gunnar said, glancing at her lips
    quickly before turning and leading the way out her home. He needed to get
    himself together. He was here to help her, not lust after her! Shaking his head,
    he put her bag in the backseat on the passenger’s side, then opened the front
    door for her.
    “You’re spoiling me,” Tyler teased gently.
    “Full