Free Conklin's Foundation (Conklin's Trilogy) by Brooke Page

admiring my handy work.  The tree was small, lit with white Christmas lights with large red and green bulbs throughout the tree.  I even bought a set of blue and gold Michigan M ornaments.  Although Tyler didn’t originally want to attend the University of Michigan, he had pride in his school and would give me grief if I wore green. 
    I didn’t put the star on top because I wanted Tyler to do that.  I sure hoped he wouldn’t mind my taking over his living room and getting festive.
    As I stared at the tree, I hear d my phone go off.  I jumped up to answer it.
    “Hi,” I said cheerily, knowing who was on the other line.
    “Hi.  How are you?”  Tyler asked, sounding a touch surprised.
    “I’m wonderful.  Missing you, of course,” I sighed.
    I could practically hear his smirk over the phone.  “I miss you as well.  What are you doing?  You sound very cheery.”
    “You will have to wait and see,” I teased.  “I am at your house. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Oh no, I sure hope you’re not redecorating,” he laughed.
    “Nothing that can’t be taken down,” I smiled.
    “Now I’m intrigued.  Will you be sleeping in my bed tonight as well?”
    “I was planning on it. Again, only you don’t mind.” A hint of insecurity was laced with my words.
    “As far as I’m concerned, that bed is just as much yours as it is mine.  It will be hard for me to sleep tonight though.  I’m going to be picturing you wrapped up in my satin sheets without me,” he pouted.  
    “I can’t wait for Wednesday.  What time is your flight?”  I asked.
    “9:45pm. I have a dinner meeting at 7:00pm otherwise I would fly home sooner,” he apologized.
    “ It’s fine.  Text me when you land, and I will come pick you up.”
    “I look forward to it.”
    I yawned into the phone and heard Tyler chuckle.  “I need to call you earlier.  I will let you go to sleep.  I can’t wait to see you tomorrow evening.”
    “Okay, I will keep your bed warm.  Goodnight Ty.”
    “Goodnight baby doll.”

    Chapter 5
     
    It was hard sleeping all night in Tyler’s bed without him.  I slept hugging his pillow, constantly smelling his scent, a mix of citrus freshness from his soap and the sporty marine musk of his Hugo Boss cologne.  Oh, how I missed him.  It smelled lovely and safe on his sheets, but once I’d get a waft from his chest, my arousal would awaken, and I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of him. Maybe sleeping in Tyler’s bed alone was more torturous than beneficial.
    I dressed simple for work, k haki dress pants and a button up blouse.  The office would be deserted since it was the last day before the building would be closed for four days because of Christmas.  Most likely Corey and I would be twiddling our thumbs while our coworkers were gone.  I wonder how much time I would have to put in before I could take off time before the holidays.  Maybe Tyler and I could take off somewhere warm once I worked up the vacation days.  Picturing him lying shirtless on a lounge chair basking in the sun, sweat from the heat rolling from his chest to his abdomen… wow, I wouldn’t be able to keep my greedy eyes off of him. Or my hands for that matter.
    Get your mind of out of the gutter!
    Right!  I had to get through today and prepare myself for the weekend of family, including meeting Tyler’s mom.
    I wonder ed what she would be like.  Tyler made it sound like she was a lush who sat around with a grin on her face all the time, as though she were in her own world.  I wondered how she would feel about her son dating someone.  Seeing him hold my hand or put his arms around me.  I hope she wouldn’t change her demeanor with me around and turn from a happy drunk to a possessive crazy drunk.  Maybe she wasn’t even a big drinker but Tyler just thought she was?  I would have to wait and see and try not to be nervous about meeting her.  She was Tyler’s mom, and I would learn to make her a part of my