Free Walker Bride by Bernadette Marie Page B

the top of her
head.
    “No, Lydia says you need another one. You
need more money for the building.”
    “She should have told me that,” she whispered
as she headed for the door.
    “I was here to tell you that.”
    “So what do you have to do with it?”
    “I’m your partner,” he managed before she
pulled open the door and his sister stood there staring at both of
them.
    “Oh, good. You’re both here. Are you burning
something?” she asked as she stepped inside. “Anyway, did you talk?
Are we cool?”
    Tyson ran his hand over his head and realized
his hat was on the kitchen floor. Seriously, it had to be very
obvious what they’d been doing.
    “We didn’t get down to the specifics quite
yet. I didn’t get here too long ago.”
    Her eyes widened. “Oh, I thought you came
straight here.”
    He winced and hoped she didn’t notice it. “I
was just telling her how you said that you needed another
partner.”
    Lydia smiled that energetic smile that could
quickly become contagious.
    “Pearl, I thought it would be better if he
talked to you about his partnership. We could use more funding, and
he’s willing.”
    Tyson pursed his lips. He didn’t quite
remember telling her he’d do it, but that was how his sister
worked. She spun things to benefit her—and it usually worked.
    Pearl smiled, but it was obviously forced.
“We hadn’t gotten to that quite yet.” She shifted him a glance then
turned toward Lydia. “I ruined my breakfast when I answered the
door. What do you say we all go out, and we can discuss this new
partnership?” Her words were strained, but by Lydia’s reaction, she
hadn’t noticed.
    “I’d love that. Oh, there’s a new brunch menu
at Toddy’s. What do you say?”
    They both looked at Tyson as if he were the
deciding party. “Fine.”
    “If you don’t mind, I’m going to head
upstairs and take a very quick shower. I wasn’t quite ready to
receive visitors this morning. I’ll only be a few minutes. Help
yourself to coffee,” Pearl added as she headed for the stairs.
    When she’d disappeared, Tyson walked toward
the kitchen, Lydia close in tow. He picked up his hat from the
floor, and the two dropped forks. He tossed the forks in the sink
and placed his hat on his head when Lydia hauled off and punched
him in the arm.
    He wasn’t sure if it hurt or if he was simply
shocked.
    “What in the hell was that for?”
    Her eyes were narrowly staring at him, and
her lips were in a tight line. “What are you doing?”
    “I was going to get coffee.”
    “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”
She wound to hit him again, but this time, he moved out of her
way.
    “You’re crazy.”
    “You’re making a move on Pearl.”
    “I am not,” he said, fully convinced that
since she was the one that took her shirt off, she’d made the first
move.
    “You can’t sleep with her.”
    “I didn’t.”
    “You’re thinking about doing it.”
    “I’m a man. Of course, I’d think about
it.”
    He flinched when she reached out to touch his
arm. “Tyson…”
    There was a tone—a damn maternal tone. He was
a forty-two-year-old man. He should be able to carry on with anyone
he chose.
    “Lydia, it’s not like that.”
    She pulled back and crossed her arms in front
of her. “Really? That’s not how it looks.”
    What was he supposed to say to that? If she’d
walked right in she’d have gotten one hell of a show.
    Tyson let out a long breath. “I like her.
Okay? Fine, I’ve said it. I like her.”
    “I need this business to work.”
    “And it can’t work if I’m seeing her?”
    Her eyes widened. “I knew it.”
    He held his hands up in surrender. “Stop. You
don’t know anything.”
    “Every time Mom gets personally involved with
a business partner, something goes wrong. You’re going to mess this
all up.”
    “Okay then, I don’t want anything to do with
it.”
    “You have to. I need you to be part of
this.”
    Tyson lifted off his cap and ran his hand
over his