Chapter 7

ARIANA

CHAPTER SEVEN

I didn't expect my mother to tell me to bring Tyler to Sunday dinner. Maybe I should have waited a few days.

Meghan smiles from across the table. "How long have you worked for the electric company, Tyler?"

"I've only been in New Jersey for a year. I worked in the city for ten years," Tyler says.

My oldest brother Grayson frowns. "Why would you leave a pensioned job in New York?"

"Grayson, that's none of your business," Mom scolds, but she stares at Tyler as if waiting for the response.

"Why not? It's a legitimate concern. We don't know anything about him." Grayson's jaw ticks.

Finishing the last bit of turkey on his plate, Tyler smiles around the food. He wipes his mouth, then looks at Grayson. "I got hurt on the job. It took a while to recover, and I realized I didn't want to go under the city streets again. Here, I'm only in danger of being yelled at by homeowners when their power goes out." He grins at me.

Unsure what response is required, I enjoy his gaze but say nothing.

Dad laughs along with Meghan and says, "I hear your sister is getting married, Tyler."

"Yes, sir. Kathy is marrying her college boyfriend at my parents' house on Long Island next Saturday."

The questions continue through dessert. Only my brother Dylan seems content to leave Tyler alone.

Afterward, I help Mom and Dad clear the table.

Dylan brings in some dishes and gives me a nudge with his hip. "He held up, Ari. That's a good sign."

Since I have no idea what he means, I don't respond.

Mom smacks him with a dishtowel and shoos him out of the kitchen. She turns to me. "He seems very nice and very handsome, sweetheart." She kisses my cheek.

I stare at my dad. "Should I say something in response when they compliment Tyler?"

Grinning at me, he pulls me into a hug. "No, baby girl. You've handled everything perfectly. I think Tyler is capable of defending himself, and he seems to understand you. I'm glad you've met someone whom you like."

"I do like him. He doesn't care that I don't always know why people do the things they do. Even if I hurt his feelings, he takes the time to figure me out. I don't want to hurt his feelings." The memory brings back the tightness in my chest and throat.

Dad kisses the top of my head. "The fact that you like him enough to make the effort is a big deal.

"I wish Aiden were here." My oldest brother always tells me things in ways that make sense to me.

"I'm sure he'll meet your guy soon enough." He releases me. "Now go save the poor man from Grayson."

I return to the dining room in time to hear Grayson asking about the nature of Tyler's injuries. Rounding the table, I say, "I think it's time for us to go."

Tyler stands and takes my hand. "It was nice to meet all of you. Good to see you again, Meghan."

My parents walk us to the door.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lane. It was a pleasure to meet you." Tyler shakes my father's hand.

My mom kisses his cheek. "It's Mark and Evelyn. It was nice to meet you too."

Dad beams at me in the way I've often seen him look at Meghan. Usually, I seem to cause my parents to worry. Not that I need them to be concerned. I've always had a job and a purpose. I dated Brock for several years. Tyler is different. Even I can see that.

We get in his truck, and he lets out a long breath as we drive toward my house. "Do you think they like me?"

"I'm not good at knowing that kind of thing. Grayson looked angry, maybe, but then not as much as dinner went on. Dylan likes everyone, that's what my mom says. Meghan likes you, she told me when she texted me yesterday." I do my best to give him an answer. I wish Aiden had been there. He would have pulled me aside and told me exactly what he thinks because he understands that I struggle with reading people. If only humans were more like numbers.

"What about your mom and dad?" His fingers grip the steering wheel until his knuckles are white.

"They are the hardest to read because they're always polite. I'll ask them if you want me to?" I pull my phone out ready to text Mom.

He reaches across and presses my phone gently toward my lap. "That's okay. If you let me hang around, I can find out for myself at another time."

Without moving, I relax, liking the warmth of his hand over mine. "What do you mean, let you hang around?'"

"You're way too good for me, Ariana." He sighs.

"Are you breaking up with me?" I stare across the truck at him. I've been told I'm "too good" before and a breakup speech followed.

He pulls over and puts the truck in Park. "Why would you ask that?"

"The last boy who said that to me was breaking up with me." There's a loose thread at the bottom of my jeans skirt. I pull at it to avoid looking at Tyler.

He tips my chin up with his finger until I'm staring into those expressive eyes. "I'm not going anywhere unless you send me away, Ariana."

That tightness returns to my chest. "I won't."

Leaning forward, he presses his lips to mine, cupping my cheek, then threading his fingers through my hair.

More than the stimulation of the kiss, I feel cared for.

He traces the seam of my lips with his tongue, and I open and slide my tongue against his.

My body immediately responds. My vagina moistens, my heartbeat quickens, and my lower abdomen tightens. I break the kiss. It's strange for me to feel nervous. The butterflies in my stomach tell me I'm nervious. "I would like for you to spend the night with me."

"Nothing would make me happier." He runs his thumb over my bottom lip, staring at me in the light from the streetlamp. He studies my eyes and then my mouth.

It's only a five-minute drive from my parents' house to mine, and while neither of us speaks the rest of the way, Tyler holds my hand, gently rubbing my fingers. It's a perfectly comfortable silence, which I find rare for most people.

Tyler left early this morning to get ready for work. As I drink my coffee and run my hand through Cipher's fur, I think about how perfect my weekend was. I'm happy. Since most of my thoughts are centered around mathematics, I'm generally content. Numbers never let me down, but this excitement bubbling from inside of me is something new.

I push aside the idle thoughts and dial Marshal's number. I'm sure he's already awake and probably working, even though it's an hour earlier in Houston.

He picks up on the second ring. "Ariana Lane, are you well?"

"I'm fine. You wished to speak to me, Marshal?" The personal inquiry was likely ceremonial. I doubt Marshal Torino cares about my well-being.

"We have a new project. It should put humans in space in the next five years, with plans to look at a mission to Mars." His calm statement would sound uninterested to most people, but I've known Marshal for a long time.

I can hear the slightly higher pitch of his voice. Admittedly, the idea of calculating a trip to Mars is thrilling. "That's a big job."

"Are you pleased with your current employment?" He's not one for subterfuge.

"It's adequate and pays well." I draw a long breath. "Did you send Brock here?"

"No. He must have taken the initiative himself after I talked about you at the kickoff meeting." He's clicking computer keys and the sound gets faster.

"I don't like speaking in this way, so I'm just going to assume you've been trying to reach me to ask me to come back to Houston and the Space Agency." I draw a long breath. "I don't want to live in Houston and while I'll admit the idea of beginning the calculations for this kind of space journey is hard to refuse, I'm happier here in New Jersey."

"Happier?" He says it as if he's considering the meaning of the word.

"I know that's not the most rational reason to live in a place, when my mind would be better utilized in Houston or someplace like MIT. Still, this is my home. I apologize if this news is unpleasant for you and your project." This is the awkward part where Brock would tell me that I'm making a huge mistake and ruining my life. This is where he would use threats of irrevocable consequences to sway me. Until now, I never realized how manipulative and small-minded Brock is.

There's a long silence with only the click of keys and Marshal's breathing on the other end.

Perhaps I should hang up.

"I understand your desire for the comfort of home, Ariana. This project needs your mind. Not one person would argue with that. I'm certain I can arrange for a very lucrative contract for you. Will you at least consider it? You could get back to me by the end of the week." He stops speaking and the clicking increases.

"I don't see how that will change anything." I look around my little house and Cipher jumps from my lap. Digit runs over and sniffs Cipher's nose.

"You may find the offer is good enough to tempt you back to Houston. I'll have our legal and accounting department assemble some numbers for you." He stops typing.

"I'll admit, I'm intrigued and perhaps a bit flattered. Send the information and I'll think it over." I begin calculating the possibility of travel to Mars. Even though I don't want to leave Roseville, it's difficult to imagine that kind of project going on without me doing the math.

"Of course. I will speak to the director and email you a contract detailing compensation and resources." The typing starts again.

"Thank you, Marshal." I hang up when I hear the line go dead.

My first thought is that I want to talk to Tyler. When making business decisions, I've never needed to speak to anyone.

Moving to Houston would mean leaving him. I'm not sure even the lure of money and advanced mathematics could pull me away. Still, it can't hurt to read what the agency has to offer.