A Man for All Seasons by Heather MacAllister Page A

but more muscular version of himself took one look at Ty’s face and stepped back to check the house number.
    Ty relaxed his expression. “Are you Jason?” Of course he was Jason. I’d like to see the partridge in his pear tree, Marlie had said.
    Well, Tyler was here to make sure that didn’t happen.
    Jason smiled. Ty recognized the smile immediately. It was the patented, “Your daughter is safe with me, sir” smile, perfected by certain young men. Ty had once been one of those young men. He was not fooled by the smile.
    â€œYes, I’m Jason Fairgood, here for Marlie Waters.”
    The guy had dimples and knew how to use them. Ty hopedMarlie was smarter than to fall for a set of dimples, but who knew what condition her brain was in after all that bleach.
    They shook hands as Ty said, “Tyler Burton, Marlie’s roommate.” He held the door open.
    â€œYou’re the guy who bought our dating package.” Jason hesitated. “Okay, man to man—she’s a bow wow, right?”
    Tyler almost wished he’d told Marlie to wear the red dress. “Depends on your type.”
    â€œAh. Great personality. Say no more.”
    â€œActually, I will say more.” Ty stepped into Jason Fairgood’s personal space. “You will show her a good time and you will be respectful, got it? Because if I hear otherwise, I will make sure everyone else hears otherwise, too, starting with the reporter who interviewed me last night.”
    â€œTy? Are you threatening my date?” Marlie stood at the top of the stairs, flashing a lot of leg before slowly picking her way down the steps. She wore a pair of killer black sandals with little straps and really high heels. Her toenails were red. Well, he had told her to make an entrance.
    Tyler was mesmerized by the pale feet and the straps and the red toes and imagined a woman wearing the shoes and nothing else in bed.
    â€œNoooo problem on showing her a good time,” Jason murmured and Ty knew he was thinking the same thing. Only, in this case, the woman was Marlie.
    â€œWhen I said ‘good’, I meant ‘cordial’ and ‘pleasant’,” Ty stressed.
    â€œI can do better than that,” Jason said.
    Ty did not want him doing better than that.
    When Marlie safely made it all the way to the bottom of the stairs and they were all breathing somewhat normally again, Jason stepped forward, showing his dimples. “Hi. I’m Jason.”
    â€œMarlie.” She twinkled up at him. When had she evertwinkled? Ty had never seen her twinkle. Maybe it was the hair.
    â€œWe’re going to have a great time,” Jason said, with enthusiastic sincerity and a slightly dazed expression.
    What happened to cordial and pleasant? Tyler was relieved Marlie wasn’t wearing the red dress. He might have to hide the red dress.
    â€œOh, I nearly forgot. I’ve got something for you.” Jason pulled a long narrow box from the inside pocket of his sports coat.
    â€œThank you.” Marlie looked thrilled. Inside the box was a charm bracelet, which Ty knew only because Marlie exclaimed, “The charm bracelet!” She held it up and examined the single charm already attached.
    â€œIt’s a pear,” Jason told her. “For Partridge in a Pear Tree. Giving a charm for each date was my idea—well, my sister’s idea, but everyone went for it.”
    â€œOh, that’s so sweet!” Marlie said, while Ty thought, lame and corny.
    â€œTy, did you see?” She dangled it in front of him.
    â€œVery cute. Shall I—” help you put it on, was what he was going to say, but another man’s fingers beat him to it.
    Ty watched Jason stand close and fasten the bracelet around Marlie’s wrist. Their heads were nearly touching. Tyler scowled.
    Jason and Marlie smiled at each other.
    Tyler scowled even more. “Have a pleasant evening you two,” he said, hating the way he