Perfect Together by Carly Phillips Page A

steps to sit down. Wearing the same khaki pants as earlier, she took in his very fine ass that accented his lean form.
    She handed him the menu.
    “I have a feeling I won’t be needing one after a while,” he muttered to himself.
    She raised an eyebrow at that. “Planning on sticking around?” she asked, unable to stop the hope rising in her at the possibility.
    “Looks like it. I think Nicole’s testing the waters, and I want to be here when she realizes everything she’s left behind.”
    What did it say about her that Macy was pleased? Pathetic, that was what she was. Dimples or no, the man was stuck on another woman.
    “What if she’s not just testing?” Macy asked.
    He set his jaw. “She is.”
    Macy raised her eyebrows. “Are you always so sure of yourself?”
    He met her gaze, suddenly looking at her, really studying her as if seeing her for the first time, and she shivered beneath his steady stare.
    “Are you always so blunt?” he asked.
    “Yes, and you didn’t answer me.”
    “Yes, I’m always that sure. If I want something, I get it.” And he obviously wanted Nicole.
    ButMacy had been the bystander to many people falling in love over the last few years, and when that particular emotion hit, it hit hard. It also started with dynamic chemistry, and she’d seen explosive heat between Sam and Nicole. Tyler didn’t have a chance, but then . . . why did he want one? Why pursue a woman who’d made her lack of interest and intentions not to be with him so clear?
    Macy liked a good puzzle, and Tyler was that. Especially since he didn’t look all that hurt by his ex-fiancée’s obvious feelings for Sam.
    “So what is there to do in town?” he asked.
    She shrugged. “Depends on the night.”
    “Okay, how about . . . say tonight?” An amused smile lifted his mouth, making him even more handsome.
    She swallowed hard. She really shouldn’t bring up the softball game. Sam was playing and he’d mentioned plans afterward with Nicole. But if Macy didn’t say anything and he wandered around town or asked someone else, he’d find out anyway.
    “There’s a softball game at the high school, but you don’t know anyone here, so I’m sure that would be boring for you.”
    “Are you going?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    “And do most people end up there?”
    She inclined her head once more.
    “So . . . say Nicole would be there?”
    “Could be.” Macy rocked on her heels, consoling herself that she hadn’t been the one to offer up the information without him asking first.
    “Then I guess I’ll see you there.”
    Shelooked him over, caught the determination in his green eyes, and decided not to argue, just to be there beside him. As a buffer, she assured herself, not because she was determined to turn his focus away from Nicole and onto herself.
    “But you really can’t go so dressed up,” she said.
    His eyes opened wide. “These are my casual clothes.”
    She sighed dramatically. “Jeans are casual clothes. Cargo shorts are casual clothes. Khakis are dress clothes.”
    He shook his head. “Suits are dress clothes.”
    She bit the inside of her cheek and did her best not to laugh even if she did think he was cute, something she doubted he’d find amusing.
    “If you’re hanging around for a while, do you want to stand out? Or do you want to fit in?” she asked him.
    He frowned. “Your tone tells me there’s only one right answer to that question.”
    “Did you bring
more
casual clothes than those?” Assuming he owned the kind of wardrobe to which she’d referred, which she was beginning to doubt.
    “I didn’t plan on more than a day trip. I can drive home later today to pack up some things.”
    “More of these?” She gestured to his polo shirt, this one a pale green with a blue pony on his chest. “Never mind, don’t answer that. The mall’s just twenty minutes from here. We can get you a couple of pairs of shorts and jeans, maybe a T-shirt or two, and be back before the