Worth The Fight

Chapter 26

My bell rings as soon as I turn off my blow-dryer.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I realize how much effort I put into looking good by wearing a feminine light blue dress and applying some light makeup.

Damn it.

The bell rings again, interrupting my thoughts of changing clothes and my phone chooses this moment to ring. Kayla.

I take a deep breath and head to the living room.

Shooting her a text saying Tyler is here in my place; I promise to call her tomorrow.

"I'm coming," I shout and a second later I'm opening the door for him.

"You have zero security here, babe," he says the moment he sees me.

He's wearing light-washed jeans paired with a white T-shirt and my breath catches at the endearment and worry in his tone. He's so devastatingly handsome. Or maybe I'm too silly and easily enamored by his deep brown eyes. Whatever it is, it distracts me enough not to anticipate his hand capturing my waist and pulling me to him in a soft kiss.

"Tyler..." I press my hand to his chest, pulling away from his touch.

"Are you okay?" He searches my eyes and I take a step back so he can get in.

"Sure." I clear my throat, locking the door deliberately slow.

"How long have you lived here?" He looks around, studying the place. "Anyone could barge in. There's no doorman, cameras, or...

"Tyler." I take a deep breath and he frowns, studying me.

"What's wrong?" He stops in front of me, his hands cupping my face.

The brush of his callused fingers against my skin sends a tingle of awareness racing through my body, and I can't help the small smile that leaves my lips.

Forever a prince charming. Always trying to save the damsel in distress.

There's no denying he's one of the good guys out there. One that is way too good-looking. I only wish I was able to keep him. But he belongs to the world. And I'm just a bartender trying to make ends meet while raising her little brother.

"Babe?" he whispers, his thumb caressing my cheek.

"Have you seen the news?" I say, making him frown even deeper.

"I've been at the gym all day..."

"Those paparazzi from yesterday... Our picture is all over the gossip sites. They're saying... They're saying I'm a home wrecker," I say, not hiding how bitter the word tastes on my lips.

"What?" He tilts his head to the side, his eyes searching mine. "That makes no sense."

"Let me get my phone." I detangle myself from his hold and get my phone from the coffee table, opening the link Kayla sent me. "Here"

His eyes widen as he reads whatever it is they're saying about us, and I don't miss the way his jaw ticks when his gaze meets mine again. "This is fucked up. I'm calling my PA so we can defuse this shit."

"Tyler..." I whisper when his eyes go back to my phone.

"They're just trying to make money out of it," he keeps saying. "I have a pretty big fight coming up soon, as I told you, so they're just trying to stir the pot. I'll take care of it." He gives me my phone back, his posture and tone tense with frustration.

"Maybe we should just take a break, you know?" I cringe the moment the words are out of my mouth.

His chest expands on a breath. "What?"