The Beauty Within (6 page)

ness had been abandoned, but he was glad Tyler was committed to leaving the

intangible qualities of an enterprise intact. Many times they made the differ-

ence between success and failure.

“I’m glad you’re doing well. Your father would be proud,” Gunnar said sin-

cerely.

Her smile was genuine and it touched a place inside of him. “That’s what I

strive for everyday.”

Gunnar returned her smile, and was glad hers didn’t leave her face for a

long time once she returned to her task.

The Beauty Within

Another stretch of silence fell upon them, but Gunnar was content to let it

be. With her, he didn’t feel the need to talk to remove the awkward pall that

would fall for lack of conversation. Their silence was companionable, provid-

ing a space where thoughts and speech were equally regarded. Besides, it was

nice to be with a woman who didn’t seem enamored by her voice and her

appearance. Tyler had a job to do and would do it well, and her confidence in

her abilities only added to her attractiveness in her eyes.

So why had there been such apprehension when she’d walked into the

gym?

Even as he thought the question, the answer piggybacked behind it. His

stint in LA had given him unusual insight to how a person operated, especially

when it came to insecurities. In LA, those insecurities were hidden in the

packaging—everyone had to look the best in order to hide his worst. Bodies,

clothes, houses, cars—everything on the outside had to be perfect so folks

didn’t know that the inside was a complete mess. Gunnar himself had gotten

caught up in it; and while he would like to think he wasn’t as bad off as many

of his contemporaries, that shiny carrot of fame could make anyone lose

complete sense.

Tyler, on the other hand, did the exact opposite. It seemed she was well

put together in terms of personality and ability, but she didn’t have as much

faith in her outside package. Though he hadn’t done much to encourage that

faith, Gunnar thought all she needed was to tone some things and maybe lose a

few inches in other areas, but a drastic body makeover was definitely not

necessary.

“Do you know why Damon referred you to GD?”

Tyler sighed. “I’ve been having back problems and my doctor recommend-

ed I do some strength training and lose a few pounds. I didn’t know where to

go but I knew Damon was a trainer, so he gave me the card and set up the

appointment.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Her eyes snapped to his and she frowned. “What other reason do I need?”

Gunnar shrugged, wincing internally. They’d been doing so well, but the

frost was back in her voice and he wanted desperately to thaw it.

“I didn’t mean for that to come off condescending. I apologize.”

She sighed again and shook her head. “Sorry for snapping at you. My sister

asked the same thing. I asked if she was blind. It’s obvious I need to lose some

weight, and given you’ve basically said the same thing—”

“I thought we’ve already established I’m an insensitive jerk?”

She giggled, and it sent warmth throughout his entire body. She had a

great laugh, as if it were the audible embodiment of joy.

“Not all the time,” Tyler said after a moment.

“Really.”

“Really. You’ve been very nice these last two times.”

32

Savannah J. Frierson

“So I only have ‘jerk-ish’ tendencies, huh?”

“All guys do.”

“Ouch!”

“If it makes you feel any better, Wendy’s called me a heffa numerous

times.”

“It doesn’t, but thanks for the attempt to lighten my mood.”

Tyler grinned. She didn’t take herself too seriously, and Gunnar liked that

about her. In fact, there were very few things he didn’t like about her. Even

during their first meeting he couldn’t say there was something he innately

disliked about her. Though he knew Tyler had flaws—no human didn’t—he

had the niggling suspicion he would find those uniquely endearing as well.

I’m in trouble!

What had he been thinking making such an impossible promise to Damon.

There was no way Gunnar could pretend he didn’t want to pursue a friendlier

relationship with Tyler Carver, and he wouldn’t.

Damon would understand. He was dating her sister, after all.

She finished his haircut. He seemed very pleased with it, which in turn

made Tyler pleased. He barely noticed her taking off the styling cape as he

inspected her work.

“Even better than last time.”

Tyler snorted. “It looks exactly the same!”

“Maybe the wash had something to do with it.”

Tyler refused to look at him, afraid he would see the heat that flared in her

eyes at the mention of the shampooing. Never before had she had such a

sensual experience washing someone’s hair, and she doubted it would be so

sensual with anyone else. Gunnar was a complete mystery to her, especially

since she wasn’t usually attracted to white men. This wasn’t to say she’d never

noticed them. She and Wendy had attended a mixed school, and both had

taken accelerated classes, so it was usually them integrating majority-white

classrooms. They both laughed and gossiped about the cute white boys, but

neither had entertained actually dating one. Tyler never knew if Wendy ever

had a real interest to do it; and while she hadn’t, either, she’d been curious

about “jumping the fence” as her Aunt Mabel would call it. Her son had

married a white woman and they had a two-year-old son. Aunt Mabel hadn’t

been too happy with the union at first; but she loved her grandson to bits, and

everything was well now.

Tyler didn’t know how her remaining family would feel about her dating

interracially. She knew Wendy wouldn’t care, especially given how she had

teased Tyler after hearing about the first “haircut incident.” In fact, Wendy had

said they should go on a double date, but Tyler had to remind her sister she

was being a bit presumptuous.

The Beauty Within

“True,” her sister had conceded. “Why don’t you be instead? Worst he can

say is ‘no’.”

Tyler shook her head at the memory. She’d been told “no” so often she

wasn’t too keen on hearing it again.

“Something wrong?”

“Nope,” she replied quickly, hanging the cape on a peg. “Fifteen.”

He remained sitting in the chair. “That eager for me to leave? I thought we

were having a decent time.”

“A decent time? This is a hair appointment!”

Gunnar grinned slightly and lifted a shoulder. “Yeah…sue me if this has

been one of the most relaxing times I’ve had in weeks. I’ve enjoyed your

company, Ms. Carver.”

“Tyler.”

“Tyler?”

“That’s my name, you know. Ms. Carver makes me feel like a teacher or a

spinster.”

Tyler began straightening up her cart, giving herself something to do so she

wouldn’t notice how gracefully he rose from the chair or how fluid his move-

ments were as he approached her.

“I could never consider you a spinster,” he said, reaching into his back

pocket to pull out a worn brown leather wallet.

“Hmm.”

What else could she say to that without sounding like an idiot?

“You can call me Gunnar,” he said, holding out another twenty. As before,

Tyler pulled out her bills to make change, and his hand covered hers. “Keep it.”

Like last time, Tyler was rendered breathless. She wanted to twist her

hand until they were palm to palm, wanted to link their fingers together to get

the maximum pleasure from his touch. His gray eyes went dark with some-

thing she refused to name, and the pulse in her hand jumped where his fingers

touched.

She wondered how they would feel on other parts of her body.

“Thanks,” she said softly, licking her lips as his fingers dragged away from

her skin.

“You’re very welcome. You deserve it.”

“So this isn’t payment for a future apology?”

“So sure there will be a future apology, huh?”

Her cheeks and ears burned, and she turned away from him in a show of

putting her money in her pocket. She felt him stand behind her, his strong solid

frame begging her to lean against him. His body wasn’t Mr. Universe big, but

he reminded her of those men who “worked out” on the machines sold on

infomercials on the weekend.

Just the right size if Tyler had anything to say about it.

Savannah J. Frierson

But she didn’t, and she would do well to remember that. Besides, what was

she thinking? As if someone like him could genuinely be interested in someone

like her. They didn’t fit, and not necessarily because of the race thing. She

looked like she and the couch were best friends while he owned a gym for

goodness sake! What did they really have in common? What could they really

talk about? She fascinated him, and he definitely fascinated her, but that was

it.

It had to be.

She turned to face him and smiled, trying to ignore how close he actually

was. “If you come back for a haircut, there may be a future apology. You
are
a

man, after all, which means you’re bound to say something stupid!”

The skin around his eyes crinkled in amusement and he shook his head.

“You sound just like Inge.”

“Your sister.”

“You remember. That’s good. Many women I date don’t remember half the

things I say. End up repeating myself. I don’t like mimicking a broken record!”

“We’re not dating,” Tyler said, trying to keep her tone light despite how

crestfallen she felt inside.

“True, but even if we were, I doubt you’d be the type to forget. You pay

attention to detail.”

“You’ve got me figured out in three meetings?”

“Hell no! I’m learning, though. Only someone who is very attentive could

give such flattering cuts. It would be easy to give a standard boring style, but

you actually make sure it works with the client’s unique features.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “You metrosexual? That’s the only thing I

can say because you don’t seem gay at all.” And if he were, she’d go home, curl

into a ball, and weep!

He laughed, and she was glad he took the question in stride. “No. You live

in LA and you learn things.”

“Did you go to school out there?”

“USC.”

Tyler’s eyes widened. “Football! Though I understand that. North Carolina

isn’t known for the gridiron; though why didn’t you go to Florida or Auburn or

even Clemson if you wanted to stay ACC? Why all the way out there?”

He chuckled. “A football fan.”

Tyler blushed and shrugged. “From the crib. I used to sit on daddy’s knee

and cheer, though it wasn’t until I was ten I actually figured out what exactly

was going on!”

Gunnar laughed and slid his hands in his pockets. Though his stance was

relaxed, he radiated power to Tyler. “Why did you assume I played football?”

She blushed harder. “Well…you don’t have basketball player’s body.

Though you’re tall, you’re not that tall, and it just seemed like the right build.

Or you could play baseball, but I don’t follow baseball that much.”

The Beauty Within

“It’s football,” Gunnar admitted, though his voice had gotten quiet. “Cor-

nerback.”

Before she could stop herself, Tyler touched his bicep in an attempt to give

him comfort. He obviously didn’t play anymore or else he wouldn’t have

opened a gym. He had to have been good if he went to USC to play football,

and whatever had made him stop must have been painful.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice as quiet as his.

Gunnar’s hand came up to hers, pulling it off his arm. He didn’t let go im-

mediately, however, instead squeezing it as if needing more of whatever she’d

tried to offer. “Not your fault.”

Tyler squeezed his hand again. His practically swallowed hers and she

tried to dismiss how safe she felt right then.

“I should go,” Gunnar said, the reluctance in his voice matching how slow-

ly he allowed her hand to drop from his.

“Okay.”

She remained standing by her cart as he went to his jacket and slipped it

on. He gave her a tiny smile. “See you next time, Tyler.”

“You, too, Gunnar.”

With a final nod, Gunnar left the shop. How she wished it were next

Wednesday.

Four

“I know I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating: Wal-mart is the

devil!”

“But with
oh-so-low
prices!”

Tyler glared at her sister even as she picked up a package of beef that

would’ve cost almost twice as much if they had gone to the grocery store. “I

know. That’s why they’re the devil. How many things in our buggy are devia-

tions from the list we said we
weren’t
going to deviate from?”

Wendy shrugged and put two packages of steaks in the buggy. Deviations.

Tyler sighed but let them remain. They were shopping for the Super Bowl

party that would be at Wendy and Damon’s place tomorrow, and given

Damon’s friends tended to be very hungry
all
day, the more food the better.

This time they had much more of a stake in it, considering it was the Carolina