Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates.

- Kate Angell, Squeeze Play (Richmond Rogues, #1)

Hot. Sweat. Stink.

But that was the least thing, I should be worried about. Despite gasping for breath, I kept going. I had to keep going, to be in shape no matter what. I feel like sitting at home, doing nothing for weeks had gained me unnecessary pounds.

It didn't help that Tyler took me and Lydia out every day and showered us with lot of foods. And whose idea was it to order junk food and sweets?

You, of course.

First the fast food joint, then the zoo where after tiring ourselves with all the animals, we had our share of ice creams. Between that day and this day, it was suffice to say by going out, I ate more than I ever ate in my whole life. I bet I gained ten pounds already. Ten extra unnecessary pounds which I needed to get rid off, before day after tomorrow night.

Must be in shape.

Groaning, I kept the marathon of climbing the stairs up and down with my sneakers on, huffing for breath. When I reached the last stair, I put my hands on my knees to suck in more airs but a shadow dropped on me, hiding the sunlight slipping through the open window in the lobby.

For a moment, I thought Tyler might have dropped in to check on me and instantly happiness covered my body that soon turned to disappointment when my eyes lifted and found the same identical blue eyes staring at me.

"Oh, it's you." I muttered between my gulps of air.

"Well, someone's happy to see me." Chloe taunted, with a flip of her blonde hairs. "Sorry to disappoint to you, little sister but yeah, it's me."

With a roll of my eyes, I turned and resumed my exercise. "Oh, please. What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way home but I thought of checking on the bride-to-be first." My sister answered as she followed me upstairs.

Check on me? I hoped for Tyler, not my merry sister.

And what was she merry about?

Was she getting laid? Great, now I was the only one left to suffer.

"And what exactly are you doing?" Mrs. Merry asked, confused.

I flatly looked at her. "What does it look like?"

She raised her hands in surrender. "Okaaay. But why not jog on the sidewalk? And there's a park nearby, you know that right?"

Reaching the first floor, I leaned on the wall to get rid of the cramp in my knees. These climbing wasn't helping much instead it was adding more trouble.

"Chloe, you remember the dress shopping. Do you want a repeat of that episode?" I reminded her the clash of titans....eh I meant reporters outside the french designers shop. "I'm not taking any chances."

"Be in disguise. Celebrities always do that." Chloe suggested, leaning beside me.

"I said I'm not taking any chances!" I snapped at her and took off climbing again.

"Fine but what crawled up your ass and died?" I heard her voice behind me, following me again. "Are you pms'ing?"

I immediately halted and circled to face her. With a defeated sigh, I lifted my top a inch and pointed. "Have you seen this mound? I have a pot belly!"

Chloe swatted my hand away, with a huff. "Oh come on. That's not a pot belly. A little bit of weight never hurt anybody. Besides Tyler won't leave you for few pounds."

"Chloe! Have you seen the women he went out with before?" I cried out, clutching the extra flesh in my belly with distaste.

"Yes."

"What?" I looked up, eyes popping out. "I didn't see them myself but you did? I just said that because I thought all rich guys goes out with models. But where did you see?"

Continuing to gaze at her, I dropped on a stair and relaxed my legs for a while.

Chloe as well took the spot beside me on the stairs and counted her fingers as she kept on listing her sources of information.

"Tabloids. I know everything. My morning newspapers, celebrity columns then business too if people like Tyler pops in." She stopped for a minute then continued. "Then there's my magazines and Tv. But don't worry he hasn't been seen with a woman for more than a year now."

Baffled, I looked at her. "Glad to know but when do you even get time?"

She shrugged with a mischievous smile. "I make time for my entertainment. So if you wanna know anything about the elite people coming to your wedding, you come to me. Okay?"

"Brides are suppose to diet before the wedding but here I am, gaining weights. So please let's not talk about the wedding yet. I got more pressing situation in my hand." I moaned in distress, remembering why I was distress in the first place.

"Okay, what's up? Lay it on me."

I took deep breaths as I remembered what Tyler had said, when he came to drop me from another family outing.

"I have a date." I said slowly. When she gave me a mortified look, I added. "Oh for god's sake, it's Tyler. He asked me on a date."

"That's great. I don't see why you are sad about it. At least the man's taking you on dates." Chloe replied, a happy jump on her voice.

Unfortunately, I wasn't that happy. A date? Just me and Tyler. I couldn't help being nervous. What if I made a fool out of myself? What if I embarrassed him? What if..what if.. Oh god!

"I want to look okay, you know? I just don't want a hideous picture of me in that column you read." I sheepishly glanced at her.

Chloe sighed and stood up, holding my arm. "Come on. Let's check out your wardrobe." When I stood up to follow her, she added. "I don't want to see a hideous picture of you in the morning after either."

"Ah Chloe? You're suppose to say you wouldn't look hideous, Claire."

She turned her head back to me, with a frown. "Really?"

I shook my head and silently walked up to my apartment.

*******

The sky darkened as did my mood.

And I blew my breath as I looked at the mirror once again. I didn't know whether I should be nervous or not. Was the dress okay?

Dark maroon dress with halter neck, a full pleated skirt. High waisted. Reached a bit inch up from the knee. Nothing flashy. Moderate enough for a first date.

Well, it would be the first date, right?

I meant, the first meeting where I slapped him...instantly I winched remembering my awful behaviour but bygones be bygones. Tyler never brought it up again and hell, I wouldn't dare bring it up. Anyway back to the point, that meeting couldn't be considered a date. Not at all.

Then there was the proposal day at Tatiana's cafe. It could be considered a date but I didn't want to because I wasn't dressed up well. Plus it was such a casual meeting, minus the one knee down proposal.

So yes, this night would be a date. First date with Tyler and Tyler only.

Day before yesterday, Chloe did a good job choosing the dress. I had no idea this dress was rotting at the back of my wardrobe when my dear sister pulled it out.

I matched the dress with black high heels. Usually I never opt for heels but since Tyler stood at six foot something, I didn't want to look like a dwarf beside him. Small earnings, a thin bracelet and the engagement ring finished my outfit for the night.

Tyler better appreciate the effort because I never dress up this much for anyone. He was the first one.

And where was he?

I looked up at the clock and it was 6: 25 pm. Tyler said he made a reservation at 7 but if he didn't get here within five minutes, we would get caught in the New York traffic and trust me, no one wanted to get caught in that.

Summer nights in New York tended to get slightly colder but I bet the air would feel nice on my sleeveless hands.

The sudden door bell pulled me out of my thoughts. Tyler was here. Finally. At least, this time he didn't use the key.

Quickly, picking up a clutch and dropping my phone, keys and some dollars, I switched off the lights as I went out to greet him.

The moment I opened the door, I, once again, thanked God for blessing me with a handsome man like the one standing before me.

He had a black suit on him and a dark green shirt beneath it but no tie. Few buttons were left open, giving me glimpse of the toned defined chest he had in there, making me swallow my own spit that would have been drooling if it had its way.

Brown locks fell over his face, making him so delectable that suddenly it felt hard to breath. He took my breath away. Literally. Now a days, I seemed to notice his face, body, everything more with brightened eyes.

"Hello, Claire." He dipped his head and lended a peck on my cheek, making me blush all of a sudden.

Even though I wanted those lips of his somewhere else, I reluctantly curled my fingers, stopping myself from grabbing him and kissing the daylight out of him. And the rich cologne, I caught the whiff of, didn't help the situation at all.

What is wrong with me? And why the hell its so hot in here?

Before Tyler could label me as a creeper, I spoke up. "Hey."

"You look beautiful." His eyes scanned me up and down, liking what he saw.

I ducked my head, covering my red cheeks with my bangs. "Thank you." I muttered, fumbling with my keys as I tried to lock the door but the shaky hands dropped them on the floor, making me cringe inward.

Why did I have to be so clumsy?

Cursing myself, I started leaning down when Tyler crouched down and picked up the keys, locking the door himself.

"Let me."

I backed away, letting him do it. After that I hid those in my clutch and climbed down with him beside me.

The night was slightly warm when we stepped out of the building and Tyler's white Audi came to sight. I guessed no Simon for tonight. Great. I liked when Tyler drove, not that Simon drove any less better but something about Tyler maneuvering a car beside me, with his manly hands sliding over the steering wheel, gripping the gear, his legs pressing over the pedals, had a strange, hot effect on me.

So when Tyler started doing exact things with his car, I had to clench my legs together to rid of a squirming feeling between them. The care, this damn Audi got, had me wishing I was that car.

Before I could embarrass myself, with the effect this godly man was having on me, I cranked the ac to another level, to cool myself down and it was working but then he had to turn his handsome features toward me, making me clench those legs even tighter.

How could one look have so much effect?

"It feels like summer in here." I nervously smiled at him, explaining myself.

His eyes showed amusement as he turned back to the road. He couldn't possibly know what I was going through, right? That was just impossible.

Trying hard to ignore the fine specimen beside me, I looked out to the city night. It was just a blur of lights, buildings as we drove through the high rise buildings of manhattan.

Earlier then I expected, we reached a fancy restaurant where a valet took the keys from Tyler and he walked in with me in his arms.

The way he touched me, the way he hold me made it harder for me, to not feel something for him. He was a man who took me out, brought me things, trusted me enough to leave his daughter with me.

How could I not have feelings for him?

He's not Sean.

For the first time, I listened to my mind and admitted that he was not Sean. Tyler was nothing like Sean. Tyler was everything Sean wasn't and I decided, from tonight I would let myself fall for him.

No restrictions. No past boyfriends. No insecurities.

I would let myself be with him every way I could.

I had no idea, I was gazing at him with a smile on my face when he looked down at me, failing to listen anything he uttered to me.

"What?" I asked him.

He shook his head and looked at me again. "I said do you find this place likeable or not? I know you don't like gourmet restaurants but if you want, we can go somewhere else."

At his words, butterflies started fluttering in my stomach. I looked out to the restaurant and it looked so sophisticated that instantly I disliked it but Tyler liked these type of places. And if he could go somewhere else for me then I could endure this elite restaurant.

I dawned a happy, genuine smile, genuine because I loved doing things that would make him happy. With all the things he did for me, this seemed nothing.

"No. This is a nice place."

He raised his eyebrows, probably seeing through my lie but nonetheless accepted it because he turned back to the hostess, who was shamelessly ogling my fiancé.

"Reservation for Sanders." Tyler said to her. And I glared at her, gripping Tyler's hand tightly.

She nodded and walked us to our table, on the other side where much needed privacy was provided. The hostess left us when Tyler didn't even bat an eye for her. He pulled out a chair for me before he took a seat for himself, across from me.

A waiter came around, with a menu and another with a wine bottle.

Tyler opened the menu and asked me. "What would you have?"

I didn't even bother to open the menu. Even if I did, I wouldn't have known what to order. "Why don't you order for me?" I said, looking around the restaurant, seeing other customers. Some pointing at our table and whispering, and some just enjoying their own dinner.

My date looked up from the menu and glanced at me. "You sure?"

When I nodded in answer, he gave the waiter our order and dismissed him while he took a sip of the wine. That reminded me of my own thirst. I picked up the glass and sipped, enjoying the sweet taste of whatever wine that was.

Feeling the eyes of the man sitting across from me, I glanced at him. He dropped his elbows on the table and leaned front, beckoning me with his mesmerising eyes. "So tell me about the woman I'm marrying."

Swallowing the nerves with the wine, I placed the glass on the table as I mirrored his movement. Already the wine was loosening me, making me confident. I tilted my head to the side as I answered him. "I thought you already knew her. You wouldn't decide to marry someone if you didn't know anything about her."

"True." He nodded but he smiled as he said. "But I don't know everything about her. Why don't you help me with that?"

With a smile present on my face, I shook my head, unconvincingly. "And what would I get in return?"

He shrugged, his eyes full of mischief, giving him a boyish look. "Me?"

For a moment, I stared at him then blushing like a tomato, I let out a laugh. Did he just say that? Then he smirked, leaning back on his seat.

After that we both loosened up, kept our playful attitude toward each other and had a scrumptious dinner. Between this and that, our hands would touch unconsciously.

And the moment Tyler offered dessert, I threw away the diet plan Chloe gave me day before yesterday, over my shoulder. But when we would've ordered the chocolate soufflé, my phone rang up from inside my clutch.

Giving him a apologetic smile, I pulled my phone and as I saw the caller, I glanced at Tyler questioningly before answering the phone.

Immediately, the little voice came on the line. "Hi, mommy!"

"Hi, Lydia." I greeted back and looked at Tyler. He frowned then he pulled his sleeve, checking out his watch and showed me the time. It was 8: 23 pm. It was past her bedtime. She should've been sleeping by now.

As far as I knew, Gemma, Tyler's housekeeper was suppose to put her on bed at 8 but looked like, Lydia sneaked past Gemma to call me.

"Why didn't you call me to say goodnight?" I heard her ask me. I could just imagine the sweet pout, she would have right now.

"Sorry sweetie but I was ou---"

I stopped short when Tyler frowned at me. "Why is she up? Isn't she suppose to be in bed?"

"I don'---"

I didn't get to finish the sentence because like father like daughter, Lydia cut me off. "Is that daddy? What is he doing there? Did he go to see you without me?"

"No. No. Lydia. That's not it." I insisted with a soft voice as I glared at Tyler, who decided to shut up. "We were just discussing important things. You would've been bored, honey."

"But I still wanted to meet you." She replied sadly. "Can you come and say goodnight? Tell daddy to bring you."

Come and say goodnight? That meant I would have to visit their house. Earlier in the days, somehow I dodged going to the house. Especially on our zoo day. At my request, Tyler had opted to go to his house, get ready then bring back Lydia's clothes with him.

Through out that time, I finished all my home chores and Lydia seemed to enjoy helping me out. We had an hour of nice mother-daughter bonding despite my refusal to visit Tyler's house.

I knew, it was an irrational decision but my fear of seeing the house and making all these changes in my life seeming more real, clouded my mind. I knew it was silly but what? A girl could have many fears. Many silly fears.

"Please? I won't ask for anything more." Lydia begged in her little angelic voice. "I would even drink the disgusting milk."

I chuckled knowing how much Lydia hates drinking milk at night. And that meant she really wanted me to come and see her.

When I entered this fancy restaurant, I decided I would let myself be with Tyler in every way and that meant his house too. Plus I couldn't deny my Little Ariel. She had me wrapped around her little finger.

"Okay." I settled with her demand. "I'll come and say goodnight to you but you better finish the disgusting milk before I come, okay?"

A squeal came next that had me smiling. I couldn't believe this little girl meant the world to me.

"Okay. Come quick. I'll wait for you."

With that she hung up, probably running off to finish that milk thinking with her little mind that if she finished it fast, then I would come fast.

Shaking my head, I dropped the phone back where it was.

"You're going to the house?"

Startled, I tilted my head up. I totally forgot about him.

"Yeah." I nodded. "We should leave the dessert and get going. Lydia is expecting us."

Tyler called out a waiter for the check, deciding not to argue with me.

Good call.

******

We had been in the car for 10 minutes now and finally we drove through a quiet, private neighbourhood in the upper east side.

I had never been in this side of the city. Before I had no reason too but now I did. It was hard to believe, soon I would be living in this neighbourhood rather than the shabby neighbourhood I had been living in since I came to the big bright city from the small town.

Soon, we drove through an inclined road and stopped at the foot of a secluded hill where a big black gate embedded with golden came to sight. A CCTV camera was hanged on one side. Then the gate automatically opened bewaring me with a three story house big as a mansion standing behind a beautiful fountain.

The car drove over the cobble stone driveway, round the fountain and finally stopped at the stairs that lead to two gigantic white pillars and white front door.

The whole house was bathed with black stones except the white windows. I thought since a kid lived here, there would be more colours but except greenery from the trees and bushes surrounding the house, it looked dark. Overall, it definitely looked like a billion-dollar house and to the likings of the man beside me.

"Welcome to our house." Tyler voiced. "This is your house too."