Chapter 200

Rachel immediately understood what Tyler meant. He wanted her to act as his shield.

Considering he had helped her earlier that night, it didn’t feel right to refuse such a small favor. So, Rachel suppressed the awkwardness she felt and sat back down. Thankfully, the lighting was dim enough that no one noticed how flushed she had gotten.

A few of the women nearby, seeing how close Rachel was to Tyler, couldn’t help but feel curious.

“Hey, sweetheart, where are you from? Even if you’ve got your eye on him, there’s still a first-come, first-served rule,” a woman in a red dress with dark hair asked.

Rachel lifted her chin while trying to suppress her nerves. “You’ve got it wrong. I’m his girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?”

The group burst into laughter.

“Come on, sweetheart, can’t you come up with a better excuse? We’re all his girlfriends too, you know!”

Rachel thought maybe it was the way she said it that made them suspicious, so she tried again. This time, she did it more firmly.

“I came here with him. Why wouldn’t I be his girlfriend?”

Tyler heard Rachel’s serious attempt and chuckled helplessly while rubbing his forehead. Rachel looked hilarious.

The woman in red sneered. “Sweetheart, if we go by that logic, then every girl who walked in with him must be his girlfriend too."

Her friends started laughing as well.

“Yeah, you’re seriously too cute. You look all sweet and innocent, but this level of cuteness? It’s lethal.”

“If you’re into this guy, just tell us, babe.”

Laughter broke out again around them.

Rachel didn’t know what came over her, but she repeated herself even more firmly this time. “I really am his girlfriend!”

Tyler played along perfectly. He placed his palm gently on her back and chuckled. “Yeah. She really is my girlfriend.” Rather than being convinced, the whole thing came off more like the two of them putting on a show.

One of the women, already starting to lose her patience, waved her hand dismissively. “Alright, honey, scooch over and let us have a turn. Whatever kind of guy you’re into, we’ve got them all here.”

“Yeah, just say the word, and we’ll hook you up. Do you want a hot young thing or a mature guy? We’ve got them all.”

Rachel hesitated. Honestly, she’d never dated anyone but William her whole life. She had poured her heart into that man and loved him so deeply, only to be betrayed in the end. Resentment rose in her chest, and she couldn’t shake off the feeling.

She took a deep breath. Her eyes sparkled as she looked across at the woman in red.

“In that case, could you maybe-”

Before she could finish, Tyler suddenly turned her face toward him and kissed her.

Rachel’s eyes widened. The taste of alcohol still lingered on his lips as his kiss deepened and pressed into hers.

The kiss was quick, but by the time it ended, Rachel was frozen in place in Tyler’s arms. She was still in shock. Tyler’s gaze swept casually across the group of women. “Are you done here?”

The women, finally convinced the two were together, didn’t press the issue any further. They moved away with their hips swaying. They were already moving on to the next target.

Rachel could still faintly hear their voices as they walked off.

“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a man that fine?”

“Right? I’d take him even if it was for free. Men like that are truly one in a million.”