AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You didn’t really answer my question when I asked you if you loved him, so I know you don’t,” I said, taking a sip of my beer.
She gave me an exasperated look.
“Does he make you happy at least?” I asked.
A thoughtful look spread across her pretty face.
"Um, yeah.” She nodded, frowning like she was trying to convince herself more than me. “He's great, really. He’s sweet and very caring."
He didn’t make her happy either.
Shetold me everything I needed to know.
Lana started talking about the food Killer Luck was serving, the things Brent and I could adapt for Deft Rock that seemed to be working well for them, the ROI on various types of promotions.
She was all business even though she kept glancing up through her lashes at me. And I hadn’t missed the way her cheeks pinked up right before she pushed away from me earlier.
I let her do her job, and when she didn’t have anything business-like left to say, I put my hand over hers.
I didn’t want to waste any more time than the years we’d already been apart.
“I’ve wished so many times that I’d called you after you went to New York,” I said. “If I had it to do over again, I would.”
Lana shook her head. “You wouldn’t, Dylan. Not when Todd needed you. And we can’t do it over again anyway. That’s the thing.” She put her other hand over mine and squeezed. “I should have called when Dave passed. I—”
“You sent a card. That let us know you were thinking of him, and us.”
“No, it wasn’t enough. But I was so afraid . . .” She looked down and blinked fast.
“Afraid of what, baby?”
“Don’t, Dylan.” Her watery gaze met mine. “Don’t call me that. We’re not—we’re not doing that. I told you. I have a boyfriend. You’re my client. I’m not going to break up with Austin, and you’re not going to fire me.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” I said. “Wecanhave more than a business relationship. Don’t you want that?”
She pulled her hands away and leaned back.
“It doesn’t matter what we want, Dylan. Too much has already happened. Todd asked me to marry him, for God’s sake. What happened between you and me later, that should never have happened.”
I often felt the stirrings of guilt about that too. But Todd and I had mostly mended our relationship. At least, we’d been on speaking terms for a while. And it wasn’t like he was still pining for Lana.
I didn’t feel like what happened between us was that big of a deal anymore, but apparently Lana still did.
“Todd’s okay, Lana. He still thinks fondly of you, but he’s not hung up on you anymore. Andhecheated onyou, remember? Nothing happened between us when you were still together,” I pointed out.
“I know that,” she said sharply. “But jumping from one brother to another—”
“You didn’t. You know it wasn’t like that.” I leaned closer. “If anything, I think you jumped from me to him when you saw my wedding ring. God, I wish I’d explained that.”
She looked stunned that I’d brought that up, so I waited before saying anything else. I felt like I was in danger of pushing too hard, and I didn’t want to run her off for good.
To my surprise, she nodded. “You know, you’re right. When I gave you my number, I wanted you to call about something that had nothing to do with the car doors slamming together. Until I saw the ring. But Dylan, that’s all in the past.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I whispered. “Haven’t you thought about me over the years? Did you think about me when you were in New York?”
Her beautiful blue eyes stared into mine as she said, “Yes. I thought about you constantly. And yet here we are. You’re still Todd’s brother. You’re still my client. And I’m dating Austin.”
“I was a fool to let you go, Lana. I won’t make that mistake again.”
