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“You’re welcome.” She yawned again. “How was Bethany? Did she like the balloons?”
“Yeah, she loved them. We played a game of checkers, her favorite, and we laughed a lot.”
“You have a really big heart,” she said, yawning again. “You run a bar, and you have a kitchen that’s in shambles, and still you made time for me and Bethany.”
He was quiet for a minute, thinking about what she’d said.
“No dirty comments about your otherbigorgans? There must be something major going on in that head of yours. Why did you start volunteering?”
“It’s a long story,” he answered, not wanting to get into a conversation about Lorelei right then. “And it’s late. We can talk about it another time. They delivered my cabinet doors, so get ready to work on Sunday.”
She stifled another yawn. “Okay. Be ready to help choose office space Saturday.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” He couldn’t believe he was actually excited about being included in that part of her life. She’d really gotten to him.
After they ended the call, Dylan lay on his back looking up at the ceiling, thinking of Tiffany lying in bed just a few floors below. In the quiet of her apartment was she overthinking what they’d done? Regretting it? He felt closer to her than he’d ever felt to any other woman, and none of it made sense, but that didn’t bother him. It made him want to discover more about her, to see what deeper connections were waiting for them. The way Tiffany revealed her fears, inner conflicts, and even her hopes, reminded Dylan of snowflakes floating to the ground. His chance to see them would disappear if he didn’t catch them before they landed.
MaybeWinterswas the perfect name for her after all.
As he sent her a good-night text—You’re my ten, summer girl. Sweet dreams—he knew that even ifWinterssuited her just fine at the moment, she’d always be hissummer girl.
Chapter Twelve
TIFFANY STEPPED FROM the elevator Thursday evening carrying an armload of packages from her evening shopping trip. If she and Dylan were going to continue whatever it was they were doing, she needed more lingerie, and while she was at it, she picked up a few cute, non-work-related outfits. She traipsed down the hall thinking about her workday, which had begun with a visit to her father, who was doing fine and back to his grumbly self, and ended with a dinner meeting with one of her NBA clients. She really needed an office. She didn’t mind meeting clients at restaurants, but when they were going over contracts and discussing endorsement deals, she preferred the privacy of an office.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of a small box wrapped in gold paper waiting for her on her welcome mat. Grinning like a fool, she unlocked her door and carried it into her apartment. She and Dylan had exchanged several texts throughout the day, most with sexual innuendos, but wasn’t that true about everything they said to each other? She thought about him all day, felt his kisses on her skin with every breeze. But his texts were also filled with something real that she hadn’t had in a long time—friendship. Every text seemed to suck her in deeper. She pictured his cocky smile, his warm, seductive eyes, and shemissedhim. She hadn’t even been sure she could miss a man in this way again. She’d thought that part of her had been buried so deep she might not be able to retrieve it if she wanted to. But Dylan left no room for examining her emotions. He brought them out easily, seamlessly, and made her feel them so deeply, she now worried she’d never be able to escape them again.
And she wasn’t sure she wanted to, even if she should.
She set her shopping bags on the coffee table and sank down to the couch with the pretty box on her lap. Her mind was in dangerous territory, picturing him picking out the wrapping paper—because she somehowknewthat’s the kind of guy he was. He didn’t leave these types of things up to others to decide. Dylan might let her control things now and again, but he was a man who knew what he wanted.And you sure know how to get it.Well, big guy, I have the surprise of a lifetime for you. Or at least she hoped she did, since she’d been planning it all day.
The gold paper was too pretty to shred, no matter how excited she was. She opened it carefully along a seam, lifted the top of the box off, and peered inside.
“Oh my God, Dylan,” she whispered, feeling her chest tighten. She lifted a beautiful leather-bound appointment book out of the box and ran her hand over the distressed cover. It was classy and eclectic. Absolutely, perfectly stunning. But it wouldn’t have mattered if it were made from toilet paper. Dylan had clearly put a lot of thought into what she might like, and he was actually figuring her out. Another terrifying and exciting thought. Even her own father never knew what to give her on birthdays and holidays. She had more scarves and hats than she could ever wear. But this? This was perfect.
She paged through the thoughtful gift, finding notes Dylan had written every few pages;Date with Dylan,Dinner with D,and dirty memos like,Don’t forget Dylan likes blow jobsandMy turn! Tonight Dylan’s my sex slave.He was so presumptuous she found herself shaking her head—but he was so sweet and sexy about it, she was also laughing and happier than she could remember being in a very long time. Under theNotessection of the calendar he’d written the date of the first night they’d met andFirst kiss. Her chest felt full, and all those butterflies nesting in her belly stirred.
“I like you, Dylan Bad,” she whispered.
BeneathFirst kiss, he’d written yesterday’s date andFirst dinner together,and on the next line he wrote,Homework: learn to cuddle.A wave of discomfort rolled through her. He wanted her to let her guard down even more, which was fair, given how far they’d gone last night and how close they were becoming, even if it wasn’t the traditional type of dating repertoire. But somehow it was easier on the phone to let down her walls than it was in person. That thought bothered her, but the memory of what truly trusting someone and letting her guard down earned her still burned like a fresh bee sting. It wasn’t just her cheating ex. They’d been so young at the time, the fact that he’d cheated hadn’t been all that shocking. But with her best friend? That hurt. Coupled with her mother’s abandonment, she was still wrestling with pretty harsh demons.
Clutching the book to her chest and pushing those ugly thoughts aside, she breathed deeply. Dylan was proving to be unlike anyone she knew, and it was unfair to both of them for her to put up a wall when she didn’t really want to—even if it frightened her not to.
She forced her fears down deep and sent him a text.Thank you for the amazing gift. This put you up to a solid nine.
His response was immediate.Nine?Save time for me Saturday after we meet with Phoebe. I’ll give you what you deserve.You’re underselling yourself by only expecting a ten.
Dylan had gotten to her despite her best efforts to keep him at bay. And she liked how she felt when she was with him and when she thought of him. She’d opened herself up to him sexually in ways she hadn’t with any other man. That was a big step, but it wasn’t the most difficult one. Dylan made her want to try to open up her heart, but she wasn’t sure she knew how to reach the key.
DYLAN LOOKED OVER his cards. A pair of jacks and a pair of sixes. Not exactly a stellar hand of poker, but not necessarily a losing hand, either. He glanced around the table, reading the faces of the others. Brett’s serious expression told Dylan he was either pissed about a shitty hand, or he was thinking about a client. There was no way to tell which, as Brett might come across as flippant, but his mind was always processing something big. Dylan hoped it was a shitty hand. He moved on, checking out Carson, whose poker face was better than that of any man he’d ever met. His eyes gave away nothing as he met Dylan’s gaze, and a slow smile lifted his lips.
“You should fold,” Carson said casually, and nodded at Jackson Wild sitting to Dylan’s right. They’d grown up with the Wild brothers, two of whom were there tonight, Jackson and Cooper. Jackson and Cooper partnered in a very successful photography business, both had recently married, and currently they were having a stare down of their own.
“Don’t fold on my account,” Jackson said. “But Coop looks like he’s going to give you a run for your money.”
Cooper smirked and slid an amused gaze to Dylan. “You believe he’ll fold? The man’s bluffing.”
“You guys forget how well I know you,” Dylan said, looking around the table at his closest friends and brothers. He thought about all they’d been through together. They’d raised a lot of hell together throughout the years. The Wilds had been there for them when they’d lost Lorelei. And their connection remained just as thick in adulthood. Jackson and Cooper’s parents had been brutally attacked during a home invasion. Their father was murdered, and their mother was severely beaten and left blind and widowed. Dylan and his brothers had been there for them then, as well. Life was fucking unfair, but one thing never changed. Their bond of brotherhood ran deeper than bloodlines.
