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“I meant it as a compliment,” Amanda said quickly.
“I know you did,” Tiffany assured her. “And Brett’s right. All he did was answer the door. It was my fault for closing my eyes.” She lowered her voice and looked at Amanda as she said, “Because I’m notthatbrave.”
“Let me tell you about my fall.” Amanda went into an animated description of tumbling off her heels in the middle of a bar.
It sounded like the story was true, but Dylan knew she was only sharing it to help ease Tiffany’s embarrassment, and he made a mental note to thank her when they were in private.
An hour later, with Tiffany’s trip into the poker game behind them, they chose the date for the fundraiser and divvied up all the jobs to get the ball rolling.
“Let’s wrap this up,” Dylan said. “The event is in four weeks. Mick, you and Amanda are going to put together marketing materials, and Carson and Brett will work the celeb scene for donations. Summers will work on getting sports sponsorships, and I’ll make the rounds with the media.”
Brett held his hand up. “Hold up. Who’sSummers?”
Tiffany laughed. “That would be me, but please don’t ask why.”
Brett leaned across the table and waggled his brows. “Given that your name is Winters, I’m guessing it’s because you’re so hot.”
“Okay, enough.” Dylan glared at Brett. “Mygirlfriend.Mynickname. You donotneed to figure it out. Got it?”
Brett held his hands up in surrender. “It’s cool, man. Or maybe I should say, It’shot.”
“Christ, you’re a jackass.” Dylan shook his head. “Sorry, babe.”
“It’s fine. Brett obviously needs to live vicariously through you.” She smirked at Brett. “He probably hit a dry spell.”
“Oh my gosh. You aresogood at that,” Amanda said. “Can you teach me?”
Everyone laughed.
Dylan’s heart swelled at her resilience, and he could tell by the smile on Brett’s face, his brother wouldn’t cause her any further embarrassment.
He hugged Tiffany and whispered, “I’m so into you, Summers. You can’t even imagine…”
“I have agreatimagination. Perhaps we should compare notes.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
DYLAN AWOKE SUNDAY morning to Tiffany’s soft murmur. She lay curled against him naked and sound asleep. His non-cuddling temptress loved to cuddle after all. They were going to visit his mother later that morning, and even though he was excited to introduce them, he was also nervous. He wondered if he should have introduced her on a day when they wouldn’t be going through pictures of Lorelei. This was liable to be a very painful day for both him and his mother. Selfishly, he wanted Tiffany with him. Hell, he wanted her with him every minute of every day, but it was asking a lot to make her endure a day that would be as sad as it would be a relief.
His eyes moved over the dusky room to his dresser, where Tiffany’s perfume and several pieces of jewelry had taken up residence. He’d cleaned out a drawer even though she’d fought him on needing one.I live an elevator ride away. I think I can live without a drawer.He’d known it was a knee-jerk reaction based on the independence she’d grown accustomed to, and he hadn’t pushed her on it. Two days later she’d opened that empty drawer and filled it with a few of her outfits—I guess it does make sense after all.He smiled to himself, knowing how much she needed to be in control. She hadn’t lost one bit of her strength or independence since they’d been together. And he thought she’d become even stronger as she opened up and let him in. She’d definitely helped him see himself in a different light. Dylan had thought true love meant needing the other person in a much different way than Tiffany needed him. He’d thought he needed to be relied on for everything, that he could only feel loved and appreciated if he was truly needed, and she’d proven how very wrong he was. She didn’tneedDylan in her life. Shewantedhim, and that was a whole different experience. A deeper, more meaningful experience. He pulled her tighter against him, wanting her to take up more of his life than one drawer and a little dresser space.
She turned, bleary-eyed and beautiful. “Hi. Why are you awake?”
He kissed her forehead and whispered, “I don’t know. Sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. It’s early.”
Her fingers moved in slow circles through his chest hair, as she settled against him with a sleepy sigh. “Thinking about our visit with your mom?”
“A little.”
“Want to talk about it?” She pressed her lips to his chest.
“Nah, you should try to sleep. I was also thinking about you.”
“Dirty things?”
He heard the smile in her voice. “Always, and long-term things.” Her fingers stopped and he covered them with his hand. He knew he’d scared her. “Go back to sleep, babe.”
She tilted her face up toward him. “Now? After you said that?” She pushed up on her elbow. “What kind of long-term things?”
