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“Tiffany is not agirl.” Perry stroked his dark beard, a tease glimmering in his eyes. “She’s a beast.”
“Hey, watch it,” Dylan warned. He’d known her brothers for years and had no qualms about giving them shit to protect the woman he adored. But he loved how playful she was with them. It was easy to see what her life must have been like growing up. She had to be sharp and tough to keep up with these two. And she was too strong of a person to accept being last in anything.
“Aw, man, come on. I mean it in the best way possible.” Perry put an arm around Tiffany. “She’s the bomb, man. She can play any sport, and she doesn’t take shit from anyone. But I’m glad to see you’re getting her to loosen up a little.”
“I’ve always been loose,” Tiffany snapped. Then, softer, she said, “Kind of. Right, Dad?”
A low laugh rumbled up from her father’s chest, his watchful eyes landing on each of his children for a solid beat. He was as much a force in his house as he had been on the field. No wonder Tiffany could hold her own with the toughest of men.
“Kiddo,” her father said. “I didn’t raise any of you to beloose. But I’ll say this. Dylan has been a good influence on you. You’re definitely a little less high-strung.”
“Gee, thanks, Dad.” She rolled her eyes.
“That’s probably the wrong word,” her father said. “You’re finally giving yourself a break. This is the first time in years that we’ve eaten dinner without your phone buzzing every few minutes. Some might call that loosening up, or less high-strung, or giving yourself a break. Whatever you want to call it, I’m glad for the change. You’ve made your mark, kiddo. Youwon. You’re one of the best in the field, and I couldn’t be more proud of you. But I am not going to kid you. I’m glad to see you’re taking some time out for yourself.”
“Thanks, Dad. But you taught me never to give up.”
“And you never have,” he agreed, and his eyes turned serious. “But I’m not sure where you got the idea that never giving up meant neverlettingup.”
Her brows drew together. “A few weeks ago I would have said they were the same thing.” She smiled at Dylan. “But I get what you’re saying now.”
“I know you do.” Her father turned his attention to Dylan. “Think you can keep up with my girl?”
“I know I can,” Dylan said, “or I’ll go down trying.”
Rocco looked at Perry and winked, then tossed him another biscuit.
Tiffany reached up with one hand and swatted it to the floor. Straight-faced, she said, “Sorry, Dad. What were you saying?”
Before Dylan knew what was happening Perry had Tiffany pinned on the ground and was tickling her ribs as she called him a litany of names and squealed with laughter. Rocco’s deep laugh boomed across the room. As Dylan rose to pry her brother off of her, Gunner reached over and grabbed his arm.
He shook his head and said, “She can handle him.”
Dylan was caught between rescuing the woman he adored—because even though shecouldtake Perry, she didn’t have to—and letting their sibling rivalry play out. He had only a second to debate, because Tiffany kneed Perry in the junk. Perry keeled over with a groan and she climbed on top of him, slapping his cheeks as she cracked up. “Who’s loose now? Huh? Huh?”
He thought of the way Lorelei used to wrestle with him and his brothers, and how much she loved being involved with them. He loved knowing Tiffany was close to her brothers in this way and had this playful spirit. She might not have had her mother, but she obviously had a close-knit family that adored her.
Her hand shot into the air and Rocco high-fived her.
“Now I understand why you insisted on wearing jeans and sneakers to dinner.” Dylan helped her up to her feet and kissed her. “Babe, that might have been the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her playful smile reached her eyes. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
THE FUNDRAISER FELL on a cold, windy November evening, not exactly perfect weather for a Tahitian-themed event, but the ballroom of the Ultimate hotel was toasty warm and buzzing with energy. Bright red tablecloths covered round tables that boasted centerpieces of enormous palms with colorful ribbons winding around lush greenery and floating candles in elaborate vases layered with sand and bright blue water. The chairs were draped in vibrant fabric, and tiki lights were strewn around the dimly lit room. A band outfitted in floral shirts and colorful shorts played tropical musical from the far side of the room where they’d brought in sand and palm trees, making the band appear to be playing on the beach. Pictures of children who had stayed at the Ronald McDonald House smiled from large frames around the room. And center stage, where the auction would take place later in the evening, was a magnificent picture of Lorelei smiling up from her perch on a fluffy yellow beanbag chair. She wore a pair of blue pants and a short-sleeved white shirt with purple flowers on it. Her skinny, little-girl arms circled her knees. Pink and purple glittery nail polish alternated on each finger, and her long brown hair fell nearly to her waist over both shoulders.
“I’m so glad we did this.” Dylan’s hand circled Tiffany’s waist, skimming over the grass skirt he’d convinced her to wear.
“Can you feel Lorelei smiling down on you? Dylan, this whole event is magnificent. It feels like all these children are right here in the room with us.” Tiffany wrestled with the coconut bra she still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to wear. But Amanda and her sister were even pushier than her when they wanted to be. All the girls—meaning Amanda and the Wild brothers’ wives—were wearing them, and she didn’t want to seem like the only stick in the mud. She and Amanda had become close over the last two weeks as they went for fittings for their costumes and got together for lunch with her sister, Ally.
“I feel her smiling down on all of us.” Dylan eyed Tiffany as she shifted and tucked herself into her skimpy outfit. “She’d love this theme, too.”
“I can’t believe they convinced me to wear this. Or that you helped them,” Tiffany whispered, spotting Amanda and Ally heading her way. They looked sexy and comfortable in their skimpy little outfits, although Amandawasshifting and tucking. Maybe she wasn’t alone in her panic after all.
“I’m glad I did. You’re the hottest woman in here.” He kissed her neck. “And besides, how fun will it be to let memowthat grass later?”
“You have a dirty, dirty mind, and I happen to love it.” She ran her eyes down his floral shirt and board shorts. “But next time you’re wearing a grass skirt, too. Or at least something equally as uncomfortable. A loincloth might work.”
