by Layla Hagen
"You eat carbs, and you look this amazing. I didn't think it was possible to have a six-pack unless we gave carbs up completely."
I cocked a brow, "How do you know I have a six-pack?" I'd never taken off my shirt in front of her.
She blushed again. "It was an educated guess."
I threw my head back, laughing. "You gave this a lot of thought, didn't you?"
"More than I should, yes," she admitted.
"Then it's not my fault if you break your resolutions."
She pointed at me. "Yes it is. You're not supposed to encourage me."
"I want you to break them, so why shouldn't I?"
“Oh, Dylan, what am I going to do with you?"
"The question is what am I going to do with you?" I kept my gaze on her until she turned to the pup, stroking his head. Even in his sleep, he seemed to like it.
"How come you moved to New York?" she asked all of a sudden, clearly trying to change the subject. "That only happened last year, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, Ian and I were in Washington before with our software company. We then started working with companies based in New York too and decided to expand our reach. Right now, we’re programming software that will change how people working in weather-dependent jobs can get insurance. We’re going to submit it to the Innovator of the Year competition. If we win, it’s going to be rolled out to the whole country very fast. It’s not for catastrophic events like hurricanes or floods. Those are covered by existing programs.”
"That sounds like an interesting project. That means farmers who have crops will be better off if one year there's not enough rain?”
"Yes. That’s the example that came first in most people's minds, though farmers are already better than others in their insurance deals. There are also other industries where this is necessary. For example, my parents operated the ski lift back in Montana, and it usually snows. In the few years when it didn't, that was a tough time for us. We barely made ends meet. We had some neighbors who pitched in to help us, but we wouldn't have made it without that help. I don't want anyone to have to go through that trouble. It was a hard time."
She looked at me with soft eyes. "You're a great person, Dylan."
"Thank you. Does that change your resolution in any way?"
She laughed, tilting her head and biting her lower lip. I captured her mouth, moving closer to her. She opened up to me right away, surrendering even faster than this morning. She tugged at my hair and my shirt, and I nipped her tongue lightly. I pulled her in my lap, groaning when she suddenly collided with my cock. I kept kissing her, tasting her, exploring her. I couldn't get enough.
"You're bad for my resolution," she murmured when we paused. "But you kiss so well." She touched my lips, looking at me intently. "Just kissing, okay? Nothing else."
I took that as an invitation to kiss her some more. I needed it. It was like I was possessed with the need to taste her again. I captured her mouth, slipping my tongue between her lips, coaxing her tongue until she moaned against me. I felt it reverberate through my throat and go straight to my cock. I was already hard. I pressed my fingers into her ass cheeks, bringing her center even closer to my erection. She moaned again, then paused the kiss, laughing as she climbed off me.
"Okay, I changed my mind. Your kisses are so good that they'll mess with my mind. They already mess with my hormones. I think I should go."
“Mmm, no. Bad idea.” I touched her lower lip with my fingers, kissing the corner of her mouth. “But if that’s what you want, I respect that.”
“Well, the pup is sleeping, and we’ve established you’re a danger to me. I think it’s the smartest thing to do.”
We both rose to our feet, and she started walking to the door. I waited for a beat, trying to rein in my hard-on and clear my mind before going after her.
“I’ll drive you home,” I said.
“No, no, no. We need to work on your gentleman streak. It’s going to be my kryptonite.”
“Tell me more.”
“You wanted to make me do something outrageous, and you did. I think it’s enough for one evening, don’t you think?” she asked in a teasing tone.
I opened the door, leaning in a few inches as she slipped out. “When it comes to you, I’m not sure there is enough at all.”
Chapter Ten
Dylan
The next morning, Ian came into my office with a shit-eating grin that told me his mind was not on business. He sat on my couch instead of taking the seat in front of me.
"So, I heard you’ve got a dog."
I grinned. "Isabelle already told you?"
He confirmed with a nod. "Obviously. She told Mom and Dad too."
I leaned back in my chair, lacing my fingers on top of my head. That was bad. They might reach all sorts of conclusions. Our parents liked to read into everything.
“She did tell you it’s a present for her, right?” I asked.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain what it’s doing in your apartment.”
“I didn’t want to leave him at the shelter until Isabelle moves.”
Ian cocked a brow. “I see. You wanted to impress Mel. Did it work out?”
“That’s not why I took him home.”
"If you say so."
"I do."
"So, you're dating her now?" he asked.
"No."
He rose from the couch, slowly approaching my desk, pointing at me.
"Holy shit! But you want to, don't you? Finally. I was afraid you were turning into me after the breakup. It really did a number on you.”
I stared him down. "Really? You want to talk about that?"
He held his hands up in defense, finally sitting in the damn chair. "No, no. We buried that hatchet."
My brother and I were close. I'd always looked out for him. I'd never seriously gotten pissed off at him until I found out he knew Lina was cheating and didn't tell me anything. It was the first time we had a falling-out. He claimed he'd only found out after we'd broken up, so telling me would have only been rubbing salt in the wound, which was true. But I always liked to know all the facts, especially if they concerned me. Isabelle talked me out of being pissed at him. She told me Ian had tried to protect me, which I wasn’t used to, considering I was the older one.
"Okay, so let's talk about this, then,” I said, pointing to the stack of documents in front of me.
"Just so you know, the fact that you're evasive about it proves my point," Ian said. His shit-eating grin was back.
"Ian. Work. Now. We only have forty minutes before our phone call with the first client."
"That’s enough time to get the scoop from you and discuss the agenda."
I shook my head. "There's no scoop. There's nothing."
"Yeah, I don't buy it. But whatever works for you, man."
We started talking about the documentation for project Z, and maybe because we’d just been talking about her or maybe because I hadn't stopped thinking about her since she left my apartment, an image of Mel popped up in my mind. I hadn't gotten to kiss her neck last evening, and I was still beating myself up over it. I’d fantasized about it the whole night.
"No, no. You're not allowed to space out if I can't tease you about Mel," Ian exclaimed. "Holy shit, you were thinking about her, weren't you? You don't have it bad. You have it very, very bad."
My family was getting a bit too good at reading me.
“Just wait until our parents get wind of this,” he went on.
“They won’t,” I said. “Unless you blab.”
He held up a finger. “You forget we have two sisters.”
I laughed, sinking lower on the leather seat, glancing at the stack of papers in front of me.
“I can’t believe I have to review these today,” I said.
“Don’t remind me. I’ve got a stack too, and I didn’t even start.”
“You think we’re crazy for taking on project Z?” I asked him. We were very well off just by offering our programmin
g services to our existing clients, as well as licensing a virus protection software we’d developed.
“Probably, but we’ve never backed down from a challenge. And it’ll be worth it if it helps people not go through the same thing our parents did.”
The same thing motivated both of us. Josie had already been in New York, so she didn’t get wind of our parents’ troubles, but Isabelle, Ian, and I grew even closer during those hard years.
My phone started buzzing on my desk.
“It’s Mom,” I said, checking the screen. “That’s weird. She never calls in the morning.”
Ian chuckled. “Unless she got news from a certain sister last evening. And that’s my cue to go to my own office.”
I answered the phone as he left the room. I checked in with my parents a couple times a week, but maybe this was an emergency. As a rule of thumb, I always picked up the phone.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Darling, how are you?”
“Busy,” I replied.
“You always are. Well, I won’t keep you for long. Isabelle told us you got her a puppy.”
Right. So it wasn’t an emergency. Ian was right. I had to laugh. At least they didn’t know about Mel. I should consider myself lucky.
I picked up a pen, intending to leave notes at the edge of the document whenever something stood out.
“I did.”
“And this woman you went to the shelter with is a friend?”
I stopped in the act of marking the document, laughing. I wasn’t sure if this was Isabelle’s work—asking Mom to dig for info—or if Mom was curious.
“What are you asking, Mother?”
“Well, what I did.”
“Why would she be anything other than a friend?” I was interested in her answer.
“Just a mother’s intuition.”
That was clear as mud.
“Mel is a friend, Mother.”
“Hmm....” She didn’t sound at all convinced.
“Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?” I asked.
“No, no. I’ll let you get on with your work. Have a great day, darling.”
“You too.”
After the call disconnected, I remembered my conversation with Mel about her dad. She and I were so similar in this regard—always looking out for our family and trying to give them the best. I remembered her telling me about this medicine she wanted to get for her dad, and I knew just the person to call to make it happen. Ian and I had contacts in the pharma industry, and while I typically wasn’t one to ask for favors, this was important to Mel, and she was a friend.
For now.
Chapter Eleven
Mel
“Thanks for helping me,” Charlotte exclaimed. My best friend and I were in my apartment, sorting out the accounting for the shelter. It had been a short day at the gym. My last session would have been with Dylan, but he canceled at the last moment because he had a meeting. It had been three days since I went to his apartment, and he hadn’t shown up at the gym at all. I couldn’t help wondering if he was avoiding me.
“No problem. Now, since we’re done with accounting, want to join me for a glass of wine on the balcony?”
Charlotte nodded excitedly, running a hand through her platinum blond hair. Unlike me, she was a born and bred New Yorker. When we met at NYU, she made it her mission to make me fall in love with the city. We navigated our student days side by side, waitressing every spare minute to make ends meet.
“You know, I think I should adopt some of your resolutions. I like the idea of enjoying the sunset when possible.”
“I know, right? It’s such a relaxing way to wind down after a long day.”
We’d been working from the couch in my living room, and I got up, stretching my neck. I was about to head to the kitchen when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Taking it out, I glanced at the screen.
Unknown: We need to talk.
I blinked, checking the number, and I instantly saw red. It was Elliot’s. I considered myself a calm person, but my ex was the crappiest person I’d ever met.
Mel: No, we don’t. We have nothing to say to each other.
Unknown: Don’t be like this. It’s important.
“What’s wrong?” Charlotte asked. “You look like you want to throw your phone out the window.”
“Elliot messaged me.”
“Hell no. Why didn’t you block his number?”
“Umm... I’m not sure how to do that. I deleted it.”
“It’s not the same thing as blocking. Come on. Give me your phone, and I’ll do it.”
I handed her the phone, and she tapped the screen a few times.
“Ready. Oh. Wait, you have another message. From Dylan. That’s the guy who took the puppy for his sister, right?”
“Yes.” I stretched out my hand, grabbing the phone.
“Oooh, someone’s excited.”
Dylan: Hey, I found someone who can get the medicine for your dad, but I need a copy of the prescription. And if you text me your address, I'll have it sent to you.
My eyes bulged, and I immediately called him. He answered right away. Charlotte was watching me with curiosity.
"Oh my God. How did you find that?" I asked instead of saying hello, but I was far too excited.
"I pulled some strings. It was important to you."
I brought my hand to my chest. This meant more than he could know.
"Thank you. It's amazing actually. I have a copy of the prescription scanned on my phone. I’ll just forward it to you. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll forward it to my contact, and then I’ll have someone pick it up and deliver it to you tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that. You can leave it with your doorman, and I'll pick it up tomorrow on my way home from the gym."
"Okay. I'll do it like that, then. What are you doing now?"
"I'm about to watch the sunset." I made a split-second decision before I could talk myself out of it. Taking the phone away from my mouth, I whispered the next words to Charlotte. “Do you mind if I take a rain check tonight?”
She grinned. “Only if you tell me why you’re blushing while you’re talking to him.”
Laughing, I put the phone back to my ear. "Do you want to grab dinner? My treat for getting Dad’s medicine." My heart was in my throat as I waited for his answer. Charlotte started laughing.
"Sure, I'll tell the dog sitter to stay longer. Where are we going?"
"There's a great sushi place next to me. It's next to the gingerbread house. Do you know it?"
"No. I've heard about it, I think, but I've never been there."
"Okay. I'll text you the address. Wait a second and I'll do it right now."
After I sent him the text, he said, "Okay, I'm plugging it in the GPS. It says I'm going to be there in half an hour."
"Perfect," I said. "I'll meet you in front of the restaurant. I don't think we need a reservation. It's the middle of the week."
"I can't wait, Mel." His tone sounded conspiratorial, and that made my pulse spike even more. Oh, sweet Lord. Judging by the hot-as-sin kisses he gave me last time, I was playing with fire. But at least this time we were going to be in public.
As soon as the phone call disconnected, Charlotte sprang to her feet.
“Spill it. Are you dating him?”
I smiled, putting my hands on my cheeks. They felt warm. “No. We kissed a couple times.”
Her jaw dropped. “And you didn’t say anything? I’d make you tell me everything right now, but I don’t want to make you late for your date with hot stuff.” She headed to the entrance door, slipping on her ballerina shoes, stuffing her laptop in her backpack, and throwing it over her shoulder.
“It’s not a date. I’m taking him to dinner as a thank-you.”
“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” she whispered right before leaving the apartment.
I’d argue the point, but she was right.
As soon as I was alone, I went into a fren
zy—time to get ready. I plugged in earbuds, playing a super-steamy romance book. It was what the doctor ordered. Heading to my bathroom, I let it play while I put on makeup, mascara and some eyeshadow. I also used the eyelash curler because I liked that curling my lashes seemed to make my eyes appear more prominent.
I only needed to comb my hair, not style it. I washed it before leaving Genesis. I didn't blow-dry it, so it fell in wild curls around my shoulders. What to wear, what to wear? This was a casual dinner between friends who'd kissed.
Twice. Well, technically three times.
Oh my God.
Did I accidentally ask him out on a date?
I bit my lip, looking at my phone. I couldn't ask. It was going to sound silly. I sounded childish even in my mind. It was dinner. That was all.
The mid-June weather was pretty hot, so I put on a red dress that looked great on my body and molded to my shape. It had short sleeves and a V-neckline. It wasn't deep, but enough to be enticing, which was not the point for dinner between friends, but hey, I liked the dress, so I was going to wear it.
I paired it with black heels that made my legs look longer and were pretty comfortable to walk in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t walk in sky-high heels without getting blisters or losing my balance. A two-inch heel was all I could do, but I rocked it.
Once I was done, I calmed down somewhat. I still had fifteen minutes until I had to be at the restaurant, and it was five minutes away. I couldn't believe Dylan had gotten Dad's medicine. Who did that? He was unbelievable. And not for me, I reminded myself. I couldn't want him. There was no possible way this could end well. But I did want Dylan in my life as a friend. He was a great guy, which wasn't such a stretch considering he was related to Isabelle. But I knew some people made great friends, just not great boyfriends. So I had to make sure that the lines weren't blurring.
I shoved my phone and wallet in a tiny black purse before stepping out. There was no elevator since I lived in a converted townhouse and I guess they never thought to put one in. I practically jumped down the flight of stairs. Smiling, I went outside. I loved Bay Ridge. I did feel like I was living in a small town, and the community feeling was strong around here. There were plenty of parks and beautiful architecture. My favorite street was Doctor’s Row that boasted homes in the renaissance revival style.
