“You have a housekeeper?” Eve assumed she would clean Dylan’s house as part of her room and board.
“Plus, I’ll pay you a generous salary.”
“I get paid for looking after Daisy?” Eve was certain she must have misunderstood.
“My mother planned to hire a nanny,” Dylan said with a shrug. “I’ll find out the going rate then pay you double.”
Money for something she would gladly do for free? Eve knew she should say no. But after years of working long hours and barely getting by, the idea of turning down such a generous offer stuck in her throat.
Besides, Eve had plans for every extra cent she earned. If Dylan wanted to contribute, who was she to argue?
“One month.” Eve felt it was important to set a firm timeline. “Promise you won’t ask me to stay longer.”
When Dylan hesitated, Eve wondered why. He was the one who asked for a month. Why wasn’t he happy that she agreed?
“If you need a promise, fine.” Dylan nodded. “I have a caveat.”
“I’m listening,” Eve said with trepidation.
“After four weeks, if for any reason you want to stay, tell me.” Dylan smiled. “I won’t argue.”
“I won’t ask for an extension,” Eve assured him.
“You might,” he said.
“Nope.” Eve was determined to stand firm—especially in the face of Mr. Smirky Pants.
“One more thing.” Dylan held up a hand before Eve could comment. “I want you to feel comfortable and safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked.
“About what happened yesterday. The three kisses—”
“For the love of Pete,” Eve sighed. “Can we save time and sanity and simply refer to it as the kiss? Every time you add a number, I want to slam my fist into your obnoxiously pretty face.”
“There’s the Eve I’ve come to know and tolerate,” Dylan said, laughing when she let out an annoyed growl. “You shouldn’t worry that I’ll expect a repeat of the kiss.”
“We already agreed what happened was a onetime thing.” Eve shrugged. When her heart pounded a little too hard in her chest, she told her libido to behave. “As long as we agree, there’s nothing more to say.”
“I don’t want any tension between us.” Dylan leaned his back against the wall, his pose casual and non-threatening. “Just to clarify. Other than to help you out of the car, or an accidental brush of my hand when we pass in the hall, I won’t touch you. Sex will not be mentioned.”
Eve appreciated that Dylan understood how much a woman alone needed to feel safe. She didn’t know many men who would recognize how awkward she might feel living in his house without another woman around.
For a moment, Eve feared she might start crying again. She cleared her throat.
“Thank you, Dylan.”
“However.”
“Yes?” Eve asked, racking her brain.
Dylan’s expression remained cool, calm, and with an undertone of gravitas.
“Let’s put the same conditions on sex as we did on the timeline for when you leave,” he said.
“I’m not certain what you mean.” Eve frowned. “Conditions?”
“Nothing sinister,” Dylan assured her. “We agreed that if you change your mind at the end of the month, you can stay. No questions asked. Right?”
“We also agreed that I wouldn’t change my mind.”
“Your words, not mine,” he reminded her. “As something physical? Something sexual? The same thing applies. If you decide you want to kiss me or touch me. Or something more? I won’t object.”
Eve opened her mouth to respond but all she could manage was a surprised squeak.
Dylan straightened to his full height. Annoyed, Eve tilted her head to look him in the eyes.
“Glad we hashed things out.” He smiled. “I’m satisfied. Are you?”
Not sure exactly what just happened, Eve nodded.
“Need help with anything before we leave?”
“No.” Eve sighed. “I finished packing last night.”
“Then I’ll be back for you and Daisy in a few hours,” Dylan said. “If anything comes up, call me.”
Eve let herself back into the apartment, leaned against the door, and slid to the floor. In less than half an hour, Dylan Montgomery had changed her life—once again. The man had the flair for the dramatic.
First, he swooped in without warning, determined to take Daisy from her. Then, just when she resigned herself to the fact that she would need to relinquish her rights to the little girl, he talked her into moving to Seattle.
Logically, Eve understood that she hit the jackpot. She would be with Daisy, live in luxury, and get paid to boot. Everything was in her favor.
So why did Eve have the feeling Dylan somehow conned her? In the pit of her stomach, she felt uneasy. As though he knew something she didn’t and by the time she found out his secret, it would be too late.
“I’m overthinking things,” Eve told herself. “If I get to Seattle and things aren’t as rosy as Dylan painted, so what? I’ll have Daisy. And she’ll have me. Besides, anything is doable for one month.”
When Daisy called her name, Eve picked up the little girl, hugging her close. Eve shut her eyes, taking comfort in Daisy’s nonsensical run-on sentences.
Alone, without Dylan’s knowing glances, she could admit to herself that she wasn’t worried about living with him for a month or even a day. Just the opposite.
What if Eve liked Seattle? What if everything was perfect? A month might not be enough.
“What if I never want to leave?”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER TWELVE
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
“I CAN’T BELIEVE you own a private plane.”
Eve turned in a slow circle, trying to take in every detail. She wanted to remember because she knew without a doubt that she would never fall into an opportunity like this one again in her lifetime.
“I don’t own the jet,” Dylan told her as he settled a sleeping Daisy into a special baby seat. “Riley Preston offered me the use of the plane as a favor.”
“Who is Riley Preston?”
Eve's question elicited a gasp from the flight attendant who greeted them as they boarded, telling them her name was Sara.
“Don’t worry,” Dylan smiled at the woman, turning on the charm. “Eve isn’t from another planet. She simply isn’t a football fan so you can’t expect her to know that Riley owns the Knights.”
“I thought everyone knew,” Sara whispered.
As if I can’t hear you. Eve wondered as she watched Sara melt like an ice cream cone under Dylan’s warm gaze. Rolling her eyes, she checked on Daisy.
“Am I required to be a fan?” Eve asked as they buckled their seats for takeoff, sipping a glass of icy champagne. “Sara looks like the vindictive type. I bet she has plans to throw me out once the plane reaches cruising altitude.”
“I wouldn’t let her.” Dylan rotated his right shoulder and grimaced.
“What happened?” Eve felt a twinge of concern. “Are you in pain?”
“FYI, if you play football long enough, you deal with aches and pains every day.” Dylan shrugged, then winced. “I tore a ligament season before last. The injury healed but I get the occasional twinge to remind me not to get complacent.”
“Why would you deliberately torture your body?” Eve seemed genuinely perplexed. “You’re an intelligent man. There must be better ways to make a living than moving a ball from one end of a field to the other.”
“I’ll give you points for knowing the basics of the game.” Dylan let out a good-natured laugh. “Tell me if you ever want to learn the finer points.”
“Weird ball, tight pants, big, scary men. Right?” When Dylan shrugged, Eve did the same. “How much finer can you get?”
“Got me there.” He opened a bottle of water. “I’m surprised you didn’t have more luggage. One duffle
bag takes the concept of traveling light to the extreme.”
“You brought ten suitcases on a four-day trip.” Eve snorted.
“Don’t exaggerate. I only brought three cases,” Dylan said.
“Extra-large.” Amazed that one man needed so many changes of clothing, Eve shook her head. “What a dandy?”
“We live in the twenty-first century,” Dylan exclaimed. “Who uses the word dandy?”
“I do, slick,” Eve said with a snort of superiority. “Try upping your vocabulary. Unless you like sounding like a cliché.”
“Did you just call me a dumb jock?” Incredulous, Dylan shook his head. “Wow. You are something.”
“Thank you.” Eve beamed.
“I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”
“Up yours,” Eve said with a rude gesture just in case Dylan needed a visual aid.
“Excuse me?” Sara cleared her throat, her expression wary. “I apologize for interrupting. We’re about to take off. I need to collect your drinks.”
“You frightened the flight attendant,” Dylan said as he buckled his seatbelt. “Hell, you frightened me.”
Eve stuck out her tongue. Then, she flipped him off again—with both hands. Yes, the gesture was juvenile but very satisfying.
“Do you know what happened to the last person who flipped me the bird?” Dylan asked, his voice low with an ominous timbre. “He didn’t walk straight for a week.”
Ignoring him, Eve opened her purse, took out her earphones, and hit play on her phone. Before she closed her eyes, she couldn’t resist one last glance Dylan’s way. A frown marred his handsome face and he seemed lost in thought.
Had she gone too far? Should she apologize? Sorry, when delivered with sincerity, mattered.
“Dylan?”
“Hm?”
“I shouldn’t have used a rude gesture.” Eve cleared her throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you?” His dark eyes glittered with good humor. “I’m not upset. Though you might want to watch yourself around Daisy. She copies everything you do.”
“Daisy.” Eve sighed with relief when she saw the little girl hadn’t stirred. “You aren’t angry? Really?”
“I like sparring with you,” he said. “Keeps me on my toes. Why? Did I hurt your feelings?”
“Me?” Eve shook her head. “I worked at a logging site for three months. Ever heard the saying, he swears like a lumberjack? I can tell you from firsthand experience. Those guys are hardcore.”
“Aside from your crude hand gestures, I don’t remember hearing you curse. Unless crap counts.”
“I know some colorful phrases,” Eve said “I simply choose not to use them. Especially around Daisy.”
“Remind me now and then. The last woman I lived with was my mother. Fourteen years ago.” Dylan’s eyes widened. “Compared to you and Daisy, I’m an old man.”
“How can you put me in the same category as an eighteen-month-old toddler,” Eve demanded. “You may have a few years on me, Grandpa, but some of the things I’ve seen would make your hair curl.”
“I keep forgetting.” Dylan shook his head. “Why did your mother throw you out?”
“The summer before I started my junior year in high school, I had a job at a local restaurant waiting tables.” Eve smiled at the memory. “The money was good, salary and tips. Before, I had other jobs and always gave what I earned to my mother. For once, I wanted to keep half for myself.”
“Seems fair,” Dylan said.
Where others were concerned, Eve didn’t think the word fair existed in her mother’s vocabulary.
“When I stated my case, my mother gave me a choice. Turn over the money or leave her house. Then, I could support myself.” Eve thought about the situation. “Technically, she didn’t throw me out. I left in protest.”
“Either way, you were sixteen.” Dylan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I can’t imagine.”
Eve often went months without thinking about her mother. Even when she was little, they weren’t close. The best way she could describe their relationship on a good day was that of roommates who tolerated each other.
Never physically or verbally abusive, her mother’s personality was cool, bordering on frigid. Eve used to wonder how she was conceived when there were no men around during her childhood, nor did her mother show any interest in the opposite sex. Immaculate conception seemed highly unlikely and whenever Eve asked, she was shut down with a noncommittal shrug.
“I don’t think my mother was sexually assaulted,” Eve told Dylan. “I’m sure she would have told me. My mother loved a good guilt trip.”
“Jesus, Eve.” Dylan’s fingers flexed, biting into his leg. “How can you be so blasé?”
“For me, everything I’ve told you is old news,” she explained. She nodded toward a still sleeping Daisy. “Watch your language.”
“Sorry.” Dylan rubbed his neck and sighed. “Would you like to find your father? I could hire someone to track him down.”
Eve shook her head.
“He might know about me—that I exist. Maybe he doesn’t. Either way, at this point in my life, I would be…” Eve searched for the right word. “Uncomfortable. Rather than discover he ignored my existence for twenty-seven years, I prefer to think he’s living a good life, oblivious to the fact that he once played the role of sperm donor.”
“Like Tanner,” Dylan said when Eve’s expression darkened.
“Do you honestly want to have another discussion about your brother?” Eve asked, suddenly tired. “I don’t.”
“Can’t say I blame you.”
When Eve yawned, Dylan took a blanket from the seat behind him and draped it over her legs. He pressed a button, sending her seat into a reclining position.
“Get some sleep,” he said, tucking the blanket around her. “We’ll land in Seattle in about seven hours.”
“Daisy.” Eve yawned again.
“I’ll take care of the little miss.”
Eve nodded, already half asleep. For a moment, she thought she felt the brush of a hand across her forehead. Dylan? When she raised her eyelids, just a bit, he was already back in his seat.
A waking dream? Eve smiled before falling into a deep slumber.
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
DYLAN DIDN’T THINK a lot about the house where he lived. He purchased the property on Lake Washington from a former teammate. Built for his wife and three children, the man found out the Knights traded him to Baltimore before his family had the chance to move in.
The price was too good to pass up even though a rambling house with seven bedrooms was more space than a bachelor needed.
“A meadow of wildflowers?” Eve asked as she tipped her head to stare at the mural painted on the kitchen ceiling. “Interesting.”
“The prior owners decorated before they moved.” Dylan didn’t know why he felt the need to explain. Except for once, he couldn’t read Eve’s expression. Her narrowed eyes and cryptic comments made him nervous. “Daisy’s bedroom is on the second floor.”
Carrying the little girl in one arm, her suitcase in the other, Dylan led the way through the living room. The staircase split at the first landing. He went right, stopping at the first door.
“Don’t worry about childproofing,” Dylan said. The house was built with small children in mind.”
“Okay.”
Eve hadn’t said more than four consecutive words since Dylan pulled to a stop inside the five-car garage. She wasn’t the type to let anything intimidate her. Certainly not a house—no matter the size. Yet he could tell something was wrong.
“Are you hungry,” he asked, setting Daisy down on a fluffy pink rug. Hugging her teddy bear, she smiled. “You didn’t eat anything on the plane.”
“Nope.” Eve shrugged. “I’m good.”
“Mom decorated Daisy’s room.” Dylan looked aroun
d. “She may have overdone the lace and frills.”
“Girls like frills.”
Eve wandered to the dresser. Opening a unicorn-shaped music box, she shook her head when she heard Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star play from the mythical creature’s curved horn.
“I know Mom went a little overboard.” Dylan cleared his throat. “She’s excited about her first grandchild. I’m surprised she wasn’t here to meet us.”
“What?” Eve frowned then blinked as her expression lightened. “I’m sorry. I have a million things running through my head all at once. Did you ask me a question?”
“What are you thinking, Eve?” Dylan lowered his head until their eyes were level. “Your silence is deafening.”
“I know money can’t buy happiness,” Eve said. “I was worried when you drove up onto the property. Everything screamed, too big. Too grand.”
“It’s just a house.”
“All Daisy needs is love.” Eve ran a hand across the lace canopy over the bed. “But you know what?”
“Tell me,” Dylan said, holding his breath.
“When I was a little girl, I would have killed for a bedroom like this.” Eve laughed. “Even though I’m pushing thirty, it’s all I can do to stop myself from swiping Daisy’s unicorn.”
Delighted, and relieved, Dylan grinned. A pragmatic, no-nonsense woman, he never would have suspected Eve was a girly girl when she was little.
“You’re full of surprises.”
“The pink is a bit much.” Eve shrugged. “But when Daisy gets older, you can let her decide. She might prefer a room that doesn’t look like it was drowned in Pepto-Bismol.”
Dylan snorted, covering his laugh with a cough.
“Don’t tell your mother what I said,” Eve warned him. “The last thing I want to do is hurt her feelings.”
“I won’t tattle,” he promised, touched by Eve’s kindness.
“One question.” Frowning, Eve scanned the room. “How did your mother redecorate the room so quickly? You didn’t know the DNA results until yesterday.”
“Tanner told Mom about Daisy last week.” Dylan remembered the look of excitement on his mother’s face. “When she makes up her mind, she’s hard to stop. She probably had the decorators work into the night so the room would be ready.”
The Last Honest Man: A Sports Romance (One Pass Away: A New Season Book 3) Page 11
