by Nina Levine
We’re silent a beat before she says, “Do you want to come up for a little while?” She sounds hesitant.
“I’d like that,” I say, grinning with a nod. I release my hold and let her lead the way. Without thinking, I take her hand in mine.
Dylan glances down and then back up at me. “You don’t need to do that anymore.” She opens her hand to release mine, but I hold on a little tighter.
“I know, but I enjoy it.”
Dylan’s cheeks pink, and she reaches up and runs her spare hand through her hair while biting her bottom lip. Damn, she’s sexy. Why hasn’t she been snapped up?
She leads the way into the building and heads straight for the elevator.
The reception area is something you would see in a magazine. The colors are neutral but scream rich. Red, covered chairs sit in a waiting room, and a person stands at the desk.
Once in the elevator, she hits number ten.
“This is a nice building.”
“Thanks. I like my privacy, and it seems people in this building keep to themselves, which is fine by me.” She shrugs.
The elevator stops, and we get off. There’s only one door on this floor.
“Is the entire floor yours?”
“Pfft. No way. This is my side. The elevator also opens on the opposite side to another half of the floor.”
“So, you’re a little rich girl?” I tease.
She releases my hand and digs out her keys. “No, not rich, just smart with money, and damn awesome at my job.” The door clicks, and she pushes it open then stands to the side, allowing me to enter. Stepping through, I’m welcomed into an open living and kitchen area. Colorful artwork hangs on the walls.
“Nice place.”
“Thanks.” She stands beside me, now stripped of her coat and bag. “Would you like a drink?”
I shake my head. “No, thanks. I don’t like to drink while I’m riding. I’d hate to get caught doing it or end up having an accident.”
“Water?” she counteroffers.
“That would be good. Thanks.”
Dylan’s silent footsteps tell me she’s stripped off her shoes.
The view of the city captures my attention, and I move closer to the large window that runs from wall to wall, ceiling to floor. There’s a door leading out onto a balcony. Unlocking it, I slide it open and step out into the cool night air.
Sounds filter up from the busy streets below. This place is awesome. I rest my arms on the rail and take in the lights.
“Here you go.”
Spinning around, Dylan is holding out a bottled water, so I take it and crack the lid, downing the contents.
She clasps a wine glass in her hand and stands beside me but doesn’t lean on the rail.
“I love this view. Makes me want to buy one of these apartments. Hey, we could be floor buddies,” I joke.
She laughs and takes another sip of her wine. “Good luck. The building’s owner probably wouldn’t let you in—guessing you’re a playboy type. They wouldn’t let you bring your parade of women through here.”
“Who says I’m into women?”
Her eyebrows raise. “Well, then I’d say I read you totally wrong tonight. Especially after that kiss.”
I chuckle. “I’m just teasing. I like my women. I have to admit, tonight has taken me by surprise.”
“How’s that?”
“Surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed myself. Your family is great. Where’s your dad?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? He left a while ago, and we’ve never heard from him since. He and Mom always seemed happy, and then one day, he never came home from work. We received a letter to say he wasn’t coming home and that he was happier with someone else.”
“Ouch, that’s harsh. Is that the reason why you and Jasmine are so guarded when it comes to men?”
Her lips touch the glass as she takes another sip. This one seems more like a large mouthful, though. I’ve hit a subject she’s not too keen on discussing, obviously.
“It’s part of it, but we’ve both had experiences where we’ve been hurt, and the hurt has been so bad that being single is more appealing than trying to please another man.”
I nod and stare back out at the lights which remind me of colored stars. “But why is your mother pushing you to get married, or at least find a man?”
She laughs. “Because she doesn’t want us to end up alone, and I also think it’s because she wants to organize a wedding for her girls. She always tells us that when she was with Dad, things were good. They were happy. She doesn’t understand why he left, and she was utterly heartbroken. I guess I don’t ever want to go through what she did. If you had seen her…” Her voice trails off.
Glancing at Dylan, she blinks away the tears that rest in her eyes.
Lifting myself away from the rail, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her closer. Even knowing this woman for only a couple of hours, it almost feels second nature to hold her, to touch her. My body aches for her closeness, and it’s such a weird feeling for me. I’ve wanted closeness in my life, but nothing like what Dylan makes me want.
How can she change my mind about the kinds of things I want in such a short amount of time?
I know I want her.
12
Cole
Dylan clears her throat and brushes away a tear that trickles down her flushed cheek.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have asked.” My grip on her tightens.
“No, it’s okay. Trust me, I’ve never spoken about it with anyone. Not even my mom. I’m not one to dig up the past.”
“But haven’t you ever wanted to find your father?”
“Not really. I guess it’s easier to let him go because that’s what he wanted. He hasn’t sought out my sisters or me, so why should I do the work for him? He’s our father, and he left, which tells me he’s not interested in what we do or what he left behind.”
“I get it.”
We fall silent. I keep my arm around Dylan, not wanting to lose that contact with her. Her body heat radiating against me causes my heart, which has been like a stone for far too long, to feel more. The stone heart is my protector, never letting anyone close enough to rip it away from me.
“So, tell me, do you enjoy it still, riding, that is?”
“I’ve never been asked that question. My focus has always been to try and get ahead of all the other riders and stay on the bike. Now that I think about it like that, yeah, I still enjoy it. I guess if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
“Fair enough. Have you ever been married or had a long-term girlfriend?”
I swallow. “Uh, yeah. I’ve had a long-term relationship before. Obviously, it didn’t go so well.”
“Oh, really? What happened?”
“She was more interested in the money and fame than me. I had come off my bike in a crash and had hurt myself pretty badly, and she didn’t stick around for long, thinking I’d not recover, but I was determined to prove her wrong. Then, when I made my comeback, she was right away looking to fix things.”
“Wow! What a bitch.”
“Yeah. So, why are you not really wanting to go to your reunion?”
Her shoulders deflate under my touch.
“Would you like to go inside?”
She nods.
For someone I’ve just met, I’m happy enough to share my heartbreak, which I normally wouldn’t do. Normally, I’d bed and leave. That’s what my sex life has come to lately. Deacon’s prank could possibly work out differently for me. Maybe instead of getting even, I will have to send him a thank-you card.
We step inside, and she takes a seat on a cream couch. I follow suit. She takes a deep breath then says, “There’s one person I don’t want to see. Plus, I hated school. I was the nerd. Teacher’s pet. Whatever, you name it.”
A vision of her standing in front of me in her office comes back full force. Now, all I need is her in a schoolgirl uniform and those glasses. Damn. T
hat thought makes heat stir in my stomach. “Now that’s something I think I’d like to see,” I tease.
She backhands my chest. “Shut up!”
“What? A man is allowed to dream, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, you keep on dreaming.” Dylan finishes her wine and places the glass on the pearly white coffee table in front of us. I gather she likes white with splashes of color, judging by the tone of the room.
“So, who is this guy?”
She shuffles slightly in her seat and then finally says, “He’s the man I was going to marry.”
13
Dylan
Cole’s eyes go wide. His mouth opens then closes. Obviously, he doesn’t know how to react to that statement. He’s the first person I’ve admitted it to. Scarlett and Vivian are the only ones who know about Luke.
“You did say ‘marry him’? I did hear that right?” I nod. “Wow! Okay, so why didn’t you marry him?”
“It’s kind of a long story,” I admit, not really wanting to delve into my past and stir up the dust that has settled there.
Cole hops up and pulls off his jacket, revealing those works of art on his arms. For a split second, I thought he was going to hightail it out of my apartment. The panic that rose a second ago dies when he takes his seat beside me again.
“Thought you were heading out.” I laugh.
“Nope, getting comfortable to hear your story about this Luke.”
The way Luke’s name drips off his tongue, it’s as if it tastes bitter to him.
“I’m not really one to share my story with strangers.”
“Hmm…we’ve kissed, and right now, aren’t I your boyfriend? You know, technically speaking.” His large shoulders shrug.
“Technically speaking, that ended when we left my mother’s.”
“You mean you’re ending our relationship?” He almost sounds shocked, but the grin tells me otherwise.
I shake my head. “Fine! Luke and I had been together since junior year, and we stayed together through high school. Then, the moment we hit college, things changed and not for the better. We were both studying medicine. Then, one day, he asked me to marry him, and I said yes because he asked in front of everyone, but when everything settled in, I told him I couldn’t marry him. He wasn’t happy with my answer and spread rumors about me…about how I was an easy lay. Just real degrading th-things.” My voice cracks as memories of those laughing and mocking people in the hallways still haunt me. I pause, attempting to swallow with a dry, desert throat. The pain I felt all those years ago begins to ache inside me once more.
“Hey…” I didn’t realize Cole had shifted closer, and his arm is around my shoulder. “We don’t have to talk about this.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s old news, but it still holds me hostage, and I don’t want that anymore.” I pause and take a breath before continuing, “While he was never physical, those words—lies he spread about me left invisible scars.”
Cole curses under his breath but says nothing more, so I keep telling him my story. “Anyway, I ended the relationship, left college, and went somewhere else. I didn’t want to face him and the taunts daily. I never knew what happened to him until a couple of years ago when I went to a conference and he was there. He has the exact same job as me, except I’m more highly regarded in the field. And honestly, to know that felt great.” I cock a small grin.
“Did anything happen at the conference?”
“Yeah, I received an award for being the best in the industry, and some of the surgeons who were in attendance told me his business was failing. I’d never felt happier than in that moment. I know I sound like a cow, but honestly, I couldn’t care less.”
Cole chuckles. “No, of course not. You have every right to feel how you do. He obviously isn’t a great man. Did you talk to him at the conference?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I made sure to keep my distance. If he joined the group I was talking to, I would excuse myself and move somewhere else. Since then, I’ve never had a solid boyfriend. I hate the idea that the next person could be someone worse.” I glance up at Cole. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down when he swallows. He still hasn’t removed his arm from me, and I’m rather enjoying it.
“Well, it seems you’ve done amazingly enough without a man in your life. Do you think you’ll find Mr. Right one day?”
My lips purse as I remember all the dates I’ve gone on recently, then I reply with, “I doubt it. My job—while I am doing well—when I mention what I do for a living on dates, the guy usually cuts it short and that’s that. I never hear from them again. My profession is a cock block.” I giggle.
Cole’s laughter ripples through me like an old song that makes you feel good. Everything about this man sitting next to me screams sex appeal. I can’t help but wonder what he looks like underneath that shirt.
“You can stop undressing me with your eyes.” He bumps my shoulder.
I blink a few times and turn a bright shade of pink as I feel my cheeks flush. “I wasn’t,” I say innocently. “I was thinking that I need another drink.” Grabbing my glass from the table, I head off and refill it. I sense Cole’s eyes on me as I move around my living room space.
“Now it’s your turn to stop undressing me with your eyes.” I cock an eyebrow as I take a seat beside him again. It’s as though talking about Luke has pushed the anxiety it once brought me right out of my mind.
Perhaps it’s Cole?
I don’t know.
Whatever it is, I’m not going to let Luke bring me down ever again. That man is nothing to me.
“Well, I thought it only fair that I get to do the same as you did.” He shrugs and leans back into the seat. I could easily climb onto his lap and claim those lips again.
“What? No,” I rush the words out. Busted.
“You were biting your lip. It’s one of your tells.”
“Well, don’t read into it. I do that all the time.”
“Oh, I’ve noticed.” He winks, and it makes my stomach swirl. “Perhaps we should finish what we started in your mother’s kitchen.” The swirls immediately turn into a wild rampage of wanton desire. I probably shouldn’t want this man as much as I do. We hardly know each other. Yet, I’ve told him my deepest secret tonight. I’ve told a complete stranger. Only it doesn’t feel like we’re strangers. It’s more. So much more than I ever expected.
I place my drink on the table again and scoot closer to him. Cole’s heated stare burns into mine. The desire in his eyes causes an ache right in my core. Without thinking, I swing a leg over his lap and straddle him like I did his bike earlier this evening.
Cole’s hands slide up my jeans and stop at my hips, then he tugs me closer. No words need to be spoken. Leaning forward, our mouths crash together like they’ve missed each other. The way his lips ravish mine is inexplicable. They leave their mark right where I want them to.
Our breaths mix and become heavier. His hands find the bottom of my shirt, and he pulls it over my head. I love the way his eyes roam over my body.
“I’ve never had someone look at me like you’re staring at me right now.”
His fingertips trace over the inches of my skin, leaving sparks behind in their wake.
“Dylan, you’re beautiful. Those men obviously never appreciated what was sitting right in front of them. But you…you make me want to stay.”
“What’s a little bit of fun?” I shrug.
Cole’s lips press against my collarbone.
“I’m not going to be able to leave tonight. You’re a temptress. Your smile, the way you bite your lip…it has teased me all night, and now I want to try it out and bite it for myself.”
“Then stay.”
14
Dylan
Light filters through a crack in my blackout curtains. Then, a flood of memories assaults me as I recall what happened last night.
I took a stranger to meet my family as a pretend boyfriend. Check.
I told him my deepest secret. Check.
>
We slept together. Check.
Though, now that I’ve finally let my fuzzy, sleepy brain wake up, I feel alone in here. Turning to where Cole was asleep earlier when I’d gotten up to use the bathroom, it’s now empty. My stomach plummets, and unease washes over me.
He’s gone.
He left.
He’s just like the rest of the male population.
I forcefully kick off my covers and grab a pair of sweats from the drawer and pull my hair up into a messy bun, dropping back onto the edge of the bed.
Last night…
The way Cole claimed me was something out of a movie.
He knew exactly what I wanted and needed. Every kiss was as powerful as the next. They stole my breath but also breathed life into me. My body has craved this kind of care for a long time, and Cole is the first person to hit all the right spots.
Cole could have, at least, woken me before he left.
The happiness I woke with has now gone.
I finally pull myself up from the bed and search out my cell phone. Where did I leave it?
Pulling the door to my bedroom open, daylight spills through into the dark room from the living area. I squint and groan out, “Too bright.”
“Good morning to you, too,” a deep voice from the kitchen startles me, and I scream. Though it’s more like a squeak.
“What the hell? I thought you’d left. I was ready to be angry at you.”
Cole’s face comes into view, and what a view it is. He’s in his briefs and that’s it. Every inch of him is pure muscle. I slept with that last night. Every girl’s wet dream is standing in front of me.
“Do I seem like the kind of man to up and leave after a wild night like that?” His large frame moves slowly closer until his arms are secured around my waist.