by Dara Girard
“I don’t know what she told you, but—”
“I want the will.”
“It’s a private matter.”
“I can make it public.”
“Is that a threat?”
Dylan rested his hands on his hips and flashed a cruel smile. “Do I look like the kind of man who makes threats?”
Annette sighed, her gaze sweeping over him in longing disappointment. “Why do you have to be so sexy?”
He waited.
She folded her arms. “How much time do I have to fix this?”
“Depends on how much you’ve made.”
Her arms fell to her sides. “I don’t have that money anymore.”
“You’ll find it. You have three days.”
“I need more than three days.”
“In three days you’re going to call Jodi and tell her that there’s been a mistake and you’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t see how any of this is your business.”
“Three days. Make it right or I will come after you.”
19
Joyce looked outside with a groan as large drops of rain pounded against the office window. “Damn spring.”
“The rain is good for us,” Jodi said.
“But I have a date. He’s picking me up any minute and I’ll get soaked.”
“You can borrow my coat,” Jodi said, motioning to her bright pink raincoat, which hung on the coat rack. “It has a hood.”
Joyce smiled and grabbed it. “Thank you! You’re a lifesaver. I’ll pay you back.” She dashed out the door.
“Now you’ll get soaked,” Cara said.
“Nope. I have a huge umbrella and I’m glad I could help.” Jodi said, putting her things away in her desk. “I wonder who she’s seeing. She’s been really happy these last few months.”
“All I know is that he drives an expensive car,” Cara said. “Speaking of expensive, you still haven’t told me about that outlet place where you got all your new clothes.”
“I told you, it was just a lucky find. It’s now out of business.”
“And you’re seeing someone.”
She hadn’t told her about Dylan yet. She knew she had to keep her membership in the Black Stockings Society a secret, but the reading lessons and her new relationship were also things she wanted to keep guarded. Especially when there were still so many questions. Why hadn’t he wanted to stay with her a little longer? He’d practically raced out of her bedroom. “Yes, but it’s not really anything yet.”
She remembered getting a phone call from Ms. Rehnquist two nights ago. She’d been alone in her bedroom still reeling from Dylan’s strange behavior at the party, and then having him alone in her room when her phone rang. “Have you read the instructions yet?” she asked.
Jodi paused. “What instructions?”
“From the Society.”
She felt embarrassed. Over the last several months she’d forgotten about her membership. “No, I haven’t read them yet.” She scrambled and looked inside her closet where she’d put the box with the two remaining stockings and the sealed instructions. “When do you want me to come over?”
“I told you, it’s for you to read now. I just wanted to remind you.”
“But what if I—”
The connection went dead. Jodi took the box and set it on her bed. There was a sealed envelope that said ‘For Jodi’ her heart began to race again as she recognized the words. You can read now, Dylan had told her. She had to believe that. She could read. Even her job had become easier as she recognized words that had once seemed foreign to her.
She took a deep breath. Four months ago this would have been impossible, but she could do this now. She broke the seal and opened the remainder of the instructions.
Choose a pair of stockings to cook in.
She frowned then read it again. That’s all? That was easy. She read the next line.
Then make a meal for someone special.
She smiled. That was also easy. She would love to make something for Dylan. Her eyes went to the last line.
From a recipe you read.
Jodi paused then slowly read the instructions again. Not just any recipe, but one she could read. That shouldn’t be too hard now. She’d read these instructions all by herself hadn’t she? She jumped off her bed and grabbed one of the cookbooks, her heart pounding. Yes, this would be something she could do.
However, when she looked at one of the recipes, her heart sank. There were still too many words she didn’t know or understand. She shoved the book back in place in disgust. Why would they ask her to do something like this? Why couldn’t they ask her to follow a cooking show? It would probably take her another month or two to be good enough to recognize all the terms.
“Are you seeing him tonight?” Cara asked, breaking into her thoughts.
“No,” she said. But she’d seen him last night for her reading lesson. She’d been more determined than ever to learn the words she needed. She’d bought one of her favorite cookbooks on desserts with her to her lesson and pointed out words for him to describe like ‘concentrated’ and ‘granular’ and ‘distinctive flavor’ until he stopped her.
“Jodi, I know how important this is to you, but this book is advanced and you’re not at this level yet.”
“But I have to be.”
“You’ll get there, but trying to push yourself you’ll only end up frustrated. I can give you several words to practice if you like.”
She sighed, defeated. “Okay, but could you read a few more words for me? She turned a page and pointed. “Like what does that say?”
“Luxurious velvety chocolate.”
She flipped to another page. “And this?”
“Creamy coffee buttercream.”
She motioned to a few lines below it. “And what about this?”
“Swirled chocolate and luscious—” He snapped the book closed. “I’m done.”
“Why did you stop? What did it say?”
“I’ll tell you next time. Let’s switch to another topic.”
She smiled. “Those pictures are mouth watering, aren’t they? Was it making you hungry?”
His eyes caught and held hers. “Yes, but not for what you think.”
Heat crept into her cheeks, a delightful shiver running through her, and soon the words she could recognize sprang to her mind like ‘moist’ and ‘intense’ and ‘heat’. At that moment she felt all three. And for the first time she only cared about one thing—learning everything about him. She looked at his eyes, wondering what he liked to watch; she studied his lips wondering what he liked to eat. She looked at his shoulders, wondering what he did on the weekends.
“You’re not making this easy,” Dylan said in a deep tone.
“I’m not?”
He shook his head. “Not when you keep looking at me like that.”
Jodi lowered her gaze and swallowed, fighting to tap down her attraction. “I’m sorry.”
He released a long sigh. “Me too. Whatever you feel, I feel it more.”
She stared at him startled.
He frowned. “Why do you look so surprised?”
“It’s just that…”
“What?”
“The day of Annette’s party, when you were in my bedroom, you didn’t seem…” She searched for words.
“Interested?”
She nodded.
“I had something else on my mind.”
“Can I ask what?”
He folded his arms on the table. “You’ll find out soon.”
“You can’t tell me now?”
“No,” he said with a smile. “It’s a surprise.”
And to her annoyance he didn’t say anything more, but he promised her a surprise this week so she looked forward to their next session to find out what it was.
“No, actually my lawyer called,” Jodi said, answering Cara’s question. “I have to go to her office. She said it was something urgent.”
20
&nb
sp; Annette had always been sweet to Jodi, but the woman who greeted her that evening had all the charm of a sour grapefruit. Jodi opened her mouth to ask her what was wrong when she realized they weren’t alone.
Dylan rose from a chair, which had been obscured by the door. “Surprise.”
“What’s going on?” Jodi asked.
Dylan waited.
Annette sighed. “There seems to have been a mistake with the will.”
Jodi sat down sending Dylan a nervous glance. What was he doing there? Had he said something to her? Was she going to lose the house? “A mistake?”
“Yes, the house goes to you.”
“I know that,” Jodi said confused. “We went over all the conditions.”
Dylan took a seat but didn’t speak.
Annette stared at him for a long moment then turned to Jodi. “There are no conditions.”
“No, conditions?”
“No.” She clasped her hands together and lowered her voice with all the sincerity of a disgraced politician at a press conference. “I admit that I’ve made a mistake. I went over the will again and noticed my error. I can no longer be your lawyer and I hope that this will compensate you.” She lifted a check off the desk and handed it to her.
Dylan took it before Jodi could and read the amount. He crumbled it in his fist. “Try again.”
“You bastard.”
He blinked, bored.
She turned her wrath to Jodi. “I thought you trusted me. I thought we had a good relationship. How could you go behind my back to a shark like Dylan Flynn and—”
“I didn’t,” Jodi said, pained by the accusation. “It’s just that we—” She stopped before she admitted that they were seeing each other. “I don’t know what he said, but—”
“Annette,” Dylan cut in in a sing-songy voice. “You’re starting to make me angry.”
She glared at him.
He didn’t blink.
Jodi looked at the two perplexed then stood. “Annette, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on. Dylan, let’s go.”
He didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on Annette. “If she walks out that door, you know what I will do.”
Jodi spun to him. “Are you threatening her?” She looked at Annette. “Did he threaten you?”
Dylan opened his fist and stared at the crumpled check in his hand. “Did I?”
“No,” Annette said. “Please sit down.” She wrote another check then held it up for them both to see. She shot Dylan an ugly look. “Is that better?”
“Only if you hand it over with a smile.”
She curled her lip.
He took the check. “I suppose that’s the best you can do.” He handed the check to Jodi. “Here you go.”
She stared at the amount and shook her head. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Dylan stood. “I’ll explain later.”
“It was an honest mistake,” Annette said. “I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Dylan opened the door. “Let the church say ‘Amen’.”
Annette flashed him a crude gesture.
“What just happened?” Jodi asked Dylan as they rode the elevator down to the main floor.
“Annette is a fraud. She used your…trust to fool you and convince you that you needed her firm, but the will said that you got the house and could do with it whatever you wanted.” He nodded to her purse. “You didn’t have to rent out to anyone and that’s to pay for the money she made.”
“But why would she do that?”
“Because she tests the air with her tongue.”
“What?”
“She’s a snake.”
“All this time she was tricking me?”
“It’s okay, it could happen to anyone.”
“Not anyone,” Jodi said in a bitter tone. “It couldn’t happen to someone who could read.”
“You can read now,” Dylan said, stepping out of the elevator. “Don’t feel bad. People of all types can get swindled. Just be happy it’s over.”
“You know you didn’t really tell me how you know Annette.”
He held open the front door for her. “She’s a friend of my sister.”
“Was your sister at the party?”
He nodded. “Yes, you met her and her husband, Malcolm Falconer.”
Jodi stopped. “She’s your sister?”
He nodded again.
“But then…wait…why did Annette call you Dylan Flynn not Rodgers?”
He sighed. “Because that’s my name.”
“And you now work at Flynn’s Fleets?”
“I don’t work there.”
“But you said—”
“I’m the grandson of the founder. My grandmother runs the company.”
“I don’t understand. Then why were you working at By Your Side?”
“I went undercover to see how it was doing.”
“You mean you went to spy to steal ideas?” Jodi stared at him as if seeing a stranger. She’d trusted him, shown him parts of the company, shared ideas they’d planned to implement. He could use that information and help their biggest rival. He’d seemed interested and now she knew why. “You’re no better than Annette. You used me. You abused my trust.”
“Jodi.”
She marched to her car. She’d been betrayed by two people she’d trusted. “I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”
“I didn’t tell them anything. And if it will make you feel any better, my grandmother didn’t talk to me for weeks.”
She opened her car door. “I don’t care. I thought you were better than this. But you’re no better than a criminal.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not criminal to spy on your own company.”
She stopped and stared at him. “What? You own By Your Side?”
He nodded.
“But Larry Williams—”
“Works for me. Several years ago I thought my grandmother could use a little competition.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not right. At first I had something to prove, then I realized I enjoyed it.”
Slowly everything fell into place. “I told you about Natalie stealing my ideas and Larry covering for her.”
He nodded.
“And you’re the reason Natalie was fired and Joyce and I got promotions.”
He nodded again. “I meant it when I said I hope you know how appreciated you are.”
“Then why were you fired?”
“I asked Larry to do that. I knew it was time to leave and make some changes.”
“And why did he ask me to do it?”
Dylan smiled. “Can’t you guess?”
Jodi shook her head.
“I wanted to see you one last time.” He winked. “Still mad at me?”
“How can I be mad when you changed my life? Although, it was scary at first.”
“I know. When I found out your secret I was a little worried, but I would have made sure the position was held until you were ready.”
She leaned against the car and stared up at him, squinting against the bright sun behind him. “I still can’t believe it.”
“I need you to keep my secret. I don’t want anyone else to know the truth.”
Jodi playfully narrowed her eyes. “I knew you were hiding something. Do you have any more secrets?”
He shook his head. “You?”
Only an exclusive club that I can’t tell you about. “No.”
“Good. Now let’s take this relationship to the next level. Are you free this weekend?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because I want to treat you to dinner.”
21
He treated her to a lot more than dinner.
Jodi shifted her gaze over the three people in front of her—two she’d already met before—the attractive woman with the cold eyes and the handsome man by her side—and another individual who seemed friendly, a round faced cutie who spoke so softly at times she had to strain to hear him.
They sat together in the elegant Spanish restaurant. She knew the pair was Dylan’s sister and brother-in-law and now knew that the younger man was his brother Josh. She just wished he’d given her more of a warning. He’d only told her his plan when they arrived at the restaurant and said, “Oh, they got here before us,” as the maitre d showed them to their seats.
“Who?” Jodi asked, taking off her raincoat, which had protected her from the light drizzle outside.
“Gwen, Malcolm and my brother Josh.”
Jodi looked at him with wide eyes. “They’re here?”
“Yes, I wanted them to formerly meet you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Meeting your family is a big step.” She looked down at her dress. “I should have worn—”
“You look beautiful and I didn’t tell you because you may have said ‘no’.”
“I would have definitely said ‘no’. Your sister—”
“But since you’ve already met them it shouldn’t be too awkward. And Josh likes anybody.”
“But your sister—”
“Now smile and wave, they’re looking at us.”
And now Jodi was looking down at a menu she couldn’t read. Only the word ‘Menu’ seemed to register in her mind. Was she so nervous that she’d forgotten how to read? Was it because she was completely out of her element? She felt as if at any moment someone would put a spotlight on her and expose her as a fraud. What business did she have dating the owner of the company where she worked? And how could she try to pretend she had anything in common with a man like Malcolm who was the face of Flynn’s Fleets? She couldn’t talk about banana fritters all evening.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked.
Josh opened his mouth to reply, but Malcolm beat him to it.
“Not yet,” he said to Jodi’s relief.
“He always takes forever to decide,” Gwen said.
“I’ll give you a few more minutes,” the waiter said then left.
Jodi scanned the menu. Perhaps she should just give up and have whatever Dylan ordered. That was usually what she did when she went out to eat with others.
Dylan gently nudged her with his elbow and said in a low voice. “You look anxious. What’s the matter?”