It wasn’t just the best sex of his life, it was everything Carina, the way she felt, the way she moved, and the way she called his name, her face flushed with pleasure, her fingers curled into his hair, her legs wrapped around him.
And everything about Carina felt a whole lot like love.
Dylan blew out a breath. He could do it. Carina was worth it. She was so open and trustful. She would never hurt him, even if she disagreed with his lifestyle. He’d lay his heart out for her, and hope she’d agree to a long distance relationship. Meeting once or twice a year was worth it. And making love? A whole different universe than casual sex and the emptiness which followed. There would never be another woman for him now that he’d experienced Carina.
He scratched his sandpapery stubble and licked the inside of his fuzzy mouth, then made a kissing motion. If he wanted a good morning kiss, he’d need to brush his teeth and shave. Except he hadn’t brought his toothbrush and razor. Maybe she had an extra one somewhere.
Dylan pulled on a pair of boxers and peeked out the bathroom door to ask, but Carina was still in dream world. Which was okay. He’d enjoy surprising her. After the shave, he’d scrounge up some coffee, preferably freshly ground, see what she had in that refrigerator of hers and serve her breakfast in bed, maybe more.
He opened the medicine cabinet. Contact lens supplies, makeup remover, jewelry cleaner, lipstick, eyelash curler, no toothbrush. Next he checked the drawers. Dental floss, swabs, tweezers, cell phone … bingo, a toothbrush in retail wrapping.
He was about to close the drawer when the phone vibrated and the screen lit with an incoming message. From Rebecca?
A slinky chill snaked down his back as he read the message.
Rebecca: Update, update. Did you seduce him?
Bam. Dylan’s heart exploded like a wasp’s nest hit by a knuckle ball. He thumbed his way upwards and glanced through the message history. Was this his Rebecca or a random friend of Carina’s?
He scrolled to the beginning and checked the contact information. It was Rebecca Morley, and Carina had been trading information about him. A boiling mass of acid erupted in his stomach.
From the context of the messages, Carina worked for Rebecca at Mogul. Which meant his father had lied to him about Rebecca working at Jewell Capital, complete with the fake image of an offer letter. Damn!
The phone vibrated again: Hey, I need you to come to work.
And again: You there? Was Dylan that good? Come on, don’t hold out on me.
Dylan’s entire body shook with rage and he squeezed the phone tightly. Carina had seemed so sincere. How could he have been fooled? Instead of being in love with him, she was using him as a stepping stone for her career. But then, why would Rebecca care whether Carina slept with him or not?
He took several calming breaths. Focus, Dylan. Find out what Rebecca wants before letting Carina know you’re onto her.
He thumbed back: You really want to know? [wink emoticon]
Rebecca: Sure, how many times did you come?
Grrr … women are always sharing. This ought to show Rebecca what she’s missing.
Dylan: I lost count. It was incredible.
Rebecca: Do tell. Although you better be getting ready for work.
Dylan: He’s hung like a horse. It’s hard for me to walk right now.
Rebecca: [eye popping emoticon] Really? I hope his father is similarly endowed.
Witch, acting all innocent as if you don’t remember. Huh!
Dylan: You mean you’ve never?
Rebecca: He’s old fashioned. We’re waiting to be properly married.
Thank God Dad has more sense than stupid fucking me.
Dylan: You don’t know what you’re missing. If all the Jewell men are as hung and hard as Dylan … [panting with tongue sticking out emoticon]
Rebecca: I get the picture. Did you, by any chance get a commitment?
Commitment? On what? Strange …
Dylan: Oh, yeah. Roped him in when he came in my mouth.
Rebecca: Whoop! Is he going to take the job?
Interesting. Job where? With my dad?
Dylan: He’s thinking about whether it’s a good offer or not.
Rebecca: Tell him his dad will call him. I’ll transmit these messages to his father to prove he’s on the right track. I told you this would seal the deal.
Plain creepy. I better stop her from forwarding these to Dad.
Dylan: Uh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Dylan’s still thinking about the tour. It’s what he always wanted to do.
Rebecca: Why do I get the feeling you’re reneging?
Dylan: Not at all, but Dylan is unpredictable. You should know that men say anything when their cock’s in your mouth.
Rebecca: *blush* boy do I know that. You better deliver Dylan if you want that return offer.
Dylan: I’ll do whatever I can, but I wonder. Wouldn’t it be better for you if Dylan left on the tour? That way you can be in control of the company without his interference.
Rebecca: I wish. Remember I told you? Rich insists on a pre-nup if his son isn’t a partner.
Gotcha, bitch. You just want Dad for his moolah.
Dylan: Oh, wow. Whatever happened to love? Men!
Rebecca: I’m telling you. It’s not like I don’t love him or anything. He’s so suspicious. It’s his kids. They’re jealous of me.
No we’re not. We just smell a skank whenever you’re hooked onto his arm.
Dylan: Don’t worry about me. I’ll steer Dylan the right way. You can count on it.
Rebecca: Good. I’ll see you in the office. If BART’s too slow, call a cab and expense it.
Dylan: It might be a while. Dylan wants me back in bed again. Think I’ll give it another go for insurance.
Rebecca: Sure thing. Make it good. *jealous!!!*
A light tapping rattled the door, and Dylan startled.
“How’s my big boy this morning?” Carina said through the door. “Wanna jump in the shower together?”
Heat burned behind his ears. How could she act so innocent when she was colluding with his worst enemy? Had she meant what she said about wanting him to follow his heart or was she using reverse psychology? Something Rebecca was sure to have briefed her about.
“Actually, I showered already,” he said. “One minute, okay?”
He brought up an app to forward her voice calls and text messages to his number. His fingers shook as he deleted the messages he’d typed to Rebecca. The doorknob jiggled.
“I have to use the bathroom,” Carina said.
“One minute.” He checked that all the messages in his and Rebecca’s conversation were deleted, wiped her phone with a towel, and placed it back in the drawer.
Grabbing the unused toothbrush, he pasted a smile on his face, and opened the door.
Carina rushed straight into his arms and cuddled against him. He fought to keep from shoving her away. Conniving little witch. Look at her acting so damn adorable while stabbing him in the back. He forced his muscles to relax and his breathing to calm. One thing Dad taught him was to keep his enemies close. He’d observe her and see what other lies she was capable of dishing out.
“Don’t you have to go to work?” He gave her a smacking kiss on the forehead.
“Let me check, but if no one’s called me in, I’d love one of your latte hearts.” She smiled and wiggled her shoulders.
“Okay, what are we waiting for? Let’s go to my place. I roasted a new blend yesterday.”
“I’ll be quick.” She stepped into the bathroom, her eyes traveling down his torso and lingering for a second before she winked and shut the door.
Dylan gritted his teeth as his body disobeyed and responded with lust. How much of her body language was real and how much I-banking bravado and charm? Many business students took acting classes before embarking on the brutal interviews that valued fit and charisma more than technical ability and grades.
If she thought she could play him, he’d show her who w
as master of the game.
~ ~ ~
Sunday morning traffic through the Caldecott Tunnel was predictably light. Carina yawned as they emerged on the Berkeley side and wound their way down the gentle foothills. She loved this stretch of road, dense with trees, reminding her of the upscale neighborhood of her home back in Pennsylvania.
Dylan was driving, but he was quiet and distant, his face tense, as if he had a lot on his mind.
Carina stared fixedly out the window, her heart crumbing into tiny pieces. He probably regretted what had happened. Had it all been fake? The words, the tender touch, the loving song?
She glanced at his profile: angular, with a sharp nose and strong chin. His gaze flickered over her, not quite friendly, piercing and questioning.
Thankfully her cell phone had been quiet and there were no new messages from Rebecca asking her to come to work. She rubbed her upper arms, unable to appreciate how Berkeley could be so cool in the middle of the summer. What happened to the Dylan of last night? The one who promised her his world? Had she been too aggressive? Or maybe she’d scared him with the ‘M’ word.
The car descended toward downtown Berkeley and entered a parking garage across from the post office. Dylan pulled into a marked Zipcar location and shut off the engine.
“You sure you want me around?” Carina didn’t wait for him to open the door for her.
“I invited you, didn’t I?” His teeth were clenched in a grin, and his eyes were subdued. “Besides, I need that cup of coffee.”
He wasn’t even going to keep up the pretense of being sweet on her. Pressure behind her eyeballs heralded tears, but she wouldn’t let him see her cry.
She kept her chin up. I-bankers had to maintain a positive attitude to engage clients. “Your lattes are to die for.”
Her comment dropped like a bird turd with no response. They rounded the corner to the apartment building. The colorful mosaic benches were unused and no one was around.
“Where’s Gordie?” Carina peeked around the corner in case he lurked near the hot dog stand.
“Tree sitting.” Dylan opened the door.
Carina examined the potted trees in the lobby. “Babysitting a tree? I don’t get it.”
“Protest at People’s Park. The university comes in to do landscaping, clear branches, and the people take issue with it.”
“Why would they be against landscaping?” Carina stepped into the elevator ahead of Dylan. At least he was talking like a normal person and not like a guy who acted as if she were the worst lay he’d ever had.
“They’re afraid the trees will be cut down. There’s a long history with People’s Park and the struggle to protect it. It was going to be made into a parking lot, but the people of Berkeley protected the trees, planted gardens and made it into a nice patch of green.”
“What if Gordie gets hurt?”
“He’ll be fine.” Dylan jiggled his keys and unlocked the door. He dropped his guitar case near the umbrella stand and picked up a fast food bag from the floor.
The apartment looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Unopened mail lay in a pile near the coat closet. A laundry basket full of unfolded clothes sat on the sofa, and sheet music and pages of scribbles flowed over the coffee table along with empty beer cans and Dixie cups. A pizza box gaped underneath the kitchen table, exposing its greasy, cheese strung wax paper.
“Sorry about the mess.” Dylan grabbed a trash container.
“It’s okay. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.” Carina stepped to the sink and began rinsing the dishes.
“I want you here. We need to talk.” Dylan opened the dishwasher and flipped plates and glasses into it. “Let me warm up the espresso machine.”
Here it comes. The talk. The brush off. You were nice, but not for me. Sorry, let’s remain friends. This isn’t working for me. See ya around.
“You don’t have to go to any trouble.” Carina twisted the edge of her blouse. Despite the sunlight streaming into the apartment and the calm view of the San Francisco Bay, she felt like shit. She’d had a fantastic night of sex and now she was being dumped like an outdated milk carton.
She settled in to wash the dishes and clean the tabletops and counters. By the time she finished, Dylan had the lattes ready. He’d poured a fancy leaf design for himself and a nice fat heart for her. Why was he teasing her?
“Let’s drink them on the balcony.” His chest brushed the back of her shoulders as he leaned over her to fetch the napkins. While waiting for the espresso machine to warm up, he’d changed from the clothes he wore last night into jeans and a stretchy shirt.
The mist was lifting from the Bay and the water was clear and peaceful. Carina sighed as she licked the light blond crema from the top of the cup. Heavenly. It had the pure essence of coffee oil, silky with the right amount of bite, and an aroma to either chase the blues away or make a strong woman weep.
Dylan gazed across the bay, leaning back with his long legs stretched partway out between the wrought iron bars.
“Do you think I should go on the tour?” he asked.
Not that again. Maybe he wanted to back out of what he’d said to get her in bed last night.
“If it’s what you want.” She set the cup down and spooned a bit of foam into her mouth. “That’s what any friend would tell you.”
She couldn’t help that her voice was so cool. After all, if he was dumping her now, or trying to let her down easy, she’d need every bit of strength to walk out without weeping.
“I doubt you’re my friend.” The clear blue eyes narrowed and hostility dripped from his lashes.
A jolt sizzled through her veins, combining with the caffeine. So he wasn’t even going save face and make a lame excuse. Instead he’d attack her?
Fuck you, jerk. Red fury boiled over. How dare he put her lower than a friend with benefits?
She shot him glare. “What’s wrong? Did I disappoint you last night? If so, I’m sorry. You weren’t exactly as great a lover as you falsely advertised.”
“I didn’t try to seduce you. I wanted companionship, not what you offered.”
Liar! Carina swallowed hard, but held his gaze. “There’s no reason for us to keep this charade going. We had crappy sex. Now I have to go to work.”
“You sure you still have a job?” His voice took on a sneer. “Are you guaranteed a return offer?”
“There are no guarantees. You ought to know that.” She slammed the cup on the glass table, then cringed. Fortunately it didn’t crack.
“Sounds like things aren’t going well at your job.” He tilted his head and stroked his unshaven jaw. “How does it feel to work for an executive director instead of an analyst?”
Carina slipped her phone from her purse. “She’s given me more responsibility. Lead on an acquisition.”
“I’m sure you work really hard, do whatever she tells you.”
“I try my best.” Carina drained the rest of the coffee, feeling the hit surging in her bloodstream. “Speaking of which, I have to check in.”
“You admire her, don’t you?” Dylan tipped his head back and finished his cup. “Want to be just like her.”
Had Dylan’s father told him she worked for Rebecca? A itch niggled in the back of Carina’s neck, but she refrained from scratching. “She’s smart and ambitious.”
“Just like you.” His tone of voice was harsh and abrupt.
“What are you getting at?”
Dylan pulled his smartphone from his pocket and studied it. “You’d do anything for a deal, wouldn’t you? Sleep with strange men on your way to the top.”
“Are you referring to us?” Carina pushed from the table. The bistro chair toppled, hitting the sliding glass door.
She slid the door and stepped into the apartment. Nausea hit her empty stomach. How had she misjudged Dylan? He appeared to be reasonable and agreeable, but he was a user, a player, and not even nice after he got what he wanted. Or, maybe he didn’t get what he wanted, but then, he didn’t have to be s
o cruel.
Tears threatened to seep from her eyes. She ground her teeth and stomped across the room. No one was going to abuse her and make her cry, least of all Dylan Jackass Jewell.
Dylan’s phone rang.
Carina took out her phone and swiped her screen. No new texts. She thumbed a message to Rebecca: Sorry I woke late. Any instructions?
“Oh no!” Dylan’s voice rose behind her. “Gordie fell out of a tree.”
Carina froze, her hand on the doorknob. “Gordie’s hurt? How bad?”
“I don’t know,” Dylan said, keeping his ear on his phone. “I’m going over there. He doesn’t have health insurance.”
“Tell him I’m on my way,” he said into the phone before hanging up. He grabbed his keys and wallet and opened the front door. “You can let yourself out.”
Carina shut the door and ran after him. “I’m coming with you.”
If Gordie didn’t have health insurance, he’d need someone to pay. He was the only friend she’d made here this summer, since the jerkass walking in front of her turned out to be a phony.
Said jerkass pulled her arm. “We have to hurry before the police show up. I need to drive him to a clinic where they don’t ask questions.”
Chapter 26
Dylan jogged toward the Zipcar while reserving it on his smartphone. He would have stretched his legs and ran faster, but Carina tottered behind him. She was wearing pumps and a knee length pencil skirt, and he didn’t want her to fall.
“You don’t have to come with me. Don’t you have to go to work or something important?”
“Gordie’s my friend.” She huffed. “He might want to see me, unlike some people around here.”
“Come on.” He took her hand and practically pulled her to the side of the car. His stomach ground rocks and a pain speared through his side. How dare she act as if she were the injured party?
“Why are you worried about the police?” Carina leaned against the car. “Is Gordie in some kind of trouble?”
Whole Latte Love (The Jewells) Page 26