Dylan had just left. He had just told her he wanted to be with her, then left.
Images of the past weeks flashed before her eyes. Dylan had been spending more time with her lately. He had come to her whenever she needed. Even when he said he couldn’t, during the college show, he ended up coming for her. He had shown her how much he had changed, that he had a bright future before him, that he was a serious guy with sharp ideas, a great professional who enchanted his public—all that she had been dreaming for the last three years, when her immense crush for him began.
The crush had developed to full passion during the last two months.
He had her heart.
So why was she so afraid of handing it out when it wasn’t hers anymore?
Hayley darted out. Barefoot and without a coat, she ran down the stairs and into the streets.
But when she got outside, Dylan was gone.
Chapter Sixteen
It was past seven when Dylan walked out of the conference room. The all-day-long Friday meetings were by far the worst thing about working for his father. He had only been to two so far, but both had run late.
He was dragging himself down the hallway when he heard his father’s voice. “Dylan.”
Dylan turned around and nodded. “Yes?”
His father put his hands inside his pants pockets and gazed at the floor. “I just wanted to tell you you’re doing well.”
His father wasn’t one to throw compliments out there. Yes, his father had softened a little in the past two weeks, but praise wasn’t part of his normal vocabulary. Not since Bryan died.
Dylan squinted. “Really?”
“Very well, actually.” His father’s eyes returned to him and he saw a little light there. A little hope. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Dylan smiled.
It wasn’t “I apologize for neglecting you the past two years” or “You’re a genius! How come I never saw it before” or “I’m sorry for being such a jerk and shooing Hayley away”…but it was a start. A very good start.
“Me too,” he said.
Without another word, his father spun on his heels and headed in the other direction.
Shaking his head, Dylan let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. The old man was finally seeing him. It was a victory. A small one, but still a victory. If he worked his way in slowly, he was sure he could get close to his father again.
Undoing his tie, he walked into his office. He stopped before the glass table and looked out the window, to the skyline of Manhattan across the Hudson River. The lights shimmered, and he could feel the city’s energy. It was a pity he was tired.
Yes, he was tired, but he was also satisfied with his work, especially after his father’s compliment.
The engineers were studying his cars to add them to their line in the near future. He had also applied for a transfer from Princeton to New York City College of Technology. His father wasn’t too happy he was going to a public school, but Dylan didn’t care about that. And he was now looking for a loft in Manhattan. If it all worked out, he should be ready to move in June, so he had only three more months of commuting.
It was almost perfect.
Dylan sighed, and an invisible band tightened around his chest.
He tried not thinking about Hayley, but it was impossible. He missed her. He missed her laughter, her conversation, her hesitation, her touch, and her kiss. Before the deal, he had believed he would never truly fall for any girl. Man, he had been so, so wrong. He was head over heels for Hayley. But she had made it clear she didn’t want him. As much as he wanted to go crawling after her, he didn’t want her to be with him because of his insistence. He had told her how he felt. And still she hadn’t said anything.
His cell phone rang, and he jumped.
“Damn,” he whispered, pulling it from his pocket. It was Celine. “Hey, baby sis.”
“You didn’t forget, did you?”
He glanced at the calendar over his desk. “Forget what?”
“The dinner?” Celine cursed in French. “Oh, my God, you forgot.”
“I forgot.” He ran a hand over his hair. She had invited him for a dinner with her, Alexis, and their boyfriends two days earlier. He had gladly accepted, but now it didn’t seem like such a good idea. “I just got out of the longest meeting ever. I’m really tired, and I still have to drive to Princeton. Can’t we reschedule some other time?”
“Oh, no, no.” She sighed. “Please, just get your ass over here. I promise we’ll have a good time, and you won’t regret it.”
He looked at his wristwatch. “Okay. But that’s just because I’m starving. See you in the restaurant in a few.”
They disconnected and Dylan let out a deep breath. It was going to be a long night.
***
Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, so rather than holding her glass, Hayley fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. Every time she saw the waiter approach the door of the private room she had rented, she held her breath, waiting for him to step in and smile when he saw her instead of his sisters.
But time was passing, and he wasn’t coming. Had he found out Celine had lied to him and didn’t want anything to do with her?
A painful pang assaulted her. What was she thinking? This was stupid. It had been almost two weeks since Valentine’s Day. He certainly had moved on.
She glanced at the candles on the table, the red balloons on the ceiling, and the false calendar on an easel beside the door, indicating it was still February 14th.
Yeah, she had lost it. This was totally stupid.
With tears brimming in her eyes, she grabbed her purse and stood. She would simply pay the bill and go home, drink a huge bottle of wine alone, and cry some more.
The door opened and a disheveled Dylan entered the room. His eyes were wide, but she could see he was tired. And gorgeous, even with the unknotted tie and the crumpled shirt.
Her heart paused for a second, then hammered against her chest.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking at her.
“Uh….” And she couldn’t think of anything to say.
His gaze scanned the room. There wasn’t much to see. A couple of tables and chairs, the decorations, but nobody else besides them.
His eyes narrowed. “Where are my sisters?”
And she thought he would smile.
She gulped her fear, counted to five, and spoke, “I arranged this with Celine.”
He just stared at her for the longest moment, suspicion all over his features. “And why the sudden change?”
“Well.” She put her purse on the table and dared to take one small step toward him. “Your sister called, telling me you weren’t doing so well….”
“That traitor.”
“And we ended up talking a lot. I’ve confessed to her that your father had told me he would disinherit you if I insisted on dating you, and that’s why I pushed you away that night. Because I didn’t want to be the reason you lost your fortune, your lifestyle.”
One corner of his lips twitched up. “Disinherit? Are you serious? He wasn’t—”
“Yes, I know,” Hayley interrupted him, smiling. “Celine explained to me that your father says he’ll disinherit all of you all the time. But he never does. Still, I was afraid he would this time.”
To her surprise, Dylan took two steps in her direction. “He won’t disinherit me. Especially now that I’m working for him.”
She nodded. “Celine told me about all your hard work and the long meetings these last two weeks…I’m glad you’re doing well.”
“Me, too.” He put his hand inside his pants pockets. “And how are you?”
“I’m good. I’ve been to the therapist four times. I also signed with Gaz, and have five big jobs scheduled for March.”
“That’s great.”
“It is.”
A few seconds passed, and they just stared at each other. Hayley had no idea how to do this. She thought he would enter the room, gather her in his
arms, and it would be done. She wasn’t good at making up.
He glanced at the calendar beside him. “So, are you going to tell me what this is about?”
Crap, he was going to make her spell it out.
She took a deep breath and braced herself. “I’m sorry for that night. I want you to know I do like you, Dylan. Besides the inheritance thing, I think I was afraid. I don’t want to be just another one on your list. I think I’m falling in love with you, but the—”
If it wasn’t for his arms around her waist and his hands on her back, Hayley would have fallen when Dylan threw himself at her, his mouth crushing hers, his hands pulling her to him. Powerless, Hayley kissed him back, her repressed need and desire for him exploding inside her.
“I thought you wanted me to meet you halfway,” she whispered against his lips. “You didn’t let me finish.”
Dylan pulled back a little to look at her, a satisfied grin plastered on his beautiful face. “Organizing this damn dinner and admitting being in love with me is halfway.” He kissed her again, slower and deeper, warming her core, flaring her desire. “Will you drop the ‘I’m-not-worthy’ and disinheritance subject forever?” he asked, his mouth on her ear.
“Only if you promise not to break my heart.”
Dylan bit her earlobe, then cupped her face on his hands, his eyes mere inches from hers. “I won’t break your heart, Hayley. You know why? Because I love you.”
Tears burned her eyes as she grinned before clinging to him and kissing him. He ran his hands down her hips to her thighs, sending shivers up her spine.
A knock on the door startled them and they jumped apart, but he caught her hand in his.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked.
“Please, bring the best champagne you have,” he said.
“As you wish.” The waiter bowed and left.
“Come on.” He pulled a chair out for Hayley to sit. “Let’s do this right.”
Hayley sat, and he took the chair beside her. A minute later, the waiter served the champagne.
With a large smile, Dylan grabbed a flute and passed the other one to Hayley. Her chest was about to explode with so much relief and happiness.
“Thank you for forgiving me,” she said.
“There was nothing to forgive.” He entwined his fingers with her and raised her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. “I’m just glad you met me halfway.”
“Me, too.”
She leaned into him and covered his mouth with hers. She kissed him, showing him how much she wanted him, how much she admired him, how much she desired him, how much she needed him.
Dylan broke the kiss and stared into her eyes, the intensity of his gaze making her breathless. He raised his flute. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
She smiled, her heart flipping, and raised her flute to him. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Juliana is a Brazilian girl living in Connecticut.
She would love to be Wonder Woman, Cheetara, Elektra, Buffy, Phoebe, She-ra, Rose, Korra, Cornelia, a blood elf shadow priest, and other various kick-ass female from comics, TV series, movies, books and games, but she settles for—the less exciting but equally gratifying life—a wife, mother, friend and a writer. Her heroines are like the ones cited above and she also writes about the heroes who drive them crazy— and occasionally hot.
Since her first stories, she wrote about 20-something year old protagonists without knowing it wouldn’t fit in today’s traditional publishing market. Nowadays, besides writing full time, she battles for the recognition of New Adult as a category.
You can visit Juliana at:
www.julianahaygert.com
Her Heart’s Secret Wish by Juliana Haygert
With a renowned reputation as a player, she had everything figured out...
Twenty-year-old college student, Natasha is the life of every party and the reason behind many celebrations. The easiest girl on campus has all guys at her feet and more than a few in her bed.
…until he came into the game.
Having entered the academic world by chance, Professor Jason Stone is surprised to find one of his young students a huge temptation. The infamous Natasha has caught his attention. But is there more to her than meets the eye?
…and changed the rules.
As their unexpected friendship grows, so does their attraction to each other. When Jason’s Christmas plans are canceled and he ends up at the same party as Natasha, sparks flare, destroying the safe zone around them. Will they figure out how to break through their self-imposed barriers to be together, or lose one another forever?
Felines and Flowers by Stephanie Grace
During high school, Warren was Wendy’s youth pastor. All grown up and shepherding over her own flock of church kids, Wendy Miller turns to her old friend for help. Not that Warren is that old. In fact, the two have a lot more in common than Wendy would have ever thought.
After the death of his wife, Warren was sure he was finished with relationships. Wendy changes that forgone conclusion with her bright spirit and zest for life. Lining up their desires when they’re at very different points in their lives proves a challenge that might take a little divine intervention, or at least help from friends.
Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
His Allure, Her Passion Page 10