Once You're Mine

by Barbara Freethy

"Dylan."

  They both spoke at the same time.

  "You first," he said.

  "I'm sorry."

  He was surprised by her words. "I don't need an apology."

  "Really? Because you seemed pretty mad when you left my apartment last night."

  "I wasn't—angry."

  "Then what were you?" she asked, hitting him with a question he didn't really want to answer.

  "I was—surprised." That was a lame response but the best he could come up with at the moment.

  "Why were you surprised? You were a breath away from me, and it seemed like you wanted to kiss me until you remembered who I'm related to."

  "Can we not talk about it here?"

  "We don't have to talk about it at all."

  "That would be even better," he said with relief.

  She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the wedding planner, who called them both in for a group shot of family and wedding party.

  Thirty minutes later, they were released from photos to make their way to the reception at the Marina Yacht Club. A limousine carried the wedding party, but he'd told Scott he preferred to drive his own car. Tori got into a vehicle with her mother and stepfather, so he had no further conversation with her. That was a good thing. Hopefully the next time they spoke, he wouldn't sound like an idiot.

  * * *

  Dylan was an idiot, Tori thought as she sat in the backseat of her stepfather's car. Her mom and Ray were talking about how beautiful the ceremony had been while she silently relived the awkward conversation she'd just had with him. She never should have apologized for kissing him, because she'd just breached the distance between them before he did. He could pretend that kissing her hadn't been on his mind, but she knew that wasn't true. He hadn't been unwilling. He'd kissed her back with great enthusiasm. Her body still tingled at the memory. But then he'd put the brakes on and thrown the car in reverse.

  She didn't know why he was so hung up on her being Scott's sister. It was some kind of "guy code" but she didn't get it. It wasn't like she was thirteen anymore. She was twenty-nine years old and Dylan was thirty-three, and if they wanted to have any kind of relationship, it was no one's business. She didn't think Scott would care at all. Dylan was just using her brother as an excuse.

  Or maybe she had taken him by surprise or misread the signals, and he'd just awkwardly wanted to put a stop to it.

  No. Damn him for making her question her instincts. She wasn’t the most experienced person when it came to reading men's intentions, but she knew when someone was attracted to her—at least she thought she did. There was a part of her—the shy, insecure, young teen with a fantasy crush—that still couldn't quite believe Dylan was attracted to her.

  Maybe he'd been taken aback by the chemistry between them as well. He'd never seen her in that way before, and he didn't really want to.

  She sighed, feeling enormously conflicted. She should probably be sorry they'd crossed a line that would forever change their relationship, but she just didn't feel that bad about it. She'd wanted to kiss him forever, and she had. He'd survive. So would she. They probably wouldn't even see each other after the wedding.

  Although, he was still her link to Emma and Max and the fire investigation. She couldn't kick him to the curb yet. If he went on his own, she'd have to chase him down. If he didn't want a personal relationship, fine, but she still had to figure out who'd threatened her and why.

  "You're quiet, Tori," her mom said, glancing over her shoulder. "Everything okay?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "It's an emotional day," her mother added, giving her an empathetic smile.

  "It is, but a happy one—for the most part."

  Her mom nodded, her eyes blurring with moisture. "Yes—for the most part."

  They didn't speak her father's name, but she knew he was on both of their minds.

  "Can I just say you both look beautiful today?" Ray put in.

  "You can always say that," her mother told him, as she turned back around in her seat.

  They arrived at the Marina Yacht Club a few moments later and made their way into the reception. Her brother and Monica made a grand entrance, followed by the wedding party, then it was on to cocktails and appetizers and conversation.

  As she maneuvered past a group of old family friends, she ran smack into Dylan. So much for avoiding him.

  He caught her by the arm to steady her, then immediately stepped back, as if he couldn't stand to touch her for one second. "It's crowded in here," he said.

  Apparently they weren't getting past the awkwardness any time soon. She nodded, moving a little off to the side to grab a glass of champagne from the waiter. Dylan did the same.

  "Cheers," she said, tipping her glass to his, then took a sip. "I can't believe how many of my parents' old friends and neighbors are here. It's been fun catching up, but it does get a little old hearing how I've grown up so nicely. I'm beginning to realize just how hideous I was as a child."

  Her words put a smile on his face. "You weren't a monster, Tori."

  "If you'd just heard Mrs. Peters say, 'Oh, my, look at how little Tori turned out, I never imagined you could be so pretty,' you wouldn't say that."

  "Hey, Mrs. Peters told me I was almost as good-looking as my father now, so apparently I still have a ways to go."

  "Are your parents here?"

  "Somewhere. I saw them at the church but haven't seen them here yet."

  "Your mom was always nice to me. One time when I was about twelve, I fell off my bike in front of your house, and she came out and helped me up. She made me come inside so she could bandage me up and offered me double chocolate fudge cookies. They were amazing."

  "Those were my favorite, too."

  "She was very sweet to me."

  "Well, she's a nurse and she has six kids, so she always had a supply of Band-Aids and chocolate cookies on hand—still does, I think."

  "Do you spend a lot of time with them?"

  "Not as much as my mom would like."

  "I think I'm going to feel the pressure to visit my mother more often now that I'm back, but I'm looking forward to it. I used to come home for holidays or they'd come out to visit me, but I missed all the impromptu get-togethers. It will be nice to be around for those. It will be different, though, with Scott and Monica being there as a couple, probably starting their own family one day."

  "That's already happening in my family, but it's fun to get new blood in the mix."

  "Tori," Joanie Hedden said, interrupting their conversation. "That was such a lovely ceremony."

  "I thought so, too," she said, giving Joanie a hug. "Do you know Dylan Callaway?"

  "Of course. Dylan was practically in your family the amount of time he spent at your house," Joanie said. "How are you, Dylan?"

  "Very well, thanks. Where's your husband?" Dylan asked.

  "Oh, he had to take a call. Mitch doesn't seem to understand how to tell anyone he'll call them back. The man never even had a cell phone until a few years ago and now he's on it as much as our grandchildren. Our daughter Lindsay has two children now," she added. "You both remember her, don't you?"

  "Yes, she was a really good tennis player," she said.

  Joanie laughed. "Yes, she was. She had a lovely college career, but fell in love right after she graduated and decided to get married and be a stay-at-home mom. She does, however, teach tennis clinics a few mornings a week, and she said it's fun to be back in the sport after being away a few years." Joanie paused. "I should go find Mitch. I think they're asking for everyone to get seated."

  Joanie was right. The wedding planner stepped up to the microphone, asking everyone to find their tables.

  "I'll tell Mitch," she offered. "I was just going to look for the ladies' room. Is he outside?"

  "By the front door, I think," Joanie said. "Can you tell him we're at table twelve? Do you know which one that is?"

  "I'll help you find it," Dylan offered.

  As Dylan escorted J
oanie to her table, Tori walked out of the dining room and into the lobby. Through the windows she could see Mitch on his phone. He was standing just outside the door. She didn't want to interrupt him, but she'd promised Joanie, so she stepped outside.

  He said, "Hang on," and lowered his phone. "Is dinner starting?"

  "Soon. Joanie asked me to tell you they're sitting down. She's at table twelve."

  "Got it. I'll be right there. By the way, you look beautiful today, Tori."

  "Thanks."

  As she went back through the door, she thought she heard Mitch say some rather disturbing words into the phone. It sounded like, 'I can't keep lying to her.'

  Was he talking about Joanie? Her stomach turned over. She really hoped Mitch wasn't having an affair. Joanie was the nicest woman on the planet. She did not deserve that. Hopefully, she'd just heard him wrong.

  With a frown, she used the ladies' room, then made her way back into the reception.

  She was seated at a singles' table filled with some of Scott's work friends. She made polite chitchat through the meal, but was relieved when the dinner plates were cleared and the toasts began.

  Dylan's toast to the happy couple was warm and funny and weakened her resolve to be mad at him or done with him.

  Why did he have to be so attractive? So charming? So sexy?

  It just wasn't fair.

  After the toasts, the dancing started. She got up from her seat to take some candid shots of Scott and her mom sharing their mother/son dance, smiling as her mom kept wiping tears from her eyes. Scott gave her mother a long hug when the dance was over and then went to dance with his wife while her mom moved into her husband's arms, and couples from various tables began to spill out onto the floor.

  "Tori?" a woman said, a questioning note in her voice.

  She turned and smiled at the short blonde with the big smile—Dylan's mother, Sharon Callaway. "Mrs. Callaway, it's nice to see you again."

  "It has been too long," Sharon said. "How are you?"

  "I'm fine."

  "Your mother told me you're a news reporter like your dad. Ben would be so proud of you."

  "I hope he would be," she said.

  Sharon waved over a tall man with pepper-gray hair and light-blue eyes that matched Dylan's. "Tim, look who I found—Tori Hayden."

  "Hello," Tim said with a smile, shaking her hand. "We heard you just moved back to town. How are you liking the city again?"

  "Very much. I'm living closer to the civic center, so it's different than where I grew up, but I'm not too far away."

  "Your mother is thrilled you're home," Sharon said. "And I know just how she feels. I like when all my kids are nearby. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen very often."

  "What doesn't happen very often?" Dylan asked, interrupting their conversation.

  "Having all my children in one place," Sharon said.

  "Hey, I'm here. That should be enough," he joked.

  "You are special, of course," Sharon said. "But I do love my other children just as much." She paused, her gaze moving to the group next to them. "Oh, look—there's Joanie," Sharon said, taking her husband's hand. "Let's say hello, Tim. We'll talk to you both later."

  As they left, she turned to Dylan. "Your parents look well."

  "They stay active."

  "Your dad is retired, isn't he?"

  "From the fire department, but he still does construction with my uncle Kevin, and he's gotten very into golf. He's never been a man to do nothing."

  "I'm guessing you take after him, Dylan."

  "It wouldn't be the worst thing." He cleared his throat. "So you're not dancing?"

  "No one has asked me."

  "Not one of the single guys at your singles' table?"

  "Rub it in why don't you?"

  He laughed, and she started to feel like maybe they were getting back to normal.

  "Sorry, couldn't help it," he said.

  "How did you enjoy your meal with Ava?"

  "Thankfully, she was across from me, so we couldn't talk much. I'm hoping to keep a good distance between us the rest of the night."

  "Then you better move, because she's headed this way."

  Dylan saw the purposeful look on Ava's face, and then grabbed Tori's hand and said, "Let's dance."

  "Not exactly the greatest invitation I've gotten," she complained, as he pulled her into the middle of the crowded dance floor. They'd barely gotten there when the song changed from fast to slow, which would have been good since there wasn't much space to move around in. But when Dylan put his arm around her, she felt like she was right back where she'd been the night before.

  And so was he…

  She could feel the tension in his body as he held her slightly away from him, as if he were fighting some internal battle about whether or not to pull her closer.

  She didn't really know what was going on in his head, but she thought there was more behind the wall he wanted to put between them than just Scott.

  "Relax," he told her.

  She was surprised by the statement. "I was going to say the same thing to you. It's just a dance, Dylan. I'm not going to jump you."

  A light flared in his eyes at her words, and she thought maybe he wouldn't mind her jumping him, no matter what he would say about it later. But she'd already put herself on the line once; she wasn't going to do it again.

  Dylan looked into her eyes, and she could see the conflicted emotions in his gaze. Then his fingers tightened around her hand as he pulled her against his chest.

  He might still be fighting their attraction, but as she inhaled the woody scent of his cologne, she was already surrendering. She closed her eyes and let the music and the magic of being in Dylan's arms run through her.

  She could really get used to this.

  Of course, Dylan wasn't going to let her get used to it, but if he would, she could…

  She smiled to herself as his hand pressed against her back and her breasts tingled with each light brush against his chest.

  Dylan was the most attractive man in the room, as far as she was concerned. He looked very handsome in his dark suit, but she'd really like to see him without anything at all. She had a feeling his body was magnificent: rippled muscles, just the right smattering of dark hair along his chest, powerful arms that would hold her tight, strong legs pinning her to the bed…

  Her eyes flew open as she realized just how carried away she was getting.

  Unfortunately, now she was looking into Dylan's eyes, and she had the distinct feeling that some of her own fantasies had been playing through his head.

  Then the music ended.

  They broke apart as the dancers applauded, and the band jumped into a fast song. She couldn't do another dance, not even a fast one. Her pulse was pounding and her face felt red and hot, and she needed to put some distance between her and Dylan.

  "I—I need a break," she said, dashing off the dance floor without waiting for a reply. She made it through the reception hall, into the lobby, and out the door before anyone caught up with her.

  Once outside, she took in some deep breaths of chilly, wet air. The fog had swept over the city while she'd been inside. But she was happy for the cold; she needed something to cool her down.

  "Tori?"

  Her mom's voice turned her around. "Hi. I was just getting some air."

  "Are you all right? I saw you run off the dance floor."

  "I'm fine."

  Her mother's sharp gaze seemed doubtful.

  "Really," she reaffirmed.

  "I was thinking this might be a difficult day for you, honey. Your brother is getting married, and the two of you have always been so close."

  "I'm happy for Scott. I wish him nothing but happiness."

  "I know that. But I don't like how Monica's family has kept you in the background all day. You should have been in the bridal party. We should have been sitting together at the reception. I hated seeing you surrounded by strangers, just because of some ridiculous old-fashion
ed traditions."

  "Don't worry about it." Her mom was getting worked up over nothing, and she needed to put a halt to that. "I had a great conversation with some interesting people, and I didn't have to buy an ugly bridesmaid's dress. It's all good."

  "And you're being very nice about not complaining. But I also know this is a day where you're thinking about your dad."

  "That's true. I do miss him."

  "So do I. I hate to say too much in front of Ray. I would never want him to think I don't love him as much as Ben, because I do. It's different; that's all."

  "Ray would understand that."

  "He's a good man—so different from your father, though. Ben was exciting, bigger than life, filled with desire and dreams and goals. But he could also be unpredictable and sometimes even a little selfish. No one is perfect, and I'm sure he had complaints about me. We really only fought when we were apart too much and needed to spend more time with each other." She drew in a breath. "Ray is solid—like granite. He's an immovable rock. He doesn't change directions with the wind; he doesn't want to blow things up or change lives; he doesn't talk all the time. He just listens and is supportive, and he wants us to enjoy our day-to-day."

  She personally thought Ray was a little dull compared to her dad, but her father had definitely been one of a kind. And how difficult it had to have been for Ray to come after a man like her dad, and Ray had taken on two teenagers as well. She hadn't always been as nice to him as she should have been. "I'm glad Ray makes you happy," she said. "You deserve that."

  "Thanks, honey. I want you to be happy, too. I wish you'd brought someone tonight."

  "It's actually nice to be free to chat with people. If I had a date, I'd have had to pay more attention to him. Now I can just concentrate on catching up with old friends."

  "Everyone is so happy you're back in town. Joanie told me how impressed she is with all you've accomplished. I hope you know how proud I am of you, Tori."

  "I do know, and thanks." She paused, thinking about Joanie. "Earlier this evening, Joanie asked me to find Mitch and let him know that we were starting dinner. He was talking on his phone, and he seemed pretty agitated. I heard him say something about not wanting to keep something from someone. Are he and Joanie good?"