“Ian, stop bad-mouthing me,” Dylan exclaimed.
We all turned around at the same time to see him well within earshot.
“He wasn’t,” I said. “I want to hear more. I’m gaining perspective.”
Dylan looked from Ian to Isabelle with a glare that I’d categorize as a glare-like-you-mean-it one.
Ian waggled his eyebrows. "Excellent! I never mind sharing details. The more inappropriate, the better. And we have all day long.”
Chapter Twenty
Mel
I willingly admitted it. I had no idea what the rules were for casual dating, but Dylan seemed intent on breaking all of them, and I wasn’t putting up a fight. I couldn’t. The man was too charming for my own good—and Dad’s. I didn’t forget that we wanted different things, but I couldn’t help throwing caution to the wind every time we were together.
Over the next three weeks, Dylan came with me a couple times to Charlotte’s shelter, and even to Dad’s place, like tonight.
I was cleaning Dad’s kitchen after dinner when I felt Dylan come up behind me, kissing the side of my neck. I shuddered, almost dropping the glass I was rinsing in the sink.
Chuckling, he straightened up. “I’m bad for your focus.”
“Clearly. But it all feels so delicious that I can’t even put up a fight. Want to feel me up again?”
Dad was in the yard with Buddy, and if he came in, we’d hear him long before he saw us.
A twinkle of mischief played in his eyes. “Later.”
“Why?”
“Later,” he repeated.
Looking over my shoulder, I startled at the heat in his eyes. Okay, later was a better idea.
“Want to go out and check how Dad and Buddy are doing?”
“I wanted to help with the cleanup.”
“Ha! But your being here is distracting me, so....”
The corners of his mouth twitched. He patted my ass before going outside. My lady bits were already on fire. I had no idea how Dylan could set me on edge so quickly, but I was thoroughly enjoying it.
I cleaned up superfast, then joined the boys outside with a plate of cookies. Opening the door, I first gave one to Buddy, who was lying down on one side. Dad and Dylan were at the other end of the terrace.
“Everything my medical bills didn’t eat up, she lent to that moron,” Dad said.
I stopped in my tracks, gulping. Crap, why was Dad telling all this to Dylan? I wasn’t ashamed of anything—I’d made a mistake loaning money to Elliot, and I owned up to it—but I didn’t want Dylan to know every detail.
“We’ve got cookies,” I said loudly. Dylan immediately looked at me.
Dad nodded, smiling. I placed the plate on the rattan table, and after we each ate a few, Dad looked at his phone. I knew he was checking the time.
“Yes, Dad, I know your book club meeting is starting. We’ll be out of your hair right away,” I teased.
“Perfect. Saves me the trouble of kicking you out.” He sounded good-natured, but I knew if we interfered between him and James Patterson, we’d get an earful.
After bidding Dad goodbye, Dylan put an arm around my waist, leading me outside. His car was in the repair shop today, so we’d Ubered here.
“Where are we going?” I asked while he tapped his phone to order an Uber. I fanned my face because the mid-July heat and humidity were sweltering.
“I don’t know. What do you feel like doing?”
“Hmmm... watch a movie, maybe? Though I’m not in the mood for a theater.”
“We can always watch it at my place.”
I smiled from ear to ear. I loved his huge flat-screen and the sound system. Besides, being alone meant I could touch him all I wanted.
“I like where this is going,” I said.
“It’s going to be even better than whatever you’re imagining.”
My body tingled all over.
“Uber’s gonna be here in ten minutes.”
Should I bring up his conversation with Dad? I bit the inside of my cheek, pondering this.
“What’s wrong? You’re nervous all of a sudden,” Dylan said.
Wow, was I an open book or what?
“Umm... I heard you and Dad earlier. I’m sorry for that.”
He frowned. “What exactly are you sorry for?”
“That he talked your ear off about all sorts of things.”
“I asked him about it.”
“Oh. Why?” I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, looking at him nervously.
“Because I want to know.”
“You can ask me anything.”
He took one step closer, taking my cheeks in his hands. “Are you sure? You don’t seem talkative when I bring it up.”
I sighed, deciding to put all the cards on the table. “The more I talk, the more I feel like this thing between us goes beyond casual, and I know that’s not what we agreed on.”
His eyes darkened. His grip on my cheeks became firmer. “I want to know, Mel. I care.”
And just like that, butterflies roamed in my belly. His eyes were relentless and smoldering. He cares.
“What do you want to know?”
He feathered his lips on my forehead before kissing it. “Your dad gave me a good overview. Still regretting that I didn’t punch that idiot. If I ever see him again....”
“Don’t let him get to you.” I pulled back a few inches, looking up at him. “Although you look extra hot when you’re mad and broody like this.”
He moved his hands down to my neck. “Isabelle calls it the Neanderthal gene. It usually only activates around family members.”
And me! Ha! I felt so special.
“I like it.”
“Good. Because I have a feeling you’ll see it again.” He moved his hands down, resting them on my waist. Wait, I spoke too soon. One hand slid dangerously low on my back, almost reaching a buttock. I pressed my thighs together on instinct.
“Mr. Gallagher, feeling me up on the street is not an improvement over doing it in my dad’s house.”
He grinned. “Not my fault you’re so responsive.”
“Oh yes it is.”
His eyes flashed as he looked at my mouth intently. “Lucky for you, our Uber is pulling up.”
“Or what?” I asked.
He tilted closer, whispering the next words. “You’ll see once we’re alone.”
Holy shit. I licked my lips, already fidgeting. He didn’t even need to touch me to make me squirm.
A car stopped next to us, and Dylan opened the door. I got in, sliding to the other side of the seat to make space for him. We didn’t speak much during the drive, but Dylan’s sheer presence was messing with my senses. And when he put a hand on my thigh, playfully running his finger on the hem of my dress, touching a bit of skin, I was on fire.
Glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, I couldn’t miss his smug smile. Oh, he was teasing me, was he? Two could play at this game. I moved closer to the door, out of his reach. There! He couldn’t do anything now except look at me with those delicious, smoldering eyes. I was simmering by the time we reached his building.
Dylan: 1
Mel: 0.
“You bad man,” I whispered as soon as we were in his condo.