“We’re going to dinner.”
“We’ll go afterward. You can’t leave your grandpa to climb on the ladder, wildcat.”
I stare at him, looking for any clue that he’s kidding, but I see nothing. “I’m not with any of my cousins,” I tell Grandma.
“She’s at home by herself tonight, Sal. It’s okay, baby. I’ll try Mammoth or one of the other boys. Maybe someone will answer their phone.”
“Tell them we’re on our way,” Dylan tells me, giving me the cute chin lift he does occasionally.
“Is that a man I hear?” Grandma asks, never missing anything. Her hearing is sharp, unlike my grandfather’s. I swear she can hear the faint ping of a pin dropping from across a room.
“Yes, ma’am,” Dylan answers.
My eyes widen, and I know there’s no going back now. So much for keeping tonight a secret. “It is. I was heading to dinner with a friend, Gram, but we could stop by and help with the light.”
“Dinner?” she asks, her voice filled with unmistakable shock.
“Yeah. He did me a favor, and I was thanking him.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I have plenty of dinner here. If he’d be willing to help with the light, I’ll make sure he leaves with a full belly.”
“No need to feed us, Gram. We’ll stop by and then head out so you can rest.”
“Don’t be silly, child. Nothing gives me more pleasure than feeding my babies.”
“Darling,” Grandpa says, purring the nickname. “You sure about that?”
“At my age, Sal, I’m sure,” she says with a hint of laughter. “Anyway, we’ll be waiting. Take your time.”
The line goes dead, and I stare at Dylan, blinking a few times.
“Are you crazy?” I ask him, unable to move and still holding my phone in the air.
“No, babe. They need help, and we aren’t doing anything. Would you rather your grandfather hurt himself?”
I exhale a sigh. “No, but just so you know, they’re a little…”
“Doesn’t matter. They’re your people, and from what I hear, I’m going to get along with them just fine.”
“You really don’t have to do this. I can call one of my cousins.”
“Nonsense,” Dylan says to me, climbing onto the back of his bike and motioning for me to get on behind him.
“Nothing about this is a good idea.”
“Good ideas are never as much fun as bad ones.” He gives me a wink.
I take a few steps closer to his bike, debating on how to climb onto the back in a ladylike way, but I come up with nothing.
“Step there—” he points down to a spot on his bike “—hands on my shoulders and hoist yourself up, Ro. You got this.”
“My fucking ass,” I mutter.
“Your fucking ass is sheer perfection. Now get on the back and slide that sweet pussy against me so we can get where we need to be.”
“Slide my what?” I ask, my mouth suddenly dry and my stomach doing that weird dip again.
“Your sweet pussy,” he repeats, his mouth turned up at one side and looking so freaking hot I want to do more than slide my body against his.
“Is that how you talk to all your women?” I ask, trying to distract him as I hoist myself up and over, giving the entire parking lot a show and full view of my underwear.
“Wildcat, I don’t have any other women.”
Any other women.
That statement infers that in some way I’m his woman and his only woman.
Eep!
“Slide a little closer,” he says, moving on from his previous statement. “I won’t bite, babe.”
“Promise you’ll go slow,” I say, scooting forward until there’s no space left between our bodies.
He turns the key and revs the engine before he says, “On the road, I’m the boss.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, letting my fingertips slide against his tight, hard stomach. “So, then I’m the boss everywhere else?”
He pats my hands, and I grip him tighter, squeezing my legs together to stick to him as much as possible. “No,” he bites out and takes off before I have a chance to complain and correct him.
“Fuck,” I hiss as my heart flutters and my stomach plummets. I brace myself for what’s about to come.
14
DYLAN
Rosie’s off the bike before I have a chance to cut the engine. “You drive like a freaking madman.”
I stare at the length of her, loving the way her face flushes when she’s angry. “Babe, I went the speed limit, and I liked the way you held me tighter every time you got even a little bit scared.”
She opens her mouth to yell and snaps it shut, glaring at me. “You scared me on purpose?”
I smile with a shrug, swinging my leg over the bike, and walk toward her. The front door opens, and Rosie’s demeanor immediately changes.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” a woman says, stepping outside. “Come inside and cool off.”
I glance over, soaking in her grandmother’s presence. There’s no mistaking the shared genetics between the two, and if her grandma is an indicator, Rosie will never lose her looks.
“Behave in there,” Rosie warns me and starts to walk toward the house, but I grab her hand, tangling our fingers together.
She’s still pissed about the ride, but after a minute, her hand relaxes and the hand-holding isn’t forced.
“I’m not an animal, Ro. Your grandparents will love me.”
She peers over, giving me a slow blink. “Don’t mention my father’s name. They adore him, and you…well, you know.”
“I won’t mention that he’s an asshole.”
Rosie squeezes my fingers tightly. “I’m serious.”
“Me too.”
“Wait.” Her grandmother holds out a hand before we make it onto the first step. “Let me get a good look at the two of you.” She smiles, her eyes wandering over her granddaughter and then moving on to me. “Damn, kids. You’re both stunning. A total power couple.”
“Gram, we’re only friends.”
Her gaze drops to our hands. “Only friends, huh?”
Rosie nods. “I need help in these heels. You know how clumsy I am.”
“Mm-hmm,” her grandmother mutters, giving her a wink as we make it to the top of the steps. “Whatever lie you need to tell yourself, baby.”
I hold in my laugh so as not to offend either of them. I love to annoy Rosie, but I’m not sure how far I can push things with her grandmother yet. “I’m Dylan, ma’am.” I hold out my hand, waiting for her to take it when we’re in front of her.
To my surprise, she doesn’t take it. Instead, she steps forward, wrapping her arms around me and squeezing me tight. “We hug in this family, Dylan.”
The embrace feels nicer than I could have imagined. There’s a sweet gentleness to the way she touches me, resting her head just below my chest due to her height. This is something I missed out on as a child after my father was disowned by his entire family, along with us.