She went to her bedroom for a t-shirt, then padded the few feet to her kitchen. Her condo was cozy, which was a nice way of saying tiny, but the hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances were brand new when she’d bought it. The living room had a whole wall full of windows and she had an extra bedroom which was a rare amenity in these older buildings.
“So what were you in town for today?” Dani asked.
Dylan answered over his shoulder as he found his way to her bathroom. “I’m trying to close the deal on this historic renovation in the West End,” he said. “Old fuddy-duddy owner. I should have taken Josh with me, they could have talked golf.”
She lazily perused his ass while he took care of the condom. Two matching dimples poked his lower back and he had a line across his hips where the skin below was about ten shades lighter. The hazards of spending half your life in swim trunks. It was a nice view.
He turned, and she quickly darted her eyes to the beer.
“I’m sure you smooth-talked him.” She popped the caps off of two bottles of Heineken, meeting him back at the couch.
“I am pretty smooth,” he said, thanking her for the beer with a quick kiss. “But I don’t think this guy was charmed. Might need a new tactic.” He blew out a breath then took a long pull of his beer. “Josh wants this job. Lately, every conversation with him is like an interrogation. I get it—he wants to do more historic rennos, and the Jansens have a big budget. This one connection could fund the expansion we’ve been planning, but his stress is getting to my head.”
Dani turned to face him, pulling her legs underneath her and studying a line on his brow that she’d never seen before. The worry in his tone was completely off-brand, like he’d let a secret slip. “But you’re still in it?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He scrubbed a hand over his chin, staring at a spot on the floor. “I guess I’m just used to it coming a little easier. I’ll get him, though.”
“I have full faith you will.” Hell, she’d been closed by Dylan Pierce more than once. “And I think it’s pretty clear Josh trusts you to do your thing, so don’t psych yourself out about it.”
Dylan cocked his head, looking her up and down, and his lips tilted into a smile. “Thanks.”
She squeezed his shoulder. “Speaking of Josh, has he said anything to you about Cat?”
“Like what?”
“About her being pregnant.”
Dylan raised an eyebrow. “You’re still on this? Why don’t you just ask her?”
That was the second time she’d been asked that today. Didn’t anyone understand that the point wasn’t whether she knew, it was whether Cat wasn’t telling her? Everyone was acting like it was no big deal that she was out of the loop, but it hurt.
“I’m not still on it,” she said with a little more aggression than she’d meant to. She sunk into the couch cushions, a combination of embarrassment and irritation mixing in her chest. Of course Dylan wouldn’t get it. He’d probably never had a hurt feeling in his life. “Forget it,” she said. “I was just wondering.”
Dylan looked hard at her, his eyes sweeping around her face in a way that made heat paint her cheeks. Like he could see every insecurity she was trying to hide, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. But then he surprised her. He nudged her with his elbow, his cheeks rounding into a boyish grin.
“I’ll find out for you, Dani-pie,” he said.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Count me in.” He winked. “Secret mission.”
Out of nowhere, a laugh bubbled up in her chest, squashing the tension that had been building all day. “Okay,” she said. “Secret mission.”
Dylan squeezed her bare knee, then reached over her lap and grabbed the remote control, pointing it at her television.
“Are you staying?” she asked, her voice jumping an octave.
He shrugged, his shoulder muscles popping. “You just gave me a full beer.”
She took a sip of hers, watching him carefully as he flipped through her channels. This was new. The last time he’d pretty much zipped his fly and flew. Which was what they’d agreed on. This, though. This could be okay too. She crossed her bare feet on the coffee table. “No sports.”
One side of his mouth lifted in reply, but he was focused on the screen. Finally, he stopped scrolling and clicked a title, turning up the volume.
“Old school,” she said when the theme song to The Office came on.
“Classic.”
“Agreed.” She watched his profile as he stared at the screen, the way little lines appeared at the corners of his eyes when he found something amusing. It was sort of cute.
Shit. Should she be thinking stuff like that? She’d let herself enjoy Dylan’s face before all of this, but now it felt dangerous to let a fond thought like that slip through. Although, wasn’t that why she chose him for this? She was fond of him in a way. If she’d despised his company, this never would have worked.
“Relax, Dani,” he said when she’d been staring too long. “It’s a long drive back to my place. I’m just procrastinating.”
“I’m relaxed.”
Dylan rolled his lips inward and turned his head to squint at her.
“What? I am!”
“Do you want me to leave? It just seemed like you were in for the night, but if you have plans or you want me to go, just say so.”
Maybe she should tell him to go, keep things simple, but she sort of liked having someone to veg out with. Her condo felt too quiet sometimes, lonely even, and tomorrow night she was going to have to dress up and act all proper and pretty for date number two. It was nice to be herself. Nice to be with a friend. Especially when her friendship with Cat felt so… off.
She took another sip and rubbed her suddenly damp palms on her legs. “I don’t want you to go.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. I just assumed you’d have somewhere else to be on a Friday night.”
He turned back to the television, settling into her couch. “Nope.”
“Well, I’m starving. You want to order some takeout?”
Dylan paused mid-sip, his beer resting on his bottom lip.
“Relax,” she said, needling him back. “I’m not suggesting a dinner date. We have to eat and you’re already here.”
He tipped his bottle, taking a long swallow that she watched travel down his throat. Then he grinned. “I’m totally relaxed,” he said. “Pizza?”