Distraction (Club Destiny #8)(52)

“So are you gonna do it? Talk to him?”

Dylan nodded. “Yeah. What could it hurt? At the very least, it’d be a good investment.”

“So, you’re really leaving CISS?”

He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “I need to do something else, to let that part of my past go. The longer I try to hold on, the more I delay the inevitable. Once they’re bought out, Alex will be fine. And yeah, I’m interested in what Trent has to say. Luke mentioned he’s looking for someone to manage the place as well.”

“So you’d invest and work there?”

“If things work out, probably.”

Sarah considered that for a moment. “Do you think we could go back to Devotion?”

Dylan’s eyes searched her face. “If you want, sure.”

There were a lot of things she wanted. Some of which she hadn’t even known about, but Sarah wanted to experience these things with Dylan. Who knew where this thing between them was going, and she wasn’t even eager to find out. Sarah simply wanted to live life to the fullest, to ride this out for as long as she could.

Once they were all talked out, they had made love once more, and that was how she ended up here, lying beside this man in the darkened room.

“What’re you thinkin’ about?” Dylan whispered, his lips brushing her forehead.

“Nothing much. You?”

“Too tired to think,” he answered with a yawn.

“Am I keeping you up?” she asked teasingly. Sarah had purposely kept her hands from trailing all over his sinful body, not wanting to push for more when they both needed sleep.

“Only because I don’t want to close my eyes,” he said.

Her heart turned over, loving how open and honest he was. She wasn’t sure if Dylan had always been that way, but from what she remembered, he’d never been the kind to open up completely. Not to her anyway. Back in high school didn’t count. She didn’t recall much about those days, but she remembered the way they’d always talked, laughing, joking, making out. It had been an amazing time in her life.

But this…

She wasn’t sure anything compared to this.

Her heart was still wary, her brain trying to remain in control. It was hard to do when she’d always had feelings for this man. He seemed different in so many ways, and she honestly wanted to see where this ride would take them.

Curling up closer, Sarah put one hand on Dylan’s chest, holding him close as she closed her eyes. As she allowed sleep to consume her, she made one last promise to herself…

She wouldn’t push for more.

If things happened, they happened.

If they didn’t…

Well, she didn’t want to think about that part.





chapter THIRTEEN

FROM THE MOMENT HE OPENED his eyes, Dylan had been waiting.

For what, he wasn’t sure.

Regret, maybe?

But it never came. And an hour later, after they’d showered and dressed, the only thing he wished was that he had his hat. A weird thing to think about at this point, but he wished he had it, nonetheless. If for nothing else than to shield himself and the emotions he knew were written all over his face. Emotions he wasn’t ready to deal with, but they didn’t seem to give a shit whether he was ready or not.

Last night had been fucking incredible. Making love to Sarah, falling asleep with her in his arms. Every damn second he’d spent with her had sealed his fate. No way could he fuck this up again.

After opening the door for Sarah, Dylan allowed her to lead the way down the long, narrow hotel hallway, back toward the bank of elevators. Once they made it, he reached around her and pushed the button to take them down to the hotel lobby. He got another whiff of her sweet scent, and he fought the urge to groan. A smart man would’ve kept her in bed all damn day.

A ding echoed, signaling the arrival of the elevator and as the doors opened, Dylan realized they’d be alone. Once inside, he tried to keep his eyes on the doors, but he continued to glance over at the beautiful woman standing beside him until he was unable to take his eyes off her.

She’d been quiet for most of the morning. They both had been. A little small talk when appropriate was about all either of them could offer. There had been no need to talk in the shower because he’d used his mouth for other things, namely bringing Sarah to orgasm twice before he’d buried himself in her sweet heat and brought them both to climax.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” Why the words came out, he had no idea, but he couldn’t hold them back. He’d always enjoyed looking at her. From her silky blond hair to her big, innocent blue eyes and the freckles across her nose. This morning, she looked more like the Sarah of old. Her hair was back in a ponytail and the only makeup she wore was lip gloss. Saying she was cute didn’t do her justice because cute was reserved for puppies and babies—and this woman was nothing even close. She stirred his blood in ways he didn’t think would ever happen again.

Not after losing Meghan.

When the doors opened on the main floor, he took a deep breath and followed Sarah out into the busy lobby, his hand on her lower back. He let her lead until they were once again in line at the coffee shop. Never once did he stop touching her. If it bothered her, she didn’t act like it. But she wasn’t touching him back.