How the Light Gets In (Cracks Duet #2)(42)

“Why? Did you get another job?”

“Sort of. Dylan’s asked me to help him with his next perfume.”

Yvonne’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s amazing.”

“He wants to dedicate it to Sam and donate half the profits to charity,” I continued.

“Oh my.”

“Oh my is right. Every time I try to keep my emotions out of things with Dylan, he goes and does something that just melts my flipping heart. It’s too much.”

“He’s a very special person, Ev. You’re lucky to have him.”

I flinched, because her words were so similar to what Laura said at the gala the other night, though the meaning behind them was completely different. Then I remembered what Dylan said to me in the car earlier, and how convinced Frank had been that my passion was easy to read. Others see me so differently than how I see myself. Moments like these, I wondered if a lot of my feelings of unworthiness stemmed from Mam leaving me.

But I shook my head. No, not anymore. I’ve had people validate me my whole life. Yvonne, Sam, now Dylan . . . or rather, Dylan again.

I had to live my life for me—be me—nothing more, nothing less. Who you are as a human is its own success. I wasn’t obligated to impress or appease anyone with achievements.

I sniffled and glanced back at Yvonne. “So, you don’t mind if I cut my hours?”

“Not at all. I’ll just hire some extra Christmas workers in the meantime.”

“Have I ever told you you’re the best?”

She smiled. “Not recently, but feel free. Also, I’ll have a glass of merlot. It’s been a long day.”

I smiled back at her. “Coming right up.”





Chapter 13





Dylan: SOS. I need your help.

Evelyn: Oh no! Did you get your Johnson stuck in your fly?

Dylan: What? No. How is that the first thing you thought of?

Evelyn: I heard it’s a common predicament for gentlemen.

Several weeks went by and Dylan and I started tentatively working on our scent. We were still in the ideas phase, so we hadn’t really settled on anything yet. Most of the time we just hung out, either at my place or his, sometimes in his office, and talked about anything and everything. In between the anything and everything was where the ideas sprung to life.

It excited me to talk about flowers again, to think about the scents we could use and the possible combinations. I wondered what Sam would think of it all. He’d probably tell us to stop being all mushy and sentimental, but secretly love the attention.

Dylan was becoming as familiar to me as he’d been when we were teenagers, except without the sex. After that one night, he’d allowed me to set the pace. He never pushed for anything other than what I was prepared to give, which just kind of melted my heart. Though admittedly, it was agonising to be around him and not, you know . . . do things. Especially when he kissed me goodbye. How we’d pulled away breathless time after time. It had almost killed me to send him away. Every. Time.

The problem was, sex made everything complicated. It made me feel like my emotions were running the show, rather than my head, and I wasn’t ready to give up that sort of control.

Dylan: Well, thankfully I’ve never had that problem. I need you to clear your schedule this Saturday to come Christmas shopping with me.

Evelyn: Why can’t you be a normal person and shop online?

Dylan: Because I prefer to shop in person. Also, my dad’s coming to visit and he’s bringing Bridget. I need your help finding her a gift.

God, could he be any more adorable?

Evelyn: How exciting. Okay, I’m in.

Dylan: You have an odd definition of excitement.

Evelyn: No, I don’t. I’m putting my money on her being a hot twenty-something with a thing for older men.

Dylan: I hate you.

Evelyn: Mwah ha ha. Okay sorry. That was evil.

Dylan: You’re forgiven. See you Saturday.

I paired my cosiest black yoga pants with a long burgundy woollen jumper before heading out to meet Dylan for our planned shopping trip. I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone and do something Christmas shopping of my own. Not that I had a whole bunch of people to buy for, just Yvonne and Dylan. Maybe Conor, too.

I also wanted to buy decorations for the apartment. There was another week before people put up their trees, but I wanted to be prepared. Maybe I’d get one of those mini trees with the fake snow and lights.

Dylan stood by the entrance to the department store wearing a long black coat, a navy scarf and leather gloves. He was probably wearing the most clothes I’d ever seen him in, and yet, he managed to look sexier than I’d ever seen him look. It was ridiculous. And unfair.

I wanted to grab him by that sexy scarf and pull him into a private corner.

“Could this city be any more Christmassy? Usually, I’m such a Grinch, but all these twinkle lights are really putting me in the mood,” I said as I approached.

He grinned and arched an eyebrow. “In the mood, huh?”

I slapped him on the shoulder. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

His answering chuckle was smooth as chocolate. “Hey, you make it too easy.”

I slid my arm through his as we walked inside. “So, here’s the deal, we can get your gifts here, but afterward you have to come downtown with me.”