Chapter 15

15

Fletcher was acting…weird. Not that she really knew what normal was for him or anything, but he was acting differently than he had before. Mostly, he was quiet. The drive to the community center was short. And silent.

“Why no date?” she asked him. It had surprised her. The ladies of the inn really liked Fletcher. They had been chattering about him all week. It had driven her crazy. “I know the ladies like you. Something about the clips that have been circulated from Gretta. Tall, hot, sexy fairy warrior dude? I can’t believe you did that. Were in the movie. Of course, my sisters were and my cousins.”

“Bowles can be pretty persuasive. About half of us Tyler guys were too. I needed the money at the time. And it sounded like fun. So I did it. I did not know I was going to end up wearing that. ”

“Would you do it again?” Leather pants, no shirt, all shiny and oiled and muscled. So, so pretty as a fairy warrior. She had had to watch. Repeatedly.

“Depends. I used the money to pay down debt. To buy my truck that someone came along and stole. And I’d do it again if Hunter and Nikki needed to me to.”

Well, no surprise there. He would do anything his family asked—she had seen that for herself. It was one of the man’s top five qualities.

“Still, I have seen the clips. It’s amazing what they can do with special effects these days. You almost looked all ruggedly, dangerously handsome and hot. Shocked me completely.”

“Very funny.” Yep, there was her favorite grouchy scowl. He was so predictable sometimes.

“I’d do it. Be in a movie. If I ever could. But I’d want to do a kids’ movie. Like Quade. He really likes doing children’s entertainment but doesn’t get much opportunity.”

His face tightened. No, she hadn’t missed that. “Are you angry at Quade for something? I thought you were friends?”

“We are. And no. I am not angry with him. I just don’t think you need to be going around with him. He’s sophisticated. Worldly.”

“And I’m not woman enough for a man like Quade, I get it.”

There went his blood pressure again. He almost growled? this time.

“Stop that bullshit, Dylan. You are plenty woman enough for any man, and we both damned well know that. Probably too much, actually. Hell, as soon as we get in there, fifteen men will be panting all over you. I’m sorry I said that that night. I was just pissed over my truck. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He parked the truck in question. “Stay there. I’ll get you. There is probably ice in the lot and in those heels…”

Dylan dutifully did what he said. He was the boss, after all. And she wasn’t stupid. She didn’t want to fall on her rear end. Or get wet, slushy feet in her nice shoes.

He opened her door. And was just standing there. Looking at her in the fading light as the sun set behind him. Dylan tilted her head and looked at him as she worked her way through what he had said. “Fifteen guys, huh? That would be a bit overwhelming, honestly. I just would like to find one, please. One who…really understands me. But, well, maybe eventually. I mean, Darcey is thirty, and she’s still doing the single thing. Of course, I have my opinions on that, but…I don’t want to be alone forever. I want kids while I am still young enough to play with them. My parents never really played with us, you know? They were either too busy, or Mom was freaking over something, or dad was at work. Or too tired.”

“You never stop talking, do you?” His hands went around her hips, flexed. Dylan held back a shiver. Over him ? Seriously. No. Not going to happen.

“Probably not. I have been told I even talk in my sleep. I came up with a brownie recipe once. Devaney wrote it down. It wasn’t half bad. It had a wild amount of chocolate in it, though.”

She let him lift her out. He liked to lift her. Dylan wasn’t crazy. She thought it gave him a real power trip to be that much bigger than she was or something. To have her under his hands, his control. He had been touching her a lot more lately. It just sort of kept happening.

Well, she didn’t half mind. It always happened when she knew she was getting beneath his skin. He was incredibly strong and everything. Probably from all that ranch work. Weren’t cowboy ranchers all lean, strong, and hard from years of hard work?

He smelled good too.

Yes, she could see why Abby and Braelyn had said he was one of the hottest Tylers out there right now. Of course, she suspected Abby liked him because of the ranch he had rather than how hot he was.

Abby was a bit money hungry—it was obvious that Fletcher was going to really succeed one day. Fletcher’s brothers were both rolling in the dough. Abby liked men with money, after all.

He just stood there, with her pressed against him. He looked down. At the neckline of her dress. His eyes darkened. Literally darkened.

Dylan’s every sense went on red alert. Just that fast.

She’d seen him look at an oatmeal cream cookie just like that.

He looked hungry.

Almost turned on a little.

Well.

That was not something she had expected. Dylan fought a shiver. Her every nerve was tingling here. For Fletcher.

Um. That was a complication she had never even considered. “Fletcher, probably better put me down. My sisters are arriving. They might get the wrong idea here. Think you are my date or something.”

“Who the hell cares? Would that be so damned bad?”

But he lowered her to the ground slowly.

Letting every inch of her press against him.

Totally confusing her completely.