Page 26 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“If you keep your eye on him and ignore the rest, it’s not a problem.”

“Ah, I see what you’re saying. But I’m about to point out a very large hole in your logic,” I said, leaning in close. I slid my hand over his thigh. It was a great thigh, and I did like the chance to sneak in a quick caress, but my touch was to prove a point.

Dylan turned his head and looked at me. “Oh, yeah?”

“I’ve just distracted you long enough for you to stop keeping an eagle eye on Max. Where did he go?”

Dylan’s eyes opened wide, and he whipped his head around looking for the boy.

“Max?” Dylan barked out.

Max turned and beamed at us from his spot up front. Max hadn’t gone anywhere, but the unexpected distraction was long enough for something to have happened.

“He’s right there. What the hell?”

“I’m sorry I made you nervous. But I just wanted to demonstrate how fast it can happen. If we were sitting at a playground, it would be different. But in a place like this, I’m more comfortable having him at an arm’s length or closer. And that’s a professional opinion.”

“You are a smart woman, and I find myself conceding to your professional experience yet again.” Dylan tilted his head in a slight bow, only he kept his eyes on Max the entire time.

After that, Max was never more than a hand grab away from either of us. And after another hour, he was on Dylan’s shoulders for a ride back to the car.

The drive from the aquarium back to the house wasn’t long. I was surprised that Max conked right out and was asleep before we got to the community gates, and then the drive to the house.

“I guess he wore himself out,” I said, watching him over my shoulder for a long moment. He really was a sweet little boy. “Thank you for today.”

“You are welcome. I’m sorry we didn’t do anything more grand than stay local and go to the aquarium.”

“We could have packed a picnic and gone down the coast into Big Sur, and it would have been just as wonderful. Today was about the company, not the activity,” I said.

“You figured it out? I told you?—”

“I know,” I cut him off. “You said you would prove it by actions if you couldn’t tell people about us. I get it, and I appreciate it.” I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

“That sounds serious.”

I glanced at Dylan’s profile. His attention was on the curving road in front of us and not on me. Which was good. What I had to say was hard enough. I didn’t need him looking at me at the same time. Confessions were always hard, but this one couldn’t wait any longer.

“It kind of is. Look, if this is going to be something between us, you need to hear this from me,” I started. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “And because you haven’t asked me a million questions, I’m guessing you haven’t been told yet.”

“Jessica? What’s this all about?”

“That man you had at the house after you went golfing several days ago.”

“Ryan Carmichael?”

I grimaced at the sound of his name. “Yeah, him.”

“He wasn’t bothering you, was he?”

I barked out a bitter laugh. “Oh, he most definitely bothers me. I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything. He’s the kind of guy who loves to hold threats over people. He kind of has a bit of one that he’s dangling over me, but that doesn’t mean he’d keep his word. Anyway, he told me if I didn’t meet him that night, he’d tell you all about us.”

“He coerced you?” Dylan asked. His voice was deep and threatening.

“Not exactly. And not what you’re currently thinking. I met him that night, had a drink because he wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he said he’d hold off telling you about me because I was playing nice. I don’t trust him, and if there is going to be anything between you and me, you need to know that I have a history with Ryan.”

The car jerked to a stop. “You what?”

My seat belt cut into my shoulder. Frantically, I looked at Max, who was mercifully still asleep. The car was stopped in the middle of the road on a blind curve. I looked at Dylan. His eyes were tight slits as he glared straight ahead. His knuckles were going white as he gripped the steering wheel.

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