Page 93 of Rosie and the Beast Next Door

But Dylan was becoming the dream.

I swiveled my attention back to my brothers. “And because I can’t resist giving you guys relationship details,” I said in a lighter tone than I felt. “I haven’t even told you about how we had to share a bed the other night.”

“Stop,” Jules put his entire hand over my face. “I haven’t eaten yet.”

Haydn pulled out his phone. “Ben, you haven’t seen the video yet. Dylan confessed his love.”

I scoffed, but my heart secretly jumped. “His love for myartwork.”

“Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?” Jules said dryly.

I poked him in the tickle spot under his arm and he yelped loud enough for several people to look our way. The tops of his cheeks turned pink, and I smiled, satisfied. It was nearly impossible to get a rise out of Jules.

One of the other servers was waving to get my attention. More people had come into the restaurant while we were chatting, and it was too much for one person to handle. “Extra-large meat lovers pizza?” I asked them.

They all nodded, and I raced off to put in their order and check on my tables, ending with Max’s.

“Good evening,” I said. “You all ready to order?”

“Hey, Josie! Yes, we’re ready. I’ll take my usual.” He winked, and I wrote it on my note pad, searching for some of that enthusiasm I used to feel when he said my name. Where were the shivers? The rush of endorphins? They had abandoned me in my time of need.

As I took the rest of his family’s order, a familiar voice caught my attention. Dylan had come in with his teammates and was stopped at my brothers’ table.

Why was he stopped at my brothers’ table? Do not panic.

“Extra green peppers,” I murmured after Max spoke.

“No green peppers,” he said, his brows furrowed. “I don’t like them, remember?”

Jules had Dylan’s hand in what could be vaguely approximated as a handshake. Oh geez. Dylan met my gaze and frowned as his attention dropped to Max.

“Josie,” Max said loudly. Hestillcouldn’t figure out my real name? “I heard about your store. I’m sorry, that sounds really stressful.”

“Thank you,” I said, a little too tightly. I rolled my shoulders. None of this was Max’s fault. Except the name thing, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker.

“You have insurance on the items in your shop, right?” he continued. “Have you called them? They’ll need to get out there asap.”

“I do, and I did.”

“And you moved your art out—”

“Yes.” I probably sounded more irritated than I needed, knowing he was just trying to help, but why would he assume I hadn’t done the most basic things already?

“Did your copy ofShrubs of Fogget ruined? You can borrow mine. Book club is this week.”

I blinked and tried to get my mind to keep up with the conversation.Shrubs of Fogand book club were the furthest things from my mind right now. “I’m not sure, honestly.”

“I’ll bring my copy by later. Just in case.”

It was with disconcerted relief that I was pulled away to another table.Come on, heart. Beat for Max. You can do it.

But … nothing.

Chapter 35

Dylan

After one of themost aggressive handshakes of my life, three chairs were pulled up to the already too-crowded table of Rosie’s three older brothers for me, Bret, and Gage.

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