Page 57 of Burn It Down

“Hell yes, we can.”

Dylan’s laugh barrels down the line straight into my chest. “Sounds like I know your love language.”

Growing serious, I lower my voice and throw a glance at my office door to make sure it’s closed. “How am I supposed to go all night without touching you?”

“Because we aren’t going down that road anymore, remember? At least not until we’re on equal footing and you’re single. Honestly, if I was stronger, I probably wouldn’t have agreed to go at all.”

The pain that lances through me is enough to make me exhale as forcefully as if someone kicked me in the solar plexus.

“Don’t say that. You’ve breathed life into me.”

He’s silent a beat too long before he responds honestly.

“My only fear is that I’ve done it using breath vital to my own existence.”

I’m still mulling over that last sentence long after we’ve hung up when a text from Cora comes through.

Cora 4:32pm

Invite Dylan to dinner Thursday. I’ll cook at your place. I’d like to get to know him better before the gala.

And don’t worry, I told my dad his business would have to wait.

Chapter 16

Dylan

Despite my insistence that Jake and I cool things down, he continues to text me like an adolescent girl with a giant crush…and I love it every time he does it.

Most of the time it’s something completely random like when he sent me a picture of the words “caramel macchiato” from the menu at the coffee shop in his building. The message that came with it wasmade me think of you.

It was corny as hell, but it made me smile.

My dad laughs when the music playing from my phone fades out and my text tone comes through the speakers in the shop. I’m under yet another vehicle doing what I love when he speaks up.

“Things going well with the rich kid then?” His tone is good-natured, but I still don’t like the nickname.

“Dad,” I say in warning from under another Porsche.

I can’t see my dad’s face. It’s probably why our relationship is so good. We never really have to look at each other while we talk.

“All I’m saying is money like the kind he’s got changes people, Dyl. It turns good men corrupt and gives them the resources to hide it. I just don’t want to see your heart get broken when he…when the thrill is gone.”

To prove his point, he asks a different question. “He made any progress ditching the girl?”

I can’t hold back my laugh this time. “Dad, Cora’s nice. In fact, she’s invited me to dinner with them tomorrow night. Said she wanted to get to know me better before the charity event. And it’s not as simple as Jake justditching the girl.”

“You’re going? To the charity thing I mean. Seems a little like playing with fire, don’t you think? Waving Jake’s feelings for you under her nose like that?”

“We aren’t waving anything, because there’s nothing to wave. Jake and I are just friends because that’s all we can be.”

“All I’m saying is be careful.”

We fall into an easy silence as we work our way through today’s jobs. Shortly after three, Cassie comes into the shop, sobbing.

“You guys need to come inside.”

Our dad is at her side instantly. “Cassie, baby, what’s wrong?”

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