Page 23 of Undone

Her mouth gaped open for a second before she answered, “Sure.”

To Dylan’s ears, she didn’t sound so sure.

For a moment, the two again seemed to communicate silently—proof they were more than only friends—before Ford gave her a single nod. “I’ll catch up with you later. Hopefully, the gift I gave you will last a while.”

When her head snapped toward Dylan, her cheeks appeared a bit darker. She said nothing as Ford shot him a sloppy two finger salute and took long, stiff strides in the direction of his truck.

Dylan turned his attention back to Erin and cocked an eyebrow. “Gift?”

“Ford is always generous.”

Great.“Not enough to share that you dated,” Dylan murmured. Or were still dating. He wasn’t quite clear on it.

“I asked him not to.”

Dylan frowned. “Why?”

“Because, like he said, we enjoy each other’s company on occasion, and I didn’t want you to punish him because of me.”

“How and why would I do that?”

“You could’ve pulled him off the job. And the why…”

“He didn’t steal you from under my nose, Erin.”

“Kyle didn’t, either.”

Dylan tipped his head to the side. “Debatable.”

“I’m not in the mood to debate, Dylan. It’s a beautiful day and you should be celebrating the success of your open house.”

She was right. He was being an ass for no reason other than unreasonable jealousy.

If Dylan had wanted to keep Erin, all he had to do was stay in Fisher Falls. At least until she graduated. Then maybe hecould’ve convinced her to leave with him. But no, he left the area like his ass was on fire. He’d been more than ready to see the world. Or at least the world outside of a small town in very rural central Pennsylvania.

“Ithasbeen a very successful day.” He needed to stop being miserable and petty when it came to the unforgettable woman before him. He was better than that. “How much of the property have you seen so far?”

“Only the spa, some of the lodge and the event hall.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. I would love to see the rest. Especially the updates to the farmhouse. But you don’t have to be my guide, Dylan. I can check it out on my own.”

That would not be happening on his watch. Especially now that he knew she was a widow and apparently, not in any kind of “committed” relationship. That was how he took Ford and Erin seeing each other “occasionally.”

What surprised him was that he found himself still attracted to her the same as he’d been when they first started dating way back when. But then, he shouldn’t be surprised. She had left a mark on him despite them being both so young at the time.

Since leaving Fisher Falls, his tastes in women might not have changed, but they did expand. He left as an eighteen-year-old virgin and returned as a sexually well-rounded thirty-five–year old.

His eyes and mind might not be as open as they were now if he hadn’t left. Throughout the years, he tried things he never wanted to do again but also discovered what he wanted and needed in his life.

The truth was, if they had stayed together or even if he stayed in Fisher Falls, his life would be totally different.

The only regret he had when it came to leaving was… her.

Also, not being around when his father died since he would’ve liked the chance to tell his father goodbye and that he loved him one last time.

Loss was difficult and he needed to get it through his thick head that Erin suffered a big one, too. It cost nothing to be a kind or decent human being. He needed to be the example and not the exception. “I’m sorry about your loss, Erin.”

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