Page 5 of Tangled Hearts

“All right. Move over, Kaden. This round's on me.” He actually does as Frankie orders. “We should get a picture, and I’m going to post it and piss everyone off.”

“Take this one.” Handsome pulls out a chair for me next to him. “I’m Dylan.”

“Natalie,” I tell him as I take a seat. “And my subtle friend over there is Frankie.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Sorry, we thought you were leaving and wanted to snag a table.”

“Not going anywhere.” He leans back in his chair as if to prove the point. For some strange reason I can’t explain, a sense of relief fills me with his words. I find that I don’t want him to go anywhere, which is absolutely insane because I don’t even know this man. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“I think I’d like that.” I see Frankie watching me out of the corner of my eye. Yeah, we don’t let men buy us drinks. It tends to be a pain in the ass when you won’t hand over your number or leave with them. For once, those two options don't sound too bad.

Dylan orders me a drink and one for himself. I get lost in conversation with him about where he went to school, which is crazy impressive. He even has his own law firm.

“How chaotic is your life when you own a law firm?”

“It used to be, but I have been taking fewer clients and letting others in the firm handle more and more.”

“You’re bored of it.” I say this with a sense of understanding.

“I just don’t want to give my whole life to it.”

“I get that. I too wonder if I’m just with the wrong firm, so I’m not loving it like I thought I would, or if I want something…”

“More,” he fills in for me, making me smile.

“Yeah, maybe more,” I agree.

“What would your more be?” Heat fills my cheeks. I pick up my drink and take a sip. “Come on, out with it.” Dylan’s smile has me breaking. I'm beginning to realize how good he is at it.

“Maybe write.” I shrug, wanting to play it down.

“What about?” He leans in closer, as if we're about to share a secret. I suppose we are because I have never told another soul this before.

“Our secret?”

“Promise.” This time it’s me that’s leaning in.

“Romance,” I whisper.

“Love,” Dylan whispers back, his eyes lowering to my lips. Is he going to kiss me? My heart picks up, starting to race. Then his phone goes off.

“Shit, sorry.” He jerks back. “That’s my mom's ringtone. I have to answer.”

“Of course.” I lean back into my chair, taking a sip of my drink.

“I’ll be right back,” Dylan says as he stands. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“Promise,” I respond, making him smile as he answers the call, stepping away from the table and toward the bathroom, where there is a hallway that is quieter.

“What was that?” Frankie asks the second Dylan is out of earshot.

“Yeah, what was that?” Kaden is right there with her, eager to know.

“Why did you say it like that?” Frankie turns her question to Kaden. I don’t know if these two are flirting or fighting at this point.

“I just didn’t expect it. He’s?—"

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