Page 34 of Rogue's Path
“Sounds good. See you then.” She clicks off.
“Sorry about that.” I put my phone back in my purse. “One of my friends from last night wants to get together.” I cut a piece of pancake. “So you were telling me about your employees.”
“They’re like family—”
I can’t hold back a snort. “You know that’s code for you’re exploiting them.”
His smile never wavers. “It’s different when the men in question have saved my life several times. Then you actually mean it.”
“How many times have you almost died?” That was an intrusive question.
“More than I care to count…”
***
Taylor holds the door for me as we step out of the restaurant.
“Thank you for helping to cure my hangover.. I had a nice afternoon.”
“It was my pleasure.” He steps in front of me, close enough that I am aware of his presence without getting in my space like the bad boy biker last night. “I want to see you again. But I have to go out of town for two weeks on business. Will you be here in Urbium when I get back?”
Who knows? “My plans are kind of fluid right now.”
“Well then, I’ll reach out and fly to wherever you are and we’ll have dinner.”
It’s that simple for him, yet he doesn’t see a future for himself. Taylor is a puzzle I want to solve. “That sounds good.” We’re going to walk away, and he doesn’t even know my name. “Can I ask you something before we go?”
“Of course.”
“How do you ask a woman whose name you don’t know on two dates?”
“I know your name.”
What?
“Dylan Oliva is a beautiful name.”
My heart starts beating out of my chest. Could he be my stalker? Wait, this guy runs a security firm. How did Maddox and Maverick know exactly where we were? And why did those bikers immediately step up to make sure we didn’t fall while dancing? Bear did the same at the honky-tonk. At every bar we went to, there were buff men just hanging around. And not a single biker dropped to the floor when Vex arrived. “You were there last night working.” How did I miss that?
“Sure was.”
Those bikers weren’t quite the outlaws I thought.
The possibilities…Those thoughts need to wait for later. There’s just enough time for me to hop in a cab and make it in time to meet Cordelia.
How bold do I want to be? Earlier, I asked if I would kiss him, and he didn’t seem opposed. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours, and I’m considering kissing another man. But this isn’t a joke. He isn’t ready to kiss me and mean it. I lean up and kiss his smooth cheek. Taylor likes a close shave. “Thank you. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
Ivy Café
Dylan
Wow! The Ivy Café lives up to its name. Emerald, mint, and forest green vines wove their way up the building, leaving small spots of weathered brick exposed. Inside, there should be a secret garden filled with butterflies, rainbows, and myriads of flowers. As soon as I step inside the stained glass doors, those dreams will doubtlessly be dashed by chrome, maple wood, and industrial finishes.
If I stay out here, what could have been will remain forever. Except, I don’t live in a fantasy world. And real vines would have died already with as cold as it has been this winter up here. They look so real. How is that possible?
Though it does tempt me to create a whole new world, Cordelia awaits.
Reality always overrides fantasy.
