Page 27 of Exposed to You

“Selfish? Undoubtedly. I saw my friends’ families and they weren’t perfect either. Many were divorced. But those few that were still intact really stuck with me. I was jealous of every boy whose mother dropped him off at school and kissed him goodbye. I became a bully, picking on those kids and calling them a Momma’s Boy or other shit boys say. I was a complete ass and I do regret that. Looking back, I know it had nothing to do with me, but at the time I wondered what it was about me—was I defective?”

“No!” I exclaimed loudly and then repeated again quietly. “No. You were a kid.”

He moved his arm, a gesture that he did not want my pity, and then shrugged. “My father was absent, so I basically raised myself and learned how to be independent at an early age. I made it my aim to make something of myself so that I would never have to feel that way again.”

I nodded. “So you think you might control women so that they don’t leave you?”

Dallon laughed. “I’ve never wanted a woman to stay before, Amy, so I have no idea. I just thought I’d give you something to work with, seeing as you’re so intent on figuring me out.” He leaned forward on the table, clasping his hands. “What about you? Do you have any dark secrets from your past?”

I glanced away. “I think we’ve all felt different than other people at some point in our lives. I had a very good upbringing: loving parents and enough money that we were comfortable.” I bit my lip before continuing. “I think my biggest complaint about my parents would be that they were… controlling.”

Dallon laughed loudly. “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we? I’m controlling, and you like to resist being controlled. What fun we’ll have.”

He took a sip of his drink, his eyes twinkling above the rim.

Chapter Eighteen

After a long lunch, I turned down Dallon’s suggestion that we go to The Met or take a stroll in Central Park. Our conversation and earlier workout had taken a lot out of me. I needed time alone to clear my mind after the whirlwind week we’d had, and I didn’t think clearly around Dallon King.

He took my hand as we exited the restaurant and walked to the car. It was the first time we’d held hands as a couple and the contact caused the hairs on my arms to stand on end, the pull between us so strong that I knew he must feel it too. No matter how much time I had alone to think, or how afraid of Dallon I tried to make myself, I was always going to be affected by him like I’d never been affected by anyone else. I was in deep and I knew it.

“I’d really like to go home and take a long bath,” I confessed as he opened the passenger door for me to climb in.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to that,” he said, grinning wickedly.

I shifted uncomfortably. “I was hoping to read a book.”

Disappointment flashed across his features. “Very well.” He closed the door and I smoothed my skirt nervously as he made his way to the driver’s side.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, the car phone rang, the name Brendan appearing on the screen. I assumed it must be a work call until I heard Brendan speak.

“Hey buddy,” Dallon said. “Are we still shooting hoops tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” came the reply, in a voice that was trying to appear nonchalant but could barely contain its excitement. The voice of a teenaged boy.

“Okay, I’ll meet you at the park at 6. Bring it.”

Brendan laughed. “Yeah, man. See ya.”

Dallon pressed the button on the wheel again and the call ended. He continued to drive, flipping through Sirius stations so quickly, I didn’t know how he could tell what had been playing.

“Who was that?” I asked eventually. Did Dallon have a younger brother or a sibling with kids? I’d always assumed he was an only child like me.

“That was Brendan.”

I rolled my eyes. “I got that much. Who is Brendan?”

He frowned at my tone. “I’m like a big brother to him, but it’s not through an organization or anything.”

I waited for him to expand, but he didn’t. I was about to ask how they’d met when my own phone began to vibrate in my purse. I pulled it out, noting that it was a number I didn’t recognize.

“Amy Clair speaking.”

“Hi Amy,” a friendly female voice greeted me. “My name is Becky Platt. I’m calling from J. Houston Oilfield Services in regards to the Administrative Assistant position you applied for.”

“Oh, yes, how are you?” I pointed at my phone and grinned at Dallon, who gave me a thumbs-up.

Becky laughed kindly. “Great, thanks. We were wondering if you would be available to come in tomorrow for an interview.”

“Definitely!”

“Would 2 p.m. work for you?

“Yes, that works,” I said, trying to contain my excitement.

“Perfect. I’ll email you with more information, but you will be meeting with myself and Ren Helding, Chief Operating Officer. In the email I will also provide the address.”

“Thanks, and see you tomorrow!” I hung up and turned to Dallon, now grinning like an idiot. “I got an interview!”

When we got home, Dallon insisted that I take a bath in his bathroom. “I have a Jacuzzi tub. I’ll run it for you while you call your mom.”

I shook my head. “No way. She’ll get too excited. Better to wait until I have a job in hand.”

He laughed. “All right, well grab your book then.”

He disappeared into the bathroom and I heard water running. I quickly texted Sam about my interview and then practically skipped to my room, changed into my robe and grabbed my book, and then skipped back into Dallon’s bathroom.

The tub was already half-full with large, vanilla scented bubbles. He was in the midst of lighting a large candle at the side of the tub and glanced up, the light dancing across his features. The sight took my breath away for a moment, and I paused in the doorjamb uncertainly.

Dallon put the match to his lips and blew.

“Thanks,” I said, gesturing at the bath.

He smiled and sauntered toward me slowly. With deft fingers, he undid my robe, letting it fall to the floor. I instinctively moved to cover myself, but his eyes hardened. He gently took a hold of my chin and tilted my face to look up at his.

“I love your body. Don’t hide from me.”

I kept my eyes locked on his, grateful that he wasn’t looking down.

After a moment, he sighed resignedly. “You want to get into the bath, don’t you?”

I nodded and he released me. Gratefully, I sunk into the bubbles, the warmth enveloping me. Dallon perched on the side of the tub.

“It amazes me you thought you could be a model with s

uch insecurity about your body.”

“I know.” I shook my head, smiling. “I just really needed a job, and I thought I could overcome it.”

“You still can,” he said, dipping a washcloth into the water before rubbing it over my back in slow, relaxing circles. “I’ll help you.”

I laughed. “Of course you will.”

He grinned back at me, moving the washcloth over my shoulders and onto my chest. I leaned back in the tub and tried to look comfortable with it. My fingers were knotted on my stomach and I released them, letting them float to the sides of my body.

Dallon frowned and wrung out the washcloth, hung it on the bath faucet. He crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side, pausing as if trying to decide how to proceed.

“Seeing as today has been all about getting to know each other, why don’t we talk about you for a bit. Growing up you must have had tons of young men telling you you’re beautiful.”

I sat up and drew my legs to my chest. “Not really, actually. I was always kind of gawky and nerdy. I had braces and glasses most of my life and was super skinny. It wasn’t until University that guys actually asked me out.”

“And by then you already believed you weren’t.”

I shrugged, trying to catch a bubble that floated past. “I guess so.”

“I think there’s more to it.”

I lifted my head. Now who was the one being tenacious?

“When I was in University, I started drinking beer and eating bad food, partially because I was living in residence and that’s what we all did, and partially because I actually wanted to have breasts. It backfired, though—my boyfriend commented on my weight gain. I guess I’ve never felt like my body was good enough.”

“This boyfriend…”

“Michael.”

“Michael. How long did you date for?”

I continued to play with the bubbles as I responded. “Too long. I met him in first year and just recently broke it off with him. I used to think he loved me, but now I don’t think he even cared about me.” I took a deep breath. “I walked in on him cheating on me.”

---