Page 40 of A Lone Star Love Affair
“Oh, hell,” he said, disappointed, torn between wanting to tell her to cancel with Dylan and thanking her for agreeing to question Dylan about the money as soon as possible. “I hate that, but if it helps Sydney, I’ll agree. Tomorrow night, then, unless there’s hope of seeing you after you leave Dylan.”
She smiled at him. “I won’t be late with Dylan, but I will have already eaten and it’s a work night, so I should just go home then.”
“I want to hear from you as soon as you know the truth about the money. I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. Sydney looked awful today. She isn’t eating, probably not sleeping and studying like crazy. Send me a text or call me when you leave the restaurant. I’ll meet you.”
“I’ll do that. The sooner you hear the truth, the better. I don’t know your father, but I do know Dylan. I feel certain about him.”
“Either way, I’m going to be unhappy about it. Dad has never done anything like this before. At least not that I know about. If he hasn’t paid Dylan, it will make me wonder if he’s ever lied about something in the past to get his way. Hell of a deal either way.”
“I need to finish a letter before I leave to meet Dylan. I have to go.”
He nodded. “I’ve been looking forward all day to dinner tonight,” he said, walking to the elevator with her, catching her for a brief kiss that he wanted to lengthen, but she stepped away. “I’ll be waiting for your call after you leave Dylan.”
She nodded. “It’ll probably be about nine or nine-thirty when Dylan and I part.”
When the elevator doors closed behind her, Tony returned to his desk. In minutes he could focus on business because Isabelle had taken over and would help with his family problem. For just an instant, he thought about how important she was becoming to him and in his life.
It was a new experience and not one he wanted to explore, so he forced himself to concentrate on his work.
At six Isabelle entered the restaurant. It was startling to see Dylan, because he had lost weight and had a somber expression she had never seen before. Unlike his usually cheerful optimistic self, he stood and held her chair, barely speaking, appearing intensely unhappy.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Isabelle asked when he sat facing her.
He looked away and a muscle worked in his jaw. “I thought I would begin to get over this. Instead, it gets a little worse each day that passes. I’ve never been in love before, Isabelle, never like this. Sydney has stopped calling, stopped trying to get me to change my mind. I suppose she’s getting over it.”
He paused as a waitress appeared and they placed orders for water, plus hot tea for Isabelle. “How’s it going with you and the brother?”
She wanted to keep the conversation about Sydney going, but didn’t want to rush into questions. “He surprised me by flying to San Diego last weekend when I was there for business.”
He attempted a smile. “Did you have a good time?”
“Yes. That’s never been the problem. But unlike Sydney, who wants to marry, Tony wants to avoid marriage or commitment.”
“I doubt if he’ll change,” Dylan said. “He’s in his thirties and has avoided serious entanglements so far.”
“His work is his main interest.” She paused while their waitress brought water and took their orders. “Dylan, I want to ask something that’s very personal and if you don’t want to answer my question, I’ll understand.”
“Ask away. We’re close friends. I can’t imagine any question you have that I will mind answering.”
She sipped her water, wondering if Dylan would still feel that way after she asked him such a personal question. “Did Sydney’s father offer you money to stop seeing her?”
“Yes, he did,” Dylan said, and Isabelle got a knot in her throat. Shocked that she had misjudged Dylan, too, she stared at him.
“So you stopped seeing her and now you wish you hadn’t?”
“Hell, no. He just offered me money this week. I wasn’t too polite about turning him down.” His eyes narrowed and he studied her.
“Oh, Dylan!” she exclaimed, swamped with relief. “You told him no, that you wouldn’t take his money.”
“Damn right. I wasn’t nice about it. You thought that was why I stopped seeing her? What’s going on, Isabelle? How’d you hear about the money offer?”
“Tony said that Sydney’s father told her he paid you to stop seeing her, that his money was why you wouldn’t see her again.”
“Hell’s bells,” Dylan snapped, his eyes flashing with fire as his face flushed. “She believed that?”
“Tony told me that she did. At first Tony was shocked when I said I didn’t believe it, that you’re always so straightforward about everything, and that I was sure you would have told me if you had done that. I think you would have told Sydney.”
“She believed him.”
