Page 43 of Dylan (Bad Boys After Dark)
Tiffany looked over her shoulder at Dylan, who was right behind them.
“I should have warned you,” he said with a laugh. “She rarely uses a filter.”
“Oh, please.” Gigi rolled her eyes and began messing with a few of the cables that were hanging from the ceiling. “The owner of a gentleman’s club cannothavea filter. There’s no room for it.”
“A gentleman’s club?” Tiffany glanced at Dylan.
He must have read her mind because he gave her a don’t-even-go-there look and said, “No. I have never frequented it, and I didn’t mention it outside becausethisis not a sex club.”
“Dylan, frequent my club?” Gigi laughed. “My girls wish he would!”
Dylan sidled up to Tiffany, speaking directly into her ear. “One day you’ll see I really am a good guy.”
She gazed up at him. The thrill rushing through her momentarily transported her back to a time when she’d been carefree.Pre-asshole Rob. And it felt fantastic. She wanted to stay right there in a magic bubble of the moment, blissfully happy.
“I think I know that by now.” She went up on her toes and kissed him.
“Okay, guys,” Gigi said, strapping a harness-type contraption around Tiffany’s waist. “This is not make-out time. This is all about fun.” She set a serious gaze on Tiffany.
“Fun?” Tiffany’s heart raced. “I assume you think I’m going up there?” She pointed at the trapeze bars.
“Yup,” Gigi said with a radiant smile. “It’ll be fun, just as soon as you get over the suffocating fear.”
“Ohmygod.” She glared at Dylan. “You could have warned me.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He gave her a chaste kiss.
Gigi moved around her, hooking and checking cables. Tiffany felt like a marionette.A freaking petrified marionette.
Dylan placed his hands on her shoulders and locked his gorgeous eyes on her. “I know you like to be firmly grounded.”
“Yes.”I’m going to pass out.
“And in control.”
“Yes.”Please don’t make me do this.
“And you don’t like to look weak.”
“Ever! What’s your point?” Her hands were trembling. She realized Gigi was no longer messing with her rigging and spotted her climbing a tall ladder up to a platform.
“I don’t think there’s anything you can’t do, but I’d never make you do this alone. I’m going up, too.” He toed off his shoes.
“How does that help me, exactly?”
“Moral support.” He knelt down and untied her sneakers, took them off, and set them beside her. Running his hands along the outside of her legs, he rose to his feet, bringing a rise in her temperature as well. “Trust, Summers. That’s what this is all about. Trusting yourself, as much as trusting me.”
She looked up at the platform, where Gigi stood holding a trapeze bar and waving. Tiffany lifted her hand in a half wave.
“If you’re too scared,” he taunted, arching a brow. “You can just watch.”
She scowled at him. “You have actuallydonethis before?”
“For many years. And I will do it until the day I’m too old to climb the ladder.” Something in his eyes told her there was more to this than a challenge.
“Why?”
“You want all my secrets?” His jaw tightened. “You’ll have to share one with me.”
