“We talk every day at the office. I’m all talked out.”
“You’re making excuses.”
“And you’re being annoying,” he replies.
“If you say so.”
“Okay, fine!” he says, finally admitting defeat. “If it’ll shut that mouth of yours.”
I can think of other ways to keep my mouth shut.
He storms past me, pushes open the front door and steps inside. I follow and close the door behind me. Dylan walks into the living room and takes a seat on the couch again. His shirt is untucked, his hair is messy and that, combined with the frustrated look on his face, makes him drop-dead gorgeous right now. Okay, so I may be a tad—totallyobsessed with the guy, and if that kiss from earlier is anything to go by, I know he’s obsessed with me, too. I move slowly into the living room and then take a seat beside him on the couch. He scoots over, creating distance between us, and rather than try and cozy up with the guy, I remain where I am. Best to play it cool if I have any chance of getting anywhere with Dylan.
“You’re not doing much talking for someone who wanted to ‘talk,’” he says, arrogantly.
“Can you just chill? I’m not your enemy, Dylan. We’re family, remember?”
“Why do you keep saying that?” he inquires.
“Because it’s true. My brother married your stepbrother and so that makes us—”
“It makes usnothing.It just makes Dean my stepbrother-in-law, if that’s even a thing. As for you and me, we’re nothing more than just … acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances? Really?”
What started as a working relationship five years ago has since developed into something more serious. People have warned me countless times never to get involved with those who I work with. But with Dylan, things are different. We’re not just coworkers, or acquaintances, as he put it, wearefamily in a way, and the fact that I’m his boss just makes the matter more complicated. But is that any reason for us not to be together? I’ll admit, I’ve kept my attraction toward him a secret for a long time, but that’s only because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted. Until now that is.
“How long have you and I known each other, Dylan?”
There’s a long pause, and when he doesn’t say anything, I’m ready to repeat the question, except I wait, because the last thing I want to do is push this guy completely away.
“I don’t know, five, maybe six years.”
“And if it wasn’t for our brothers getting married, we may never have met, right?”
“What’s your point?” he questions.
I get to my feet and wander over to the fireplace. Grabbing a hold of the fire iron, I poke it in the fireplace.
“I think it’s time I finally opened up and told you the truth, Dylan.” I hesitate for a moment, poking at the fireplace while trying to find the right words to make this sound more heartfelt, rather than a speech that has been rehearsed.
“You have absolutely no idea how hard it’s been for me to finally have this conversation with you, Dylan. For years I’vebeen trying to find the right moment to tell you how I feel about you, but something, or someone, has always gotten in the way. When I first met you all those years ago, before Elvis and Dean got married, I was instantly attracted to you. I know that sounds cliché and something that you read in a book, but I need to be truthful with you.”
I stop poking at the fireplace, then turn around so that I’m facing Dylan who is now focusing all his attention on me.
“After the wedding, when Elvis asked me to get you a job at the firm, I was secretly relishing the fact. I wanted you the moment I laid eyes on you, but I had to tread with caution. Dean had only just married Elvis, and then there was all that stuff happening in your personal life with Brock, so I didn’t know how you’d react to having another guy find you attractive so soon after your heartache. So when you started working for me, I kept my distance from you and kept our relationship strictly professional because, well, for obvious reasons. We worked together and I didn’t want things to get complicated or have my employees think that I was giving you special treatment because we were dating. And because I knew that I could have you, without making things complicated, I still wanted to see you every day, which is why I gave you the desk so close to my office. It was a way I could still watch and see you up close every day. I know how all this must sound to you, and I’m sorry that I didn’t come forth with all this sooner but I had my reasons.”
He continues to stare at me, although now he’s much more relaxed on the couch and looking less agitated. I proceed to move toward him and then take a seat beside him on the couch.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is,” I reach down and grab a hold of his hand, “I’ve fallen for you, Dylan, and I’ve fallen hard. I stopped hooking up with guys for casual fucks the moment you set foot in my office because I was so compelled by you. I knewfrom that moment that I wanted you, but I wasn’t prepared to risk losing an employee and a friend by telling you how I felt about you.”
I stare into his eyes and keep a firm hold of his hand. He says nothing but I can notice the compassionate look in his eyes.
“Can you say something? Please,” I beg.
“You’re telling me you’ve gone five years without sex or a blow job?” He scoffs, and I raise my eyebrows at him. “Sorry, I was just trying to make a joke,” he continues.
“While I appreciate it, I’d really like to know what’s going through your mind right now,” I tell him, truthfully.
