He gets up and comes over to my side of the booth so he can plant little kisses all over my face. I laugh and hug him tightly to me. Behind him, I notice Dante and Harlow standing by the bar. They’re fighting, and Dante’s already got a drink in his hand. Harlow slaps him and storms out.
“Something wrong?” Dylan pulls back as he feels my body stiffen.
I compose myself and force a smile. “Nope. Everything’s great.”
I put my arms around him again and hope I’m not being as naïve as Harlow. I hope Dylan really is as different from Dante as he seems and that I’m not completely over my head in a world I don’t understand.
* * *
I call Bill about my week off.
When he threatens to fire me, his usual retort to any request, I respond with the only comeback I can think of. “It’s illegal to disallow me to use personal time. I’ve never once taken even one day off. Are you going to give it to me, or do I need to take this to your supervisor?”
Bill gives me the time off, and then he abruptly thanks me for my work on the Cougars’ event.
“I think we’re going to get the contract. But I’m frustrated because damn Hal Cotton hasn’t called me yet.”
So that explains his testy mood.
“But if we do, Ms. Gordon, I’ll tell you right now that the promotion is yours. I’ll send you a text when the account is a go.”
I thank him and hang up.
Then I send Rosita a text.
Can you take care of the kitties for one more week?
Her answer comes immediately.
Of course! But what are you doing?
I hate not telling her about Dylan. But I feel like I’ll jinx myself if I put it into writing.
Just a small change of plans. Going to be delayed in Arizona for one week. But I’ll be home after that. I promise, and I’ll tell you everything! I’ll text you tomorrow.
I tap the screen on my phone and pull up my bank account. As I stare at the recent deposits, I admit the truth. I’m not ready to see my mother. I’m still working up the courage to approach her. And that sucks because I know she needs the money soon. But maybe staying in Tucson for the rest of the week will give me the strength I need to follow through on my plan. I just need a few days to figure out what I’m going to say to her.Here’s your money, and by the way, where have you been the last twenty-plus years?doesn’t sound like a great opener.
“All set?” Dylan asks me as I meet him in the lobby.
“All set.” I give him a kiss. “What do you want to do today?”
He kisses me back. “How about we go for a drive into the mountains? Do you want to?”
“Yes, I love the mountains. We can bring a picnic lunch maybe.”
“Definitely,” he says. “We’ll stop at the store down the street.”
* * *
“I’m going to get an orange,” I tell Dylan when we’re in the bread aisle. “You want one?”
“Sure, baby.” He leans down and kisses me, right there in the aisle.
I laugh as Dylan blows on my neck. “I’ll be right back. Try to control yourself while I’m gone.”
“Not possible!” he calls after me.
I head for the produce aisle. The first orange I pick up is perfect, still firm, but I can tell it’s juicy underneath. It takes me a while to find a match for it, though.
