Hearing his voice coming from the back room, Rae took a breath. Might as well start now.
Dylan entered the office, his attention on his phone. He made his way to the chair beside her desk and sat down without glancing at her.
“Have you heard anything?” she whispered.
He glanced at her, looking confused. “Why are you whispering?” He leaned closer, his expression conspiratorial.
“Have you had any contact requests on eRapport?”
A flush rose up Dylan’s neck. Hehad, and he hadn’t told her. Why?
“Anyone look promising?” Rae forced herself to ask. She had an overwhelming need to know what kind of women eRapport would think were matches for him. A funny look crossed his face, and she wished she could read his mind.
“I’ve been messaging a few of them.” He shrugged. “One in particular has been pushing for us to meet.”
That fast? Rae had already worried he’d eventually find someone, marry, and move on to have his own family. Which was totally selfish of her to wish wouldn’t happen. She might not be able to consider it for her own future, but he deserved to find a good woman, one who would be able to love and accept Jayden as though he were her own child. Rae was determined to watch out for Dylan’s interests.
“You’ve already fulfilled the minimum requirements to meet in person?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Dylan straightened, looking surprised. “Haven’t you?”
“Almost, but only with one. I’ve been taking my time.”
“Is it someone you’d be willing to meet in person?” He seemed more alert than he had a moment earlier.
“I don’t know.” Rae glanced away, uncomfortable at voicing the concerns she’d been fighting.
“Not a good match for you?” Dylan asked the question slowly, like he’d had to choose his words carefully.
“Meeting him in person would make it too real.”
“Seriously, Rae? Isn’t meeting people in person kind of the point?”
“Forhim, maybe.” She rested her elbows on the desk and rubbed her temples. “When Amelia first suggested the dating site, it seemed like a good idea. Ihavebeen closing myself off.” Rae glanced at Dylan. “If not for you, I’d have turned into a total hermit.”
“Then why are you having second thoughts?”
“Because the more I get to know these men through messaging, the more I realize they’re looking for something I can’t give them.”
Dylan’s eyes flashed. “Has anyone made any inappropriate—”
“No.” Rae told him about the hookup guy. “None of these other guys have said anything creepy.”
“Then what’s bothering you?”
“They’re looking for something serious, not casual dating.” Rae let out a long sigh. Why hadn’t Amelia found a site for people who were only looking for a social life? Not hookups and not marriage.
“Sorry if I overreacted.” Dylan looked both embarrassed and relieved. She found it kind of sweet that he’d been concerned for her. He said, “You stated up front you’re only interested in dating widely, right? That means the guys should know what they’re getting into. But you need to understand this—if a guy is really interested in you, he’ll think he can change your mind.”
There was something unexpectedly intense in his expression, and Rae didn’t know what to think of it. She still hadn’t told anyone about her decision not to remarry until her children were grown. Amelia would undoubtedly argue about it and wouldn’t let it go. Dylan might understand, but she wasn’t sure he wouldn’t try to change her mind too.
Thanks to his friendship, Rae was finally climbing out of the despair that had nearly overwhelmed her after Mike’s death. With that and Dylan taking on the job of a male role model for her children, what more did she need? Her life had come to a good place, something she’d wondered if she could have again. Why couldn’t it simply stay this way?
“What about you?” she asked. “Have you had second thoughts about doing this?”
Dylan leaned back in the chair, wearing his serious face. Once again, he seemed to give his words a lot of thought before he finally spoke.
“I was thinking I should take up Cynthia on her invitation to meet.”
