“That I need more information. I’m interested—”
“That’s wonderful!” Mr. G. suddenly pulled Dylan into a fierce man hug. “My entire life has been tied to this company, and I couldn’t bear to turn it over to someone unworthy of it.”
“But I haven’t said I’ll do it. That Icando it.” Had he done the wrong thing?
“Don’t you worry about that part.” Mr. G. stepped back. “I want you to have my company, so I’ll do everything I can—within reason—to make sure you’re at the helm.”
“Financing is the main thing.” Dylan shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not rich, and you want to retire.”
“I’ve had my attorney and accountant look at funding options in case you wanted to do this. I’m sure we’ll find something that will work.” Mr. G.’s expression turned serious. “It will make it easier if you have some capital to put toward it. I know you and your father don’t get along, but do you think he might be willing to partner with you on this?”
“I’d never go into business with him.” The thought left a bad taste in Dylan’s mouth. Besides not wishing to be tied to his father like that, they’d never see eye-to-eye on how to run the business. “I do, however, have a trust that came from my maternal grandfather. It’s not mine until I’m thirty, unless I can talk my father into releasing it sooner.”
“Well, we can work with that. I’ll have my people contact you for details, so they can work it into the plans.” Mr. G. grinned and clapped Dylan on the back. “It’s great to have you in the family for real now.” Without another word, he turned and left.
It looked like Dylan’s life was about to change big time. Again.
5
When Dylan had suggested they go on their first dates together, he’d had no idea how hard it would be to work around everyone’s schedules. That had included Amelia who was watching the kids. He knew she enjoyed tending them, but she must really be invested in this idiotic dating ploy because it looked like she could be doing a lot of babysitting if he and Rae lined up dates on the same nights.
He grabbed his keys, wishing he’d be driving to the restaurant with Rae. It made sense to him since they lived next door to each other. But she’d nixed it, saying it’d be too weird for them to arrive together when they’d be meeting other people.
When Dylan heard the sound of Rae’s door, he opened his and paused, having to push back a surge of jealousy. The little black dress fit her curves perfectly, and some other guy was going to be her date.
“You ready for this?” Dylan asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She straightened his tie and brushed off a piece of lint from his sleeve. Did she recognize what a wifely thing it was to do? Rae said, “You look really nice.”
“So do you.” He cleared his throat. “Couldn’twejust have dinner?”
“Don’t we wish.” Rae slid her arm through his, and they went down the stairs.
Amelia had taken the kids to her house for a sleepover, saying it’d be better than dragging them home late. He didn’t really expect the date to go that long. Cynthia was fun to talk to, and he liked her a lot. If he wasn’t already in love with someone else, there might even be romantic potential with her. As it was, he now understood Rae’s reticence about doing this. It’d been easy for him to tell her to be upfront with the guys she went out with, but he felt like a fraud.
“Well,” Rae said when they reached her car, “I’m glad you’re going to be there tonight.”
“Me too about you.” Dylan held open the door for her. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” She wiped her hands on her dress and slid into the seat. The gesture made him want to do the same thing on his slacks. Was it wrong for him to be glad she was as nervous as he was?
He closed the door and jogged to his car a couple of spaces down. It’d have been so much better if he’d had someone to talk to as he drove there. Rae could talk him off the quitter ledge. He purposefully parked a few spaces down from her car, so it wouldn’t look like they’d come together.
She met his gaze, her hands sliding down her dress again. If she was this nervous with him there, how bad would it have been for her to do it alone?
“You should go first,” he said. “I can follow a few paces behind you.”
Rae gave a little sigh and headed toward the restaurant. He stared after her, his gaze drawn again to how well that dress fit. Dang, but did she have any idea how hot she was in it? He blinked and looked away, heaving out a breath. She wouldn’t appreciate him gawking at her.
Dylan strode toward the front of the restaurant where several people stood, including Rae who was scanning the parking lot. It looked like her date wasn’t there yet. Dylan’s spirits lifted; maybe the guy wouldn’t show up. But no. There was no way she’d stay, and he’d be stuck on a solo date with someone Jasmine thought he wasn’t good enough for.
A flashy late model Jaguar in mint condition pulled up. The driver hopped out and tossed his keys to the valet parking guy in a manner similar to the one Dylan had seen his father use dozens of times. Was it something all the attorneys at his father’s office did? Or had Ben Zabala learned it from Dylan’s dad? Was that the only thing Ben mimicked? If a man like his father could cast off his daughter, what would he do with another man’s children? If Rae fell for a guy like that, what would happen to Preston and Beth?
Zabala got one of those too-large grins as he approached Rae. He didn’t simply extend his hand but kissed her cheek. Dylan couldn’t understand what they said, but the lawyer must have suggested they go inside because Rae shook her head and indicated Dylan. Zabala glanced his way, his brows darting up in recognition.
Fortunately, Cynthia’s car drove up. It was obviously her car since she’d had it wrapped with her business name, logo, and web address channel. She stepped out and, like Zabala, handed her keys to the valet. Cynthia was dressed to a tee in a slinky dress that glittered in the early evening sunshine. She wore a fair amount of bling, but it didn’t seem overdone, even to Dylan’s clueless eyes. He felt tacky in his department store suit. Jasmine was right. Cynthia was way out of his league.
Her gaze stopped on him, and she grinned, raising a hand in greeting.
