Sorry. And thanks.
Now to tell Debs. He got out of the car and found her waiting on his side. She slid her arm through his and tried to pull him toward the building. He refused to move.
“What’s wrong, sugar?” She turned to face him.
How could he tell her he wasn’t interested in going out with a woman old enough to be his mother?
“I can’t afford something as pricey as this.”
“Oh, this ismytreat, sugar, so don’t you worry about a thing.” Debs ran a hand up his chest, feeling out his right pec. “I’ll take care of dinner, andyoucan be dessert.” She lifted on her toes and moved in to kiss him.
Dylan stepped back and held up his hands between them.
“Ah, you’re not going to play hard to get, are you?” Debs took a seductive step toward him. Did she have a split personality, one that chatted intelligently online and then the one before him? How could they be so different?
“This isn’t for me,” he said, moving back several more steps. “You go ahead and eat here if you want. I’ve texted a friend to come and get me.”
Debs’ expression darkened, and her mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. “Not man enough for me, huh? Well, it’syourloss.” She slung her bag over her shoulder and flounced toward the restaurant, not even looking back.
He felt a little sick. What if some guy came on to Rae like that? Dylan, at least, was bigger than Debs. He had no doubt if she’d been pushier, he wouldn’t have had any trouble getting clear of her.
What ifshehad claimed he’d pulled something onher? A chill went through him. It struck him then what a dangerous place the dating world could be, even for a guy.
Dylan walked out to the sidewalk, grateful when Rae texted they were close.
When they drove up in Jason’s Range Rover, the salesman had the good grace not to speak, but his expression said plenty. Dylan got in the back seat, and Rae shifted so she could look back at him.
“What went wrong?” she asked.
“Cougar,” Dylan said glumly. “If my father were single, she’d have been a good age match for him.”
“Then why did you come here with her?” Rae asked.
“She caught me by surprise, and I didn’t think fast enough.” Dylan shrugged.
“What, you’re telling us you’re too nice a guy to tell the senior citizen you’re not into old ladies?” Jason asked, glancing back through the rear-view mirror with a sly twinkle.
“Yep.” Dylan slumped in the seat and heaved out a breath.
“Leave him alone, Jason. I think it’s nice he wasn’t rude to her.” Rae faced the front again. “Dylan, you’ll need to report her for misrepresenting herself. How bad was she?”
“I think I’m going to have nightmares,” Dylan said, thinking about the way she’d blatantly come on to him. Looking back now, itwaskind of funny, and the humor of the situation hit him. He started to chuckle. After a few seconds all three of them were.
“Since Amelia has all our kids, you want to come with us to dinner?” Rae asked.
Jason frowned, and it was Rae’s turn to shrug.
“It’s not like you and I are anything more than friends,” she said. “Dylan’s a friend too.”
“Yourfriend,” Jason grumbled.
“It’s all good.” Dylan gave him the address to Debs’ house. “You can take me there. I’ll pick up my car and take the kids out for ice cream. I’m beginning to think meeting someone for coffee first is a safer approach than dinner.”
“Live and learn, I guess,” Rae said.
“You got that right,” Dylan said.
Rae reached back with her hand and he took it, grateful for the sign of support. Jason sent a scowl back his way, and Dylan took his time releasing her hand.
