DirtyBeautiful (27 page)

They turned the corner and he faltered at the amount of
people in their backyard. It was at least half the town. The smell of barbequed
meat and wood fire filled the air. A banner ran along the gazebo, words written
in bold letters. HAPPY HOUSEWARMING.

Bill slipped from the crowd, a “Kiss the Chef” apron tied
around his waist and tongs in his hand. “You hankering for the best steak in
the US?”

Dylan chuckled. “Bill, you knew about this?”

Bill nodded. “It was all Erica’s doing. She thought you
deserved a proper housewarming.”

Dylan brought Erica into his side and kissed her forehead.
“Thanks, peaches.”

A becoming blush washed over her cheeks. “You’re welcome.”

He looked around at the people who came to celebrate the
completion of his house. He spotted Bryce and Max talking with Ruby and Tammy.
His eyes widened at the sight. “You invited Bryce and Max?”

Erica shrugged. “They’re your friends. This wouldn’t be a
party without friends and family around.”

The joy inside him dimmed a bit. “Yeah,” he intoned flatly.

Erica grasped his hand. “Come on, sourpuss. I have something
that might cheer you.”

Contrite for his onerous turn, he squeezed her hand. “I
don’t need any cheering, babe. This is great.”

Erica tugged him up the back porch. “Indulge me.”

He grinned. “All right.”

Inside, the house was empty and he suspected Erica might
have something waiting for him upstairs. He pulled her into his body, her back
against his front. He nibbled her ear. “I hope it’s naughty.”

She giggled and swatted his arm. “Behave.”

“Are you going to put me in detention?”

“Dylan, please, this is embarrassing.”

He licked her neck. “Why? It’s just us.”

“Actually…it isn’t,” another woman said.

Dylan stiffened, unable to believe his ears. He knew that
voice and feared to look up and have all his hopes dashed. “Erica?” he
whispered, fear and uncertainty making his voice break.

Her fingers caressed his arm. “It’s okay.”

He looked up and found Becks just beyond the threshold.
Absently he noticed Erica remove herself from his embrace, his focus on Becks.
His sister was here. Was this even real? She looked different from when he’d
seen her last. There was a maturity about her that wasn’t there before and
she’d filled out into a woman. He’d missed all this.

A wave of emotion hit him square in the chest. “Becks?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“What are you doing here?”

She pursed her lips and he wanted to take back his words. He
should be glad she was here, not confused. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I’m just
surprised is all.”

“That’s okay.”

He indicated her clothes. “You look nice.”

Wow, this was more awkward than he thought it would be. He
searched for Erica, hoping she could save him from drowning. She clasped his
outstretched hand and his world returned to normal.

“You have a really nice girlfriend there,” Becks said. “She
called me up awhile back and I have to say she’s real persistent.”

Dylan grinned. “Yeah, she can be. I’m learning to just fold
whenever she gets something in her head.”

Becks stared at him, as though she could read the answers
she sought on his face. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“What for?”

“For not understanding. Erica told me what you did for me
and I feel real bad for the way I treated you.”

Dylan abandoned Erica at the sight of his sister’s distress
and wrapped her in his arms. “It’s okay,” he whispered into her hair.

Becks shook her head and hugged him tighter. “Why didn’t you
tell me?”

Dylan eased away from her. “Mom didn’t want you to stress
about it. We had to come up with the money and I found a way.”

“But I treated you like crap for it. You could’ve told me.”

Dylan raised a brow. If he knew anything about his sister,
she was stubborn. “Would you have listened?”

Becks grimaced. “Probably not. Still, I hate knowing that I
wasted three years being mad over something that I shouldn’t have been.”

“But we have the rest of our lives.”

Becks sniffled. “Yeah. And you can bet I’ll be around more
often.”

Dylan smiled. “I look forward to it, sis.”

Becks squeezed his hand and stepped back. “I have a burger
out there with my name on it.”

Dylan chuckled. “I bet.”

As she sauntered out she paused at the doorway and looked
back at him. “Don’t let her go, Dylan. She’s a keeper.”

Dylan stared into the eyes of the woman who gave him
everything his heart desired. “I won’t.”

And that was a promise he could keep.

The End

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