Loving You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 2) (13 page)

Annie followed Tess and Sally out of Molly’s apartment. While they were waiting for Molly to lock the door, Tess leaned in close to Annie.

“Don’t be angry with Dylan. He’s a nice guy.”

Annie sighed. She knew he was a nice guy. The problem was, he was now a nice guy with lots of money. She knew it shouldn’t matter, but it did.

***

Dylan looked around Charlie’s Bar and Grill. He’d never been inside the building and he didn’t want to be here now. The room was packed with cowboys, executives and college students. It was enough to make him run for cover.

Logan pointed toward a booth. “Tess said they’d be on the far side of the room opposite the jukebox.”

Dylan switched into bodyguard mode and watched everyone around him. It was the only way he could cope with the crowd of bodies. “We get the girls and then we’re leaving?”

Logan nodded. “Ten minutes at the most and we’ll be out of here.”

Tess had sent an S.O.S out to Logan, asking him if he could give them a ride home. Dylan had been at Logan’s place, trying to outwit him on the pool table. He’d driven his truck into town as well, just in case they needed an extra set of wheels to sort out the inebriated women waiting for them.

Dylan slowed down when he saw Molly and Sally sitting in a booth. A woman was standing in front of them, dancing to the song blasting out of the jukebox. Her arms were swaying in the air and her short black dress had ridden up her thighs. He ignored the people around him and the sound of too many voices all trying to be heard.

All he focused on were the woman’s long legs, tiny waist and shorter than short dress. He swallowed as her whole body started moving to the music, sending him into an even faster tailspin than he’d been in before.

The music ended and Molly and Sally clapped and laughed with the woman. Logan went up to the table and smiled at the brunette. She turned sideways and patted his chest.

Dylan saw her lips curve into a smile and his whole body went into overdrive. It was Annie. She’d cut her hair, done something different with her makeup. And then there was the dress. The one that hugged her body like a second skin. The one that had stopped him in his tracks and left him stunned.

Logan nodded toward Dylan and Annie froze. Even though he was fifteen feet away from the table, he knew something was wrong. She didn’t turn around, didn’t smile, didn’t do any of the things he’d thought she’d do. Annie slid into the booth, picked up a tall glass and gulped back whatever was in it.

In the few seconds it took to get to the table, Dylan knew one thing. She wasn’t happy.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” Tess said from behind him.

He glanced at Annie before turning to Tess. She had a tray of glasses in her hands and a smile on her face. “Annie needs to go home and I’ve had one too many glasses of alcohol. Do you think you could drop her off at her house, Dylan?”

This must have been news to Annie. Her mouth dropped open and she stared daggers at Tess. “I can get a cab.”

Tess put the tray of drinks on the table and waved Annie’s bad mood away. “Don’t be silly. Dylan’s here now.”

Tess looked at Dylan. She was up to something, but he didn’t know what. He glanced at Logan. He seemed just as confused.

Tess passed out the glasses on her tray. “Don’t look so worried, Logan. It’s water with a slice of lemon. Annie’s going now, so you can sit with us until we’ve finished our drinks.”

Molly nudged Annie’s arm. “Go on. You’ve got an early start tomorrow. It won’t look good if you miss your ride to the bowling competition.”

Annie quickly glanced at Dylan. He still couldn’t believe she was the same woman he’d seen two days ago. If you discounted the frown on her face, she looked cute and pretty with her new hairstyle. And even younger than she actually was.

She spun her legs around the end of the booth and pulled herself to her feet. He felt a little guilty watching her skirt ride up around her thighs, but he couldn’t help himself.

Annie did a little wiggle and yanked the hem of her skirt down. She looked about as fierce as he’d ever seen her, as if deciding whether to get in his truck was a big deal. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

Her eyes were sizzling with indignation. He would have found her ruffled feathers entertaining if she hadn’t slipped on the edge of her heel and grabbed onto his arm.

“Whoops.” She let go of his jacket and frowned. “You’re probably stretching the truth about that as well.”

Dylan didn’t know what she was talking about.

Tess shooed them away from the table. “Go home, Annie. Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

Annie muttered something he couldn’t hear, then walked away from the booth. He wasn’t sure whether the sway of her hips was because of the high heels she was wearing or the alcohol she’d consumed. Either way, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Logan leaned toward him. “If you’re taking her home it might be a good idea to follow her.”

Dylan blinked, then let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Annie had almost made it to the front door. Logan was right. If he didn’t make a move soon, she’d find a cab and leave him staring into space. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good luck.”

Dylan glanced at his friend. Something was going on, and it probably had a lot to do with the frown on Annie’s face.

***

Annie waited for Dylan by the entrance door. Tess must have called Logan when she’d gone to the bathroom. There was no other explanation for his sudden appearance with Dylan.

The worst thing was that there was no reason for either Logan or Dylan to be at the bar. No one had drunk more than a couple of cocktails. Tess was their nominated driver and she’d been extra careful.

Four guys walked toward her and she stepped out of their way. If Dylan didn’t get here soon, she was going to walk home. She’d been getting strange looks all night from the people in Charlie’s Bar and Grill and she’d just about had enough. Even the people who were regulars at the café had looked twice at her new hairstyle.

“Sorry I took so long.”

Annie looked up into Dylan’s blue eyes. He was smiling at her, staring at her new haircut. She lifted her hand to her short hair and grimaced. “Everyone keeps staring at me. It wasn’t supposed to be this short, but I like it.”

Dylan’s hand reached out to touch the side of her face. He pulled his fingers back before he’d touched her skin. “You look pretty with short hair.”

Even though she was annoyed with him, she couldn’t help the blush that heated her face. “Thank you.”

Dylan stepped forward and opened the door. “Turn right. My truck’s parked under a street light about thirty feet away.”

Annie walked into the cool night air. “You didn’t need to take me home.”

“I guessed that much. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Annie muttered. “Tess must have called Logan when we weren’t looking. We’ve hardly had anything to drink.”

Dylan unlocked his truck and held her door open. “Why are you angry with me?”

Annie stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “How do you know I’m angry?”

“You didn’t say anything when I first arrived and you’ve hardly smiled at me. You smile at everyone at least a dozen times in the first five minutes of meeting them.”

“I do not.” He made it sound as though she had a smiling disorder.

“Yes, you do. It’s one of the reasons I like you.”

Annie’s eyes popped open. “You do?”

“Yep. You make great scones and muffins, too.”

Annie wasn’t going to be distracted by compliments that made her toes curl. Especially when she had other things on her mind, things that were really bugging her. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at Dylan.

He waited patiently. Too patiently. It was hard to be angry at someone who looked as though they wouldn’t harm a butterfly.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’ve got lots of money?”

“Define lots.” Dylan’s eyes narrowed, focused on where Annie might be taking their conversation.

“Enough to buy a super expensive house
and
a warehouse on the outskirts of town.”

Dylan looked a little uncomfortable. “How did you find out?”

“Tess. Logan wrote a story for the Chronicle about the building you bought. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to purchase the warehouse? I wouldn’t have thought any less of you.”

Dylan frowned. “Most people think
more
of me when they find out how much money I’ve got.”

“I’m not most people.”

Dylan smiled and Annie’s heart thumped in her chest.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m beginning to realize that. Do you want a ride home, or do you want to stand out here all night?”

Standing on the sidewalk would be a whole lot safer than going home with Dylan. But she was cold, her feet were sore and she had the makings of a headache building behind her eyes. “I’ll take the ride home.”

Dylan pulled the passenger door wider and waved her into the front seat. Annie sat down and glared at him, just in case he thought she was over her bad case of grumpyitis.

“You look too cute to be angry,” he murmured as she tried to pull the skirt of her dress down.

“You’re looking at my legs.”

“Maybe because they’re mighty fine legs.” Dylan closed her door with a firm thud and walked around the truck.

Annie tried to pull her skirt a little further down her thighs. When that didn’t work, she put her clutch purse over her legs and hoped for the best.

“Are you ready?” Dylan put his key in the ignition and waited.

She’d forgotten about her seatbelt. Reaching to the side would create havoc with her hemline. She’d already created enough havoc by accepting Dylan’s offer of a ride home. A hemline emergency would only add to her problems.

She glanced at Dylan. “Close your eyes.”

“Pardon?”

“Can you close your eyes? Please?”

The frown on his face deepened. “What for?”

“I’m not going to kiss you or anything.” Annie tried not to sound annoyed, but tonight hadn’t been the best night of her life. “I want to put my seatbelt on.”

“And you need me to close my eyes?”

“My dress was short before I got in your truck. It’s almost indecent now. When I turn around to put my seatbelt on it’s going to ride even further up my legs. You need to close your eyes.”

Dylan stared at her legs. “Oh.”

“Dylan,”
she hissed. “If you don’t close your eyes I’m going to walk home.”

He smiled and closed his eyes. Annie almost wished she was brave enough to kiss him. Except she was still annoyed with him. You didn’t kiss someone when you were annoyed with them. Not usually.

“I haven’t heard the seatbelt click.”

Annie made sure his eyes were still closed. She reached behind her, grabbed the seatbelt and slid it into its lock. “Done.”

Dylan opened his eyes and looked at her legs. “Your dress is still short.”

Annie slapped her purse on top of her legs and glared at him. “Happy?”

“I was.”

“Just drive me home.”

Dylan grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

Annie closed her eyes and realized something that surprised her. She wasn’t angry anymore.

***

Annie unlocked the front door of her apartment. “Thanks for the ride home.”

Dylan nodded. “You still haven’t told me why you’re angry with me.”

“I’m not angry now.”

“I’ll rephrase my question, then. Why
were
you angry with me?”

Annie wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him. It had been easier to be annoyed with him when he wasn’t standing two feet away. So instead of admitting she’d assassinated his character based on his bank account balance, she tried to deflect her insecurities. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re rich?”

Dylan looked disappointed. “It shouldn’t matter how much money I’ve got.”

Annie wanted him to know that she wasn’t a gold digger. She was the complete opposite. “I’m allergic to men with lots of money. I get hives, hyperventilate and generally explode with anxiety.”

“Huh?”

She stepped inside her front door. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

“I won’t have coffee, but water would be great.”

He still didn’t look as though he understood the dilemma she was in. He followed her into the kitchen and sat on a stool while she poured him a glass of water.

Annie took another glass out of the pantry and tossed up between juice and water. The water won. The last thing she needed was more sugar in her body. It would only add to the high probability of having another sleepless night.

After she’d taken a sip of water, she glanced at Dylan. “I’m not normal.”

His eyes sparkled, but the rest of his face didn’t move from confused.

“I’ve got issues. Paranoid delusions of how bad money is. I try to keep it under control, but sometimes it rears its nasty little head. It happened today.”