Page 49 of Family Forever
Dylan nodded.Great, a rich kid who gets everything handed to him on a silver platter.He even looked rich, standing there is in hispretty boycashmere sweater. Dylan debated continuing with the line of questioning. Perhaps he should just stop talking since he wasn’t liking his own jealous sounding tone. The smile tugging at Cole’s mouth let him know his brother was finding some humor in his behavior, his loss of control.
Marissa’s tantalizing scent beat her into the kitchen, and when she stepped through the doorway Dylan nearly choked on his beer at the lovely sight. She wore a red velvet cocktail dress. The snug fitting bodice lined with sequins hugged her small breasts and held them high, revealing more of her milky white skin than the world should see. Lying an inch or so above her inviting breasts was the ruby teardrop stone he'd given her for Christmas. His gift, she was wearing his gift to go out with another man.
Dylan lowered his gaze to the hem of her dress that fell far above her knees exposing her thin, yet shapely legs. He swallowed hard, every nerve ending in his body sparked and begged him to touch her. What in the heck was he going to do? He couldn’t let her out of the house looking like this in fear every male at the party was going to hound after her, including the stranger in the kitchen eyeing her up like she was his favorite dessert. Deep down he couldn’t blame the guy, she was the most beautiful, wholesome creature on the planet.
Light on her red spiked heels, she floated like an angel to Terry’s side. Her heels were so high she didn’t even have to stretch to kiss the stranger on the cheek. She stepped back and raked her gaze over him. “You look handsome.” Her soft voice sweetened the room.
Terry’s hungry gaze nearly devoured Marissa. “And you, my lady, look lovely.”
Marissa’s ruby painted lips curved into a full smile. “Thank you.”
Sweat beaded on Dylan’s temples, panic shot through his veins. Unable to bear the thought of Marissa with another man, his brain scrambled for a way to prevent this date from happening. But how? They were just about ready to leave.
Marissa stepped toward him. His gaze landed on her breasts and hesitated before skimming over her tiny waist, then the curve of her hips before running the length of her shapely legs.For God’s sake, Dylan, look away.But he couldn’t.
Marissa cleared her throat, snapping him back into reality. Her concerned gaze captured his. “Are you okay?”
He nodded.
She reached up and placed her hand on his forehead like one would do to a small child who was running a fever. “Are you sure? You're flushed and burning up.”
With a glimpse beyond Marissa, Dylan caught Cole’s amused, irritating gaze. It wouldn’t be so funny for his brother if the roles were reversed. Who was Dylan kidding, the roles would never be reversed because if Cole felt the way he did for Marissa, Cole would have made his move for her long ago. Sometimes Dylan wished he was more like his brother, easy-going and carefree. But the fact of the matter was, his brother didn’t have the same magnitude of responsibilities he had. Cole had the freedom and option to be carefree.
Dylan looked away from his brother. "I'm fine, just tired."
Marissa lowered her hand. "Okay."
Terry set his empty beer bottle on the counter and flung his coat over his shoulders. “I’ll go start the car so it warms up.”
Cole disappeared to get his coat, leaving Dylan alone in the kitchen with Marissa who still stood within his reach. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked, and would have if the sweet touch of her hand hadn’t rendered him speechless.
Her bright ocean-blue gaze held his as she stepped forward and pressed her lips to his cheek, and then hugged him. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly to him. His overloaded senses weakened his knees. He closed his eyes and bathed in the comfort of her gratifying hold.
“Happy New Year, Dylan,” she whispered into his ear. Her alluring voice caused him to hold her a bit longer while he secretly wished she’d say more, anything at all, just so he could hear the sound of her sweet voice resonate in his head again.
By the time he opened his eyes, Cole had returned to the kitchen with his coat on, and Marissa’s draped over his arm. The sympathetic look in his brother’s eyes was unmistakable, as if he knew Dylan had blown it by waiting too long and pushing Marissa to live her life without him for the time being.
Cole handed him Marissa’s jacket and she spun her back to him as he held it for her to slide into.
A gold barrette held her shiny blonde hair high on her head, but she’d left a few strands down, dangling over her smooth looking shoulders. The clasp of her necklace had shifted to the side so before he let her slide into her coat he reached forward and slid the clasp until it centered on her warm, pale neck. He stilled for a moment as the warmth of her skin seeped into his fingers. Leaning forward, he held his lips centimeters from her ear. “You look stunning. Have a nice time at the party, and call if you need a ride.” The temptation to nibble on her irresistible porcelain earlobe crossed his mind, but was quickly tamped down when Terry bounded through the doorway.
Dylan straightened his spine and smoothed her coat out over her shoulders. She turned slowly, her glossy gaze seemed to avoid making contact with his.
“Thank you, and okay,” she replied in not much more than a whisper of air before she headed to the doorway with Terry and Cole on her heels.
Dylan stared out the window after them, keeping watch on them even after Terry’s taillights disappeared from sight. His chest tightened.
Why were her eyes swimming with tears a moment ago? Why did she avoid his gaze? Had he said something wrong?
* * * *
Terry opened the door for Marissa and she slid into the passenger seat. Cole climbed into the back. Silence filled the car. Were Cole and Terry thinking the same thing she was? Was this plan a bad idea? The hurt in Dylan’s eyes as he swung his gaze between her and Terry in the kitchen was heart-wrenching. Yet, she should be pleased by his reaction, he did care for her as strongly as she hoped.
She glanced over her shoulder at Cole. He stared forward as if in some sort of trance. Was he rethinking this plan as well?
The bad feeling already saturating every cell in her body teetered on worsening, at the thought of continuing on and not coming clean. Tears burned the back of her eyes. She should have never let Cole talk her into this idea.
“Left, right, or straight at the stop sign?” Terry asked.
