Page 51 of Dylan
“Enough of you trying to fix my life. Tell me more about you,” she says with a bright smile.
“Not much to tell. I run a gym and fight.”
“This place says otherwise. Come on, I practically ran a gym for years, I know that’s not bringing in this kind of money. What else do you have going on?”
“That gym must have been ass. I earn pretty damn well with mine.”
“Come on. Even if you do earn well, look at this place. The rooftop space is out of a magazine.
“The floor-to-ceiling windows downstairs are breathtaking and the view. Really? Dylan, you have to have some other source of income for all this.”
I laugh and give her a smile. I’m not about to go into any of that. In time, she’s bound to learn my family is into a whole lot of shit, but I don’t want to send her running tonight.
“Yes, I do have other sources of income, but the gym isn’t hurting for anything.”
“Would one of those sources have anything to do with your busted knuckles? They aren’t like that from knocking that dude out last night.”
I snort and shrug. “Maybe.”
“Okay, so you have secrets. Fair enough. You’ve only just met me.”
“I’ve known you most of my life. This is just a topic … You know what, you’re not the only one to fight in those matches. I used to spend a lot of time in those rings.”
“Ugh, I would love to get a place like this for me and Ciarán, but that’s not the answer for me. The more I fight underground, the more I’m risking my future in the real ring as a pro.”
“This place isn’t as far out of your reach as you think,” I say.
She tilts her head and studies me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I wink at her and stand. Then I hold out my hand for hers. She places her small hand in mine, and I lift her from her seat.
Walking us to the putting green in the center of the roof, I pull my phone and turn on the sound system. “Dive” by Ed Sheeran begins to float through the speakers. Ciara smiles brightly at me as I tug her into my embrace and begin to sway with her in my arms.
“You didn’t answer my question, Dyl.”
I close my eyes as she calls me by the nickname she used when we were little. I still can’t believe she’s here. I have her in my arms, finally.
When I open my eyes, her green ones are locked on me. I cup her face in my palm and run my thumb across her full lower lip. She was a pretty little girl, but she’s grown into a gorgeous woman.
“Everything I have is yours from my heart to all the land and property in my name. There isn’t a thing I have that doesn’t belong to you.
“I know you’re still figuring things out for yourself, but you can move in whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to want for something that’s already yours,” I finally answer.
“What if I’m not what you expect? What if I’ve become someone you don’t like?”
“I doubt that,” I say and take her lips.
Sparks fly and my skin hums from her nearness. I devour her mouth and hold her close. Her mouth tastes of the sauce from dinner. It’s sweet and salty.
I groan and dive deeper into her mouth. She lifts onto her toes to get closer to me. I wrap both arms around her and lift her from her feet without breaking the kiss.
“Shit,” I bite out as my phone goes off.
I place her back on her feet. Taking my phone out, I find a text from Taegan. I’ve been so wrapped up in Ciara, I almost forgot about them.
Taegan:Ciarán has eaten and opened his gift. I need to go. Call you later.
“We should get downstairs. Taegan is leaving.”
