Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
IRRESISTIBLE
DAHLIA
I sit in my office, numbers blurring together on the spreadsheet.
Rents, mortgages, property taxes for Dad’s empire of strip malls, cabins, and McMansions scattered all over the state.
My fingers cramp from typing. I’ve been coming in at five again all week for two reasons: My dad barks orders at me like I’m the only thing standing between his real estate kingdom and bankruptcy, so I feel behind at all times.
But the most important reason? Dylan is coming to Minnesota for a few days. I cannot wait to see him later.
The phone on my desk buzzes. “Dahlia. My office. Now.”
No please, no explanation.
Just Dad summoning me and expecting me to jump. Which I do. I save the file I’m working on, smooth my skirt, and brace myself for the usual litany of how I’m coming up short.
He loves me. There are many moments when I see it. But it would probably be best if I didn’t work for the man. If it weren’t for him, I’d enjoy my job. I certainly appreciate the lifestyle it provides for Chloe and me.
His office overlooks the Mississippi, the city sprawling beneath us. It’s a beautiful view. He’s behind the desk, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up, looking exhausted.
“Hey, Dad. You okay?”
“Sit,” he says, gesturing to the leather chair across from him.
I do, spine straight, hands folded in my lap like I’m twelve and worried he’ll fuss at me for fidgeting.
He flips through a stack of printouts—my reports on the new Duluth property he’s acquired, I realize—and I hold my breath. I triple- and quadruple-checked that the expenses were accurate. What could I have missed?
“You know,” he says, not looking up, “this Duluth portfolio? It’s…good. Damn good, actually. Cleanest I’ve seen in years. You caught that error in the Johannes rental. Saved us a headache with the bank.”
I blink. “Good?”
He meets my eyes, and for a second, the gruff mask slips. “Proud of you, sweetheart.”
My chest tightens. My dad is sweet with me when we’re away from the office, and he’s always sweet with Chloe, but a compliment from him at the office is like spotting a whale in the Mississippi. I swallow hard.
“Thank you, Dad,” I say, leaning forward. “I…I’m glad you think so. I want to do right by you always.”
“Of course.” He clears his throat, thrown off by my reaction too, I think. “You could be so much if you’d just put your heart into things around here.”
My shoulders drop.
“You might think you’ve got the job because you’re my daughter, but I wouldn’t give someone so much control of the finances if I didn’t trust them completely.”
“I…appreciate that.” I hesitate, then decide to push a little. “Is there…anything else I should know? You can trust me…with everything. You know that, right?”
His brow furrows, but he doesn’t bite. Just shakes his head, already turning back to his monitor. “Keep up the good work.”
I wait another beat, willing him to open up. To address what I feel is the elephant in the room every time I’m around him now. But he doesn’t know that I know about my sister.
I can’t believe he still hasn’t told me, and he doesn’t make any effort to try now either.
I stand, throat tight. “Okay, I’ll get back to it.”
He’s already immersed in whatever is on his screen. I leave his office more frustrated than ever, with the need to understand why he’s keeping her from me.
My phone buzzes in my pocket on the way back to my office.
I’m here! Thrilled to be on the same time zone as you and to see you SOON. Bummed that I can’t pick you up and take you to Windy Harbor with me.
I’m so excited you’re here. I’ll be leaving here at three. Looks like the Airbnb is about 2 hours from here.
I’ll try to get to you as soon as I can.
Take your time. I feel bad taking you away from your family.
I really wish you could meet everybody.
Me too.
He’s saying that more and more, and I feel bad that it can’t happen. I want to meet them too, and I wish that things were different.
But you haven’t even known him very long, I remind myself.
We’ve spent more time talking than I have with any other person, family members included, but the majority of our time together has been long-distance.
The days we’ve been together in person have been intense and have probably moved things along much faster than a relationship with someone in the same town would have.
Yes, we’ve had sexy times on the phone, unbelievably sexy times, but more than that, the distance has forced us to actually talk and get to know each other.
Still, it hasn’t been long enough to turn my dad’s world upside down, and I don’t know if it ever will be. Because I may not always know where I stand with my dad, but I have no doubt where he stands on the Whitmans.
He will never accept this.
I work until three and then change into something more comfortable before I hit the road.
Chloe is with my mom and Aunt Ginny tonight.
This whole getaway began with my mom asking if they could take Chloe to Rochester for the night.
One of Mom’s and Aunt Ginny’s childhood friends is visiting her family there, and Mom really wanted to see her but knew I’d be working today, so she’d have Chloe.
I said sure, even though I didn’t love the thought of being away from Chloe.
Mom said maybe I could catch up on some sleep since I’ve seemed so tired lately.
She doesn’t know that I’m on the phone until the wee hours of the morning with Dylan.
Anyway, when Dylan mentioned he was coming home this weekend, he was disappointed that he wouldn’t see Chloe.
But then he got the bright idea for me to come stay in Windy Harbor tonight.
I’m not sure how much he’ll really be able to get away, but the thought of him sleeping next to me later makes it all worth it.
I make the drive, not realizing that my sound is still off, and when I arrive at my Airbnb, I see that I’ve missed several calls from Dylan.
I check the time of the last call, and it was an hour ago. He’s probably eating dinner right now. I probably have time for a nap before he’s able to get away.
Sorry, I didn’t see that you’d called until now. I’m in Windy Harbor! The house is so cute. Tiny, but a great view of the water.
Hiiii. You’re so close. This is torture! I want to see you right now.
I know. Same. But we knew the time would be limited. I’ll be excited to see you whenever you get here.
There’s going to be a big broomball tournament tonight. I think you should sneak over there. All kinds of people will be there—locals and tourists. I mapped it, and you’re within walking distance. Come on, say yes. I can’t wait to see you.
He sends a picture of himself with begging hands, and I grin as I run my thumb over his face.
He’s been more subdued than usual lately, his normal easy smile overshadowed with a sadness in his eyes that he finally explained one night late on FaceTime.
This is the time of year when his mom died.
It was toward the end of January, while his siblings were still home from college on their winter breaks.
They were having a game night, and his mom went out to pick up some food and got in a car accident.
Don’t you think that would make it harder? To see each other from a distance and not be able to talk?
It’d be better than not seeing you at all.
Ugh. True. Okay. I’ll drive by, and if it looks like I can get away with being there and not standing out, I’ll stop.
I park on the far edge of the rink, engine off for as long as I can stand it. I’ll turn it back on when I get too cold, but I’m bundled up pretty well.
The rink glows under the lights, players sliding and shouting. I crack my window just enough to hear the laughter. With everyone covered in coats and hats, I’m not positive, but I think I accurately pick out who everyone is, based on Dylan’s descriptions.
It’s too cold to keep the window cracked or the car off, so I crank it back up and turn the heat on high.
I rest my hands on the top of the steering wheel and lean my chin against them.
I want to be out there in the thick of it, which is so unlike me that I hardly know what to think.
Dylan makes me want to have fun, to not worry about being so proper all day, every day. To be carefree…to be by his side.
Dylan and Tully are a cohesive unit. It’s easy to see that the Whitman family is athletic.
The other team does a good job, but they can’t keep up with Dylan’s family.
When Dylan passes the ball to Tully and he scores the final point, they break out in loud cheers and back slaps.
Dylan’s laugh carries, and my heart skips just hearing him.
I watch as everyone eventually walks off the rink, and after the crowd has started clearing out a little, I text Dylan.
Look to your right.
I see him pull out his phone, and I wonder if anyone else can see his excitement, because I can from here. He finds me and says something to the others. They walk off, and he waits a few minutes before walking toward me.
When he slides in beside me, we stare at each other for a beat.
“Hey, you,” he says.
“Hey.”
We grin and I pull out. Dylan ducks in his seat when we pass someone he knows. The Airbnb’s such a short drive that we barely have time to talk before I’m pulling in the driveway.
The door shuts. And I don’t know who makes the first move, but in the next second, my back is to the wall, and his mouth is on mine. His hands are under my coat, then my sweater, until they find skin. I yank his coat off and then his jersey, my palms sliding over warm muscle.
“Missed you so much,” he says against my neck as he lifts me.
My legs lock around his waist as he carries me to the bedroom and sets me down.
We undress quickly, boots clattering to the floor, our clothes piling up. He pauses when we’re naked, his eyes locked on mine.
“We can take a bath, catch up face-to-face,” he says.
I pull his mouth down on mine. “After.”
He laughs against my lips, and then we’re urgent.
His stubble scrapes my skin, his grip tight on my hips.
I arch against him, my nails raking across his back when he lifts me up and slides me down on him.
Our movements are frenzied, every thrust intense and urgent.
And then he lays me on the bed and moves slower, deeper, like he’s mapping me.
It isn’t long before I come with his name muffled against his mouth. He follows, shuddering, his forehead to mine.
After, we’re tangled in cool sheets, his fingers tracing my hip. Snow falls outside. The room smells like us.
“Does this house even have a bathtub?” he asks.
“I don’t think so. And the shower is really small.”
“Should we try it out anyway?” He grins, leaning over to kiss me.
“Absolutely. And then you’ll have your way with me all night long.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grins again.
I wrap my hands around his neck and yelp when he picks me up, my body flopping over his shoulder. He slaps my backside and I slap his, and we both cackle.
Everything feels right in the world when we’re together.
We might not have known each other long, but my heart hasn’t gotten that memo. It’s racing ahead at breakneck speed, all in.