Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Dylan
Eden arrived right on time.
I went down to the lobby to greet her. I exited the elevator at five to eight but hung back when I noticed her standing to the side talking on her cell.
She was nodding her head. A wide smile bloomed on her mouth for the person on the other end of that call.
I watched her twirl in a circle after she dropped her phone in her purse. She smoothed her hand over the skirt of the light blue sundress she’s wearing.
That’s when she noticed me.
With a wave of her hand, she walked over and greeted me with a soft kiss to the mouth.
It literally made my knees shake.
We’re in my apartment now. She’s on the couch with her legs crossed and a smile on her face. I assume that has to do with the ‘something special’ from high school that she’s going to spring on me.
“Did you just get home from work?” She points at the dark blue trousers and white button-down shirt I’m wearing.
The sleeves of the shirt are rolled up, but a tie still hangs around my neck.
Work kept me in my office until thirty minutes ago. I had just enough time to come up here, lose my suit jacket, and take a shot of scotch before I rode the elevator back down to meet her.
“I don’t do nine-to-five like some attorneys in this city.” I hand her the glass of water she requested after I shut my apartment door.
She takes a sip before placing it down on the coffee table, taking the time to slide a metal coaster underneath it.
“Were you working on a proposal for the Alcester case?” she asks with a sly smile.
I take a seat next to her. “Not a chance.”
“So we’re actually going to do this?” Her brows inch up.
I start loosening my tie. “You’re eager, but I’m here to please.”
She laughs, swatting my hands away from my neck. “I wasn’t talking about sex. I was talking about the case. You want to take this to trial.”
“That’s where we’re headed.” I finish up with the tie, tossing it on the coffee table before I work on the top two buttons on my shirt. “If your client is ready to sign off on our financial and custody demands, we can avoid seeing Judge Mycella.”
“Your client needs to check herself.” Her eyes dart from my face to the skin that’s exposed under my shirt. “She’s going to regret not taking what’s being offered to her.”
I don’t want to talk business tonight. I had a hell of a day with people chirping in my ear about the person they once walked down the aisle with.
Hatred and vile are a part of the daily when you do what I do for a living, but today was particularly brutal.
I reach into the pocket of my pants and slide out her earring. “Let’s talk about what I’m offering you tonight.”
She reaches for the earring, but I close my fingers around it before she gets there.
“Dylan,” she whines. “Give it to me.”
“I want something first.”
Her brows pop up. “Right. You want that special thing from high school.”
Her hand darts toward her tote bag, but I stop it mid-air when I grab her wrist. “I want you to kiss me.”
Her tongue glides over her bottom lip. I lean out, just as she leans closer. Our lips meet in a soft kiss.
I reach for the back of her head to tilt her just right. Her lips part to let me in. Our tongues tangle in an achingly familiar way. The need to take her to bed is strong.
She breaks the kiss because there’s no way in hell I will.
“Dylan.” My name has never sounded sweeter. “I have something to give you.”
I want you. That’s all I fucking want.
There’s no stopping her, so I watch as she fishes in her tote.
Before I realize what’s happening, she places something in my hand.
“You probably thought you’d never see this again. It’s going to bring back so many memories.” Her voice is edged with delight, as if she’s just handed me a treasure I’ve been hunting down for years.
I look down at the thick silver ring in my hand. It’s tarnished, but the crest is unmistakable. I wore this ring after we won the junior state championship. We lost senior year.
On the night we graduated, in all my infinite wisdom, I slid the ring off and left it on a table at the party before Barrett and I took off for the airport.
It was something a spoiled ass kid would do.
I fit that bill to a tee.
“It’s your ring.” She traces her fingertip over the crest. “Your name is engraved on the inside of the band.”
I stare down at the reminder of the worst night of my life.
“I found it at a party. You must have dropped it.” She chuckles. “I picked it up, and it ended up in a box of my things. I brought it back from Buffalo for you.”
I swallow hard, finally looking up at her.
“Can you believe you have it back?”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
Her hand darts out, palm outstretched. “A deal is a deal, so give me back my earring.”
I open my fisted hand and drop the earring into her palm.
“Hey,” She playfully punches my bicep. “We just negotiated something and kept our clothes on.”
I look back down at the ring. I never thought I’d see this again. It feels like she just handed me a key that opens the door to my past.
All I have to do is use it to start a discussion about the night we graduated.
There’s no chance for a future with her, if I don’t set the past straight.