Chapter 10 Dillan
DILLAN
Establish your dominance by putting glitter in every birthday card you give,
then see if anyone ever messes with you again.
You’re welcome.
—Dillan’s Secret Thoughts
My eyes burn from re-reading the same sentence for what feels like the tenth time in as many minutes, and I glance at the sandwich sitting next to me, still untouched.
What was originally slightly soggy bread now looks stale and sad.
Oh well. Guess eating lunch won’t be today’s version of procrastinating. Doom scrolling it is.
The wind whips the icy rain outside against the shop window, keeping the foot traffic away because really, who wants to come out in this messy weather? I mean, love the rain . . . but ice, not so much.
Rain is romantic.
Ice is just too damn cold.
The only thing a day like this is good for is a cup of Earl Grey tea with honey and lemon, a fuzzy blanket, equally fuzzy socks, and a really good book. Maybe about fated mates. That sounds good.
And just like that, I know how I’ll be spending tonight.
“Hey, Kaleigh . . .” I call, a smile tugging at my lips when I check the time and my plan takes shape.
She pokes her head out of the back room where’s she’s been wrapping Blind Dates with a Book.
Pretty pink ribbon in one hand and a ridiculously large pair of scissors in the other.
“You want to go ahead and get out of here? We’re pretty slow, so I think I’m going to close up early. ”
“You sure?” She cuts the ribbon and grabs the last of the brown paper packages to fasten the bow on. “I don’t mind staying.”
“I’m sure. Go home.” I save the document I’m working on and close my laptop. Some distance and some romance might help my concentration. I’ll come back to that damn chapter later. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Dillan.” She grabs her coat from the coat tree in the corner of the shop and slips her purse strap across her chest. “Hey . . . don’t take this the wrong way, but are you feeling okay? You’ve seemed a little off today.”
Funny how sometimes it’s the newest people in your life who notice the little things your family or friends miss. “I’m okay. Just have a lot on my mind. Sorry if I was quiet. I meant to ask how your sister was feeling.”
“She’s good.” Kaleigh’s voice softens as she shifts from one foot to the other. “She’s given up on ever being comfortable again though.”
“Oh . . . that’s not good. She still has a few months to go, right?”
She wraps her scarf around her neck and fluffs her pink hair before tugging a wool hat with a white pom-pom on her head. “Yup. I guess two pregnancies back-to-back kind of did her in.”
I can’t even imagine. Kaleigh hasn’t shared much, but I’ve gathered enough to know it’s not a great situation for any of them.
“Let me know if you guys need anything.” It’s not the first time I’ve offered since she came to work for me, but Kaleigh and her sister are too proud to accept my offer. And while I may understand pride, I won’t stop trying. “See you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Dillan.” She waits a minute like she wants to talk about something but changes her mind at the last minute and turns toward the door as the devil himself walks through it. “Hey, Rome,” she whispers and looks back at me with both brows raised, mouthing good luck. “Bye, Dillan.”
My luck has never been good, and what little I’d say I have has apparently run out.
Shit.
I’m already regretting letting Kaleigh leave early. At least if she were here, I’d have a buffer. Oh well. I’m not even a tiny bit in the mood to deal with this man, again.
Rome flips the sign on the door behind him to Closed and scans the space as if searching for something and coming up empty.
“Excuse me. We are not closed,” I snap. How dare he?
The obnoxious ass stalks over to me, leaving the counter between us. Lucky for him because I’m awfully tempted to kick him in the balls right now. I think I could plead temporary insanity and not a soul in town would blame me. “Twice in one day, psycho.”
“Twice in one day, Dillan.” He grips the back of his neck with his hand, shoving the hood of his sweatshirt down, and the delicious scent of sandalwood and vanilla clings to his damp hair.
That damn scent shouldn’t make my mouth water after all this time, but it still does, and I swear to God that fuels my anger. “Or should I say Theia?”
My eyes snap to his, a silent battle taking shape in my head. In that instant, sides are chosen, and lines are drawn, and the war looming makes the last two years look like kids playing enemies.
Because. He. Knows.
I’ve protected this from everyone.
Protected myself.
And he knows . . .
No, wait. He doesn’t know.
He just thinks he does.
I have to think . . . to buy myself time.
Think, Dillan. What did he say? Or should I say Theia?
Split-second decision made, I casually place my hands on my hips and flutter my lashes. “I mean, you could say it, but I don’t know why you would.”
There. That works.
Please let that have worked.
“Come on, Dillan. I’d say you’re a bad liar, but we both know you’ve already proven you’re not.” Ouch. “Guess you fucked up this time though. Come on—Theia DeLaurentiis . . . Really?”
I tip my chin up in defiance, refusing to back down. I will not let this man win. Rome Beneventi is not going to be the one who outs me. Not after the lengths I’ve gone to and the hoops I’ve jumped through to keep this secret.
No. He doesn’t get to take this from me.
“Guess you got what you wanted from that night after all. A name.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Beneventi. I didn’t get anything from you besides a few lukewarm orgasms my vibrator could have given me in less time for less work.” Lies. Total lies. But the punch hits. I see it in the corners of his narrowed eyes. “Fuck you, Rome.”
“Been there, done that, Dillan. And trust me when I say there’s no need to do it again. But here’s the thing, princess. I need your help.”
“Fat fucking chance, Beneventi,” I snap so fast, my voice nearly cracks.
“We’ll see about that . . .” Rome looks around the front of the shop and pulls a copy of A Crown of Stars and Ruin from the display on the front table, the one Kaleigh insisted we have since the book consistently sells out.
“An interest in constellations. Maybe I should keep reading and see what else you took from that night.”
I fist my trembling hands and let the bite of my nails tearing into my palms ground me. “I didn’t take anything from you.”
“You’re using my name,” he growls through gritted teeth and slams the book down on the counter.
“My. Name. Give it up, Dillan. We both know what you did. Who the fuck knows why you did it, but you did. And you fucked up. Come on. Theia damn DeLaurentiis. You might not have wanted anyone else to know.” He leans down and gets in my face.
“But you wanted me to know. You left a damn trail of breadcrumbs. A fucking sky full of stars for me to follow to figure it out. Well check-fucking-mate, Dillan. I figured it out, and unless you want the rest of the world to know it too, you’re going to help me. ”
An eerie cold calmness washes over me. The calm before the storm. The storm you know is coming to destroy everything you’ve built.
“What do you want, Rome?” I push the words past my lips, barely above a whisper.
A muscle ticks in his stubbled jaw as he watches my knuckles turn white from the tight fists my hands hang in. “I want to know what you’re willing to do to protect your secret.”
I shake my head as tears I refuse to let fall burn the backs of my eyes. “Are you blackmailing me?”
“Let’s just say we both have a vested interest in you helping me.” And for the first time since he walked through my door, I see a crack in his armor. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s there in the tired lines at the corners of his eyes.
I can’t believe this is happening.
Can’t believe he’s doing this.
“I hate you,” I whisper.
Rome flinches but covers it so quickly, I’m not sure I didn’t imagine it.
“You’re not my favorite person either, princess.
” He watches me. Waiting, though I’m not sure for what.
Maybe for the slap across the face that isn’t coming.
Maybe for me to tell him to fuck off again.
But whatever it is, he’s going to be waiting forever because I refuse to give him any kind of reaction.
He must realize it eventually because the devil in front of me licks his damn lip and grins. “But you’re going to be my girlfriend.”
“Like hell I will . . .” No. No way. This is not happening. “Why—”
“Sorry. Did you think it was a question?”
My mouth opens and closes as words fail me.
“It wasn’t. I need a girlfriend. I need the press to think we’ve been together for months. They need to think we’re in love. And I mean it, Dillan. They need to buy it. Completely. No doubts.”
“You’re insane. Certifiable,” I gasp, and the crazy fucker smiles.
Smiles. Like he’s getting off on this.
“Play the part, princess. Be my girlfriend in every way until my next fight is over, and I’ll keep your secret.”
“In every way,” I parrot back. “Fuck no.” Rage like I’ve never felt starts at the top of my head and washes down my body. “You will never touch me again, Beneventi. I made that mistake once.”
“Yeah, no, Ryan. I mean in public. Be the doting girlfriend who’s madly in love with me and has been since the fall for anyone with eyes and especially a camera or a column.
And I mean everyone. Our family. Our friends.
Everyone. If they ask, we say we kept it quiet because we didn’t want to go public while Lucky and Lexie were going through hell. ”
He’s serious. “You’ve thought about this.”
“You’re fucking right, I have. My career depends on this. Just like yours does. Play nice for the public. For the cameras. For anyone with eyes, like I said. And I’ll keep your secret.”
“What happened to you?” I whisper, shaking my head, wondering how I was ever attracted to him.