Chapter 13
Mel
Dad was over the moon when I brought him the medicine the next day. I stopped by his place after my last session at the gym.
“Who is this Dylan again?” Dad asked.
I smiled, always feeling a bit awkward when I spoke to Dad about someone I was dating. Not that Dylan and I were dating. I wasn’t exactly sure what to call what we were, but I didn’t want to keep anything from Dad.
Growing up without my mom, one would think I got used to these awkward conversations. After all, Daddy was the one who gave me the talk about the birds and the bees in middle school, explained about getting my period, and everything else. But I still felt like a teenager on occasions like this one.
“We’re spending some time together, but it’s early days, so don’t read too much into it.”
Dad held up the meds. “He went to the trouble of getting these, so he’s not a douchebag like Elliot.”
I grimaced. “No, not one bit.”
Dad had had a front row seat to the pain Elliot caused me.
“He’s got my approval.”
I smiled to myself as I took a yogurt from his fridge to prepare smoothies for both of us.
I had Dylan on my mind, and it took me to a happy place.
Last night had been unexpected in so many ways, from the alpha tone when he insisted this wasn’t a one-night thing to the balls-to-the-wall threat to Elliot.
I couldn’t believe Elliot. As if I wanted to keep the stupid presents anyway. They’d all been just for show. Later on, when he asked for a second “loan,” and I refused, he threw in my face that he’d spent a lot of money on me.
I saw red remembering his smug face. The nerve of him! I’d been on edge after he left, but Dylan had somehow made me forget all about it. He was a man of many talents for sure. I was still swooning a little.
I ate dinner with Dad, and on the train ride back home, I checked my phone and discovered a photo from Dylan. It was of Isabelle, cuddling the puppy.
Dylan: Couldn’t keep her away any longer. They’re moving into the house faster, in two days. She left with him. The place seems weirdly empty.
Mel: Want to adopt a pup for yourself? I stand by what I said. You’re more relaxed around one.
Dylan: I’m relaxed around you too. I want you.
My stomach somersaulted. I brought a hand to it, smiling from ear to ear.
Mel: We have a session on Wednesday.
Dylan: That’s in three days. I want you sooner.
Oh, wow . How could one little message turn me into a ball of anticipation and desire?
Mel: I’m now on my way back from Dad’s. I’m honestly exhausted today. Tomorrow evening?
Would he get annoyed by my frequent trips to Dad’s like Elliot? I knew it wasn’t fair to compare them, but I couldn’t help wondering. Even though what we had was casual, I instinctively knew Dylan didn’t do anything in half measures. Everything about him was all-consuming.
Dylan: Some clients from Chicago are in town, and we’re taking them to dinner.
Mel: Then Wednesday it is. By the way, Dad says thanks for the medicine.
Dylan: He’s welcome. I enjoyed our time yesterday.
Mel: I did too.
Dylan: Can’t wait until the next time. You’re hijacking my thoughts, Mel. Ian is exasperated.
Mel: Then go back to work. I don’t want to get on his bad side.
Dylan: Have a great evening, Mel.
We kept exchanging messages over the next couple days, sending each other little snippets throughout the day. On Wednesday, I was on pins and needles because I was about to see him.
I met with Isabelle and Josie at the gym after lunch.
Josie decided she wanted to train there after all, so she came for an introductory session.
To my surprise, the Gallagher siblings arrived together—all four of them, including my hot and handsome Dylan.
My session with him was later this afternoon, so I hadn’t expected to see him here this early.
Ian, Isabelle, and Josie were in the break room corner next to the orange juice container. I positioned myself, so I had a great view of the cardio equipment to keep an eye on Dylan. A girl had to indulge from time to time.
Damn, is he gorgeous or what?
I trained my focus on Josie. “So with Isabelle, we go into one of the smaller rooms and have a Pilates session for seventy-five minutes.
We do warm-ups, and then we alternate cardio-type workouts with anaerobic exercises.
But everyone is different. You can do your cardio before on a treadmill or a cross-trainer or anything you like from the cardio room.
That's what Dylan does, and then I join him at the weight stations.”
"Wait, you're training Dylan?" Isabelle asked.
Oh shit, he hadn't told his sisters. I blushed, looking from one sister to the other and then at Ian, who smiled knowingly.
"What's going on?" Isabelle asked. Ian's smile widened, which Isabelle noticed. She pointed at him. "You look like you're keeping secrets, brother."
Josie tilted her head. "No, he looks like he can't wait to spill them."
I had a feeling this was going to escalate.
I knew from Isabelle that they were all very close, but being an only child, I wasn't sure how to navigate sibling dynamics.
I looked at Dylan again, hoping he'd glance this way so I could gesture him to join us.
As if he sensed that I was watching him, he cocked his head my way.
I couldn't wave. But he knew how sibling dynamics worked because he immediately stopped the treadmill and came to us.
"Why are you all grouped here?" he asked. "Ian, I thought you were going to run next to me?"
Isabelle gave her brother a sweet smile. "He has some insider info he can't wait to share."
"But now that you’re here, they can hear it directly from the source," Ian said.
Isabelle trained her gaze on Dylan.
"So, we found out Mel's training you one-on-one."
"Yes, she is,” Dylan replied. “Anything against that? You kept saying she's an excellent trainer."
I was looking at all of them, unsure what to say or how to act. This was so much fun.
Isabelle glared at her brother, and I remembered what he said about her warning him not to hit on me. I still had no idea what to say to smooth things over.
I also wasn't sure if Dylan wanted his siblings to know about us. We never discussed it.
To my astonishment, he put an arm around my shoulders.
"Mel and I are seeing each other. And that's none of your business."
Ian, Josie, and Isabelle all started talking at the same time.
Ian laughed and then said, "Oh wait, he's serious."
"I think he's pretty serious," Josie confirmed.
"You left out a critical detail," Ian said, fighting to tone down a grin. Looking straight at me, he said, "He almost bit my head off when I commented that you're hot. Just thought you should know."
I giggled before covering my mouth. Isabelle and Josie were laughing too. Dylan glared at Ian.
"You had to spill that, didn't you?"
Ian nodded, looking oddly proud. "I've been sitting on this piece of information for a while. I couldn't wait for an occasion to spill it. It's too good not to be shared. And you know me, brother. I don't like to keep the good things to myself."
I cleared my throat. "Okay. Well, I do think we should start the session. Otherwise, we're not going to have enough time. Josie, Isabelle is going to show you the room where we're training, and I'll be with you in a few minutes."
Isabelle looked at me with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
After their sisters left, Dylan looked at Ian pointedly.
“This is your cue to leave us alone," he said simply.
"Oh, right, right. I don’t want to be a third wheel. However, I do want to test a theory. Will you bite my head off again if I mention how hot Mel is?”
I grinned, loving Ian’s merciless teasing.
“I don’t think we should push him too much,” I replied.
Dylan stared at his brother. Ian winked before heading to the treadmill.
Dylan took my hand, bringing me into a more private nook of the break room.
"Your siblings are hilarious.”
“And very nosy. I'm sorry.”
“It was funny. How come you’re here so early? Our session is later.”
“About that. The private sessions won’t work out today. My assistant scheduled a meeting at the last minute.”
I pouted.
He cupped my cheek, pressing his thumb on my lower lip. “But since they were an excuse to spend time with you, it doesn’t matter. I don’t need an excuse anymore.”
My pulse sped up as his eyes smoldered. “Tonight, I have another dinner with clients, but I want us to go out soon.”
“Friday works,” I said.
He groaned, slipping the tip of his thumb in my mouth, tilting in slightly. “Fine. Friday it is.”
"So you almost bit off Ian's head, huh?"
If possible, his gaze grew even more intense. I was warm all over just because he was looking at me with that strangely possessive glint.
"Yes I did. I don't know what you're doing to me, but even now, when a guy looks at you, I feel possessive. Even if it’s my brother and he wants to get a rise out of me."
He touched my neck with his hand, pulling me closer.
I glanced sideways quickly, but the nook was private enough that no one could see us unless they walked right to this corner.
Dylan touched his lips to mine, gently at first, but then it transformed into one of those hot kisses that made me want to jump him.
He was a little sweaty from the treadmill, and it somehow made him even sexier.
The salty taste on his lips turned me on so much that I didn’t want him to stop.
I gasped when I was out of breath and pulled a few inches away.
"No, no, no. You can't kiss me like this. It makes me want to jump you, and we’re at the gym."
"So what’s the problem?" he asked.
"Because I can’t jump you, and then that's what I'm going to think about for the rest of the day."
He touched my lips with a finger, looking me straight in the eyes.
"Good. That's exactly what I want you to think about for the rest of the day."
“You’re a bad man.”
I took another step back before turning around and heading to the private room I’d booked for Josie and Isabelle. The two of them were chatting but stopped abruptly when I walked in, looking at me curiously.
“Am I about to be scolded?” I asked, closing the door behind me.
“Scolded?” Josie asked, elbowing Isabelle. “What did you do to the poor girl that she thinks we’re gonna scold her?”
“Nothing,” Isabelle replied, looking miffed. They were each sitting on a Pilates mat cross-legged.
“Dylan said you sort of warned him against asking me out,” I explained while rolling out a mat for myself.
“There was no ‘sort of’ about it. I straight up told him not to do it. I see it worked well,” Isabelle said with a laugh. “Dylan’s a good guy, I promise. He’s just been hurt.”
“And now he’s got a super thick defensive wall around him,” Josie added.
“But you did convince him to take a puppy home, so maybe he’s starting to mellow. I love him, by the way. We named him Loki.”
I looked between them, shaking my head. “I see this session is going to be even less productive than usual, huh?”
Isabelle stood ramrod straight. “No, no. Let’s show Josie that Pilates kicks ass.”
To my surprise, the girls did focus on the exercises. They didn’t talk at all, and I wondered if they could coordinate their schedules to train at the same time. Josie was a good influence on Isabelle.
While we did crunches, I mulled over Josie’s words. Could I get through Dylan’s defensive wall? I wanted to, but I was afraid to try. No, it was better to enjoy what we had. It was easier at any rate.
The three of us were pretty sweaty by the time we were done.
Half my hair fell from my bun, so I pulled it back in a ponytail as we went to the front desk.
Josie wanted to sign up for one-on-one trainings too, but she and Isabelle had vastly different schedules, so there was no way they could come together.
We headed straight to the reception desk. Shauna stepped aside from the computer so I could look at the schedule.
“Brother, what are you still doing here?” I heard Isabelle ask. I looked up to find Dylan between his sisters. He was clearly done with his workout, rocking a suit again, holding the jacket over his shoulder with two fingers. He was way too sexy.
“I just finished,” he replied.
Isabelle narrowed her eyes. “A likely tale. You were waiting for us, weren’t you?”
“Mel, I forgot to warn you earlier: don’t listen to them.”
“Why? They’re only saying good things,” I said with a wink.
He looked from Isabelle to Josie, then back to me. “Then, by all means, listen.”