Dylan’s Redemption(39)

She hated talking about the too-painful subject. She could tell Dylan the truth and get the whole thing done. She didn’t want Dylan to blame her for what happened. She blamed herself enough. It wasn’t her fault, but she couldn’t help the way she felt.

Would he blame J.T. for not finding him and missing the opportunity to see his daughter? Maybe he cared enough about J.T. to understand she couldn’t have prevented what happened. She’d been so young and done everything she could. Alone.

“Greg, I’ll take a rain check on lunch, but thanks all the same,” Jessie said by way of goodbye, and started past him and Dylan to get back to work.

Greg stopped her with his hand to her arm and turned her to face him. He wanted to see just how much Dylan cared.

He held her, softly running his hands over her shoulders to her neck, holding her in place. He peered down into her surprised eyes.

“You know, darlin’, I have a weakness for a pretty lady in a tool belt.” He leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth. Shocked, she stood immobile. “You and I should get married. We’ll roll your company up with Dad’s, and take a nice long vacation. Dad would love it. He already thinks of you as a daughter. Think about it,” he ordered, and then he bent his head and really kissed her.

She grabbed his forearms to steady herself. After the initial surprise wore off, she stiffened her spine. She might not have known what had gotten into him at first, but it didn’t take her long to figure out he did it to push Dylan’s buttons. It worked, making Greg happy.

Dylan exploded, unable to take one more second watching this guy put his hands on his woman. “Get your hands off her.” His words held just enough unleashed rage to catch both their attentions.

Greg only smiled more broadly, looking over J.T.’s head.

“Why?” Greg asked cockily.

“Because she belongs with me.”

“She may have gone for you back in the day, but she’s all grown up now. I don’t think she’d make the same mistake of falling into bed with you again, knowing you can’t leave her fast enough.”

“That’s not how it happened.” Dylan hated having to defend himself to this asshole.

“No? That’s right. You went all out and took her in the backseat of a car.”

“Are you guys finished talking about me like I’m not here?” Jessie tried to take a step toward the door, but Greg didn’t let go. A silent order to stay put. Dylan wanted to yank his hands away from Jessie. He didn’t want this man, or any man for that matter, touching her.

“If you cared so much about her, why did you leave and never look back?”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Bullshit. You knew you were leaving the night of the prom and you still slept with her without any possibility of a future between the two of you. You didn’t even talk to her afterward. Nice way of showing her how much you care. She thought that night meant something. All it meant to you is goodbye. So don’t pretend you cared then or now.”

Dylan felt every angry word pelt him in the heart. “You’re right.” He faced Jessie. “I was an asshole. I handled the whole thing badly. If I could do it over, I’d change so many things about that night, except what happened between us. I felt it. You felt it. We shared something amazing. Something like that doesn’t just disappear. I’ve held on to it all these years. So have you. I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. Whatever it is you want to tell me, we’ll get passed it. I thought I lost you once, Jess, I won’t lose you again.”

“Those are some nice words, but she fell for them once. She won’t fall for it again,” Greg said, though he didn’t put much certainty into the words.

“Enough. I’m not standing here while you two have a pissing match.” She yanked her arm free. “I don’t care who either of you think I belong with. I don’t belong to anyone. No one wanted me.” She slammed the door behind her and left Dylan, Greg, and her assistant staring, the phones ringing unanswered.

No one wanted me. Those words rang out in the silence.

“I don’t think she realizes what she just said. She believes it though. I’ll cut you a small break because I love that girl like she’s my own sister. That’s all there is between us.”

Relief washed away some of Dylan’s hostility.

“As long as I’ve known her, she’s never gone on a date with anyone,” Greg continued. “She learned the hard way from Buddy, Brian, and you she wasn’t worth the trouble. She thinks men will just hurt her, or leave her. It took a long time for her to trust Dad and me. She was always wary and unsure of our intentions.”