He lifted an eyebrow, wanting more information. "A friend?" he pressed.
Ari frowned. "Yes."
"Just curious," he replied softly.
"Well, I need to go, Dylan," she said with a small smile. "Good to see you again."
"Where are you going now?"
"Home. I have to work on Jasmine's dress," she answered as she started walking.
"Do you want to have dinner with me sometime this week?" he blurted out.
Ari stopped in her tracks and gaped at him. "No, thank you," she said after a pause then continued walking.
Dylan blinked at her straight-to-the-point response. "No?" he asked, hurrying after her.
"No, Dylan. But thanks anyway," she said in a tight voice.
"So..." He raked his brains for the right words to say. Hell, he didn't even know exactly what he wanted to say.
"We're simply plain friends now, Dylan, if that's okay," she said, not looking at him.
Right. No longer friends with benefits. He felt himself go red.
"I didn't ask you to dinner for the benefits part, Ari. I really just want to have dinner with you."
She glanced at him warily then shook her head. "Not this week."
"This weekend?" he pushed.
Ari huffed. "Why are you so persistent all of a sudden when you didn't even return my call from last week?"
He held her arm to stop her from walking. "I'm sorry about that. I meant to call you. I was just...busy dealing with a few things."
Ari sighed and started walking again.
He ran his fingers through his hair. This wasn't going the way he wanted it to. "So what are you doing this weekend?" he prodded.
"Sam and Kris are coming again so I can properly measure them for their bridesmaid dresses. Anyway, why don't you ask Rosalie out, instead?" she asked rather crossly.
"Because I don't want to be with her," he answered candidly.
Ari gazed at him with a quizzical look on her beautiful face. He could tell she was deliberating something in her head.
"Sorry, I'm not available, Dylan," she finally said.
He let out a heavy sigh. He had totally mucked it up.
CHAPTER TEN
"Yes! Our star designer has entered the building!"
Ari chuckled as she went to hug Kris and Sam, then Jasmine's sister Jessa.
"Great. All the bridesmaids are here. I can't wait to get my hands on all of you, girls," Ari said, rubbing her hands with glee.
"You know, I've never had anyone take my measurements, ever," Sam said, "Aside from taking my own."
"Really?"
"Yes. There hadn't been any reason. So I'm really excited. No one's done a made-to-measure anything for me before."
"Oh, Sammy, I'm excited for you, too," Jasmine cried.
"Let me show you some sample materials," Ari said, opening up her bag. "You'll have to let me know which colour's right."
They were busy comparing fabrics when Kane entered the big room.
"Hey, girls, since you're having a bridal party meeting today, I have a great idea," Kane said.
"What's that, honey?" Jasmine asked.
"I'll invite my groomsmen over so you can tell us exactly what we need to do for the wedding."
Jasmine grinned. "Great thinking."
"See? I help out with this wedding, too. I'll call them now," Kane said, looking very pleased with himself.
They all hid their smiles as Kane left the room.
"At least he thought of something," Kris quipped, and they laughed out loud.
"I never asked you before, Jaz. Who are Kane's groomsmen," Ari asked.
"His three brothers," Jasmine answered with a watchful expression. "Dylan's his best man."
*******
"So that's all you guys need to do," Jasmine said to the men after they've all gone through the wedding to-do list. "Hire the limos and get fitted for your suits. You need to do it as soon as possible in case they get booked out."
"I already know who to call for the car hire," Bradley, one of Kane's twin brothers said. "Leave that with me. You can look after our suits, Dyl."
"There's one more thing Dyl has to organise," Riley, the other twin said.
"What?" Dylan asked.
"I can't believe this has escaped your attention," Riley said. "The buck's night, bro. You have to organise Kane's buck's night."
"That's easy," Dylan responded.
"Dylan," Jasmine crooned. "I know you'll be good to your brother. But you won't be too good, right?"
Dylan grinned. "Right, Jazzie. Just something a little bit tame for Kane. Maybe a couple of private lap dances or something."
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at Dylan.
"Okay, I'm not discussing this anymore," Dylan laughed, raising his arms in front of him and cringing as if scared of Jasmine.