Secret Designs(7)

"Hey, maybe I'll join you," Dylan said.

Ari's head whipped toward Dylan and found him looking straight at her. Her heartbeat spiked up instantly. Oh no.

"It's a girls' night in, Dylan," she teased. "Last time I checked, you're not a girl."

A knowing smile tugged Dylan's lips, his eyes pinning her with their heat. "That may be so. But I won't mind if you check again."

She swallowed visibly. She hadn't meant to bring his attention to that hot, steamy night they had together. Dylan's intense gaze was unraveling her as desire flowed in her veins.

Geez, Ari. He's just flirting! Get a grip!

"No need," she said with a nervous chuckle. "Besides, we plan to watch chick flicks. You'll be seriously bored, I think."

"Not if I watch you, instead," Dylan countered, his tone husky.

Ari felt the heat rise up to her face. She must be as red as Jasmine was a couple of minutes ago.

"Stop it, Dylan," Kane rebuked mildly.

"So that's a no to me joining you, girls?" Dylan's tone was back to light teasing as he switched his attention to Sam and Kris.

Ari looked at the cousins, her eyes silently pleading with them to say no.

"Nah," Sam said.

"Yeah, that's a no, Dylan," Kris confirmed. "You'll never pass the sisterhood test."

Ari let go of the breath she was holding and glanced at Dylan. He winked at her, his expression playful.

See, Ari? He's just playing. Watch your step now. You might fall and hurt yourself.





CHAPTER THREE





Dylan carried his laptop to his balcony with the objective of knuckling down and doing some work. The sun was shining and he was tempted to simply sit there and enjoy the mesmerising view of Sydney city and its sparkling harbour from the high vantage point of his Potts Point apartment. He placed the computer on the patio table and closed his eyes to feel the welcome warmth of the mid-morning end-of-winter sun, only to open them quickly. The alluring, chestnut-haired, brown-eyed woman was there again, a haunting behind his closed eyelids. Fuck! If he didn't stop wanting Ari, he wouldn't get any work done.

He didn't expect to see her at Kane and Jasmine's place last night. He'd been surprised by how much he had wanted to attach himself to her side, but he was keen to steer their friendship to the right direction. He made sure he paid equal attention to all four women so that Ari wouldn't think he meant anything special when he flirted with her.

Okay, sure, she was special in a way. She was the only girl there he lusted after. But he didn't want her to misread his intentions.

Well, what were his intentions, really?

He raked his fingers through his hair. The fact of the matter was that he was dying to have her again. That was the pure and simple truth. He couldn't get their passionate night—and morning—out of his mind, and it was driving him to distraction.

Would she be open to another night with him? She had been friendly and flirty last night—a sign that their one-night stand didn't adversely affect the easy-going friendship they wanted to develop for each other. Would sleeping with her again jeopardise that?

Ah, Dylan. Stop it.

He gave himself gentle slaps on the face. He had work to do. His company had been commissioned by one of Australia's leading retail chains to write their latest smartphone app project. He had been slacking during the last week, though, and now he was behind schedule. His best friends Trey and Adam—also his business partners—were already getting cranky with him. The longer it took him to finish his part of the project, the less time they had to spend on their preferred and more lucrative enterprise: another game app for mobile devices.

The company that had paid close to half a million dollars each for their last three game apps was already making loud noises about buying this next one, too—but it would have to fight for it. They had already captured the attention of two other firms interested in their work in progress. Whichever of those three companies wanted their new app would need to pay a hell of a lot more for it, considering their track record of producing lucrative and highly popular games.

His phone rang, and he made a face when he saw the caller ID. "Hi Sandy, what's up?"

Sandy irritated him. She seemed to think that just because she was Adam's new girlfriend she was automatically one of Dylan's best friends, too.

"Hi, Dylan. How are you?" Sandy said in a too-exuberant voice.

"Fine, thanks. Busy. You?"

"Oh, I'm good. Listen, Dylan, do you want to join me and Adam to dinner at his place tonight?"

"I'm afraid I'm busy, Sandy. I have to get some work done. Thanks, but maybe some other time," he responded.

"But Adam's already looking forward to it! He really wants you to come."