Dylan: The Sons of Dusty Walker (4 page)

His eyes darkened, that look of determination on his face sending a thrilling note of anticipation singing through her blood. He leaned across the console, his hand tightening on her nape. The stir of his breath mixing with hers revved her pulse another notch. Eyes drifting shut, she waited for the luscious pressure of his lips sliding over hers. A jarring rap rattled the window behind her, making her jump and she nearly banged her nose into Dylan’s. She whipped her head around, fully expecting to see Hazel’s hawk gaze trained on them through the pane of glass. Instead she was met with Callie Rogers’s grinning curiosity.

Zoe killed a groan. Saved by the bell. Or in this case, the best friend with impeccable timing. Planting her palm on Dylan’s chest, she covertly nudged him back a pace. The unfortunate aspect of that maneuver was it gave her the opportunity to feel the solidness of those glorious muscles straining his T-shirt. Good Lord, how could she have forgotten how built he was?

Desperate to steer her wayward thoughts back on track, she jerked her hand away and buzzed the window down. She cleared her throat roughly and tried for a casual expression. “Hey.”

Callie’s gaze sparkled. “Hey yourself. Was beginning to wonder what was taking you so long, but looks like I’m interrupting something important. Should I catch up with ya later?”

Zoe’s emphatic, “No.” beat Dylan’s equally firm, “Yes.”, but only by a millisecond.

Callie chuckled. No doubt she was going to have a field day with this one. “Aren’t y’all just too cute for words?” Paying no heed to Zoe’s frustrated glare, Callie ducked down and thrust her hand through the window toward Dylan. “Don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Callie.”

Dylan removed his cap and returned the handshake with his own introduction. Normally Zoe would have felt unbearably rude for not dispensing the niceties herself but it was a damn miracle her tongue could even function.

Callie’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh my gosh, you’re
Dylan Walker
.” She slashed an accusing stare to Zoe. “How long have you been keeping this a secret, you traitor?”

Zoe’s heart skipped a beat—until she realized that Callie’s scolding likely had nothing to do with Dylan being Hunter’s daddy. Callie was a big fan of Truckstop Pickup. It was excruciatingly difficult tuning out her best friend’s constant gushing whenever one their songs came on the radio. It was even tougher muting her own responses to the hauntingly sweet chords of Dylan’s guitar solo on
Summer Rain
. Those notes always seemed like a connection to him, one that broke the boundaries of time and distance. Fanciful but true. “I haven’t been keeping anything a secret. Nothing’s going on.”

Dylan’s arm went rigid against her shoulder. She winced, steeling herself for the tongue-lashing sure to be forthcoming. He surprised her by staying silent. His edgy anger spoke volumes though. Steadying her nerves, she sent Callie a pleading look. “Give me ten minutes, okay? I’ll meet you at Taylor’s.”

Callie’s attention flickered to Dylan again. Obviously she wasn’t thrilled at not getting to properly fan-girl for another hour or two. Her mouth curved with a hopeful smile. “Dylan can always come with you.”

“No, he has prior plans.”

Callie offered Zoe a hard squint. “Fine. See you in ten.”

The moment her best friend stalked out of sight, Zoe fizzled a breath and turned to face Dylan. Judging from his stony expression, he was plenty pissed at her. And she certainly didn’t blame him. She was giving him one reason after another to despise her. The knowledge vised her heart. Still, it was better this way. If he hated her, he’d move on. It’d be the best thing for all of them.

A muscle ticced in his strong jaw. “Keeping nothing a secret, huh?”

She rubbed her temple. Yes, she was definitely burying herself up to her neck here. “I know I’m not handling this well. I plan to tell Callie you’re Hunter’s father. But when
I’m
ready to do it. Okay? I can’t just blurt it out.”

The granite state of his features softened a fraction, but the hurt lingered in his eyes. “Good. I don’t want to be some dirty secret taking up space in your closet, Zoe. I’ve dealt with enough of that bullshit.”

A fierce pressure squeezed against her diaphragm. “I don’t think of you that way.” She’d heard the not so quiet whispers around town. How Dusty had kept up with four different women and fathered sons with them behind his wife’s back. Most folks were willing to look the other way and not speak ill of the man, seeing how Dusty did so much philanthropic good in his life and in the town. There were also those who said they weren’t surprised Dusty had sought affection outside of his marriage since apparently things had been rocky between him and Theresa for many years. Coming from a broken household where cheating was a common practice, she tended not to condone the activity, but she knew it sure wasn’t unusual.

“I want to spend time with him,” Dylan announced, breaking through her thoughts with all the finesse of a battering ram.

She didn’t need to ask who he was referring to. She’d been waiting for the inevitable demand. Tried her best to steel for it. But the panic leapfrogging through her refused to cooperate with the necessity for calm. “Please think about what this would do to Hunter. You want to know him better—and I get that. I truly do. But he won’t understand a daddy he’s never seen before popping into the picture and then leaving him just as abruptly when your week is up here. I won’t put him through that.”

“Neither will I. Zoe, I have every intention of being a permanent part of our son’s life. Whether you like it or not. So you better get used to it.” He dug in his back pocket and pulled out a smart phone. “What’s your number?” He lifted that dreamy sea-green gaze and pinned her with a patient look when she didn’t immediately answer.

She exhaled wearily and recited her number. He punched in the contact information, and an instant later her cellphone buzzed from the confines of her purse. She offered him a peeved frown. “Did you really think I’d give you a fake number?”

“Thought crossed my mind.” He pocketed his phone and glanced at her. “Since it appears you have plans for this afternoon, how about you and Hunter come out to the lake house tonight for dinner?”

A renewed surge of panic hit her bloodstream. “I-I thought maybe we could just meet somewhere neutral. Like a park or something.”

“Why? You have a problem with us havin’ dinner?”

“Dylan, this isn’t about you and me.”

He offered the grin that’d effortlessly convinced her to drop her panties the second he had her alone four years ago. Superman had an easier time resisting Kryptonite. “Never said it was. But I’m assuming you’re not gonna be willin’ to leave Hunter with me right away, so the way I see it, that kind of makes all of us a package deal.”

She didn’t like the way he phrased that. And she particularly didn’t trust that gleam in his gaze. But damn it, he was right. No way in hell she’d hand Hunter over unchaperoned. It was as much for Dylan’s benefit as their son’s. Hunter could be a real handful, and Dylan was ill equipped to jump into the role of Wonder Dad, no matter what he thought to the contrary.

Left with no recourse, she bit back a grumble. “What time?”

CHAPTER THREE

“So what’s the story with you and Dylan Hunkalicious Walker?”

Trying her best to hide the grinding of her teeth, Zoe unclicked Hunter’s seatbelt and lifted him from the truck. The moment his tiny feet hit the ground, he hollered at the top of his lungs and raced across the yard toward his six-year-old buddy, Josh. Despite the boy being older and bigger than Hunter, Josh was no match for a toddler tornado. Hunter slammed into Josh, sending them both tumbling onto the grass.

Zoe sighed and shifted her attention to Callie. “When are you going to take my advice and pad that child in bubble wrap before we come over?”

Without giving the kids a second glance, Callie waved her hand dismissively. “It’s good practice for when he becomes a pro quarterback and makes enough money to set his mama up in the lap of luxury.” She plopped her hand on her hip, her expression sassy as her pose. “And don’t think you’re getting outta answering my question.”

“I’m not ready to talk about it yet.” She didn’t realize she’d shifted her gaze back to Hunter a fraction too soon after that statement until Callie’s sharp inhalation drew her attention to the thoughtless mistake. Tempering her wince, she reluctantly panned her focus to her best friend just as Callie’s brother, Taylor, stepped out onto the porch. He offered a smile and raised his hand in greeting. Before Zoe could return it, Callie let out a screech.

“Are you tellin’ me that Dylan Walker is Hunter’s daddy?”

Oh Lord. Why didn’t Callie grab a bullhorn and announce it to the entire neighborhood while she was at it? Zoe scowled. “I didn’t
tell
you anything. You assumed.”

“Well, is he?”

Zoe tweaked the bridge of her nose. The good news was that Hunter and Josh were too preoccupied with their horseplay to give a patoot what the grownups were discussing. Although the last thing she’d wanted was to get into this with Callie right here and now, not much point in prolonging the inevitable. “Yes.”

Callie’s eyes threatened to bug from their sockets. “No. Way. Girl, how in the world did that happen?”

She assumed Callie wasn’t asking for the specifics. Though anything was possible with her nosy best friend. “It’s a long story.”

“Do I look like I’m pressed for time?” Callie plopped her rear end on the bottom step of Taylor’s porch and patted the vacant spot next to her.

Resignation dragging at her limbs, Zoe shuffled forward. She caught Taylor’s eye. Much as she liked Callie’s brother, she sure didn’t want to have this conversation in front of him.

He cleared his throat. “I’ll make up some sweet tea while you ladies chit chat.”

Eternally grateful for his consideration—something his sister could take a lesson on—Zoe gave Taylor a wobbly smile. “Thank you.”

He ducked inside the house and the screen door banged shut behind him. The second she was reasonably assured he was safely out of earshot, Zoe scooched in next to Callie and buried her face in her hands. The last half hour was finally catching up to her. She trembled, whimpering pitifully.

“Hey now.” Callie wrapped her arms around Zoe in a bone-crushing hug. “Whatever’s got ya upset, it can’t be all that bad.”

“It is.” The words came out muffled and miserable. Zoe dropped her hands and lifted her tear-clogged gaze to Callie. “He never knew about Hunter. I’ve kept it to myself all these years.”

“Honey, I figured as much.” Callie squeezed Zoe’s shoulder. “But from what I could see, he didn’t look too upset with ya.”

“Well, he isn’t exactly thrilled by my actions either. And understandably so.”

“Can I ask you somethin’?” Callie cocked her head to the side, her expression blatantly curious. “Why didn’t you tell him? All this time of going it on your own. He coulda helped ya, at least financially.”

Zoe inched her running shoes closer to the edge of the step and clasped her knees. “I do okay for myself.”

Callie gave her a narrow look. “Sweetie, you forget who you’re talking to here. If you were making loads of cash with the teaching job, you wouldn’t have to take on the private voice lessons.”

“I do it because I love it.” She didn’t tack on the part about money not being an issue for her. Because then she’d have to open up about her past.

Zoe averted her gaze and stared at the overgrown patch of wild carrot growing near the upturned wheelbarrow in the middle of the yard. She didn’t like having to keep all these secrets under lock and key, but she couldn’t risk freeing them into the open. Not after she’d worked damn hard putting that chapter of her life behind her. She lived a simple, drama-free existence now. It’s what she’d always craved growing up, and what she’d put her heart and soul into ensuring she provided for her son. She loved the life she’d built here for them. Her farmhouse on the outskirts of town was home in every sense of the word, and they were happy there.

Sure, there were times when she was unbearably lonely. Mostly in the dark of night after Hunter was tucked in bed. Those were the moments when she questioned the wisdom of thinking she needed no one but herself. Yes, she prided herself in being a modern woman who could raise a child on her own. And she did a damn fine job of it. Hunter was healthy and stable. He didn’t doubt that his mama loved him with every ounce of her being. And that sweet, wild little boy loved her back just as unconditionally. So she had no doubts that she was a good mom. But she’d be a liar if she didn’t admit that there were times she longed for a partner to carry the load once in a while. And on the days when it all felt overwhelming, someone to hold her and tell her it would be all right.

But that person couldn’t be Dylan. No matter how much her heart wished it to be different.

“I still think you’re crazy.” A grumpy noise issued from the back of Callie’s throat. “Shoot, if I had a hot package of sin like Dylan Walker interested in me, I woulda never let him off the hook.” Devilment flashed in her eyes. “Is he as talented with his fingers as I suspect he is? He gets plenty practice plucking that guitar.”

Snorting, she rolled her eyes at Callie. “I figured you’d go there.”

“Well, don’t hold out on me. You know how long it’s been since I’ve been properly laid.”

A grunt preceded the subtle click of the screen door behind them. She and Callie glanced over their shoulders in time to catch Taylor’s hasty retreat in the opposite direction.

“That’s what you get for snoopin’ on conversations,” Callie shouted, not the least bit embarrassed. She flicked her gaze to Zoe. “You know Tay is gonna be devastated about Dylan being back in your life.”

“Quit matchmaking me with your brother.” Although Taylor was undoubtedly easy on the eyes, he was a good friend, nothing more, despite Callie’s futile attempts at pushing them together in the past. In every way, it would have made sense to fall for Taylor. He was intelligent, witty, and a gentleman through and through. But there was no real chemistry between them. He didn’t fill her with the mad, giddy rush of excitement and love that Dylan did. Frowning, she tamped down that unproductive thought. “As for Dylan, he isn’t back in my life. He wants to get to know Hunter, and that’s all it amounts to.”

“In your eyes, or his?” Callie countered shrewdly.

“What does it matter?” She glared at her best friend. “I’m not intending to start up anything again with him. End of story.”

“Uh huh.”

She really didn’t like that knowing sparkle in Callie’s eyes, but she chose to ignore it for the time being. Far more productive than sitting here arguing with her all day. She chewed the corner of her thumbnail, a nervous habit that no amount of willpower seemed capable of cracking. “Hunter and I are going to have dinner with him tonight.”

“Holy shit,
tonight
? Why didn’t you mention that sooner? Girl, we need to find you something that will make his jockeys spontaneously combust soon as he sees you.”

“Oh my God, would you stop it? I already told you nothing’s going to happen between us.”

Callie offered a one shoulder shrug. “Doesn’t mean you can’t give that man reason to remember why he got ya knocked up in the first place.”

Zoe wrinkled her nose. “You have such a way with words. Miracle Hallmark hasn’t come knocking on your door yet.” She glanced down at her black stretchy yoga pants. “Besides, what’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” She’d throw her black batwing top over her tank and exchange her sneakers for sandals. Surely that’d be dressy enough for something that was definitely not a date.

“Is what you’re wearing comfy?”

“As a matter of—”

“Then ditch it.” Callie arched one perfectly groomed auburn eyebrow when Zoe opened her mouth to argue her case. “Nope. Whatever you’re gonna say is completely invalid. I will not allow you to be seen in public with Dylan Walker wearing clothes that can be described as
comfy
.”

“We won’t be in public. He invited me to Dusty’s lake house.”

“Dusty?” Callie’s forehead scrunched in confusion before instantly clearing in tandem with her double blink. “Holy hell. Is Dylan one of
those
Walkers?”

It didn’t sit well on her that Callie chose to phrase her words that way. Yes, Zoe all but did the same thing herself when Dylan revealed his connection to Dusty. But that was before she knew Dylan was touchy about the scandal. Having that insider information stirred her need to protect him, silly as it was. “Yes, he is. You’d do well to remember your fan girl adoration of him before you go jumping in the rumor pool with all of the other busybodies around here.”

Callie grinned. “Look at you being all bitchy. Didn’t know you had it in ya, Sassy Britches.”

Zoe chuffed under her breath. “There’s plenty you don’t know about me.”
Enough to fill a book.

“Or maybe Dylan means a little more to you than you’re lettin’ on.”

She turned her focus away from Callie’s invasive stare. The roughhousing Hunter and Josh provided the perfect excuse to change the subject. She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Come on boys, snack time.” She detected Callie’s barely restrained amusement next to her. Let Callie think what she would.

It was better than the alternative—admitting that Callie was right.