Secret Designs (20 page)

Ari's jaw dropped in surprise at his sudden change in demeanour.

He turned and put some distance between them. "I told Sylvie that a friend of mine, who insisted on remaining anonymous, won Lotto and was feeling charitable."

Ari turned to Sylvie with arched eyebrows. "You bought that story?"

Sylvie lifted her shoulders. "He was very convincing," she replied then turned to Dylan. "So the money was really from you?"

He gave her a small smile. "Yes."

Sylvie gazed at him for long seconds before bringing her palms to her chest. "Thank you," Sylvie said, trotting to him and hugging him tight.

"It's my pleasure, Sylvie," he replied, touched.

"You're a lifesaver," Sylvie continued.

He chuckled. "Now, that's a bit of an exaggeration."

"No. It's not. All you need to do is take a look at Kenny and see how excited he is about his new leg and new athletics coach," Sylvie said. "Anyway, I think Kenny and I would go for a bit of walk before we all have lunch."

Sylvie called to her son, who was busy staring at the vista outside the balcony. "Kenny! Come with me, darling. We're going for a walk."

Sylvie turned to them before walking out the door. "If you guys don't let go of your baggage, your hands will be too full to hold each other."

When the front door closed, Dylan returned his attention on Ari. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he said softly.

Ari sniffed and ran to him.

He caught her and held her tight, placing butterfly kisses on her face.

"I'm so sorry, honey," Ari cried and held his head between her hands, ensuring he looked into her eyes. "I trust you. I do want to confide in you. I promise I'll be better at sharing from here on in."

"So does that mean you're not going to give me a hard time about the money I gave you guys?"

She smiled, her eyes swimming in tears. "No. You're off the hook, this time."

"I'd want to take care of you all the time, Ari. Not just this one time. Would that be okay?"

"As long as you don't ask me to stop working so I can be a useless trophy girlfriend," she said readily.

He laughed before taking on a serious countenance. "I think too highly of you to treat you like that, Ari."

"Well, I have your money in my hot little hands which I'm going to use as capital for my new design business," she said, waving the envelope Sylvie handed her earlier. "But I want to pay you back."

"Sweetheart," he said in a warning tone.

Ari pressed a finger to his lips to stop him from talking. "There are two options I could think of off the top of my head. Option one is for me to pay you back every cent once I make a profit—with interest, of course. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee when I would be able to pay you back in full."

"It doesn't really matter when you'll be able to pay me back," he replied. "What's option two?"

"Option two is for you to consider this money as a form of investment in my new business. As my sole and very important investor, I'm happy to give you fifty percent of any profit the business makes. But, like any other venture, there's a risk. I don't know when the business would become profitable so I don't know when you'll get earnings from your investment. But I'm going to work so hard so you could get a good return for your money. What do you think?"

He smiled. This was an opening for him to pump more cash into her business and help her grow it. "If I take option two, then I also want to be actively involved in the business. In other words, since I'm going to take both risk and reward just as much as you are, I want to be your business partner."

Ari pursed her lips, but he could see the excitement in her eyes.

"Do you have the time to be involved in a new venture?" she asked.

"Yes. I'll make time. This is important. And if need be, we'll employ people to help with things we don't have time for."

"The business can't afford to pay employees yet," Ari argued.

"We can discuss that during our board meeting," he grinned.

Ari was quiet for a few seconds before she responded. "Well, you're vastly more experienced than me in growing a business so I'd be a fool to decline your offer. You just got yourself a new business partner, Mr. Summers."

His lips curled up happily. "I'm absolutely delighted, Miss Mitchell." He caressed her face. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Dylan. And thank you," she whispered, locking her arms behind his neck and lifting her lips to his.

"Since your sister and nephew are out for a walk, how about a nooner with your new business partner?" he asked after long minutes of hungry kissing.

"They could come back at any minute," Ari replied, tilting her head as his mouth made its way to her neck.

"Call Sylvie and ask her to give us another half an hour before coming back. Since they'll be staying here for the weekend, we'll be stuck in the bedroom tonight, trying to be quiet. I want to make a little noise right here, right now," he said huskily, snaking his hand underneath her shirt, unclasping her bra and cupping a breast.

She gasped. "Then let me grab my phone and call her."

"Ari, may I say that you look just as stunning as the bride and bridesmaids tonight."

Ari looked pointedly at the man sitting next to her, trying to stifle her grin. "You're full of compliments today, Trey."

"Hey, I'm just saying," Trey said with a chuckle. "And I'm glad I'm sitting next to you tonight."

"Why is that?" she asked, her eyes full of mirth.

"Who wouldn't want to sit next to someone as beautiful as you, Ari?" Trey said flirtatiously.

Ari rolled her eyes. "Is this another test? Are you trying to see if I'd succumb to your charms?" she asked teasingly.

Trey's expression turned mortified. "No! God, Ari, no! I was just trying to break the ice so I could apologise to you. I am so, so sorry, Ari. Very sorry. I was wrong, and stupid, and —"

"Trey, it's okay. I was just kidding," she said with a hand on his arm and a sincere smile. "And don't worry about that day. It's all forgotten."

Trey relaxed visibly. "Thank you, Ari. I really appreciate that. I thought you were still mad at me, and that was why you didn't go with Dylan when we had dinner with him the other night."

"Oh, no, I was just really busy with final fittings and last minute touch-ups for Jasmine's wedding and her bridesmaids' dresses. It wasn't because I didn't want to see you."

Trey swivelled his head toward the bridal party table. "Jasmine's dress is absolutely stunning, Ari. Everyone seems to be talking about it, including the men."

"Thank you," she said, swinging her gaze in the same direction to steal another look at Jasmine in the dress she created for her. But her eyes settled instead on Dylan who was having a conversation with the groom.

Dylan must have sensed her, for he suddenly looked her way and found her gaping. His face broke into a wide smile that made her heart thud hard in her chest.

She gave him a little wave and he waved back. Next to Dylan, his brother Bradley mockingly gagged, which earned him an elbow on the rib from Dylan.

"I thought I'd never see the day," Trey murmured beside her.

She returned her attention to Trey. "What day?" she asked.

Trey smiled. "Dylan falling head over heels. I thought he enjoyed being a bachelor too much."

Her brows furrowed. "But you were there when he fell for that woman who tried to scam him."

Trey snorted. "That was nothing like this, Ari. I can assure you of that."

To say that Trey's response pleased her immensely was an understatement.

*******

Ari had walked back into the ballroom after visiting the bathroom, when she saw Dylan talking to his mother and two other women, one of whom was Rosalie. The older woman must be Rosalie's mother, judging from their similar features.

She couldn't help the slight pout that appeared on her face. Dylan's parents were not yet aware of her relationship with their son.

It still hurt her a little that Dylan's mother wanted to push another woman into her son's arms and was being so obvious about it. What would Linda say when she finally found out that Dylan was no longer single? Would she approve of her?

"Hey, Ari!"

She turned and saw Kris approach.

"You okay?" Kris asked, darting a look at the group she'd just been staring at.

"Yes," she replied with a sigh. "It's just that Linda seems intent on making something happen with Dylan and Pretty Miss Rosie."

"Pretty Miss Rosie," Kris said with a little laugh. "Don't worry, honey. You're much prettier than she is. And it's you Dylan wants, not her."

She smiled at her friend. "I know. But wouldn't it be nice if his parents approved of me?"

"I'm sure they will, once they learn about the two of you. In fact," Kris continued conspiratorially, "why don't you go over there and drape yourself around Dylan? I'm sure he won't mind."

"Kris! I can't do that! I'll wait until we're dirty dancing to some sexy music. I'll pash him then."

The two of them giggled.

"Hey," Kris continued. "I was going to ask you about the hunky guy sitting next to you at your table."

"Trey?" she asked, her eyebrows arching.

"Trey, huh? He's kinda cute. Hell, he's more than cute. He's smokin' hot," Kris said, her eyes shining.

Ari's jaw slackened as she processed Kris' clear interest in Trey.

"Is he Kane's friend?" Kris prodded.

"Yes, but he's more Dylan's friend. One of his best friends, actually."

"Oh, good! Maybe you can introduce me? I see he didn't come here with a date, so I'm assuming he's single?"

Ari sighed. Trey was single all right. That was because he loved that lifestyle. "He's a real playboy, Kris," she warned her friend.

"Perfect!" Kris cried.

Ari frowned at her friend in confusion.

"Oh, Ari, I just want to get laid," Kris said openly. "I haven't been with a man for almost a year. Quite frankly, seeing you and Dylan, and Kane and Jasmine, get hot in front of us makes me want to jump the first good-looking man I see."

"We don't get that hot in public," she protested, blushing.

Kris smirked. "Yes, you do. You guys get so oblivious you're not even aware that we can tell when Dylan's hand is under your shirt."

She gasped at Kris in embarrassment.

Kris laughed out loud. "Oh, look at your face, Ari. And then there's Jaz and Kane. Seriously, every time I pass by their room they're having sex. And they don't seem able to keep the volume down."

This time, it was Ari's turn to laugh out loud. "I know what you mean. I've heard them, too." She paused, before reviving their earlier topic. "Are you really serious about getting laid?"

Kris shrugged. "Yeah. Since Sam and I are here for three weeks house-sitting for Jaz and Kane while they're on their honeymoon, why not make the most of my Sydney holiday? Besides, remember Jaz met Kane while she was house-sitting for Jessa and Rob? Who knows? I might get lucky like she did."

"You want to get laid with anyone?" Ari wanted to clarify.

"Not with
anyone
. Since I'm going to indulge myself, I want someone who's got a pretty face and a hot body. Trey seems to fit the bill."

"If all you want is sex, yes. But …"

"That's all I want," Kris said.

"You sounded like you hoped to get lucky like Jaz. Jaz and Kane fell in love. Doesn't that mean you're hoping to find someone special?"

"No. If I fall in love, great. If I don't, great. I just want some bedroom action, Ari," Kris said with a hint of frustration, grasping her arms and giving her a little bit of a shake.

"O-kay," she said with a reluctant chuckle. "Just don't hope for much. Trey is the number one playboy I know."

Kris grinned. "Don't worry. I've done casual sex a few times before. Unlike you, who didn't know what you were getting into when you agreed to a one-nighter with Dylan."

She grinned. "He was irresistible."

Kris sighed theatrically. "Well, look at where you are now."

"You're not hoping for the same with Trey, are you?" Ari asked her friend suspiciously. She really didn't want her to jump into certain heartbreak if she was carrying even a small seed of romantic visions with Trey.

"Oh, Ari. I don't even know the man. But you know what? I see where you're coming from. Maybe I should just go clubbing and pick up someone totally unknown to any of us. It would avoid unexpected consequences."

Ari nodded her head in relief. She couldn't explain why, but she didn't feel at all comfortable introducing Kris to Trey. As Dylan had disclosed to her a few days ago, Trey was so set on bachelor living he wouldn't even invite a woman to his home. Not one date had ever set foot in Trey's bachelor pad. Trey had even openly proclaimed he was done with relationships.

So just in case Kris fell in love unintentionally with someone she met while she was here, her chances at happiness would be much higher if it wasn't Trey. Might as well put some heartbreak-avoidance tactics in place, rather than regret it later.

"Hi, baby. Hi, Kris," a deep voice said.

A smile erupted on Ari's face even before she turned around to face Dylan.

"Hi."

"Are you going to dance with Ari now, Dyl?" Kris asked. "She'd been waiting all night for you. She plans to do some dirty dancing, complete with hot lip locking and tongue play."

Ari spluttered in laughter. "Kris!"

Kris sighed as she shook her head. "Gosh. All I'm doing these days is live vicariously through you and Jaz. It's pathetic." With that, Kris waved to them and headed for the bathroom.

"Dirty dancing, huh?" Dylan said, his eyes hot and teasing.

"I was just joking around with Kris," she said with a nervous chuckle. She knew Dylan had an imp in him that couldn't resist shocking other people.

Dylan took her hand and headed to the dance floor. She tugged him back, unwilling to follow.

He raised an eyebrow at her, a smile playing on his lips.

"Just normal dancing, okay?" she said.

"What's normal dancing?" he asked.

"Not dirty. No hand on my ass, or my boobs for that matter. No gyrating hips, no suggestive movements, not even kissing," she answered.