because of how his penis practically stood at attention whenever he looked at her. She’d salute him and purr the name into his ear as she stroked him.
He hated her. Hated everything she stood for. He wasn’t proud of his alley cat past. He had to make sure Marlyn didn’t come between him and Sydney.
Dash drove home, angry that Marlyn November had wormed her way back into his life at a critical time and that he had no control over it. He lowered the top because of the heavy fragrance that lingered in the car. The last thing he wanted was for Sydney to climb in and smell it. Dash headed straight for the shower. Marlyn’s perfume clung to his skin. Then he saw the lipstick stain she’d left on his cheek. He rubbed his knuckles against it, smearing it along his face. He turned the shower on as hot as he could stand and scrubbed every trace of Marlyn away.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in his bathrobe, locked away in his room reading Cassie’s script for No Regrets. Monty had finally sent it over this morning. Dash read the screenplay straight through, wanting to get the impact of the story beyond the storyboards he’d read. He went through it a second time more slowly, making notes in the margin about things he wanted to ask Cassie regarding Paul’s character. He’d give her a few days before texting about a meeting. He’d recognized the look in her eyes. Cassie Corrigan was hungry for her husband when she left the Revere house earlier.
Dash finally understood that kind of hunger.
It was different from all those years when he hankered for sex. It hadn’t mattered who his partner was. His gratification came from the act itself. He found a willing female. They did it. Sometimes once. Sometimes—like with Marlyn November—for a few days. Or his longest relationship—Ashley Franklin—a few weeks.
The hunger claiming Dash now was for one woman. He yearned for Sydney in ways he couldn’t describe in words. His yearning wasn’t merely his desire for a physical connection with her, though they certainly had that. His longings were as much physical as emotional. He needed not only Sydney’s willing body. He desired her mind. She completed him in a way that totally satisfied him—yet left him wanting more after each encounter.
That’s the look he’d seen in Cassie’s eyes. Her appetite for Rhett. Dash recognized it because he possessed the very same longing for Sydney.
Dash dressed and added tortoise shell framed glasses. He used spirit gum to secure a mustache above his lip. He wanted to take her out in public tonight and didn’t want to be recognized.
He opened his bedroom door and caught the smell of garlic. He’d worked through dinner. He’d have to double up on the popcorn.
Spongebob was playing in the den. Herc’s eyes were glued to the screen. Tim glanced up from his book and grabbed the remote. He froze the screen.
Herc looked up. “You’re going somewhere, Dash. You’re wearing your hiding costume.”
“I am, Herc. It’s like a superhero and his secret identity.” He thought his brother could relate to that.
“Are you gonna see Sydney?”
“I am.” Dash bent and kissed the top of Herc’s head. “I’ll tell her you said hi. Remember to brush your teeth.”
“And scrape my tongue,” Herc added.
“Definitely scrape.” Herc’s dentist had recommended a tongue scrapper at his last dental appointment and the tool had become his brother’s favorite new thing.
“I’ll see you in the morning, buddy. Goodnight.”
“’Night, Dash.” Herc went back to his program, which Tim had re-started.
Dash waved at Tim and left the house. He sniffed but couldn’t detect any perfume so he raised the top and drove to the Revere house. Sydney came out before he could exit the car. Her hair was held back with some kind of hair accessory. It put the emphasis on her fine bone structure. She wore a strapless, copper maxi dress and had a bunch of gold bangles dancing on one arm.
He jumped out and opened her door. As she reached him, he inhaled the light, floral scent of her perfume—a stark contrast to the heavy cloud that surrounded Marlyn.
“You look amazing. And you smell even better.”
“Thank you. I’d say thank you, Dash, but I have no idea who I’m going out with tonight.”
He shrugged. “It’s one of my going out in public looks.”
She got into the car, hiking the dress up some. Dash caught sight of her trim ankles and one curved calf. He