The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,221

Are you okay?”

No one’s asked me that question in a while. And it loosens something in me. And I tell her what I haven’t even admitted to myself. “No, I’m not okay.”

Her smiles vanishes, and I’m caught in this weird limbo of wanting to put it back and being glad that someone is looking at me like they give a shit.

At the same time, it’s torture that she’s not mine. That I can’t just walk up to her, kiss her and fuck her until I feel better.

“Why are you here?” I ask again. Because, I don’t understand at all. “Don’t you live in New York City? With your husband and your daughter? Why are you in Texas? At this house, you shouldn’t have been able to find?”

Her smile is a weird, glitchy, indecisive thing.

I don’t smile back.

She clears her throat and her smile falters. “We have a lot of catching up to do. I am really just here to check on you. I promise. We can go inside or talk out here. Either’s fine with me, but I’d rather do it sitting down.” She nods at her feet and lifts one of her legs up to indicate the heel on the boot she’s wearing.

“Oh shit.” I shake my head. It’s Kal, not the fucking FBI. If she’s here, there’s a reason. I’m treating her like she’s a hostile enemy.

I’ve been out here alone with my anger for too long.

“I’m sorry. Sorry. Come in.” I wave her to follow me and I head back to the house. Nancy’s tongue is pressed to the glass of the door and I can see the eagerness in her eyes.

“I’ve got a dog, though. She’s skittish. I rescued her, and she’s got some kind of PTSD. Instead of running from people she tries to attack them.”

I turn just as she’s making her way up the stairs and I hold out a hand to her. She doesn’t hesitate to slip hers into mine.

I wish she had.

That touch, the slide of her soft palm against mine is like dropping a goldfish into the mouth of a starving shark – hardly enough.

I’m trying to think, figure out how I’m going to handle sitting next to her when I want to pull her into me and hold her there. But she’s someone else’s wife. I let go of her.

“Oh.” She looks in surprise at her companionless hand and then, back at me. I smile stiffly.

“I’ll go in first and hold her back. Once she sees us being friendly for a few minutes, she’ll be cool.”

She eyes the dog wearily but gives me a genuinely happy smile. “I don’t have pets, but I’ve always wanted one. You rescue her from a shelter around here?”

“Nope. Someone chopped her tail off and threw her in a ditch to bleed to death. I found her on one of my runs and brought her home. She just took to me.”

“Another Remi person, I see.” she says a wry smile tugging the corner of her pretty mouth. It’s enchanting.

I look away from her, open the door and grab Nancy’s collar just as she lunges for Kal.

Kal shrieks and steps backward. “Oh my God, you weren’t kidding. Has she bitten you?”

“No. And she won’t bite you, either. She’s just trying to scare you because she doesn’t know you’re not here to hurt her.”

I scratch her chin and smile down at her

“Do you, girl? She won’t hurt you.” I slide a glance at Kal and wink. “She only breaks human hearts.”

She flushes.

“Come in. Rub her head once, she’ll be good. She’ll slink off and won’t come out until she’s hungry.”

Kal looks between me and the dog like she’s not sure she believes either one of us.

Then, she drops to her knees and brings herself almost eye level with Nancy. “Hey,” she says softly in return to Nancy’s growl. She puts a hand on her head. “I understand, baby. I wouldn’t like people either. I’m Kalilah. I’m nice, like he said. And don’t mind his talk about hearts. I’ve never been the one to do the breaking.” She looks up and smiles in that sweet way she has and I have to look away again. She is so beautiful it steals my breath.

“What kind of dog is she?”

“I don’t know. The vet said she’s a mutt. But that black coat and her height say she’s at least part mastiff of some sort. We just don’t know.”

Nancy huffs contentedly and turns her nose until it’s in Kal’s palm. I