“You laid it on the line for him,” she pointed out.
“Yeah, but I guess I didn’t think he’d seem so unaffected by it.”
“He loves you, Zoe. He just needs to realize that while he can. Men are slow sometimes, but I have a feeling he’ll get the memo after your little talk today. If not, Mike’s still single.”
“Oh God,” Zoe moaned before turning away. What have I done?
• • •
Dylan got to his feet as Zoe approached the table. She was stunning in a simple black dress with thin straps that showed off the generous swell of her breasts. Down, boy. Save it for later. You’ve got more important matters to take care of first. “You look beautiful,” he said sincerely as he pulled a chair out for her. He’d chosen a local seafood bistro that was one of their favorites. He’d arranged ahead of time to have a secluded table in the corner where they’d have some privacy. Of course, as Ash walked up behind her, he didn’t know why that was necessary with his brother along.
“Thank you,” she replied as Dylan leaned in to kiss her cheek. Fuck, I want to taste those lips again.
“You do look hot,” Ash said, causing Zoe to whirl around in shock.
“Asher . . . um, hi. I—I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she stuttered before shooting Dylan a questioning look.
“He won’t be staying for the meal,” he assured her. “I just needed him to drop by for a bit to help me out.”
She looked confused as to what he’d need assistance with, but she shrugged and took the seat that he indicated. He took his own, leaving the last one for Ash. When Ash took a laptop from the bag he was carrying and set it on the table, Dylan shot him a “what the hell” look. They made small talk until they were relaxing with a bottle of wine. Finally, Zoe said, “All right, this is starting to freak me out. What are we all doing here?”
Before he could answer, Ash laughed and flipped the top on his computer open to show what looked like a PowerPoint presentation. Sure to God he wasn’t going to talk work while Dylan was trying to convince Zoe that he’d changed. “I—um, want to talk to you about some new developments that you’re unaware of. I’m hoping they’ll make a difference to you.”
“That’s where I come in,” Ash interjected. “Instead of us both boring you with a lot of promises, I thought I’d make it easier to understand.” No, he didn’t. Dylan closed his eyes briefly before glancing at Zoe. She was staring at the screen as if fascinated, which he thought was a good sign. As long as this wasn’t some disaster that Ash had made as a joke. The first few screens were basic facts about how the Pensacola location did more business than the others. He had to admit, his brother had skillfully shown why Dylan stayed so busy. He’d also listed all the projects that they had in the works now and in the future.
Shit, now she just looked depressed. This was only confirming her beliefs that he’d never have enough time for her. “Could we get to the point?” He nudged his brother under the table. At this rate, she’d run from the restaurant and never speak to him again before he could get to the best part.
Ash glared at him. He was rather OCD about his presentations and being rushed wasn’t something he liked. Thankfully he clicked a few more times and Dylan found himself laughing as a big selfie of his brother filled the screen. At least he’s wearing clothes. “So yours truly will be moving to Pensacola and dividing the daily responsibilities with Dylan. We’ve known for a while that the resort is getting too big for one person to handle. My operations manager will take over in Charleston and I’ll be here permanently within a month. There will still be some things to work through as we find the right balance, but this should lighten Dylan’s load, allowing him to spend more time with you.” With another click, Zoe’s image filled the screen with hearts circling her head. Sweet Lord.
She threw back her head and laughed before clapping. “That was one of the most informative things I’ve ever seen. Plus, I now know so much more than I did about the Oceanix.”
“I am pretty amazing,” Ash bragged. “Oh, wait, I forgot one thing.” Click. No way! There on the damned screen was a picture of a man on his knees with a diamond extended toward a woman.
While she was gaping at the image, Ash was motioning for him to take action. This was not at all what he’d had in mind for tonight, but the jig was up now. Ash obviously had no intention of leaving before the good part. So Dylan slipped from his seat and almost fell flat on his face before he finally ended up in the correct position. Click. Dylan leaned to the side incredulously to see yet another picture, this one instructing her to look down. “I—um, love you so much, Zoe. Will you marry me?” Real smooth. How could she resist that?
Tears were running down her cheeks and he had no idea if they were happy or sad ones. Maybe she just felt sorry for him for making a fool out of himself. Then she flew into his arms, knocking him back against the seat as she peppered kisses all over his face. “I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
“Technically I did it,” Ash inserted before Dylan shot him a look.
“Yes, a thousand times yes! I love you too, Dylan, and I never wanted to be without you. I just couldn’t come last anymore. Please say that you understand.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I’m ashamed to say that it took almost losing you to make me see that you’re more important than anything else in my life. Without you, I can’t breathe. You’re my one constant and you always have been.”
“Oh, Dylan,” she cried as he slid the ring on her finger. Click. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the screen change to the words “And they lived happily ever after.” For once he had to concede that his brother was indeed a master when it came to presentations. He’d just helped Dylan close the biggest deal of his life.
Epilogue
Zoe stood next to her husband during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new addition to the Oceanix Resort. The last year hadn’t been easy, but more often than not, Dylan was home for dinner in the evening. Asher had lived up to his word—or his presentation—and had taken a great deal off his brother. Zoe and Dylan had been married three months previous in a quiet ceremony on the beach in front of the resort. She hadn’t wanted anything fancy, so it had been only family and a few close friends. Dylan had groaned at the reception when Dana had caught the bouquet. “Some poor bastard has misery coming his way,” he’d muttered, then winced when Zoe elbowed him in the side.
“I swear, that man’s such an asshole,” grumbled her friend and coworker now as she glared at Asher a few feet away. “When he came in the shop this morning, he told me I needed to stop sampling all the cooking.”
Zoe fought back a giggle at Dana’s indignant expression. “I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. You know he has a strange sense of humor sometimes.” She was actually quite fond of him now, but it was a woman’s duty to side with her friend.
“Oh, really?” Dana huffed. “When I asked, ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ he said, ‘Don’t worry about it. Lots of men like women with big butts.’”
Shit. Ash. “You look fine, honey. He’s just trying to get a reaction out of you. He picks on me all the time.”
“Has he ever called you fat?” she snapped.
“Um . . . well, no,” Zoe admitted. “But he didn’t exactly say that, did he?”
“Close enough.” Luckily Dylan picked that moment to end the conversation he’d been having with someone else.
“What are you two whispering about over here?” he asked as he pulled Zoe back against his chest.
Dana narrowed her eyes and said, “Your brother’s a dick. And you’re not much better.” There goes the peace.
Instead of being offended, Dylan laughed. “Yeah, apparently it runs in the family. Why don’t you get on your broom and fly back to your castle, where you won’t have to deal with it?”
“Dick.”
“Witch.”
r /> Zoe shook her head before leading her husband away. He enjoyed this verbal sparring far too much. “Will you stop egging her on?” she chided as they walked back inside the resort. “You two are impossible.” When he punched in a code on a nearby door and pulled her inside, she looked around in surprise. “Why are we in the janitor’s closet?”
He gave her a sexy grin that meant instant wet panties for her. Oh, how she knew that look. “Because you’re awfully dirty, Mrs. Jackson, and I believe I have something in here that’ll clean you right up.”
“Is that so, Mr. Jackson?” Leaning closer to his ear, she palmed his dick and whispered, “First, I’d like to demonstrate my skills with a certain thing I like to call the Hoover.” Throaty laughter turned to moans soon after that as she pleasured the first and only man to ever possess her body and soul.