Connor blissfully walked through life loving everyone, confident that everyone would love him back. Dylan had only held back once, early on, hoping dealing with a bully himself might toughen Connor up, but Viviana had stepped in.
Bar fights? It was nearly impossible to drink with Connor and not get into one. Dylan had never thrown the first punch, though, and in his heart didn’t condone violence.
He’d never said it to Connor because he’d promised his mother he’d always look out for him, but since being on his own it was nice to only engage in choreographed fights. Fame came with its own expectations, but he felt like he had more control over how he dealt with them than he did when it came to redefining who he was with his family. He never wanted to lose his bond with Connor, but Dylan was more than the meathead his brother saw him as.
He was more than the stupidest thing he’d ever done, more than every mistake he’d ever made. Life on his terms, accepted for who he was now—that’s what he was looking for.
Claire touched his arm again, bringing his attention back to her. “Angelina, Joanna, and Aly are each so different but I can see why they’re friends. Joanna is a healer and both Angelina and Aly were each a little broken. Connor was just what Angelina needed.”
Dylan glanced at Angelina who was laughing with Connor then Aly who still had her face averted toward the window. “I don’t see either of them as broken.”
“Perhaps broken is the wrong word. Hurt? Lost? Yearning for someone of their own? Someone they can trust.”
A sound of doubt burst out of Dylan. “Aly would be the first to tell you she doesn’t need anyone.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “People tell me all sorts of things I don’t believe. You once told me you’d rather die than wear a suit.”
Dylan laughed. “I did say that.”
“Yes, you did. Notice how Aly chose to sit by herself? She doesn’t yet feel confident that she’s one of us. And her friend hasn’t noticed that because she’s still in the smitten stage with Connor.”
Dylan cocked his head to one side while looking at Aly through fresh eyes. “So she’s hiding in her tablet.”
“Probably wishing one of us would go over there and talk to her.”
“You should do it. She doesn’t like me.”
“I don’t believe that, but even if that were true, I’m confident you could change her mind.” She rubbed a hand over her temple. “Plus, I might close my eyes and try to nap before we land.”
Dylan put his hand over hers. “I know better than to ask what you’re worried about that we aren’t supposed to know, but I’m here if you need me. Whatever is going down, you tell Ian and Bradford they aren’t alone.”
Her smile was strained. “Hopefully it’s nothing, but you have no idea how much I love you for saying that. You’re a good friend, Dylan; Ian sees that. He teases you, but he knows that I couldn’t be safer than I am with this crew.” She sniffed. “Now be the hero you play in the movies and go cheer Aly up. She needs someone in her corner.”
Dylan groaned. “You couldn’t ask me for something simple—like fly the jet blindfolded?”
Claire laughed. “Dylan Sutton, do not let that woman intimidate you. Beneath all those degrees and big talk, she’s just a woman and a lonely one at that. I’m not suggesting you ask her out, just be a friend to her. She’s going to feel awkward during this trip when both of her friends go off with their men and leave her hanging. Turn on some of that Sutton charm and you’ll soon have her smiling.”
“If I weren’t a better man because of following your advice in the past I would tell you to take a long walk off a short plank.”
With another chuckle, Claire gave his shoulder a nudge. “Well then, trust me on this. I’ve spent enough time with Aly to really like as well as admire her. She’s an intelligent woman, but that doesn’t mean she’s doing any better at this life game than the rest of us. My guess is her snark will fall away as soon as she feels comfortable around you.”
Dylan gripped his armrest and gathered his courage. “I’ll go sit with her, but if she slugs me, it’s on you.”
“You’ll be fine,” Claire said with humor.
“Sure, said by someone who is remaining safely over here.”
Out of the corner of her eye Aly saw Dylan rise to his feet again. If the amount of laughing that had come from the other side of the plane was anything to go by, he’d cheered Claire up.
She grudgingly admitted to herself that he wasn’t all bad. Their gaze met and he smiled. She didn’t smile back. Go on back to your brother.
His smile wavered, then returned in full force.
Oh, shit, he’s coming over here. She scrambled to pick up her tablet again. The screen had locked and she was still unlocking it when Dylan plopped into the seat beside her.
“Mind if I join you?”
“A little late to ask since you already have.” She hadn’t meant for her tone to be quite as cutting as it was. Men didn’t make her nervous. No one did. She lowered her tablet and attempted to ignore how good he smelled.
Dylan cleared his throat. “You and I got off on the wrong foot. I’ve said some things I didn’t mean. You said some things you didn’t mean.”
One comment he’d said to her came back with painful clarity. “You told me if I got laid more it might help me be more likeable.” Granted, it was whispered in her ear and not parried across a crowd like most of his insults were, but it had still stung. Between gritted teeth, she added, “For your information I have exactly as much sex as I want to.”
Dylan loosened his tie a little and swallowed visibly. “Would you believe I was joking?”
“No.” He’d said it to hurt her and although she’d tried not to let it—it had. Briefly. “I don’t give your opinion of me much consideration, though, because you also mock my affinity for reading.”
Running his hands down his thighs, those incredibly toned thighs, he shifted in his seat. “That’s kind of a joke as well. An inside one, I guess. Connor started reading romances and said they changed his life so I just figured you might like them as well.”
She looked him right in the eye and with a good deal of sarcasm asked, “Because Connor and I are so similar?”
“No, he’s a lot nicer.”
Aly’s mouth dropped open.
Dylan raised a finger as if asking for a time-out. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“It’s fine.” She told herself it was. It had to be. She wouldn’t be the reason the trip wasn’t good for either of her friends. “Listen you and I don’t have to be friends. I’m okay with that. I do appreciate you coming here to smooth things over. We’re good.”
He didn’t leave as she expected him to. He stayed and after a few minutes said, “We could be.”
“What?”
“We could be friends. You and I. If we got past this bumpy part, we might enjoy hanging out.” The smile he gave her was warm and charming.
She gave him a long look. This was a side of him she hadn’t seen and didn’t trust. Why, after all of their sparring, did he suddenly want to play nice? One reason slammed in and she voiced it impulsively. “Oh, I understand. Everyone else is paired up on this trip and you don’t want to mix your usual herd of women with your family so you’ve decided to make do with me. No, thank you.”