The Teacher's Billionaire (23 page)

She could picture Dylan as the star quarterback. The football player with all the girls falling at his feet.

Chucking the tennis ball even harder this time, she tried to keep her emotions from bubbling over. So much for the peace she'd been feeling a few minutes ago. Yet she couldn't blame Jake. He had no way of knowing that talking about Dylan would upset her. He was just making conversation.

This time when Lucky dropped the ball he reached for it before Callie could. “I know you two were seeing each other,” he said his voice gentle.

Okay, so much for just making conversation.
“It was nothing.” She hated that her voice cracked with emotion.
Nothing to him at least.
To her it had been so much more.
God, she didn't want to talk about this now.

Jake looked up at her an eyebrow cocked. “I've seen the pictures. It was more than nothing.”

For a split second she wished Jake was more like his sister Sara. Then, they would never be having this little heart to heart.

Dropping down to the ground, she sighed loudly before realizing it. “You can't always believe what you see.”

Her half brother laughed sarcastically. “You
do not
have to tell me that.” Judging by the tone of his voice he spoke from experience. “In this case you're wrong, Callie.”

Neither said anything for a few minutes which was fine with her. She didn't want to talk about Dylan. Instead they took turns throwing the ball for Lucky who repeatedly bolted after it, usually making the catch before it hit the ground. Callie was finally confident Jake had let the subject go when he said, ”Dylan can be a cut throat bastard in the boardroom, but he's not the type to screw with someone's emotions. He's a good guy. And I'm not just saying that because he's my half-brother.”

She remained silent. What was she supposed to say? You don't know him as well as you think you do. That would just make things uncomfortable between them. And she didn't want that. She liked Jake. He seemed to be a nice guy. Someone she could become friends with.

“Did you know he was once engaged?” Jake asked. It seemed he was unable to let the topic of Dylan go this morning.

The news stunned her. “No, he never told me that.” Then again she had never asked about his previous relationships. And he hadn't asked her.

Jake pulled out another blade of grass. “He doesn't talk about it.”

“What happened?” It wasn't any of her business. Still, she couldn't help but ask anyway.

“Francesca turned out not to be who Dylan thought she was. Lets just say things didn't end well between them.”

Why was he telling her this? She doubted Dylan would appreciate it if he knew.

“He hasn't had a serious relationships since then. Not until you.”

If you only knew the truth Jake, Callie thought bitterly. “There was nothing serious about our relationship, Jake. We only went out a few times. It was no big deal. Really.”

Jake scratched Lucky, who had collapsed on the grass between them panting hard. “I don't buy it. He respects my...I mean our father to much to just fool around with you.”

Callie shrugged but didn't comment. What was she supposed to say? Dylan was trying to protect Warren by faking interest in me? She didn't want Jake or anyone else to know how naive she'd been. She should have known from the beginning that something other than a true interest in her drove Dylan's actions. But Callie had been to wrapped up in her feelings to stop and consider things from the analytical side.

Not that I would've ever guessed the truth.

As if knowing he wasn't going to convince her otherwise, Jake got to his feet when she remained silent. “Why don't we head back for breakfast.” Holding out his hand to help her up he continued, “I don't know about you but I'm hungry and want some coffee.”

“Coffee sounds like a great idea,” Callie answered accepting his hand and coming to her feet. Thanks to their conversation about Dylan her appetite was shot, but she was always up for a good cup of coffee. Especially if it meant Jake would finally end this talk about her and Dylan's relationship.

***

Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. The clock on his desk read ten which meant he'd spent the last four hours hunched over his computer working. He was in the middle of acquiring another hotel chain. One that operated primarily along the East Coast. Acquisitions always meant additional hours. But this time it wasn't business alone that kept him working eighteen plus hour days.

Working kept his mind busy, kept it focused on something other than Callie. Every time he thought about her all he could picture was that night in her kitchen. She'd been so devastated. Powering off the computer, he decided it was time to call it a day before the outline of his chair was permanently etched in his ass and the pounding in his head got any worse. Thanks to a combination of long hours, stress, and little sleep he'd had a headache all week. Not quite a migraine but damn close.

The cell phone in his pocket rang just as he closed his office door behind him. Jake's number was on the screen.

Jake didn't bother with a hello when Dylan answered. “Just got to your place. Where are you? Tell me you're not still at the office.”

Great, he was getting a lecture from his baby brother. “Just leaving. And you could've called first.”

“Tried. Your assistant said you were in a meeting.”

He'd been in and out of meetings most of the day. “Ever heard of something called a message?”

“Nope. Are you coming straight here?”

Like I have the energy or the desire to go anywhere else tonight.
“That's the plan. Why don't you make yourself useful and order some pizza or something.” He'd eaten lunch hours ago and had nothing since. A pizza loaded with everything and a beer sounded perfect to him.

The streets in the city were never empty but at least tonight traffic wasn't to heavy. It didn't take him long to reach his penthouse. Dylan pulled his Aston Martin into his spot and noticed his brother's Lamborghini parked a few spaces down. Pushing open the car door, he wondered what Jake wanted. While it wasn't unusual for him to just show up and stay a night or two, he never called looking for him if he wasn't home. He had a key to the place, so he could come and go as he pleased. Obviously tonight's visit was more than just a random event. Jake wanted or needed something. For the life of him, Dylan didn't know what that could be. His younger half-brother wasn't the type to ask for anything. He dealt with things himself. He always had, even has a kid.

The rich aroma of pizza greeted Dylan when he walked in.

“Sorry. Just couldn't wait for you,” Jake said nodding towards an open pizza box and bottle of Sam Adams.

Tossing his suit jacket and tie over the back of a chair, he walked into the kitchen. “Didn't think you would,” he replied opening the refrigerator and getting a Sam Adams for himself.

Dylan took a long swig of the beer before saying anything else. “What brings you here?”

Jake finished chewing and reached for another slice of topping heavy pizza. “Have you seen this?”

Picking up the magazine Jake tossed his way he replied, “Since when do you read this trash?”

“I don't,” Jake said defensively. “Sara gave it to me.”

Dylan glanced down at the cover which featured a photo of Callie the night of the fundraiser. She looked absolutely gorgeous. “You came all the way here to give me this?” He reached for a slice of pizza wondering what Jake was up to. Tabloid headlines never bothered the guy. Or if they did, he never let on.

“I meet her this weekend. She's staying in Newport for a little while.” Jake explained between mouthfuls of pizza.

Dylan's hand stopped on its way to his mouth. “So? What does that have to do with me? Tell me you didn't come here to tell me
that
.”

Jake dropped his pizza, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned forward. “She's not Francesca, Dylan.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Why would you think I'd compare those two? I barely know Callie Taylor.” He knew every word coming out of his mouth was a lie. He knew her in the most intimate way possible. Dylan bit into the pizza which although smelled heavenly tasted like saw dust.

Jake opened the magazine that Dylan discarded and pushed it back towards him. “I'd say you know her fairly well.”

Damn it. P
ictures of them together gazed back up at him. Who else had seen these? Maybe a better question was who hadn't?

“It doesn't take a genius to see she cares about you. She nearly broke out in tears whenever I mentioned your name.” Jake paused for a moment as if to let his words sink in. “And I'd bet my new car you feel the same way, bro.”

“When did you become Dr. Phil?” Dylan asked sarcastically. Though his brother was right about his feelings, he didn't have to like it. And he certainly didn't want to be getting relationship advise from his kid brother.

Finishing off his beer, Jake went to get another. “I don't know what you did, but you should try to fix it.”

“She didn't tell you?” He'd been wondering if she'd told Warren. Dylan didn't know how his stepfather would react to the fact he'd gone along with Phillips' plan. And Warren's opinion mattered to him.

“Nope. Don't think she even muttered your name. I brought you up, not her.”

For the next few minutes Dylan told his brother about his agreement with Marty Phillips and how Callie learned of it.

Jake whistled low. “Ouch. I can see why she's pissed at you.”

“That's putting it mildly,” Dylan laughed bitterly. The pizza he'd eaten now felt like a lead weight in his stomach.

“You should still try to undo this mess with her.” Jake fell silent for a moment looking much more serious than Dylan had ever seen him. “I know you, Dylan. You never would've let things go as far they did if you didn't care about her.”

Dylan opened his mouth to protest. His brother didn't give him a chance. “She's about as different from Francesca as they come, so stop using her as an excuse. Yeah, Francesca was a bitch, but she was only one woman. You can't judge them all using her as the standard.”

Dylan stared at the younger man. When had his baby brother become so insightful?

Standing Jake gathered up his plate and empty beer bottles. “I'm going to watch a movie. Something with a lot of violence. All this Dr. Phil shit is getting to me,” he joked. “But seriously think about what I said. Not all women are like Francesca. Definitely not Callie.” Jake got rid of his trash and disappeared down the hall leaving Dylan alone at the table.

In the other room he could hear the opening music to the movie Iron Man, but he had no desire to join his brother. Looking down at the open magazine, the pictures brought memories flooding back. He rubbed at the dull ache in his chest. Most of the photos had been taken without their knowledge, which wasn't unusual to him. Thanks to who his family was the paparazzi often took photos without his permission. But it wasn't something Callie was used to. He wondered how she was coping with it. Maybe staying at Cliff House was her way of avoiding the spot light and chaos Warren's announcement had caused.

Dylan's eyes kept focusing on one particular picture. It was taken at the Red Sox game. The night they'd first made love. From beginning to end it had been a perfect evening. The best date he'd ever been on. And they'd only gone to a baseball game. He'd felt content and liked for who he was as a man, rather than liked for
what
he was. Callie always made him feel that way.

And he'd gone and blown things with her. Jake was spot on. He did care about Callie.

Admit it, Talbot. You more than just care. You love her.

Though he'd suspected it, he'd been denying it to himself for awhile. After what happened with Francesca could anyone blame him? If he opened his heart again, he ran the risk of having it stomped on. Ran the risk of being betrayed again. You never really knew who you could trust.

His brother was right. He needed to fix things or at least try. Callie may never forgive him, but if he didn't do something he would never forgive himself.

There was only one problem, he had no idea how. Expensive gifts like jewelry would work on most of the women he knew, but they wouldn't help his cause with Callie. She wasn't like most women. It would need to be something with heart.

“Hey Jake do you know how long Callie is going to be at Cliff House?” Dylan stopped at the door to the media room a partial idea forming in his mind.

The younger man threw him an 'I told you so' smile and shook his head. “Mom said they were staying just the weekend. I don't know about Callie though. I can find out.”

“Do that,” Dylan replied before heading to his own bedroom.

Chapter 15

She'd been hiding out there for almost a week. Hiding out. It sounded ridiculous to say she was hiding out. But it was exactly what she was doing. In fact she hadn't left the estate once since her arrival.