I convinced myself that the little prick of annoyance in the back of mind named Aleck Fox is only there because he’s mad at me. It’s only because we left things unresolved. I hate leaving things unresolved. By nature, I feel the need to nurture. But with Aleck Fox, I feel the need to grind my teeth and light things on fire.

“I’d like to walk you up to your suite if that’s okay,” Dylan says as we approach the resort parking lot.

“Sure. That would be fine.”

Dylan finds a parking spot and hurries out to open the car door for me. When we walk through the parking lot to the resort entrance, Dylan reaches between us, slipping his hand into mine. I smile at him and he returns the smile, showing his perfect teeth and deep dimples.

“Can I ask you a question…” He glances at me sideways.

“You’ve asked me many.” I laugh.

“You and the best man…”

My stomach tightens at the mention of Aleck and me. “What about us?”

“You’re involved…”

“That’s not a question.” I smile nervously.

“A statement then,” he says, holding onto his smile. Again, seemingly fazed by nothing. “You two are involved.”

I press the elevator button and take a deep breath, deciding Dylan deserves the truth.

“We’re... complicated.”

The elevator door slides open, and we step inside. The memory of Aleck’s determination when he realized he wanted me, floods my mind. My core tightens when I remember how he slid his hand across my stomach, backing me into the elevator wall, and how he lifted my leg to grind his erection between them.

My breath gets caught in my chest. “It’s nothing. We’re nothing…” I assure Dylan.

“Well…” He smiles confidently. “I don’t believe it’s nothing. He was jealous. Men don’t get jealous if it’s nothing, trust me on that. And I understand. You’re an amazing catch, Winter. I just hope he’s deserving of catching you.” He swipes his hand through his messy hair, glancing at me with a smile. “I just ask that if anything changes and it’s not nothing anymore, you let me know? You don’t owe me that, but I’d like it. I’m not interested in competing with another man, that’s when my dark side comes out.”

I nod, feeling sheepish and small. Dylan may be younger than me, but he’s more mature than I am by years. Here I am playing into this game with Aleck, the most immature, self-centered, arrogant man I’ve ever met.

“Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t string you along. I like you, Dylan. Aleck and I…” My eyes fall to the elevator floor while I search for the words. “We’re…”

“Winter, it’s fine. No need to explain. The human condition is a mysterious traitor, isn’t it?”

The ding of the elevator echoes in our small space, then the door slides open. We step out as my suite door opens and a very beautiful and very blonde woman with legs up to her throat and giant tits steps through the entryway giggling.