Page 105 of H E R
Daniel laughs. “I’m surprised you can spot any new ones. He’s completely covered, love.”
I finally break my silence. “I’m sorry,Joaquin?”
Dylan’s parents stare at him, and he grins, his mouth full. Once he swallows and takes one long swig of his drink, he clears his throat. “My given name. We changed it once I was adopted. My choice.”
I blink, maybe one hundred times in three seconds, and raise my shoulders. I thought I had learned everything there was to know about Dylan, whose non-undercover last name is Jacobs. I’d been texting with his mom for over a month now, planning to bring Dylan over for his birthday in February. Turns out, he’s a Valentine’s Day baby. He hadn’t been home in over a year, and Isa was grateful that I agreed for us to visit.
“Mom’s the only one who still calls me that.”
No one touches the topic again, not until we’re cleaning up and Dylan joins his dad in the garage to check out the new snowblower. I tried not to laugh at the mention of it. From what I hear, it barely snows here. But we all deserve to dream. I’m helping Isa clean up the dishes when she clears her throat.
“Quin’s birth mother chose that name. It’s special. I couldn’t let it go.”
“Why did he change it? I mean, why did he choose another name?”
“I think he wanted a fresh start. He was so little when he lost her. The system wasn’t good to him; foster homes were hell. I think that instead of being reminded of his mom, it connected him to all that he wanted to leave behind. He wanted to start over, completely.”
I watch Isa carefully fill the dishwasher and then follow her to the kitchen island and gladly accept the cup of coffee she offers.
“I couldn’t conceive and I was spiraling. I wanted a child so badly, and then we met Joaquin. He had the most beautiful and expressive eyes. He never said a word, but he didn’t have to. I made up my mind the minute I saw him. His process was to turn the page and never look back.”
I smile at her. “Andyourprocess was to allow him to heal, in whichever way he chose to do that.”
She nods. “He was incredibly introverted. His only friend was always his cousin, Olivia, my sister’s daughter. Never brought friends home. He kept to himself, studied hard, worked even harder.”
Isa shrugs and takes a sip from her coffee. I get the feeling she doesn’t want Dylan to hear her telling me all of this, because once we hear them conversing in the hall, she wipes a tear forming in the corner of her eye and stands to serve them.
“So, when do you two get back to work?”
Dylan and his father joined forces and together they founded the corporation I now find myself a part of, Untamed Fox. Olivia, Jason, and Sara work with us to apprehend human traffickers and sexual predators. Mike lost it and blew up Dylan’s phone for weeks, trying to change his mind. He finally let him go–I think he understood Dylan’s need to move on to something bigger.
“Next week,” Dylan grins.
He’s eager to get back to work. More like desperate. Especially since we work together now.
“I like your mom.”
Dylan pulls me close and then lifts me to set me on the counter. He opens my legs and positions himself between them. It’s late, and after spending the afternoon touring hischildhood hometown, I was too eager to take a hot shower and rummage through his parents’ fridge for a late-night snack.
“Yeah, she’s cool,” he says lazily while he snakes his hand up my calf and palms my thigh roughly.
My hand moves up to push him away. “Wecannotget frisky in your mom’s kitchen, rookie.”
He shrugs. “It’s their fault. They’re the ones who decided to go out and leave us alone. Now, shut up and lean back.”
“Dylan, no.”
“Don’t make me ask twice, fox.”
I open my mouth to protest and he flips me over in one swift move and pulls down my shorts. He presses my back down and separates my legs with his free hand. I squeal in disapproval but freeze when his lips graze my ass, and then he bites. I squirm beneath him, but my hips rise on their own, searching for more.
“What happens if they walk in?”
“Relax, they’re not going to catch us. Besides, we came down for asnack.”
My body responds to his touch and I’m already dripping, trembling, as he trails his fingers up my inner thigh. He parts my legs, spreading me wider, and groans.
“You look good enough to eat, little fox.”