Goodbye Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A 'HOT' Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Book 5) by Elena Aitken

admit it, but he knew he couldn’t play hooky forever.
    Back at the Lodge, he’d said his goodbyes to Bill and Linda, who were smiling and whispering at each other, giving Dylan the distinct impression that his avoiding kissing Carmen again had all been for nothing.
    “We’ll see you both for dinner, then?” Bill asked. “We’re just going to have a little rest and then we’ll meet you at Oliver’s.”
    “Oh, I don’t—“
    “Sounds great,” Dylan interrupted Carmen before she could protest. “I don’t know about the two of you,” he continued, turning on the charm, “but all that paddling has certainly worked up an appetite.”
    Dylan was aware that Carmen was staring at him, but he wasn’t going to let her get away so easily. Not when he had another opportunity to spend time with her.
    “We’ll see you soon,” Linda said. Dylan knew Carmen hadn’t missed the twinkle in her mom’s eyes, or the little wink she gave her husband, but it didn’t matter. Let her parents think they were in a relationship. Especially because Dylan himself could no longer think of many objections to making that a reality.
    After Bill and Linda left, Carmen turned and stared at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m coming for dinner.” He smiled smugly. “And since I have the feeling they’re already talking about us, why not give them something to really talk about?”
    She tipped her head and tried to look annoyed with him, but Dylan noticed the start of a smile. “Isn’t that a song?”
    He reached out and tugged her into him. He’d been waiting all afternoon to hold her properly and the feel of her body against his was everything he’d expected it to be. “What’s the harm?” he said, his voice husky as he moved his mouth closer to hers.
    “Dylan, I don’t think—“
    “Then don’t.” He closed the gap between them and gently brushed her lips with his. Taking her soft moan as encouragement, Dylan deepened the kiss.
    When he pulled back and looked into her eyes, he said, “I would like the opportunity to do that again. Wouldn’t you?”
    Carmen nodded but Dylan could see conflict warring in her eyes.
    “Don’t think,” Dylan said again. “Let’s just go with this.”
    She closed her eyes for the briefest moment before opening them and answering him with a kiss. When she broke their connection, she said, “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this. But,” she bit her bottom lip before saying, “why not? Meet us for dinner at six thirty at Oliver’s.” She turned to walk away and shot one more look over her shoulder. “I am going to regret this, right?”
    “I promise you won’t.”
    Like a teenager, he smiled after her. He couldn’t help it; something about Carmen made him happier than he’d been in a long time. And kissing her? Well, that was a different story altogether.
    If he ever did decide to commit himself to a relationship, Carmen would be exactly the type of woman he’d be interested in. And for the life of him, as he watched her walk down the hall, he couldn’t remember any of his objections to commitment. Carmen was gorgeous, smart, career driven— “Where the hell have you been?”
    Trent’s voice came crashing through his reverie. He turned to see his big brother, storming across the lobby, fire burning in his eyes. “Trent.”
    “Don’t you dare take that happy, easygoing, I’ve had a great day tone with me, little brother.” Trent came to a stop in front of him and narrowed his eyes. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all afternoon.”
    A flash of guilt flew through him and Dylan dug his phone out of his back pocket, powering it on. Immediately, the screen lit up with missed call alerts and texts. “I had it off,” Dylan said dumbly.
    “Yeah. I figured that out.”
    “Look, I’m…” Dylan started. “What’s going on?” He opted for a direct approach.
    “What’s going on?” Trent chuckled, but there was no humor in it.