restrictions in the dreams. We do and say things from the heart, from the soul. It’s the purest form of honesty.”
“Kinda like baring your soul?”
Dylan nodded, wondering if Layne had a general interest in how the dreams worked, or if he developed a deeper connection with Heaven in the last one. The thought made his shoulders tense.
“She and I have been sharing dreams off and on since childhood. So you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to share that with you. I share enough as it is.”
The moment of serenity faded. Layne’s brows reformed the scowl he’d worn earlier. “What happened to us working through things? I told you that I’m not interested in your wife. I’m here because of my duty.”
“That’s only part of the reason.” A few strides brought Dylan to the steps where Layne stood facing him. “I’ve known you all of my life. I’ve seen the way you are with women. I knew the ones that grabbed your attention and the ones that didn’t.”
“What does that have to do with Heaven? I’ve never treated her like any of those girls.”
“I know. That’s how I know you… care about her. You’re different when you’re around her.”
They stood in silence as Layne twisted the drawstring on his sweats. Each passing second built the tension in the air, tension that had Dylan’s skin crawling. Things hadn’t been this awkward since the day Layne found him and Heaven in Jerry’s guest house. He never understood what threw Layne off-kilter that day. Now it all made sense.
Shifting his weight to the other foot, Layne dropped the strings back to his waist. His eyes darted to Dylan as he jabbed his finger in his chest. “I know I made a mistake, one that almost split up you and Heaven. I’m sorry, Dylan. I can’t change what I did any more than you can change the fact that I’m her Keeper. She will always be yours, but I will always care about her. It’s my job.”
It wasn’t the look on his face that had Dylan’s gut twisting, or his taunting words. It was the crackle from the torch behind them. The way the flames began to rise. He studied it a moment before looking back at his friend. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Layne’s eyes rose to the torch, lingering for a second. Then they fell slowly back to the deck. His chest jiggled with a muffled laugh. “I told you not to underestimate me.”
CHAPTER 5
A silvery glow spread from the moon, brightening the sky for miles. It revealed what Dylan assumed were storm clouds gathering in the distance. Another flicker of lightning lit the northwest portion of the horizon with each branching bolt. But just as anything else in nature, the spectacular show was brief. It disappeared a second later, giving way to a rumble of thunder.
He moved his eyes back to Layne, waiting to see if his friend would acknowledge him, but Layne’s eyes were on the torch. The flame had returned to normal, yet the hardness on his face remained.
If it weren’t for the curiosity plucking his mind, Dylan would criticize him for keeping secrets, again. Layne should have learned his lesson on honesty after hiding his involvement in Heaven’s acceptance into the art program, and more importantly, kissing her. Unlike those instances, this secret did more than involve her. It would determine her safety, as well as their child’s. Yet Layne kept it a secret.
The thought alone had Dylan’s blood boiling. He needed answers from his friend because another betrayal by Layne would be more than a strike against him. It would be perfect grounds for an ass kicking, one he was dying to give him.
“There’s a storm coming in, so we don’t have time to discuss this in depth. Be sure we will some other time. Right now, I need to know when this started?”
The tension between them doubled as Layne avoided his gaze. His profile revealed a smirk on his face, one Dylan fought hard not to remove. “Have you forgotten what happened to the curtains?”
No.
“Kinda like baring your soul?”
Dylan nodded, wondering if Layne had a general interest in how the dreams worked, or if he developed a deeper connection with Heaven in the last one. The thought made his shoulders tense.
“She and I have been sharing dreams off and on since childhood. So you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to share that with you. I share enough as it is.”
The moment of serenity faded. Layne’s brows reformed the scowl he’d worn earlier. “What happened to us working through things? I told you that I’m not interested in your wife. I’m here because of my duty.”
“That’s only part of the reason.” A few strides brought Dylan to the steps where Layne stood facing him. “I’ve known you all of my life. I’ve seen the way you are with women. I knew the ones that grabbed your attention and the ones that didn’t.”
“What does that have to do with Heaven? I’ve never treated her like any of those girls.”
“I know. That’s how I know you… care about her. You’re different when you’re around her.”
They stood in silence as Layne twisted the drawstring on his sweats. Each passing second built the tension in the air, tension that had Dylan’s skin crawling. Things hadn’t been this awkward since the day Layne found him and Heaven in Jerry’s guest house. He never understood what threw Layne off-kilter that day. Now it all made sense.
Shifting his weight to the other foot, Layne dropped the strings back to his waist. His eyes darted to Dylan as he jabbed his finger in his chest. “I know I made a mistake, one that almost split up you and Heaven. I’m sorry, Dylan. I can’t change what I did any more than you can change the fact that I’m her Keeper. She will always be yours, but I will always care about her. It’s my job.”
It wasn’t the look on his face that had Dylan’s gut twisting, or his taunting words. It was the crackle from the torch behind them. The way the flames began to rise. He studied it a moment before looking back at his friend. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Layne’s eyes rose to the torch, lingering for a second. Then they fell slowly back to the deck. His chest jiggled with a muffled laugh. “I told you not to underestimate me.”
CHAPTER 5
A silvery glow spread from the moon, brightening the sky for miles. It revealed what Dylan assumed were storm clouds gathering in the distance. Another flicker of lightning lit the northwest portion of the horizon with each branching bolt. But just as anything else in nature, the spectacular show was brief. It disappeared a second later, giving way to a rumble of thunder.
He moved his eyes back to Layne, waiting to see if his friend would acknowledge him, but Layne’s eyes were on the torch. The flame had returned to normal, yet the hardness on his face remained.
If it weren’t for the curiosity plucking his mind, Dylan would criticize him for keeping secrets, again. Layne should have learned his lesson on honesty after hiding his involvement in Heaven’s acceptance into the art program, and more importantly, kissing her. Unlike those instances, this secret did more than involve her. It would determine her safety, as well as their child’s. Yet Layne kept it a secret.
The thought alone had Dylan’s blood boiling. He needed answers from his friend because another betrayal by Layne would be more than a strike against him. It would be perfect grounds for an ass kicking, one he was dying to give him.
“There’s a storm coming in, so we don’t have time to discuss this in depth. Be sure we will some other time. Right now, I need to know when this started?”
The tension between them doubled as Layne avoided his gaze. His profile revealed a smirk on his face, one Dylan fought hard not to remove. “Have you forgotten what happened to the curtains?”
No.
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