Loving You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 2) by Leeanna Morgan Page B

busy over the next few days.”
    “Sunday morning. Seven o’clock sharp. I can pick you up from your place.”
    “I don’t…”
    “A bet is a bet.”
    “But my bike…”
    “Your bike will be fine. I’ll choose a trail that’s friendly to girly bikes.”
    Annie’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean by girly?”
    “Your bike is peppermint green with a basket on the front. It’s not built for real dirt trails.”
    “Just because my bike’s pretty, it doesn’t mean it isn’t tough. I’ve ridden for miles on my bike. She’s never let me down once.”
    “She?”
    “Yes, she. I’m not likely to ride a ‘he’.” Heat scorched her cheeks when she realized what she’d said.
    Dylan groaned. “Are you trying to kill me with images I’d rather not see?”
    “I’m going to zip my lips together before I get into more trouble.”
    “Wise move.”
    Annie thought so, too. Especially given the heat spiking between the two of them. She’d have to be in a coma not to feel the nerve tingling attraction between them, but she wasn’t worried. As long as Dylan had his touching issues she was safe. She could hold his hand, get him used to hugging people, then leave him to sort the rest out. Given his wicked sense of humor and ability to flirt with anyone, she was sure ‘the rest’ wouldn’t take long to conquer.
    “Have you got your bowling schedule for the competition on Saturday?”
    Annie frowned. “My first game is at ten o’clock.”
    “Would you mind if I missed that game and caught up with you for the next one? I could find a running track and get my training in at the same time.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “The tournament. I told Brad I’d be there.”
    Dylan looked so sincere that Annie almost believed him. Until she saw the twinkle in his eyes. “You are not coming to Great Falls. You’ll distract me.”
    “Too late. I told Brad I’d be there.”
    “Brad has a short-term memory. You can’t come. You need to spend this weekend training for the Ironman competition.”
    “Maybe, but what’s Brad going to think if I don’t turn up?”
    Annie threw her hands in the air. “I don’t care what he thinks.”
    “Your dating cover will be blown. He’ll think he’s got a chance.”
    Annie’s hands fell to the top of the table. Her life had suddenly got complicated and there wasn’t a lot she could do about it. “I’ll tell him the truth. You’re training for the Ironman competition. And then I’ll gush about how wonderful you are, tell him you’re the most amazing man in the world and that I couldn’t imagine my life without you.”
    The smile in Dylan’s eyes disappeared. He looked serious. And sad.
    She bit her bottom lip. “Did I say something wrong?”
    He shook his head. “No. You’re right. I don’t need to go to Great Falls and you don’t need to lie about our relationship. He’ll get the general idea after seeing me tonight.”
    Annie nodded. She was still trying to work out what she’d said wrong. She glanced at the lane closest to them and watched two couples laughing with each other as they took turns to bowl.
    Then she saw what she’d missed. She hadn’t said anything wrong. She’d said everything that Dylan thought would make his life right. Annie glanced back at him and wondered what had happened in Afghanistan to shake his confidence so badly.
    She nudged his foot under the table. “It wasn’t all lies.”
    The shuttered look Dylan sent her worried her more than the sad look she’d seen.
    “What do you mean?”
    “You are wonderful…and you were amazing until you told me my bike was girly.”
    “I could always buy you another bike?”
    Annie smiled. “So then you’d be amazing and wonderful?”
    “Something like that.”
    “We’ve got to get you a house or a new color scheme first. What did you decided to do about the big house on Morning Sun Drive?”
    “I’ve bought it.”
    Annie stared at him.
    His mouth curved into a smile. “Lost