Page 3 of Rogue’s Path (Sweet Chaos #1)

Dylan

“You should come stay here,” Dahlia says as I step into her brownstone as she describes it.

If it was in a book of mine, I’d call it a mansion. The inside isn’t stuffy at all. It’s light, bright, and comfortable. But in that spotless way of couples that don’t have kids yet.

Her white couches will probably disappear the moment she has a toddler.

Like I want to intrude on the newlyweds. “The bed in my hotel is amazing. I picked one of the Kentworth Hotels.”

“Maybe I should come stay with you. Maverick ordered us all new mattresses after I raved about those.”

Like your hubby would be happy with you leaving him, even for a night. I follow her into the kitchen. “Yum. What is that?”

“Pad Thai with spring rolls and steamed dumplings.”

Wow! “Tell me you ordered all that, so I don’t need to hate you.” It’s not that I can’t cook. But that is way past my skill level.

“I ordered the dumplings and spring rolls. Pad Thai isn’t too hard when you have a built-in wok.

Whoever designed this place was very thorough.

” Dahlia takes a seat across from me at the bar.

“We need to go over these plans. I made an initial list for wild dares.” She slides a cute floral notepad over to me and then puts a spring roll on her plate.

The list is even more interesting than the food, which is only slightly surprising since I’m starving.

Practice Bar Crawl Dares

1. Buy a round of shots for the bar

Well, that one shouldn’t be too hard.

2.Get a man to give you his phone number.

Yeah, the only problem there will be finding someone with the nerve to ask. We’re all a bunch of introverts.

3.Persuade a stranger to buy you a drink.

4.Dance on the bar.

“We better wear biker shorts under our dresses.” There isn’t any way I want to flash my panties at a bar full of people.

Dahlia’s eyes widen. She didn’t think about that little tidbit. “I’ve got to order a pair.”

5.Take a photo with a strange man.

That should be easy enough for everyone but Dahlia. “What does Maverick think of this one?”

“He doesn’t know. And I probably should keep it that way. He might decide to kill the guy.”

I can’t tell if she’s joking, but I really hope she is.

6.Take a sexy photo in front of a sports car.

“Do you know anyone with a sports car?”

Dahlia shrugs. “I was thinking we’d find one while bar hopping.”

Logical. Though her husband owns a nightclub. It’s probably a law that he owns something sexy and sleek.

7. Sing Karaoke.

That sounds like fun. “Have you found a karaoke bar yet?”

“Three. I’m waiting to hear back if any of them can take a reservation at this late a date.”

8.Ask a stranger for marriage advice.

Oh, what a great dare.

9.Do a group dance.

Sounds like fun. “Do you have a dance picked out?”

“No, I want something easy, but fun.”

10. Tie a cherry stem with your tongue.

That only happens on the television, right?

11.Hug a man with a beard.

Um, now we’re getting into scary territory.

12. Kiss a stranger.

Oh my! “Do you think someone is going to kiss a stranger?”

Dahlia shrugs.

We start giggling.

“What caused that beautiful noise?” A monster of a man walks in. His muscles have muscles, and everything about the man screams run for your life.

Except he’s smiling at Dahlia like the world revolves around her. That has to be her husband, Maverick. If it wasn’t for that semi-terrifying smile, I would have thought she’s gone insane.

“Dylan and I are talking about our plans for the weekend.” She sets down her fork and walks over to him, pushing up on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his lips.

But there’s nothing soft about this man as he pulls her in for a long kiss that ravages her lips.

Definitely glad I kept my hotel room. There’s no way I want to stay around these two for more than a few hours at a time.

Maybe less. Don’t they need to come up for air sometime?

Breathing seems like an essential task. I guess not when you’re kissing a man like that. Or maybe that’s how he kept her dizzy enough to agree to marry a guy who looks more like a killer than an entrepreneur.

Nightclub owners are supposed to be slick in tight suits that are made by designers with funny names from foreign countries. This man looks like he eats a dozen eggs every morning to get large enough to crack skulls.

Though if a man kissed me like that, I’d probably marry him, regardless.

Does Maverick have a brother?

Why do I feel the uncontrollable urge to ask that question? I’m perfectly happy with my life just the way it is… Maybe without the stalker.

Definitely without the stalker.

I should ask in a few author groups what people do about them before I have to go home. This could possibly be all in my head. Something that happens to every author…I hope not.

If they aren’t coming up for air anytime soon, I might as well check now.

A kiss like this is something romance authors dream of recording. It’s too bad I write mysteries. It’s completely wasted on me.

Well, not completely, that’s one steamy kiss.

Dahlia’s poor bun will never be the same again. I doubt she minds in the least.

They probably won’t notice if I call a cab and leave.

That’s what I should do. Instead, I shove a fork into the Pad Thai and start to eat. It’s good. Very good. Dahlia has another talent.

Though she’s probably demonstrating the one Maverick married her for.

Maybe I should have been a romance writer. Unlike Savie, I could write steamy romance. None of my parents would complain. The four of them are so completely civil that if I decided to become a madam, they’d find something to praise me for.

That or they would all turn on me with united disappointment.

That’s more likely. I’d make a terrible madam, anyway.

I’d spend more time talking to the women about independence, self-empowerment, and all that nonsense I’d never find them clients.

Who’d want to find a man that would pay a woman for sex? That’s just gross.

And I’ve officially gone off the deep end. It’s all Maverick and Dahlia’s fault. They’re still kissing. Is this a world record or something? It should be if it isn’t.

Their food is getting cold.

Yeah, they don’t care at all.

Dahlia probably doesn’t have any lipstick left. Another thing she doesn’t care about.

Wow. Dahlia doesn’t care about much right now. I might as well enjoy this meal enough for all of us.

Pathetic. This is totally pathetic.

“Dahlia, your friend doesn’t seem to be enjoying dinner.”

My fork clatters onto the plate. This is going so well.

“My friend?”

And Dahlia forgot I exist. Impressive.

I might like this scary man after all.

Maverick spins her around to face me. “Oh.” A blush steals up her face.

“Does he have a brother?”

Dahlia bursts out laughing, and I join her.

Maverick stares at the two of us like we grew six heads. Which is kind of fair, we are a bit nutty.

“He has a sister named Sweetums, but sadly, no brother. The world could use more men like my husband.”

Sweetums? That’s a weird name. Then again, Dahlia called Maverick Vex at one time. And my name is Dylan.

“Dahl.”

“What? It does.” She taps him on the chest. “Dinner’s ready.”

It’s edging towards cold.

Dahlia sets another plate out for Maverick and eyes the paper next to me. Like the co-conspirator I am, I slide it off the counter and into my pocket. A man who kisses like that won’t find the last couple of items on this list funny.

“Who is your friend?” Maverick takes a seat across from me making the massive bar look small.

“This is Dylan DuPress. I thought I mentioned that she would be visiting this weekend.”

“Dylan? As in Dylan DuPress the author?”

“Dylan DuPress is my pen name. Dylan Oliva is my given.”

“You’re Dylan?”

“Yes, ‘she’ is.” Dahlia winks at me and picks up her fork.

“Did you ask her if I was right yet?” Maverick glances between the two of us in shock.

“No spoilers.” Yet. “Would you like to know?”

“No!” they say in unison.

Cute. Very cute. “Well then, I guess we’ll have to talk about our plans for tomorrow night.”

“Plans?” Maverick reaches for his fork.

Dahlia freezes like a deer stuck in a truck’s headlights for a long second. “So, Dylan and some of my other friends are going to join me for a pre-bachelorette party.”

Pre-bachelorette. I like it.

“I thought we agreed to do a group party together in Vegas.”

She nods. “We did. That’s why this is a pre-party. It’s nothing big. Just some girls and a night out.”

Yeah, that doesn’t look like it’s flying based on the glare he’s giving her.

“That’s fine. I’ll call the guys.”

Dahlia shakes her head. “Pre-parties are girls only.”

That’s a new rule, but since I’m pretty sure they didn’t exist before now, she’s free to make up any rules she likes.

“And what are you doing at this pre-party that I can’t attend?”

Uh oh! That voice is terrifying.

Dahlia doesn’t seem at all phased. “We’re going bar hopping.”

Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh at the big man whose head is about to explode. I didn’t know veins could get that large.

Can a man die from shock or frustration? That’s a good question. One we're about to see answered. Maybe I could use it in a book.

“You think you’re going bar hopping alone?”

She nods her head with a grin.

Don’t you know, never to wave a red flag in front of a bull. And that’s a red flag if I ever saw one.

“There will be a big group of us.”

Maverick does fish face well.

“You should try a steamed dumpling.” She holds one up to his lips. “They’re very good.”

Never again will I believe Dahlia is afraid of anything.

“Dahl.”

“Taste. It’s good, I promise.”

Oh, this is good. No doubt about it. Why don’t I have a notepad?

“Dahl.” He opens his mouth and lets her put the bite in his mouth.

Can he even taste it? Probably not. Time to distract. “What should we wear?”

“I was thinking we could go tomorrow morning and pick out our outfits. I got the others that could come plane tickets. Most of them arrive around noon. We could have brunch and then head out.”

He swallows the bite. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. I’ll be safe surrounded by ten or fifteen of my closest friends.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Ruh roh. A battle of wills is about to play out in front of me, and I don’t have any popcorn.

“No, you’re not. This is a girls-only event and you aren’t invited.

But I think it’s a good idea for you to call the guys up.

You can arrange a poker game. I’ll get snacks ready for you before we go.

I’m sure Max would love an invitation. Why don’t I call him now and see if he has plans? ” Dahlia picks up her phone.

“Dahl.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure if he’s in town, he will come. We should invite Imogene. She’d have fun.”

“Imogene isn’t available.”

Huh? Who are all these people? It’s like the two of them are having a secret conversation that I’m not part of. But watching their drama is better than thinking about my own.