Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“I hope so,” Christi said somberly, reaching out to grab my leg. “I really, really hope so.”
“It’s okay either way,” I tried to reassure her. “I’m really happy for you sis. I’m glad you and Jake are together.”
Christi’s eyes misted again, and we went back to watching the movie, but I caught her sneaking glances at me out of the corner of my eye as the lovers drew closer to their inevitable happily ever after. She didn’t believe I wasn’t in love with Dominic, but that was because she was a romantic. She believed in things like love at first sight. I was the practical one. The one who analyzed the numbers and told you whether it could be love or not.
She and Jake could be love.
Dominic and I…that was something else. Maybe that something else wasn’t my first choice, but if it was the only way I could have him, it was the only choice for me.
Christi and I got to Thanksgiving right at four. Dominic met us at the door, and all the air wooshed out of my lungs. I’d never seen him dressed so casually, but it didn’t do a thing to soften his edge. Even out of his usual three-piece suit and wearing jeans and a sweater, he radiated command and authority.
His sister had a similar vibe. I’d met Marjorie once when I was dating Jake, and she’d struck me as intimidating then. Even now, three years older and no longer looking for the approval of my boyfriend’s mom, I still found her to be that way. She had her brother’s presence. I wondered how Jake had turned out so approachable and decided his dad must have been the softening influence.
Still, she was nice to me and, more importantly, she was kind to Christi. My sister was almost never nervous, but I knew she was now. It was the subtle tremor in her voice when she answered a question about her pregnancy, and it was the way her lower lip dimpled because she was biting the inside of it. I made sure to stick close to her, so focused on her that I almost wasn’t overwhelmed by Dominic.
Almost.
“Selena, come help me pick out the wine,” he said after we’d been there nearly an hour and I’d barely left Christi’s side.
After making sure Jake was nearby, I followed him down to a small basement. My heart was beating fast with anticipation. This was it. I was going to find out what he’d decided.
But once down there, Dominic went straight to the back where an entire wall had been converted to a wine rack. He pulled out one bottle and frowned. “What do you think?”
“Oh, you were serious,” I said in surprise. I reached for the bottle, but before I could, Dominic jammed it back into its slot and yanked me toward him.
“No,” he said dryly, looking down at me. “I don’t give a fuck what wine we drink. I brought you down here because I didn’t want to kiss you in front of our damn sisters.”
“Oh,” I said again, breathlessly. “I’m glad because I don’t know anything about wine.”
“Neither do I. It doesn’t matter. Whatever we pick, Marjorie will switch it out for what she wants.” Dominic slid his hand up to cup my face.
“Does this mean…”
He kissed me before I could finish my sentence. “I told you on Monday I’d decided.”
I sank helplessly into the kiss, but I wouldn’t let myself drown in it. Not until I knew for sure. “I know, but did you really think it through?” I asked, breaking this kiss and pushing a hand against his chest. I couldn’t spend another day on the fence. Either we fell together, or he had to help me find another job.
Dominic pulled me back to him, impatient. “Yes, I thought it through. I did the risk calculation. I ran the numbers. I did all the shit. I want you. I’ll give you what I can. If it’s not enough, tell me to go to hell, and I will.”
“No hard feelings when it ends,” I added, wanting so badly just to give in and kiss him that it was tearing me apart. “Not on either side.”
“I’ll wish you well and kill the next man who tries to touch you,” he agreed.
I laughed, but it quickly turned into a moan as he covered my mouth with his. My hands slipped up to his shoulders and I held on as my knees went weak and heat pooled between my legs. If just kissing Dominic made me feel like this, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have him as a lover. One of his hands slipped beneath my sweater, nearly spanning the expanse of my back. His other hand was cupped firmly behind my head, tangling in my hair. He was all over me, and yet it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel every inch of him, to feel every inch of myself against him.