Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“You can be on my team,” Cole offers.
I can’t believe he’s only fifteen. As I look at him, I can’t help but think that if Dom and I had stayed together, we would probably have a kid around Cole’s age. I pull my hand from Dom’s and lace my fingers together in front of me. “You don’t want me on your team. I have two left feet.”
Cole just shrugs. “That’s okay, we can still take on Dom. He’s old.”
“Old?” Dom exclaims. “I’ll show you old.”
He reaches for Cole and pulls him in for a big bear hug. I watch them laugh and play with each other, and Cat comes over to stand next me. “I’m glad you’re back.”
I clear my throat to hide the emotion. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been in town.”
She opens her mouth to say something but closes it quickly. After a few seconds goes by, she asks. “Are you going to the fundraiser this weekend?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m going with Dom.”
Her eyebrows lift in surprise, and I feel I need to explain. “It’s no big deal. He asked me to be his fake date.”
“Fake date?”
I cringe, looking toward Dom, hoping he can explain, but he’s showing Cole something under a car. “Uh, yeah, I guess he needs saving from some of the women in town—”
She bursts out a laugh. “Men can be so dense sometimes. You know he’s only using that as an excuse, right?”
I avoid looking at Dom because I can feel his eyes on me. “I dunno. The stories he told me—”
She turns to me. “He’s different since you’ve been home. Happier.”
Finally, I meet Dom’s gaze, and he’s searching my face. I know that look, and it’s the one he’s given me since I got back home. He’s worried about me. Worried that I’m going to be hurt, upset, or that I’m uncomfortable. How did I miss it all those years ago that Dom makes caring for me his number one priority? He mouths the words You okay?
I nod and then turn to his sister-in-law. “Yeah, I’m different since I’ve been home, too.”
She searches my face, trying to decipher my meaning, and I don’t hide anything from her. I have no doubt that she can see the truth in my eyes. I’ve felt it since the day my car broke down and I saw Dom again after all these years. After everything, the years, the pain, the distance… I still love Dominic Evans… and I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.
She finally smiles and nods. “I think you and I are going to get along great, Luciana Raven.”
She continues to invite me to girls’ night with her and King’s wife, and then we talk about the upcoming fundraiser. When she and Cole leave, I walk back into the office and sit down while Dom helps Jake in the garage on something. I haven’t gotten any work done today, but I feel more accomplished than I have in a long time.
My phone rings, and I see it’s Ray calling. I decline the phone call and toss my phone onto the desk. I’m lost in thought when Dom comes into the office. He doesn’t even try to hide his excitement. “So you’re staying in town… you accepted the job offer?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s a really good offer, and I think I’ll like working for Walker. I’ll feel like I’m making a difference.” I scrunch my nose up. “That sounds corny, doesn’t it?”
“No, it doesn’t sound corny at all. I understand exactly what you mean. I mean, I just work on cars, but when I’m able to help someone that needs it, I feel the same way too.”
I turn in my seat. “Dom, I’ve only been back a short time, but I’ve already seen that you make a difference here. You should feel good about that.”
He shrugs, blowing off my comment. “So you’re staying? Are you going to stay with your mom, find an apartment, buy—”
I laugh as he rambles on. “Hold on. I’ll probably have to wait and see what happens with Ray and getting any money out of the business. Until then, I’ll just stay with Mom.”
I can’t stop the grimace. Mom hasn’t said anything else about Dom and the time I’m spending with him. I told her about the job this morning, and she was impressed that Walker hired me. I’ve felt like she’s always wanted me to find a life outside this small town, but I think she’s starting to come around.
Dom comes toward me and puts his hand on my arm. He’s doing that more and more lately, touching me every chance he gets, and I find myself comforted by it. “So his name is Ray. Tell me how to find him, Lucy, and I’ll get your money.”