“So.” I dip my fry in the little ramekin of ketchup. “How, um, do you see this going?”
We’ve moved to the couch in the living room part of Dom’s suite to eat room service burgers while the TV quietly plays a sitcom I’m not familiar with.
“Well.” Dom leans back, his plate balanced on his lap. “Figure the easiest way is for me to change my flight so I’m heading home with you. And since I remember you telling me that you drive a little Honda, we’ll get an SUV or truck or whatever you need to fit your stuff and then drive down to Chicago.”
I watch him while I take a sip of my root beer. “You make it sound so easy.”
He smirks. “It is easy.”
“What about my apartment?”
Dom lifts a shoulder. “What about it? You rent, right?”
My nod is slow as I think about it.
It’s currently the second week of November; my lease runs out at the end of the year, and I have until the end of next week to let them know if I’m renewing my lease or leaving. So it really isn’t that big of a deal to pay for December, even if I’m not living there.
Dom misunderstands my silence. “I can buy out the remainder of your lease.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. I only have it until the end of the year. It’s…” I lean forward and set my plate on the coffee table so I can turn to face the handsome-as-fuck man next to me.
After our consummation, Dom took a shower, and I dressed in leggings and a sweater from my luggage, which Dom somehow arranged to be delivered.
But even after sleeping all day, I’m still exhausted, and I’m having a hard time believing this is real.
“Shorty, what’s worrying that brain of yours?” Dom puts the last bite of burger into his mouth, then places his plate on the coffee table next to mine.
Loyalty and trust.
“It was hard to find an apartment I liked in Minneapolis. And if things don’t work out and I have to move back, I won’t have anywhere to go.”
Dominic turns to face me, bending his leg onto the couch until his knee touches mine.
He takes his time before he answers. “Valentine, I enjoy being around you. I enjoy talking to you. And being in close proximity isn’t going to change that.” He reaches out to grip my thigh. “But if a time comes that we aren’t able to make things work, I won’t ever leave you to fend for yourself. This is a partnership, and whether you love me or hate me, I’ll always protect you.”
My lungs catch on the word love, and I can hardly breathe.
I’ll always protect you.
I place my hand over his.
Protect might be a weird thing to say, but King uses that word all the time when he’s talking about family. So maybe it’s just an alpha-male thing.
Only, when King offers me protection, it’s out of familial obligation. This… This is different.
“I can’t imagine ever hating you,” I admit.
Dom tightens his hold on my leg. “Good.”
I roll my eyes. And then it hits me. Protection. Guess we’re having this talk now. “Okay, so, there are two things about this plan of yours.”
Dom raises his brows. “Only two?”
“Well, two to start with.” I take a deep breath. “One, there’s going to be a man waiting for me at the airport.”
Dom leans toward me. “Excuse me?”
I press a hand to his chest, the soft T-shirt a contrast to what I normally see him in. “Hold your horses. It’s not a man like that. He’s a driver. Kind of a bodyguard.”
“You have a bodyguard,” he repeats.
“Yeah, so…” I groan and tip my head back. “My half—my brother is kind of a big deal. Like he’s super rich. And he’s overprotective to a fault, which has recently extended to me. So now I have a guy named Bo driving me everywhere. I don’t even remember the last time I started my car.”
“What’s Bo’s last name?”
Dom’s question has me tipping my head back up to look at him. “I… I don’t actually know.”
“I’ll find out,” he states like there’s nothing off about me having a bodyguard. “And that might actually work out. You can get a ride home with him and start packing while I find a good car to rent.”
I slowly nod.
That’s actually a brilliant idea. Because there’s no way Bo will just step aside if I tell him I have a new husband to drive me home. And if Dom tried to ride with us, Bo would definitely call King, and I’d rather control the when and how of that conversation.
“What’s number two?”
“Two?” Then I remember. “Well, it’s my brother.”
“The rich one?”
“Yeah.” I blow out a breath. “So, he knows that I’ve been talking to someone. It was his wife who saw our texts that one time. They’ve been a little relentless in asking about you. But I didn’t want to tell them your name until things got, well, more serious.” I hold up my hand, the big diamond sparkling between us. “But now I think we’re there.”
Dom lifts his left hand, clicking his ring against mine. “I think you’re right.”
“It’s just that he’s a little unpredictable sometimes, and I think it would be better to break the news in person. If I call or text him, he’s just gonna flip and demand to meet you anyway.”
Dom nods. “My family would be the same way. How about we stop over there after we pack up your apartment? Get it all done in one go.”
I bite my lip. “So we’re doing this?”
Dominic hooks one of his hands around the back of my neck, pulling me in and pressing his lips to mine. “We’re doing this.” Then he releases me and grabs his phone off the coffee table. “I’m gonna change my ticket. And you can email your work to tell them you need to change your address on file.”
My eyes widen. “I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“Work?” He looks up at me.
I smile. “Our main office is in Chicago. I’ll still work from home. Er, remotely,” I correct, wondering if it’s weird to call Dom’s place home when I haven’t even seen it. “But I can go into the office for meetings and stuff. And the girl whose bachelorette party I came here for is based there, and she’s cool, so it’d be fun to see her.”
“Downtown driving can be a lot, so just let me know when you want to go to the office, and I’ll have someone take you.”
“Okay!” Excitement fills me as I reach for my phone to email my boss, too giddy to think twice about Dom getting me a driver.
We’re really doing this.
