What Makes a Man? (Sensible Hearts #1)

by H. Q. Frost

  "My mom's remarrying. In a month." She quietly chuckled to keep from crying.

  "Oh. Shit." He sat next to her and placed his hand on her back.

  "I never expected my parents to get back together, but they haven't even been divorced a year." Her sad smile made him pull her to his chest, losing his fingers in her hair in a way that strangely gave him comfort.

  "He wants to be with her still?"

  "No." Her head lay in the crook of his neck. "I don't think so. But it's insulting. Either that means her affair was going on longer than she admitted to, or she hasn't loved my dad for longer than she admitted to. I don't know. It's just humiliating for him."

  "Did he say this?"

  "No. He hasn't said anything."

  "Does he know?"

  "I told him, but he didn't say much except 'huh'." She chuckled and rolled her eyes.

  "Maybe he doesn't care."

  "Well, I don't want a step-father. I don't want my mom to remarry. Not right now."

  "Why?"

  "Do you want your mom to remarry?" She lifted her head to make eye contact.

  "I never thought about it." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be the same as your mom remarrying. After my dad, my mom was single for a long time then met Larry, and then it was pretty much the same thing as before. Except this time she didn't let him too close. They never lived together and she was only with him a few days a week. I feel like shit even saying this, but I think my mom is addicted to an abusive relationship, if that's possible. So no, I don't want her to remarry, and I hope she stays single for the rest of her life."

  "Or she finds a good man that can show her real love." Her arms wrapped around him and she dropped back to her bed.

  "Like you do me." He kissed her chin.

  "And you do me. I've only had one other serious boyfriend and we were both young. He didn't really know what he wanted in life. He hadn't experienced even a taste of the real world like you have. He was really immature and I was stupid for two whole years until I realized he'd never make me happy."

  "Was he the father?" His hand slid up her shirt and his fingertips found the caesarian scar.

  "Yeah." She looked away.

  "Does your dad know?"

  "Yeah." She snorted. "I was huge at nine months. I hid it from him for as long as I could, but when he found out, it wasn't good. And then my ex broke up with me—"

  "He broke up with you?"

  "He didn't want a girl that had had a child."

  "You planned on keeping the baby?"

  "No. Never. I knew I'd have to give him up the minute I found out I was pregnant. I wasn't ready to have a child. But my ex didn't want a girl that had even carried a child."

  "What?" His brows scrunched in confusion. "He got you pregnant then bailed because of it?"

  "Pretty much. He said if I had an abortion, he'd consider staying with me."

  His muscles tensed under her grasp and he fought springing from the bed, but he couldn't stop the snarl when he asked, "Who is this fuck?"

  "Shh." Her hand covered his mouth. "He was immature and it was a relief he broke up with me because I was scared to leave him. We'd been together since I was seventeen. I didn't really know what else was out there and I'm glad he dumped me so I could experience college and meet people I actually liked; not just people I considered my friends because they were his."

  Taking a minute to digest her words and calm down from the anger her ex put in him, he pushed his nose to her cheek and closed his eyes.

  "Do you want to be a mother?" he asked.

  "One day." Turning her head, her lips met his. "You want kids?"

  "I never thought about it."

  "Well what's the first answer that pops into your head right now?"

  "With you."

  "Let's practice." She giggled and rolled on top of him.

  ***

  "Dom, zip me," she urged running toward him. "We're going to be late!"

  "We're not going to be late." He kissed the back of her neck before zipping the deep blue dress.

  "I can't show up late to my mom's wedding. It's bullshit, but that would be so rude of me."

  "You won't be late," he told her again and watched her run for the bathroom.

  Pushing his hands into his pockets, he leaned against the wall, not looking forward to the evening. He'd only met her mom the one time at the precinct, and when Nyla got the invitation, it was to Nyla and Guest.

  "Wasting a good suit for this wedding," Maleek said, after walking through the front door. Dom chuckled. "She still a mess about her package being stolen from the porch?" he asked about Nyla's online order that was stolen after delivery.

  "No, I filed a claim with the shipping company. And I kind of tried questioning the neighbor across the street, but he wasn't talking."

  "He's a bastard." Maleek set his six-pack on the kitchen table then nodded toward her bedroom. "She still a mess about this wedding?"

  "I can hear you!" Nyla called from the bathroom and Dom smirked.

  "I don't envy you. Her mother's something else. Maybe the witch will leave her broom at home," Maleek whispered, heading for his bedroom.

  "Ready?" Nyla asked rounding the corner. "Dad! I'm leaving."

  "Drive careful, Dom," he called out and Nyla rolled her eyes.

  "I made you dinner. It's in the fridge!"

  "I'll eat it," he called back.

  Noticing Nyla seemed upset that he wouldn't face her, Dom took her hand. "Let's go before we're late. Bye, Mr. Wood!"

  "Don't drink and drive!"

  "He's such a baby," Nyla snapped as they stepped outside.

  "Hold still, babe, you're twisted," Dom said, fixing the back of her dress. "You look hot," he whispered before licking the back of her ear. Glancing over toward Austin's house, he saw a moving van in the driveway. "Did someone buy it?"

  "I don't know," she mumbled watching the house. "I haven't seen anyone. I don't even know if Austin moved out."

  Clearing his throat after hearing that name, he pulled open the door for her. She quickly kissed him and when he got in, he tugged her to the middle. As they pulled away, Nyla glanced at the house and saw four younger men exiting and she huffed.

  "There any houses for rent on your street?" She glanced at him.

  "No. Why?"

  "I'd feel better living closer to you. I'm pretty sure the people that are in Larry's house are squatting. I never see them during the day and have only seen them a few times in the night and there's only ever a basement light on. Like a lamp, not even a regular light. Now, God knows what's moving in on the other side."

  Looking over at her, he wondered if she would wait it out for him. "Only nine months, babe." He placed a kiss on her hand and she huffed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

  The hall they approached screamed money and Dom shied back, not sure what to expect. He was dressed appropriately, but he'd never been to an actual event that required him to be that put together in a three-piece suit.

  "I should have cut my hair." His fingers pushed his hair out of his face.

  "I like your hair." Swatting his hand down, she kissed his cheek and intertwined their fingers before glancing toward his palm. "Are you sweating?"

  "I don't fit in in places like this," he urged, as his nerves had his upper lip sweating.

  "Dom, you fit in anywhere. You're sexy as hell in this suit. You're clean shaven. You're my good book." She grinned up at him dotingly.

  "Should I take out my lip rings?"

  "Stop!" She laughed. "This is who you are. Be you. I love you. Be your usual charming self and my mom won't find a reason to nitpick you. And if she does, fuck her."

  Laughing, Dom pulled open the door and placed his hand on her hip while they entered the packed hall.

  "Who the hell did she marry?"

  "I've never even met the guy," Nyla whispered. "But he's got money, and with money comes fake friends." Her eyes scanned the crowded room.

  As they approached the bride
who was decked out in a white gown as if it were her first marriage, Nyla quietly groaned.

  "Mom." She faked a smile and approached her for a hug.

  "Nyla," her mom squealed in excitement and flaunted her ring.

  "Beautiful." Nyla's eyes flitted to the man standing nearby.

  "Adam, this is my daughter, Nyla."

  "Nyla." He smiled and moved in for a hug that Nyla went stiff for.

  "Mom, you remember my boyfriend, Dom." She tugged him forward.

  "Yes. Hi!" The genuine happiness on her mother's face pissed Nyla off. "Adam, this is Dom. Him and Nyla have been going together, for what? How long has it been?"

  "Almost six months." Nyla's scrunched nose and squinted eyes gave away her fake smile and her mother's smile fell.

  Dom and Adam shook hands, not noticing the animosity between the women until Dom looked into Nyla's face.

  "And how long have you and Adam been going together?"

  Dom grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  "I've known Adam for about three years. And we became official soon after me and your dad split."

  "Funny we never met." Her fake smile stayed plastered as she looked at Adam. "I've been her daughter for twenty-one years. I'm a little embarrassed I haven't met you until your wedding day. Is this who you had the affair with?"

  "Nyla." Dom tugged her to his side and quickly kissed her bare shoulder before whispering, "Don't make your mom cry."

  "I'm going to get a glass of wine." Adam walked away while Nyla and her mother glowered eye to eye.

  "Dom, will you get me a glass too, please?" Nyla asked.

  Looking at her mother, Dom quietly sighed before walking away.

  "Don't you dare ruin my wedding," her mother quietly seethed.

  "I've been trying to call you for three weeks to meet Adam before you married the guy. I can't believe you did this to me. Is it because I moved away with dad that you don't even consider me your daughter anymore?"

  "You are my daughter. You always will be. You've been busy in your relationship with Dom, and I've been busy with mine."

  "I'm never too busy to make time to see you, Mom. You have no idea what's even happened in my life this summer. You don't even call to ask. And when I call you, I get voicemail and the return call doesn't come for a week and it's always a blow off."

  She stepped closer to quietly counter, "I never blow you off!"

  "Why haven't I met Adam before now, Mom?"

  "Because…"

  "Because what?"

  "Because you're not going to approve of any man but your father, and that ship has sailed. You need to get over it."

  "Or you do. I am over it. And if you didn't try to make his life a living hell I wouldn't have had to leave Seattle to make sure he didn't drink himself to death."

  "Don't make excuses. You went because you sided with him. Our marriage would've failed no matter what I did, Nyla. Your dad wasn't willing to try and I wasn't willing to live a lie anymore. He drank because of guilt, not because I filed for divorce."

  "You were just as guilty as he was," Nyla snarled.

  Dom approached with a glass of wine and got Nyla's attention by pulling her against him.

  "Let's dance." He smiled and pressed his lips to hers, enticing her to follow him even though he wasn't sure what he'd do once they got there. But he needed something to distract her from ruining her mother's hundred-thousand-dollar wedding.

  Setting the wine glass on a nearby table, she grinned and draped her arms over his shoulders. "Do you even dance?"

  "No. Expect to fall." He spun her before pulling her against him.

  "Dom." She laughed as his hands guided her hips to wiggle with his.

  "We're doing good, La." He chuckled and kissed her jaw.

  "I'm not sure what this even is!" She laughed harder when he turned her around so her back was against him.

  "A bad idea because now I'm hard," he whispered in her ear, making her laugh a little louder and discreetly grind against him. "You're beautiful, babe." He kissed her shoulder and spun her so they were face to face. "I may never be able to give you a wedding like this, but you'll be just as beautiful dancing at Surf Burgers as you are in a hall like this."

  "Surf Burgers?" She laughed.

  "A guy I work with got married there. No joke."

  "Shut up!" Her head rested on his shoulder while she laughed and continued to sway off beat with him.

  "I'm not playing. It was a real wedding. She was decked out in a huge frilly dress thing and they had people stand up and shit. I had to work that shift. It was the funniest shit I've ever seen."

  "That's our wedding, huh?" She grinned looking into his eyes.

  His eyes moved from her addictive smile spreading her soft lips, to her soothing stare that always made him feel a sense of home he never had. "I'll give you the wedding you want. Something like this might take ten or more years to save up for, but whatever you want."

  "Is that a proposal?"

  "It's a promise." His lips went to hers for a soft kiss that didn't lack a tease of tongue before he dipped her and sent her into a fit of giggles.

  After the out of step dance, they headed off the dance floor and were approached by her mother's new husband.

  "Your mother and I would like you to join us at our table for dinner." He kept a positive smile but worried his new stepdaughter would ruin his wedding.

  Dom looked at Nyla who replied, "Oh."

  "Is that a yes?" Adam managed a laugh but was losing patience with her.

  "Yeah. Where?" She glanced around for her mom.

  "Front table." He pointed.

  "Okay. We'll be there." She gave him a dismissing smile and he glanced at Dom before walking away.

  "La," he whispered as his arm went around her back. "Maybe he's her good book. Doesn't your mom deserve a good book too?" His hand slid to her hip as he escorted her to the table.

  She took a deep breath and stood taller before responding, "Yes," and approached the table with a believable smile.

  Nyla killed the animosity toward her mother and they pleasantly made it through dinner.

  "How'd you two meet, Dom?" Adam asked him.

  "Nyla moved in next door to my mom's boyfriend."

  "That's nice." Her mother smiled. "Are you enrolled in classes, Dominic?"

  "No—"

  "No, Mom, Dom maintains two jobs. He works his ass off so we can get our own place soon."

  "What do you do, Dom?" Adam smiled, trying to keep the conversation light.

  With a brief but sure nod and managing his own pleasant smile, he replied, "Construction."

  Still maintaining his smile, Adam commended, "Good with your hands."

  All the smiles were fake but necessary as they were the center of attention, displayed at the front of the room.

  "And where did you grow up?" her mom asked the question that made Nyla's smile fall.

  "Where I live now, Mom." She softly huffed and Dom placed his hand on her thigh.

  "Very good. How old are you?"

  "Jesus, Mom, why are you quizzing my boyfriend? What's with the twenty questions? He's my age. He grew up where we live. He enjoys baseball as a hobby but is more focused on our future and works tirelessly to ensure that."

  "Nyla, we just want to get to know your boyfriend."

  "La, it's okay." Dom softly rubbed her leg and apologetically smiled over at her mom.

  "No it's not. If she really wanted to get to know you, she could make an effort to get together with us."

  "Nyla, please," her mother begged and glanced around.

  "I think we should go." Dom stood and both Nyla and her mom looked up at him in surprise.

  "I think that'd be best." Adam stood at his side and both women's mouths popped open.

  "Adam," her mother quietly said.

  "Congrats." Dom shook Adam's hand.

  "Dom." Nyla stood and grabbed his arm, not planning on leaving.

  "We're leaving," he
told her with finality.

  "Thank you, Dom. Nice to meet you," said Adam.

  "You too, Sir." He turned to her mother. "Congrats."

  "Thank you," she mumbled, too dumbfounded to manage anything else and watched as he took Nyla's hand and escorted her out of the building.

  "Dom! I didn't want to leave."

  "You never give up," he mumbled, opening the truck door for her and making sure she was in before slamming it closed.

  "I can't believe you made me leave my mom's wedding!" The shock and attitude across her face made him shake his head as he got in.

  "You were going to ruin it before the night ended. I don't want to be around for that shit. You want to go back in and get a cab home?"

  "Dom!"

  "Stop acting like a brat, Nyla."

  The truck engine rumbled to life and in a jerky movement, Nyla shifted so her back was partially to him. When they pulled into Surf Burgers, he walked around and opened her door but she didn't budge.

  "That duck was gross. I hid it in my napkin so I'm hungry, and you're not sitting in the truck by yourself. Unbuckle and get your ass moving."

  Her head whipped to look the opposite way but she hadn't eaten what was on her plate at her mother's lavish wedding either.

  "I'll buy you an extra-large fries."

  "I'm only coming in for the fries," she mumbled unbuckling, and he quietly chuckled.

  "Keep up the pouting and you only get a small." He grabbed her ass making her jump and hit his chest.

  "Dom!" A girl behind the counter squealed with a jump and Nyla glanced from Dom to the jumping bean.

  "Hey." He chuckled.

  "When do you work next? Oh! Is this your girlfriend? Why are you dressed like that? You look good. You look pretty too." She shot Nyla a smile before continuing with her rant. "I miss working with you. You're coming back to my shift in like, a week, aren't you?"

  "Deidra, this is Nyla. Deidra isn't allowed to work drive-thru because she never shuts up." He hit her with a charming smile that made color seep into her cheeks.

  "Shut up, Dom!" She giggled. "Oh, are you guys eating here? Seriously, why are you dressed like that?"

  "We're eating here and we were at a wedding."

  "Oh! Who got married?"

  "Damn, girl, shut up!" another female blurted as she walked up behind the register. "Hey, Dom." She grinned at him and he smirked.