by Cora Brent
“I think you do.”
Melanie rolled over and propped herself up on one elbow. She really was ridiculously gorgeous. “Can you help me get this off?”
“Only if you promise an encore at some point.”
“I promise.”
The thing had tight laces and was a bear to unravel. Finally I got it off and laid her down, massaging her ribs.
“We did it,” she said, and she was smiling again.
“Yeah. You ready to do it again?”
Melanie swatted me. “I was talking about the restaurant, jackass. I mean, I know it’s all you and Gio, but the rest of us minions were happy to be a part of it too.”
I cupped her chin in my palm. “You’re not a minion, Mel. You’re a big part of it.”
Her eyes grew soft, and she touched my cheek. “It was perfect. The pizza was a hit, we exceeded our projections by twenty percent, and there was this food critic from Phoenix Dining who promised a great write-up in the next issue.” Suddenly she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged fiercely. “I’m so proud of you, Dom.”
I kissed her and caressed her soft skin. I turned off the lights and covered her with the fluffy down comforter. This had been an epic day, and the best part of it would be falling asleep beside her.
“Is Gio pleased with the results of the opening?” she asked through a yawn.
“Sure, he’s thrilled,” I replied.
“Good.” She snuggled closer. “You guys have worked so hard for this success, and it’s turning out just like you deserve.”
I kissed the top of her head. “It’s turning out perfect.”
Melanie was so tired. I let her fall asleep without saying anything else. It might have troubled her to hear what the guys in the kitchen had said about us, that our secret wasn’t much of a secret in the small world of Esposito’s.
It might have troubled her even more if she found out that Gio had already guessed. And that he wasn’t exactly happy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MELANIE
Tara Esposito was stubborn. When I explained via text that I didn’t know when I’d be able to take a night off, she marched right down to Esposito’s and through my office door.
“Come on, Mel, the restaurant’s been open for over two weeks,” she said huffily as she stood there with her wispy blonde hair coiled on her head in a princess braid. “All you people work too much.”
I laughed. “It’s three o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon, Tara. Where else would I be if not at work?”
“I know,” she grumbled. “But I’m selfish. Gio’s been working crazy hours, and I’m desperate for adult conversation. If I watch one more episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, I swear I’m going to lose it.”
“Yo Gabba what?” I said.
She snorted. “Never mind.”
Tara plunked right down on a nearby chair and rubbed her eyes. She might have chosen another seating option if she knew what had gone on in that chair this morning when Dominic and I were the only ones here, but I certainly wasn’t going to be the one to enlighten her.
“Where’s Leah?” I asked.
“Spending a few minutes, wrapping her uncle around her cherubic little finger.”
“I bet she is.”
Tara was looking around at the bare walls. “You need some pictures in here. Won’t Dominic let you decorate?”
“I haven’t asked.”
“You should,” she said. “Walls might as well have character if you’re going to spend a lot of time looking at them. Dom probably doesn’t agree. Take his condo, for instance. He’s been there for well over a year, and it looks like he just moved in yesterday. He buys pictures, but then sticks them in the hall closet because he can’t be bothered to hang them. Ridiculous. I keep telling Gio I’m going sneak in there one day when they’re both working and transform the place.”
As Tara talked, I was struck by the thought that I hadn’t even seen Dominic’s condo yet. Nights were always spent at my apartment. Every night. Then he always took off early in the morning to go home and get cleaned up before heading to work. We talked a lot about the things we wanted to do together, the places we would go, but we had gotten together somewhat unconventionally, and since we’d been so busy with the restaurant, we hadn’t so much as gone out to dinner together. We hadn’t told anyone at the restaurant about us, not yet, and for now I liked it that way. When we were together, I could pretend there were no complications. No restaurant, no need to justify to anyone why we were together.
Of course I knew things would come to a head sooner or later. I just wanted to have Dominic figured out a little better when they did. The last two weeks had been filled with more sizzling sexual escapades than I’d had in my entire life. And then last night Dominic was especially intense. He’d been in a frenzy, not even taking the time to go to the bedroom before stripping off his clothes and mine. We wrestled to the floor, and then he took me from behind with all the vigor of a wild bull.
And my god, I loved every second.
But it was what happened afterward that really made my heart beat faster. In fact I’d been running it all through my mind today. As we lay on the floor, spent and sweaty, Dominic had rolled over and tenderly brushed my hair from my forehead.
“You tired?” he asked.
“I’m hungry,” I answered.
That did it for him. After carrying me to the couch and covering me with a nearby throw blanket, he pulled on his boxers and headed right for the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later he emerged with a plate of perfectly scrambled eggs, always my dish of choice. My mother used to make scrambled eggs and toast for Lucy and me every Saturday morning as we lounged in the living room, watching cartoons. A simple comfort food that was one of my favorites, yet I never managed to get it quite right when I tried to make it myself. Ever since Dominic had heard that story, he whipped them up for me every chance he got.
“Thank you,” I said, marveling over the way he garnished the plate with cilantro and included a small bottle of hot sauce, exactly how I liked it.
Dominic wore a satisfied smile as he watched me gobble up every bite.
“I love the way you cook,” I told him when I’d polished off the last of the eggs.
He slipped a strong arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “And I love cooking for you.”
I set the empty plate on the coffee table while Dominic grabbed the television remote and started channel surfing.
“It’s late,” I said, cuddling against his chest. “We should go to bed soon.”
“We should,” he agreed and tucked the blanket around me.
I was starting to doze off with my cheek pressed to his warm skin when his voice broke through. “I know that bakery,” he said excitedly. “It’s in Vegas. Best freakin’ Italian pastries this side of New York.”
I blinked and focused on the screen where he was pointing. One of those Food Network baking shows was on, the type where someone walks in and orders an eight-foot-tall cake sculpture of the Empire State Building or something, and then all the bakery staff spend the episode rushing around in a crazed panic to make it happen before some magic deadline.
“We’ll go there sometime,” Dominic said with certainty.
I rubbed my eyes. It had been such a long day, and I was having trouble focusing. “We’ll go where?”
“Las Vegas.”
“You mean just the two of us?”
He threw me an exasperated look. “Of course just the two of us. We don’t require an entourage, do we?” He stroked my hair and started thinking out loud. “It’s a four-hour drive. I’ll spring for a suite at New York-New York, get Cirque du Soleil tickets, and detour through the Grand Canyon on the way back. Should be extra spectacular in the fall.”
I felt a delicious shiver roll through me as he let his fingers sift slowly through my hair. I smiled up at him. “Sounds like you have it all planned out already. But the restaurant has been so insanely busy that I guess Vegas will have to wait.” I
planted a kiss on his chest. “It makes me happy that you want to take me there.”
He tipped my chin up, kissed me softly, and then pulled back with a curiously intense expression on his face. At times like this, when Dominic allowed his feelings to shine through, it made me feel like anything was possible.
“I will take you there, Melanie,” he said seriously. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
I touched his cheek, moved by the sentiment. Considering Espo 2 had a line out the door every night, I knew it was impossible to take off and leave town. Hell, we couldn’t even seem to find time to take an evening off for a normal date. But I loved hearing that Dominic thought about such things. “I believe you,” I told him and then fell asleep in his arms.
“Melanie.” Tara was waving a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Melanie.”
“I’m here.” I blinked. “Were you saying something?”
“Nothing important. I was just complaining about my brother-in-law some more and how he’s never ever at home these days.” She gave me a rather sly sidelong glance.
“Really?” I picked up a stack of papers and started sorting them needlessly. “That’s interesting.”
The door opened, and Dominic appeared with Leah in his arms. Her little fist was clutching a wad of Dominic’s shirt, and she gurgled happily. Dominic was wild about that baby, and it was easy enough to picture him as a father someday. Suddenly I envisioned myself participating in that picture, handing over a small, swaddled figure, then serenely watching as Dominic cradled his own newborn child in those strong arms, gazing down at a tiny face with awe and wonder.
I had no idea ovaries could convulse, but mine surged rather ferociously. It almost hurt. I quickly crossed my legs under the desk and was grateful that my thoughts had stayed in the confines of my own head. Seriously, a moment ago I was mulling over the fact that Dominic and I hadn’t even gone out to dinner, yet now I was fantasizing about bearing his children. There had to be something pathetic about making such a cosmic leap, even if it was just in my own imagination.
“Can I steal Melanie for a few hours?” Tara asked. She reached for the baby, but Dominic didn’t show any sign that he planned to give her up.
Dominic squinted at me, then turned his attention back to Tara. “Did you ask Melanie if she wanted to be stolen?”
“This is for her own good,” Tara argued. “When was the last time Melanie had a night off? Workaholic habits are bad for your health, Dom. You’re something of a lost cause, but allow me to save my friend. After all, I don’t have very many.” She sniffed for theatrical effect.
He raised his eyebrow at his sister-in-law. “Tara, I know damn well you have a veritable ocean of friends.”
“I like this one. Don’t be greedy. You’ve been hogging her.”
“He’s not exactly hogging me,” I said, feeling a little embarrassed. “I do work for him.”
Tara seemed to find that funny. She smiled and then covered her mouth like she was trying to smother a laugh. “Yes,” she agreed. “You do work for him.”
Dominic frowned slightly. “Melanie, Tara’s actually right about one thing. You deserve a night off.”
“Sure,” I said with artificial sweetness. “I’ll take a night off when you do.”
He looked at me, and his mouth twitched.
“I don’t want a night off,” he said easily, and I didn’t think he was talking about work anymore as he stared at me intently. I stared back.
The brief silence was broken when Leah grabbed his nose and let out an ear-piercing squeal like she’d just captured a rare prize.
“Here,” Tara laughed. “Give me my child before she maims you.”
“No chance of that,” Dominic said, and fondly kissed Leah on the cheek before setting her on Tara’s lap.
“My mother already agreed to watch the baby,” Tara said, “and my old sorority sister gave me tickets to an event at the art museum, one of those wine and cheese affairs where everyone stares at some multimillion dollar new acquisition and pretends to find some obscure but highly profound meaning in the vague patterns.”
“I’m stifling a yawn even as I listen to the description,” Dominic said.
Tara stuck her tongue out. “I’m not inviting you, Mr. Personality. What do you say, Melanie?”
“I’d love to,” I told her, “but the new staff is still a little unsteady, and I don’t want to leave them on their own.”
“Hello.” Dominic waved. “I’m here, remember? I’m capable of dealing with the staff.”
“They’re slightly afraid of you,” I said delicately.
He looked shocked. “Who’s afraid of me?”
“I’m not naming names, Dominic, and you know very well that you make some of the servers nervous.”
“Dom, you are kind of frightening, sometimes,” Tara observed. “Remember how Leah cried the first time she met you?”
Dominic glared at his sister-in-law. “She was an hour old. All she did was cry.”
Tara laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time. You know I love you.” She batted her eyelashes. “So give my girl the night off, would you?”
He threw his hands up. “I already did. She won’t leave.”
“That’s right, I guess you did.” She turned to me. “You’re overruled, Melanie. You’re coming out with me.”
I smiled. “All right. I’ll go.” I nodded at Dominic. “You sure you’ve got this covered?”
The question annoyed him. “Yes, I’m sure I can handle being in charge of my own staff in my own restaurant for six hours.” He gestured dismissively. “Melanie, go have a good time. I swear I won’t chase anyone off.”
Tara left to go drop off the baby, and I wanted to run home and change. The prospect of a night out was actually making me kind of giddy, even if it was just a fun few hours with a girlfriend. I hurried through a few minor bookkeeping tasks, called a brief meeting with the serving crew, then hunted Dominic down. I found him out back, breaking up some of the delivery pallets.
“You taking off?” he asked. He’d returned to his dangerous, unshaven look. I stared at the thick black stubble along his strong jaw, remembering what it felt like on my thighs in the middle of the night . . .
I cleared my throat and tried to clear my head. “Yes. Last chance to change your mind.”
He cracked a pallet in half with his heavy boot. “I won’t.”
“Dominic—”
“Look, I ran a restaurant long before you came around, Melanie. Pretty sure I can manage not to burn the place down.”
His tone was short, impatient. It definitely rubbed me the wrong way. He probably didn’t mean the words to come out as harshly as they sometimes did. He always seemed surprised when I pushed back, like he didn’t know what he’d done.
I crossed my arms and adopted a rival haughty attitude. “I’m aware of your talents. I was just going to tell you that Patsy called, and she’s going to be a little late because she had to take one of her kids to Urgent Care for an ear infection.”
He straightened up and peered down at me. Even though we were at work, and even though I was genuinely irked by his condescension, he was still the sexiest man in Phoenix. The fire of arousal coursed through my belly, and suddenly I desperately wished that we were a normal couple in an ordinary relationship. I wished he could kiss me right there in the back alley. I wished we could just be impulsive and take off together for a weekend and drive somewhere, anywhere, maybe someplace up north in the mountains where the world was more quiet and more colorful.
“I’ll take you there, Melanie. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Thank you,” Dominic said, and all the snappiness was gone from his voice. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Can’t have you thinking that the place is going to fall apart if you take a night off. Go on, Mel. Enjoy a night away from Esposito’s chaos. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I asked with a knowing smile. “Or later?”<
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He leaned in closer, pressed his forehead against mine for one heady, breathless second.
“Later,” he promised, and gave me a quick kiss. “Just wish I was the one taking you out,” he whispered.
“I wish you were, too,” I whispered back. “But it’s not like Tara’s any competition for you.”
He smirked and turned back to the pallets. I left him to his work.
In my apartment the cats stared at me as I changed into a sleek black cocktail dress and heels. Tara’s condo was only a fifteen-minute drive from my apartment, so I texted that I would pick her up so we could drive together.
The condominium complex where Tara and Gio lived (and Dominic, too, I reminded myself) was upscale but not obnoxiously so. As I parked and then walked to her door, I saw several young, sleek-looking professionals milling about, attached to their phones. One of them, a guy in a gray suit, who was lounging on his patio with a glass of wine and bore an unfortunate resemblance to the detestable Braxton, smiled at me.
“You look hot!” Tara greeted me when she opened the door.
“Okay, Miss Supermodel,” I said, and let out a wolf whistle. Tara obliged by twirling and laughing. Gone was her usual ensemble of casual sweatshirt and yoga pants accessorized with a Disney Princess diaper bag. She wore a deep-blue full-skirt taffeta dress and slingback heels.
She stared down at herself and wrinkled her nose. “I feel like I’m attending the prom. I might have overdone it.”
“Not at all,” I assured her, and held up my phone.
“Are you taking a picture?”
“Yup. And I just sent it to Gio so he can drool over what will be waiting for him at home tonight.” I paused. “Will he think it’s weird that I sent him a hot pic of his wife?”
Tara shook her head and laughed. “No.”
As Tara grabbed a shawl, I hung back and looked around. There were six units to each building and perhaps a dozen buildings scattered around picturesque courtyards. Personal touches adorned many of the doors and balconies. One of Tara’s neighbors had several cactus plants in clay pots right outside their front door. That certainly didn’t seem like Dominic’s style, though.