by A. P. Jensen
Juliet tiptoed past Dominick to the living area. It was late morning and the sun that beamed through the windows encouraged her to believe that she would get past this latest hurdle. She had more unpleasant memories to add to her arcade, but she was okay. Juliet raided the fridge. She was unusually ravenous. That had to be a good sign. Juliet cooked link sausages and eggs before she heard her phone again. She found it on the arm of the couch along with Dominick’s keys. Juliet glanced at the screen and wasn’t happy to see a list of calls, texts and voicemails waiting for her. Her stomach clenched with nerves. Had something else happened?
Juliet scrolled through texts from Maile and Callie, asking if she was okay. Juliet pressed the voicemail button and stared anxiously out of the window as she waited.
“Juliet, this is Dominick. Why aren’t you picking up your phone? I want to know what you want to eat tonight. Call me.”
Juliet shook her head as she moved onto the next message.
“Juliet, this is Lee. Brent called me, told me what happened between you and Freddy. I talked to Dominick but he said you’re sleeping. I want you to know, if we knew what he was capable of, we would have stepped in. I’m glad Dom beat the shit out of him. Moana and I are on our way home. I’ll see you soon. Don’t leave, Juliet, we can figure this out.”
Juliet sighed and moved onto the next message.
“Juliet, I hope this is your number. Its Scarlet.” A long pause. “I can’t sleep. I thought you might be up. Call me if you want. Bye.”
Juliet stiffened when Brent’s voice came through the phone.
“Juliet, it’s Brent. I have confirmation that Freddy left on the first flight out this morning. I doubt this will be the last of him, but at least Callie can have the baby in peace. I just wanted you to know. If you need anything, call me. Now you have my number.”
The last message made Juliet’s hand tighten on the phone.
“It’s Callie. Call me.”
Juliet immediately dialed Callie who picked up on the first ring. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. You?” Callie asked.
“My face hurts like a bitch, but I’m fine.”
“Juliet, I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault. What’s going on?”
“Brent called you?”
“Yes. He said Freddy’s gone?”
“For now. Brent confronted Daddy last night at dinner.”
Juliet’s chest seized. “And?”
“He denied it, of course. Said Freddy’s delusional. Juliet, Brent asked Daddy what happened the night Mom died.”
Juliet sank onto the couch as a familiar chill crept through her, banishing the lingering warmth from the sunshine.
“Daddy got really upset and said you caused Mom to commit suicide and the rest doesn’t matter.” Callie paused and then continued, “Brent also asked about your ex, Chad.”
Juliet could barely breathe.
“Daddy said he didn’t know what Brent was talking about, that you’re lying and that Chad is an old friend. When Brent tried to ask more questions, Daddy left the table. I slept in Dia’s room because I didn’t want to be in Daddy’s wing by myself. Brent asked me what I was doing in his daughter’s room. I didn’t know what to tell him. I think he suspects. Juliet?”
“Yeah?” Juliet said weakly.
“We have to tell them.”
“No!”
“Juliet, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t—”
“It doesn’t matter. The truth won’t bring her back and no matter which way you look at it, the end result is the same. Callie, don’t.”
“Scarlet came to work this morning and asked me why you were in the hospital after Mom died, why you couldn’t be at the funeral. What am I supposed to say?”
“What you have for the past fifteen years,” Juliet said harshly. “Nothing.” There was a startled silence. “Please, Callie, don’t. It isn’t worth it.”
“But Daddy’s behind all of this.”
“And Brent’s trying to make right what he can. The stuff between Gray and I will never be resolved and I’m okay with that. I just want him to leave me alone. Now that this thing is happening with Freddy, maybe Gray will realize that he isn’t in the power seat. Maybe he’ll lay off.”
“I don’t know, Juliet. Are you at Dominick’s?”
“Yes. Lee called, said he’s on his way back.”
“Yeah. Juliet, this has everyone on edge. Daddy hasn’t come out of his room yet. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Stay near Scarlet and Brent. Don’t go anywhere near him.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Eat, sleep.”
“Tell Dominick I said thank you.”
“For what?”
“Taking care of you.”
Juliet swallowed. “I will. Thanks for letting me know what’s going on.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” Callie said.
“I will. Bye.”
Juliet hung up and held the phone between her hands as she stared straight ahead. Brent questioned Gray. She never thought for one second that Brent would doubt his father’s word, but this stuff with Freddy made him uncertain enough to question the all-powerful Gray Grant. Maybe Brent wasn’t like Gray after all. Juliet felt a flicker of warmth flare to life in her chest, banishing the cold dread. Brent and Scarlet, her biggest critics were now on shaky ground where Gray was concerned. She never would have guessed such a thing would happen. They worshipped Gray as so many others did.
Juliet’s stomach grumbled loudly, not impressed by the latest turn of events. Juliet rose and scraped the sausages and eggs into a bowl and fixed cups of coffee. She was so distracted by Callie’s call that when large arms wrapped around her, she shrieked.
“Baby, it’s me,” Dominick said.
Juliet instantly relaxed and waved her hands. “Sorry. I—”
He turned her and raised her face with a hand under her chin. His eyes were a dark forest green this morning and they examined her bruises intently.
“You take a pain killer yet?” he asked.
She shook her head. He kissed her before he moved to the cabinet and shook out two tablets. He handed them to her and then leaned his hip against the counter as he surveyed her.
“Who were you talking to?”
Juliet hesitated before she admitted, “Callie.”
“She okay?”
“Yeah. She was just… talking.” Juliet waved a hand and hoped he didn’t see how unsettled she was by what she learned. “Lee called me. So did Brent.”
“What did Brent want?”
“Freddy’s gone.”
Dominick shrugged and glanced at the food. “Let’s eat on the deck.”
As he carried the plates and food, she followed with coffee. It wasn’t until they were seated on a comfortable patio set that she realized he should be at work.
“Aren’t you going to work?” she asked.
“No.”
“You don’t need to stay here with me. I’m fine.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of saying that?” he asked.
As usual, he was cutting through her bullshit and she didn’t know what to say, how to react. “Saying is believing,” she said quietly.
Dominick reached out and grasped her hand. He brushed his hand over the scratches on her palm. The banked anger in his eyes made her want to hide her injuries, which would be a pointless endeavor.
“With me, you don’t need to pretend. You say how you really feel,” he said and kissed her palm before he made her plate.
Juliet looked out at the endless pastures behind his home. The cows were tiny dots that spotted the hillside. It felt as if they were the only two people in the world. The quiet soothed her nerves.
“So, you aren’t going to work today?” she asked after several minutes of silence.
“No.”
Juliet sipped coffee and watched him over the rim. “I really am okay.”
“You aren’t th
ere yet. I’ll catch up on paperwork if that makes you feel better.”
“It does. Maybe I can help?”
“I’d rather you rest.”
She did have a headache, but that would pass. “I’ll rest and then help.”
Dominick shrugged and they finished their meal. The throbbing in her face eased and with her stomach full, she felt almost normal. The events of yesterday sloshed around in her mind. She didn’t expect Brent or Scarlet to care that Freddy attacked her or Callie’s little slip ups about the past to bother them so much. What did they care? Gray was right. She was the reason Mom committed suicide. The end.
“What are you worried about?” Dominick asked, dragging her chair close so he could drape his arm over the back.
“Everything,” she answered truthfully. “I came here to get Gray to lay off. That didn’t happen and everything keeps spiraling out of control. I want it to stop.”
“Everything happens for a reason. You were meant to come back, meant to stir everything up. Brent went from trying to bribe you to leave to threatening to ruin Freddy completely if he ever approached you or Callie again. If we didn’t have an audience, Brent would have joined me in beating the crap out of Freddy.”
“This is just… too much.”
“Yeah, I think we all got that.”
His thumb brushed the side of her neck, sending pleasant tingles through her. Juliet winced as she remembered her embarrassing breakdown. How long did that crying jag last?
“Thank you for everything.” How could she put into words how grateful she was? He had been there for her at every dramatic turn, during every crisis. She didn’t ask, he just gave. In less than a week, Dominick made a place for himself in her life.
Dominick accepted her thanks with a grunt. Juliet’s lips twitched. He was such a guy. He wore boxers and nothing else. Long hours in the sun gave him a nice tan and his body was corded with muscle. The thought of Dominick pummeling Freddy into the ground gave her savage pleasure.
“So, you know I’m a train wreck,” Juliet said. “Seriously, you have to tell me what’s wrong with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why did you get divorced?” When he didn’t answer immediately, she waved her hands. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that.”
Dominick did a one shoulder shrug. “I know about your past, it’s only fair that you know mine.”
Juliet grabbed her coffee cup so she had something to keep her hands busy. She hoped she didn’t look as interested as she was. She was desperate to find out what made Dominick Bryson tick.
“I grew up in Alaska. My mom died when I was young, my dad never recovered. He was always gone—hunting, fishing, working. I was raised by relatives or friends of his. I got good at reading people. I always knew when they were tired of taking care of me and I was going to get passed onto someone else.”
Juliet nearly dropped her cup. Whatever story he was going to tell her this definitely wasn’t it. This self-possessed man had once been tossed around like an unwanted stray? She couldn’t believe it.
“Sometimes I was left at my dad’s cabin for a week or two before he found out that he needed to find a replacement. I used to work on the cabin to keep myself busy. I didn’t really have a home and became obsessed with building houses for families. I spent a lot of time examining other people and concluded that the home was at the heart of people’s happiness.”
Dominick’s unshaven jaw hardened. Juliet wanted to reach out, to touch and soothe but she didn’t want to distract him.
“I went to college in California and started my business. I started designing and building luxury homes. I met my wife. She was an attorney. It made sense at the time. We wanted the same things—to take vacations in the Bahamas and have a beach house in Malibu. We went on cruises and lived the high life, the one I always craved. We were both ambitious perfectionists.”
Despite Dominick’s relaxed pose, Juliet sensed his tension and would have told him to stop if she wasn’t curious to hear the rest.
“The economy crashed and so did my business. We lost our homes, my investors pulled out of some developments and she left me. She took whatever she could and remarried. Lee called when he heard about the divorce. He offered me a place to stay so I came. I lived in a cottage behind Lee’s house for a couple of years until I found the will to take another risk. I’ve been working on rebuilding my company for ten years and it feels good.”
Juliet nodded and gestured to their view and the house, which suited him. “You’ve done well for yourself. You should be proud.”
“Lee taught me to appreciate what I have. I’ve learned to be content.”
Dominick turned to regard her. Juliet resisted the urge to shift as his eyes moved over her broodingly.
“I’ve been with women since I divorced.”
“I’d be surprised if you hadn’t,” Juliet said dryly. Dominick’s sexuality was raw and demanding. He had testosterone oozing from his pores. Women were naturally drawn to his masculinity, good looks and confidence.
“You remind me of her.”
Juliet stiffened. What the hell?
“You’re intelligent, ambitious and have guts. The night of the wedding I heard that you demanded your inheritance and took off with it, but things didn’t add up. If you came back for more money, you wouldn’t cause a scene with Gray and you wouldn’t hang with Maile. You would do your best to charm everyone, not make a scene and get drunk.”
Juliet ground her teeth together.
“You’re gorgeous and have the potential to become whatever you want to be. I recognize that in you since I have it in myself. You’re driven like Michelle, but you have heart. You care, Juliet, and that makes all the difference in the world. I’ve never been attracted to damsels in distress.”
Juliet let out a deep, shuddering breath. “You see too much.”
“Not enough.” His hand cupped the back of her neck. “There’s a lot about you that I don’t understand.”
“It’s been a week.”
“I know. We have time.”
“Your wife was an idiot.”
“Yeah. I think the divorce is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I was more focused on fancy cars and building condos for rich people who would never live in them instead of building homes for the right reason—to protect and have families flourish. I can do both here. I have my projects for the millionaires on the coast and I build homes for the locals. Hawaii took me in when I had nothing and I want to give back.”
“Dominick,” she said and shook her head, “that’s great.”
“I think so. It’s the best of both worlds. What about you?”
Juliet shot him a cautious sidelong glance. “What about me?”
“Where do you see yourself?”
“Today?”
“And tomorrow.”
“Since Brent won’t give me the check, I guess I’m here for the time being.”
His hand flexed on her. “You don’t want to stay?”
“For what? I don’t have a place here.”
Dominick looked around. “It looks to me like you have a place.”
“This is your place.”
“Which we can share.”
Juliet stared at him. “Have you always been this blunt?”
“When I want something, yes.”
“And how many women have lived with you?” she asked, bracing herself for the number.
“None.”
Juliet’s mouth dropped. “What?”
“I’ve had women, but it’s always been casual. Just sex.”
“And you pick me?” Juliet was horrified.
Dominick smiled and leaned towards her. “The moment I saw you on the dance floor, I was a goner.”
Juliet braced her hands against his chest and turned her head to the side so he wouldn’t kiss her. “You’re crazy!”
Dominick kissed her slow and deep. Her body went liquid with want and her hands dug into h
is strong shoulders. His hand drifted over the unblemished side of her face, down her throat to her breasts and squeezed. Juliet moaned and he drew back, eyes glittering with need.
“Can we?” he asked.
Juliet wrapped her arms around his neck. That was all the encouragement he needed. Dominick boosted her up and carried her inside. He kissed her witless as he made his way to the master bedroom. He placed her on the bed and kissed his way down her throat and slithered down her body until he was between her thighs. Juliet clamped her thighs together, unusually self-conscious. Dominick didn’t demand entrance. Instead he nuzzled and nipped her calves and knees until she was on fire. When her thighs opened, he took his time making his way to the heart of her. Juliet panted with need as she watched. His eyes flicked up to hers as he put his mouth on her. Juliet arched as pleasure overrode every other emotion. When she was gasping and pleading, Dominick slid inside of her. Juliet gasped and closed her eyes as Dominick worshipped her, banishing Freddy’s touch once and for all. When Juliet’s eyes fluttered open, she found Dominick looking down at her, hunger etched into every line of his face. Juliet stroked her hand down his cheek. He leaned into her touch and planted himself deep. Juliet moaned and undulated beneath him.
“There’s something you need to know about me,” Dominick said in a pained voice.
“What?”
“The longer you stay with me, the more I consider you mine.”
Juliet couldn’t focus. “Dominick, I need—”
“Did you hear me?” he snapped.
Blind with need, she reared up and brushed desperate kisses over his face. “Dominick, please.”
His breath hitched as he tried to maintain control. “I’m claiming you, Juliet.”
Juliet wrapped her arms around him, urging him on. “Dominick, I’m ready.”
Fierce green eyes focused on her. “Do you know what that means?”
Her body vibrated like a plucked string. “I don’t care! Just finish me!”
“I warned you, baby,” Dominick said and slammed home.
Juliet screamed as Dominick pounded her into the mattress. It was glorious and when she climaxed, his name was on her lips.