Say Yes To The Fake Date (How To Win At Love #3)

14. Dominic

14

DOMINIC

I reach for Lucy’s hand and hold it between the two of mine. “Are you nervous?”

We’re surrounded by over half the people of Whiskey Run. Any time Walker does a fundraiser, there are a lot of people that show up, and this time is not any different. But it’s not like Lucy to be nervous. She looks around the room. “Is your whole family going to be here?”

I squeeze her hand. “Everyone but Cole. Well, Ledger is somewhere in the Middle East. But you know my family—well, everyone but Haven, but you’ll love her.”

She nods her head as she looks around the room.

She’s so fucking gorgeous, I don’t want to look away from her. The red dress hugs her body like a glove, and I’ve been hard as a rock since the moment I picked her up. And I’m not the only one to notice how beautiful she is. I’ve already had to give a death stare to Carl when he was looking at her like he wanted to eat her up. I’m not going to be able to let her out of my sight tonight. “Did I tell you how beautiful you are?”

She stops fidgeting and smiles up at me. “Three times.”

I put my hands at her waist. “You’re fuckin’ breathtaking.”

We get no warning because suddenly we’re surrounded by King, Haven, Gabe, Chrissy, Holden, and Cat. My sister and sisters-in-law hug me, and I get slaps on the shoulder from my brothers. I’m still holding on to one of Lucy’s hands because I don’t want to let her go. I hate that she’s nervous, and if I can do anything to help her, I’m going to. Even if that means keeping her glued to my side the whole night.

My brothers and my sister Chrissy all remember Lucy, and they hug her. Cat hugs her like they’ve been friends forever even though they just met yesterday. Haven waves at Lucy. “I’m Haven. ”

“She’s my wife,” King says proudly with one hand on her swollen stomach.

Haven laughs. “I don’t know why you feel the need to say that. Everyone knows I’m your wife.”

King just grunts. “I like to remind people. Ya know, leave no doubts.”

Lucy is smiling. “Hi, Haven. I’ve heard a lot about you from Dom. It’s nice to meet you.”

She comes toward Lucy with open arms, and they hug. Haven pulls back, rubbing her belly. “Sorry, I’m getting so big.”

“Hey, hey. None of that,” King says as he pulls Haven into his arms. “You’re perfect.”

She just smiles up at him, and seeing the love they have for each other makes me feel like I’m encroaching on their personal space.

I pull Lucy into my side, and she leans into me. I gesture to King and Haven. “Haven is due any day now.”

King and Haven just beam, and Lucy asks, “Are you having a boy or a girl?”

“Girl,” Haven says, and King puts his hand on her belly protectively.

“How exciting. Congratulations.”

Haven nods. “We’re happy about it, and I am ready to meet her. ”

Everyone starts to talk to each other, and even though I’m talking to the guys, I can feel Lucy tense next to me. I know my family can get a little overwhelming, so I announce, “Okay, well, Lucy and I are going to hit the dance floor.”

I pull her with me, and it’s not until we’re almost to the dance floor that I tell her, “Sorry if you don’t want to dance. We don’t have to, but you looked a little sad back there.”

She doesn’t disagree with me, but she does pull my hand toward the dance floor. “Come on, let’s dance.”

I find us a corner and then wrap her in my arms. We sway back and forth for a while before I break the silence. “You want to talk about it?”

“No,” she answers immediately.

I hold her tighter. “Lucky, come on. Talk to me. Did someone say something to you?”

My family is awesome, but they’re also protective of me. Did one of them say something that upset her?

She sighs. “It’s stupid.”

I run my hand around her waist and pull her closer. “I’m sure it’s not stupid at all.”

She leans her head against my chest. “I dunno. I just always thought I’d be a mom by now, ya know. It’s something I always wanted… I guess it’s just not meant to be.”

I tense, thinking about her pregnant. Immediately, I want to beg her to have my kids, but I know that’s ridiculous. My voice is thick with emotion. “It’s not stupid. I know how you feel. I thought we’d be parents by now too.”

She pulls back and looks at me. “We… like you and me?”

I resist rolling my eyes. Hell, she doesn’t have a clue. “Lucy, baby, you’re the only woman I’d want to have kids with.” I sigh and settle my chin on the top of her head. “Remember when we were in high school and we’d talk about the future? We talked about getting married and having babies.”

She moves closer to me. “Yeah. When I met Cole, that’s the first thing I remembered. If we… if we had stayed together, we’d probably have a child about his age.”

I lean back and look in her eyes. We’re surrounded on the dance floor, but none of these people matter. The only one I care about is Lucy. I’m about to ask her if she wants to leave when she pulls out of my arms. “I need a drink.”

I try not to be disappointed. I remind myself that at least she’s here with me. “Come on, we can grab a seat and I’ll get you something.”

I lead her to a table and leave to go get us drinks. I remind myself that I need to be patient with Lucy and with everything going on in her life, she doesn’t need any pressure from me. I order her an apple martini and myself a water. As I wait for the bartender to prepare my order, I watch Lucy across the room. She’s laughing with some woman at the table, and I get lost staring at her.

“Here’s your drinks, sir.”

I grab them and am about to make my way across the room when Sheila, a woman that has had her car at the garage a few times, stops in front of me. “Dominic Evans, I wasn’t expecting you to be here tonight. Are you going to save me a dance?”

I hold up my two drinks and take a step back. “I’m sorry, Sheila. My dance card is all filled up tonight. I hope you have a nice—”

She steps toward me. “Well, how about a night cap? I can wait up for you.”

“Uh—” I start.

“Dom, baby, do you have my drink?” Lucy walks straight toward me, grabs the martini from my hand, and then kisses me on the mouth. “What did you get me? ”

I clear my throat. Fuck, the kiss was fast, but I felt it through my whole body. “An apple martini.”

She laughs. “Oh, you’re so good to me, baby.” She turns toward Sheila. “Oh, hi there. I’m Lucy… Dom’s girlfriend.”

Sheila’s mouth drops as she looks between Lucy and me. “Oh, I didn’t know you were seeing someone, Dominic.”

I wrap my arm around Lucy and pull her flush against my body. “Yeah, uh, Lucy’s had my heart for awhile now.”

Lucy turns her head up to look at me, and all I can do is look into her eyes, wanting her to see my sincerity. I’m not sure how long Sheila stands here because I’m solely focused on Lucy. “You okay?”

She nods and then pulls back to drink her martini. “Yeah, I’m good.” She gestures to Sheila’s retreating back. “Who’s that?”

“Uh, her name is Sheila.”

She nods and finishes off her drink. “She’s pretty… if you wanted to spend some time with her—”

I cut her off. “First of all, you’re the most beautiful woman here, honey, and I think I already mentioned this to you, but you’re the only woman I want to spend time with. ”

She’s searching my eyes and then tugs me to the dance floor. “Will you dance with me, Dom?”

“Yes.”

I lead her to the dance floor, and this time it’s different. Her body melts into mine. She doesn’t hold herself away; if anything, she burrows into me. Neither one of us says anything, and I could stay like this for the rest of the night.

We dance a few more dances, we sit through the speeches surrounded by my family, and I revel in seeing Lucy fitting right in with my sister and sisters-in-law. Hours later, when we go to leave, Lucy is smiling, lightly inebriated, and giggling the whole way to my truck.

Our fingers are threaded together, and she has her other hand wrapped around my arm, leaning into me. I know she’s had a few drinks, but it’s nice to see her so relaxed and happy.

I help her into my truck and then try to calm my racing heart as I walk around and get in. I’m about to start the ignition when she puts a hand on mine. “Dom.”

Her voice is husky, and I look at her. Hell, she doesn’t have to say a thing. She does nothing to hide the desire in her eyes, and I know what she wants from me .

“Lucy,” I answer her.

She reaches for the console and puts it up and slides closer to me. My breathing picks up as her hands slide up my chest and loop around my neck.

“I want to kiss you, Lucy. Are you going to let me?”

She leans in. “I’ve been thinking about it all night.”

I put my hand around her neck, and her pulse is beating under my palm. I tighten my hold, and she groans. I move in, and our lips are inches apart. I’m doing my best to take it slowly, but the need to possess her lips is like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

I smooth my thumb over her lips, and she whimpers, “Please.”

I can’t hold back, and I mold my lips to hers. The kiss is all-consuming. I tilt her head to the side and deepen it. She slides closer to me, pressing her body to mine. My cock is hard, pressed against the zipper of my dress pants, and I’m about to burst at the seams.

I break off the kiss, and we’re both panting. She’s searching my eyes. “Dom, please?”

I know what she needs… what she wants from me. I look into her pleading eyes as I slide my hand up her knee and along her inner thigh. She widens he r legs, throwing her head back against the seat. I press a finger to her panty-clad pussy, and she moans, lifting her hips. I stroke her through her panties, and she puts her hands on my shoulders. “Please.”

“Let me make you come, Lucky.”

She opens her legs wider. “Yessssss,” she moans.

I would give anything to have her laid out on a bed right now, but this is going to have to work. I slide her panties to the side and run my finger through her wet, swollen folds.

She squeezes my arm and lifts up, needing more.

I pump my finger in and out of her, and she contracts around me.

“You feel so good, Lucy.”

She moans as I press a finger to her swollen clit and circle it. She’s pulsating all around me as she pulls and pushes at me, but I don’t stop. I apply more pressure and put my complete focus on taking her over the edge.

She whimpers my name, and then her orgasm hits her until she’s writhing against me. Her release makes her pliant in my arms. She reaches for me, pressing her hand to my waist. When it starts to slide down, I stop her, and it’s the fucking hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. “I should get you home.”

She’s silent, and then she pulls back, tugging the skirt of her dress down to cover her thighs. I know I should explain to her, fuckin’ say something, but I’m barely hanging on here.

As I move to my seat, she puts the console down, and it’s like she’s putting a wall between us. I pull through the parking garage and then drive us back into Whiskey Run. My heart is racing, and I try to get my shit together. It’s not until I’m pulling onto the road where her mom lives that I finally break the silence. “You okay?”

Her voice is terse. “Yes, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

She twists her body fully away from me and looks out the window.

I reach over and put my hand on her arm, and she jerks away from my touch. “I don’t need your pity, Dominic Evans. I don’t need anything from you. I did you the favor… I went on the fake date with you. I’ll be finished with your website by tomorrow, and then we’ll be done. We’re even.”

I sigh as I pull into the driveway. “Slow down, Lucy. Just let me explain.”

I come to a stop and put the gear shift into park, but before I can do anything, she’s clamoring out of the truck and halfway up the front steps. I get out of my truck and call after her, but she ignores me, and I watch as she walks into the house, slamming the door behind her. I fucked up, and I know I did, but I’m going to make it right.