Page 17 of Hidden Hearts

A job isn’t a requirement for me to leave Design Time, since I’m working on saving a sizable nest egg, then quitting once the safety net is in place. But fast tracking my plans by accepting a position elsewhere would be amazing.

With that in mind, I agreed to the time and sent Dominic my address, but if he tried to pick up where we left off, I'd shut him down.

This was a business arrangement only.

The next morning, I waited outside on my porch step for Dominic to show up. It’s 7 AM, and I don't want him banging on the door and waking up Elsie. The nearest shopping center is in Everton—almost an hour away—but leaving this early still feels like overkill.

I’m barely awake when his sleek car parks by the curb. The door pops open from the inside, and I accept the unspoken invitation, sinking into the leather seat. Cozy heat wards off the chill of the morning that will soon burn off as the day continues, and my gaze finds the seat warmer button on the dash lit up.

Was it intentional? Or did Dominic accidentally bump the button while turning on his own seat warmer?

"Good morning. This is for you." He hands me a large, iced coffee with the Crossing’s Cups & Cakes label. The sticker on the side lists hazelnut and butter pecan shots along with cream and sugar.

This is uncharacteristically nice of him. And how does he know my order? Last time he bought me coffee, it was hot and sugar free.

I eyed him suspiciously.

"What? The caffeine will wake you up, and don’t pretend not to like it. I remember seeing you with one at work." He shifts the car into ‘DRIVE’ and heads toward the interstate. My brain tries to think back to when he would have seen me with an iced drink from Crossing’s Cups & Cakes but quickly gives up.

Too much thinking. Too early.

"Thanks." After taking a drink, I set it back in the cup holder, then lean my head against the window and close my eyes as a talk show plays in the background.

Of course, he listens to talk radio...

"Avery. Time to wake up, firebrand. We're here." Dominic gently shakes my shoulder as the hazy filaments of a dream fade away.

Straightening in my seat, I realize we’re parked in front of a shopping mall. Covering a yawn, I ask, "I fell asleep?"

"Yeah, you've been knocked out for the past hour. Missed the entire drive to Everton."

"That's weird. I can't sleep in cars."

"Guess you felt safe," he murmurs as he unbuckles our seat belts and gets out.

I'm pretty sure I was just exhausted, but whatever.

Red block letters hang above the automatic doors of a popular office supplies store as we cross the parking lot and step inside. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a store like this—not since college. The smell of paper and ink is nice. Nostalgic. Makes me miss the fun of school supplies shopping and checking items off the list.

"You know, you snore a little when you sleep." Dominic bumps his shoulder against mine, a slight grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. If he was anyone else, I'd be embarrassed, but I figure it serves him right after dragging me out of bed so early on a Saturday.

"Good."

He chuckles. "You've got a mean streak."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.” My thumb and forefinger slide across my lips like I’m zipping away a secret. “So, where do you want to start? Do you have a list?"

"See? This is why I brought you. You know what you're doing."

My eyes roll up to the fluorescent-lighted ceiling. Guess that means there’s no list. "Alright, well, I have a general idea for things, but let's write down what you think you need and go from there."

Taking a seat at one of the office displays set up in the back of the store, I remove a notebook and pen from my purse. Stealing a chair from another office example, Dominic sits by me.

"Do you always carry pen and paper around?"

“It’s handy, isn’t it?” I write ‘Stone Precision Office’ across the top of the page. “Sometimes, I use the notes app on my phone, but I like having the old-fashioned option. It makes crossing things off a list more satisfying.”

Nodding his head in understanding, he moves on to rattling off items. "We'll need new desktop computers, desks, and chairs. A filing cabinet. There are three offices, one for me, one for Matt, and one that might work for storage. Then there’s a conference room and the small lobby slash waiting area for clients."

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