Page 16 of Hidden Hearts

It’s like a bucket of cold water has been dumped on my head. For a minute, I forgot what Dominic was really like. Raging hormones can do that to a girl. But his reaction to Matt is the dose of reality I need.

He treats his friends and strangers the same—rudely.

I dodge Dominic's restraining hand to walk forward. "I'm Avery." I stress the words, daring Dominic to cut me off again.

"Matt, Dom's partner and best friend."

Matt shakes my hand while I joke, "It's not hard to be best friends when you're the only friend." He laughs, and I can see why he’s the one who deals with clients. Attractive and charming, I’m sure everyone he meets loves him.

The same can’t be said for Dominic, who crosses his arms and glares.

"Uh-oh, I think we angered the beast." Matt leans conspiratorially towards me. I look over at Dominic again. Gone is the gentle, sweet seducer from moments ago. Instead, a tense, angry man stands in his place.

"I think you’re right… You should do something about it while I get back to work, so I can leave soon. I doubt my boss will approve overtime." I wink then walk back to my original scrubbing position, shooing Dominic aside.

"She's right. She's being paid to be here. Let’s get the tour over with." Dominic shoots me a dark look after an extended onceover of my body.

My eyes narrow. Is he implying that the only reason I let him touch me is because otherwise I wouldn't be doing my job? Jerk.

Scrubbing the counter harder at the possibility, I let out a frustrated breath. From now on, I refuse to be sucked in… into whatever hell kind of spell he puts me under.

One where my rational thoughts and good judgment fly out the window!

“Hurry up and finish, so you can go home,” I tell myself. And that’s exactly what I do. Barely acknowledging the guys’ farewell when they leave thirty minutes later.

After locking the office doors, I rush back to Design Time to officially clock out then head home. The smell of garlic wafts through the apartment as I let myself in, and I can almost taste the cheesy bread we’re having with dinner.

Thank goodness for Elsie. My roommate cooks most of our meals since she gets home earlier than I do, which means I eat better than I ever would if it were up to me alone.

“Hey, how was work?” she asks, stirring a pot of noodles.

“You won’t believe what happened.” I collapse into a kitchen chair and launch into the story of my afternoon. Who knew it would take such a turn?

"What?" she gasps after I finish. We’ve both got plates full of pasta and chicken along with crusty garlic bread, and the amount of comfort carbs before me is exactly what I need.

"I know. Imagine how stunned I was."

"He came up behind you and… Wow. I'm surprised you let him." Elsie knows how inexperienced I am with guys because she’s in the same boat. We aren't hideous ogres, but we have a hard time putting ourselves out there and have become two hermits who stay safe in our small little worlds.

Work and the apartment.

Plus, she’s heard me rant about Dominic for weeks now. My feelings towards him have been on full display since our first encounter over the phone.

"Me, too. It was a stupid and alarming lapse of judgment.” I swallowed a twirled bite of spaghetti before adding, “It was pretty easy to follow his lead, though. No awkward indecision like in the past."

"Hmm… But it sucks that it was with him."

"Yep. I’m ready for my actual guy to show up! My mythical heart spark."

Elsie raises her glass of wine and clinks it against mine. “Cheers to that, girl. Cheers. To. That.”

CHAPTER TEN

AVERY

Dominic texted to let me know he’s going to pick me up tomorrow morning for our first shopping excursion. I debated telling him to not bother but stop myself.

Why ruin an opportunity to spread my creative wings? This could be just what my resume needs to land a new job after leaving Design Time for good. Especially since my current applications keep netting me zero responses.

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