Page 55 of Worth the Vow

Matt: You love calling her your wife. Does she call you her husband?

Me: Not that I’ve heard.

Matt: Explains your relationship perfectly.

I choose not to respond to that, instead opening up my texts to my mom. I really despise texting, but I refuse to do anything that might wake Kate up, like make a phone call.

Me: I found her. She cried herself to sleep. I don’t know what happened with her dad yet.

Mom: Okay. I’m relieved you’re there to support Kate in whatever way she needs. Be patient with her, Dominic. No one knows how she feels, having already lost her mother.

Me: I know.

Me: Are there any other family members I should notify?

Mom: I’ll handle it. You rest and be ready for when she wakes up.

Turning the screen off, I quietly place my phone on the nightstand and close my eyes. I find myself leaning down to kiss Kate’s temple and tightening my arms around her slightly, exhaustion finally taking over as I fall asleep to the sound of our hearts beating in sync.

“Dominic?”

“Hmm.”

“What are you doing in my hotel room?”

“Motel.”

“What?”

“This is definitely a motel. No way I’d classify this dump as a hotel.”

A somewhat ladylike growl makes me open one eye. Looking down, I find Kate glaring at me, which makes me smile. My smile in turn makes her growl again.

“Do you really have to argue about everything?” she asks.

“No,” I shrug, “But it’s pretty fun when I know it aggravates you.”

“You never let me be right,” she whispers. I feel one finger absentmindedly trace the pattern on my shirt, and I’m not sure if she realizes she’s doing it. Hell, I don’t think she even knows she’s still in my arms.

Before I can think twice about the ramifications of being honest, I blurt out, “It’s easier to argue with you than admit I have feelings for you.”

Her head pops off my chest. Opening both eyes, I find a shocked gaze staring back at me. “What?”

I can’t help but smile again. “I think you heard me.”

“Stop smiling like that. It’s freaking me out,” she mutters.

“How so?”

“You don’t smile, Dominic. At least not at me. You frown. Grimace. You have a disappointed glare that you’ve perfected. You smile at your kids and your family. But never at me.”

“But you are my family,” I whisper, moving a hand to shove her head back down on my chest.

“What the hell!” she sputters. “Dominic!”

“Nope.” I wrap my arms around her tighter. “You need a hug. And I need to be hugging you.”

I feel her anger dissipate as she melts into my embrace. “I hate needing hugs.”

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