Page 11 of Worth the Vow

“Oh. Okay. Apology accepted,” I whisper.

“Do you think you’ll ever believe that I don’t mean to go out of my way to anger you?” he asks softly.

“I don’t know. You do it so well.”

He chuckles again. “I promise it’s not intentional. I’d like if we could be cordial with each other, especially if you do move in. Honestly, it would be nice to have another adult to converse with more often. It gets a little exhausting talking to the under ten crowd all the time.”

That was nowhere near what I expected him to say. He’d like to be friendly with me, and talk to me more? Not knowing how to respond, I ignore his words and soldier on. “What kind of rent would you charge?”

“I will not take your money, Katharine.”

“I won’t live there for free, Dominic.”

“Isn’t it a little counterproductive for me to pay you a salary, and then for you to turn around and pay rent to me?”

“That’s true.” I stop and think for a moment, humming under my breath. I’ve never liked awkward silences. “I could take a pay cut so we eliminate the need for a double-pay.”

“Or you could just not pay me at all for rent.”

“Dominic!”

“Don’t make me talk to my mother about this,” he warns ominously. “You know she’ll side with me.”

“God dammit. She will.”

“How about this? Let’s take it week by week and see how it goes. You might only need to be here a few weeks, and then it’ll be moot.”

“I can’t believe you’re suggesting I move in with you.”

“It’s the right thing to do, Katharine. And I know if my mom found out I didn’t offer you a place to stay, she’d cut me off at the kneecaps.”

“That’s one hundred percent accurate,” I chuckle. “Thank you. I didn’t know what to do, and you really saved the day.”

“I’m honored to help. I’ll be in touch later with a schedule.”

“Wait, what? A schedule?” I shriek. Oh good God, what have I gotten myself into?

Dominic barks back a laugh, the sound almost strange. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh before. It’s deep and guttural, and ridiculously hot. “I meant a moving schedule. I’ll get Luca, Stone, and Alex to help us. I’m type-A, but I’m not that bad to make a schedule for you living here.”

I’m not too sure about that last statement.

Dominic

Two Months Ago

“I don’t want to go, and you can’t make me!” Sienna wails before flouncing off and slamming her bedroom door. Jesus Christ. My oldest daughter is going to be an absolute nightmare when she’s a teenager. She’s not quite even tween age, and the dramatics she embodies rival a snotty heiress expecting to get everything she wants.

“School is not up for debate, Sienna. I can, and will, make you go,” I respond, my deep voice echoing throughout the house, reverberating against the wood floors.

“Damn, Dominic, a little sympathy would go a long way here.”

I stiffen as I hear the voice behind me. Kate glides past me and knocks on Sienna’s door. “Hey, girl. It’s Kate. Can I come in?”

“Yes,” I hear muffled from inside. Kate shoots me a glance, the ever-present smirk on her face as she’s bested me once again, as she slides into Sienna’s room and closes the door. I hear whispers and giggles immediately, and I sigh in defeat, resting my head against the wall. I’m fucking tired.

Until recently, I had a handle on things. Or at least I thought I did. I was doing the single dad thing fairly well. I wasn’t struggling at work. Well, that’s if my “retired” father doesn’t poke his nose into the business. Was I busy? Fuck yes. But I thought I was doing okay.

Then Sienna turned eight, and it was like a switch was flipped. I assumed puberty wouldn’t happen until much later, but there have to be some hormones at play here. Her mood swings are absurd. Our pediatrician assured me that nothing was physically wrong with her, and that we basically just needed to ride the wave. Regardless, it’s been rough. As she’s now ten, I honestly don’t know what to expect next.