Page 48 of Worth the Vow

“Because they don’t,” I say dryly.

“Oh, they do. Trust me. I felt like I needed to protect you whenever you visited us before moving to Eternity. Guys were staring at you left and right. But you weren’t in a place where you were open to a relationship. You weren’t looking around. Looking back at any of them. I only saw it one time.”

“When?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

“We came up to Everlasting to introduce you to my family. Remember?”

“I do …” I trail off. Where is he going with this.

“My aunt stopped us at the entrance. My cousins slowly began to introduce themselves. I heard you gasp, and I turned to see what you were looking at. I couldn’t believe it when my cousin was staring right back at you.”

“What? No.”

“Yep. It was Dom. I saw him staring at you, but you were looking back.”

“There’s no way he was looking at me with any kind of interest. If anything he was probably just confused as to who I was to you, and what I was doing there.”

Matt barks back a laugh. “Seeing as how he’s been my cousin for over three decades, but your boss for only a couple of years, you’re going to have to trust me on this. I know what he looks like when he’s interested.”

“I don’t believe you. Nope.” I shake my head vehemently.

He hums as he taps his chin thoughtfully. “Alright. I assume he kissed you at the end of the ceremony, right?”

I nod.

“Has he kissed you any other times?”

Feeling the heat whip up my neck and onto my cheeks has Matt howling. “It’s not what you think! He said he thought we should practice so the kiss at the courthouse was believable.”

“Oh, that’s the excuse he’s going with?” Matt cackles. “And you bought it? Wow. He’s got more game than I’ve ever given him credit for.”

“Matt, be nice,” Victoria hisses. “That is her husband you’re speaking of.”

“Yeah, well, he put ten toads in my bed in the fourth grade, and he kissed my girlfriend in seventh grade in front of me. Huh,” Matt says, tilting his head to the side as he contemplates things. “Honestly, I’m kinda impressed with Dom’s skills.”

“He kissed your girlfriend? Really?” I ask.

“Well, I thought she was my girlfriend. She thought Dom was a better choice. I mean, I did live two hours away, which to a twelve year old, is a million miles. My local cousin was obviously the better choice.”

“Did they end up dating?” I wonder aloud.

“If they did, it was a couple weeks at best. The only relationship I’ve ever seen Dom in was with his ex-wife. And, well, now you.”

“We are not in a relationship.”

“Ah. The wedding band you’re wearing suggests otherwise.”

“Oh, shut up,” I tell him, balling up a napkin and throwing it at him.

“Guess I better make the pancakes before —” a plate of pancakes is dropped onto the table in front of me. We both look up to find Victoria smiling.

“Neither one of you realized I was cooking. If I didn’t know you were related before, I know it now.” She bends down to kiss the top of Matt’s head, then begins ripping up a pancake to place in front of Silas. He shrieks with joy, kicking his legs and slapping against the high chair tray.

When the girls finally awaken for the day, we set off to take the kids to a local playground. Victoria whispers to me how Molly has a tremendous attitude with anyone except Silas, and that is evident immediately. Molly barely acknowledges my existence, which is fine with me. I can handle Sienna’s hormonal tween act, but Molly’s angry teen act? No, thank you.

“So are you happy you at least have access to medical care?” Victoria asks.

“Well, considering Dominic chose an OBGYN for me, then told me when I had an appointment, I’d say there have been a couple bumps.”

---