Page 49 of Smitten with the Single Dad

“I know,” he said plainly. “But for what it’s worth, it’s a good idea.”

She glanced at him long enough to catch his eye. “You are not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?”

“I … I don’t know. I just don’t want you or your brothers to think I’m playing some game. Because I’m not. I will sign a prenup or whatever you want me to sign. I don’t want anything from Wyatt.” Was she arguing her case too much? Would he think she was faking it? Because she wasn’t. She really wasn’t.

“Just don’t break his heart. That’s all I have to say.” They reached the gate and Dom punched in the code, then held the door open for her.

“I … it’s not like that.”

“Isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “No. It’s not. I swear. Wyatt has been so respectful.”

Perhaps too respectful.

“Everyone in your family has been nothing but kind and compassionate toward me. I would never do anything to jeopardize that.”

Dom nodded. “That’s good to hear.”

They stopped in the driveway. “Dom, I am serious. I care a great deal about your brother … and your nephews. About all of you. I would rather be deported or go to jail than see any of you get hurt. Please know that.”

His lips pressed together until they formed a thin, flat line. Maybe he was trying to smile, but the corners didn’t tip up enough for Vica to be able to tell. “Ginny is going to cover for me at the bar tomorrow, so I’ll take the boys. You and Wyatt go do what you need to do in Seattle, and we’ll see you when you get back.” He turned to go.

“Dom—”

He stopped a couple of steps away from her and half spun around. “It’s been weird, you know … watching Clint, then Bennett, move on. And now Wyatt—”

“It’s not like that.”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him. It might not be like that yet, but it will be.”

Vica’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

“It’s weird. But not in a bad way. I’m not sure I’ll ever get there though. Or maybe it just takes the right person to get you there. Clint never dated after Jacqueline died, neither did Bennett after Carla. And I know Wyatt had a one-night stand a few years ago after Sheila, but that was it. And I’ve …” He pursed his lips, “I’ve been celibate since Remy died.”

“Dom …” Now her heart was breaking for his man.

His throat moved hard on a swallow. “It’s weird, but it’s also great. To see my brothers find love again. For our family to grow. Maybe I’m jealous … or envious … or doubting whether it’ll ever happen for me. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now.”

What could she say? There was nothing she could say. And it didn’t seem like he wanted her to reply. He just had something on his chest that he needed to shed, and whether she was the target all along, or just the first available sounding board, he was pouring out his heart to her.

“I take what your family is doing for me … what Wyatt is doing for me, very seriously. I have no intention of hurting anybody. And whether there is something more there between us or not, we haven’t explored it. I think you’re seeing things, but I’m not going to argue with you.”

Now, he smiled. “You’re a very smart woman, Vica. Thank you for your help in the kitchen tonight. I hear you’re going to be in there more often. That will be nice.”

“I feel good being useful.”

He nodded. “Goodnight, Vica.”

“Goodnight, Dom.”

He headed to his house, leaving her just in front of Wyatt’s. She watched him enter his house through the front door, and only once the latch snicked shut, did she finally move her tennis shoes and head to Wyatt’s front door.

Jagger sat on the couch; his nose buried in a book. Much like Wyatt, the man definitely pulled off glasses. He reminded her of a sexy librarian bear, if that was even a thing.

“So, I hear congratulations are in order,” Jagger said, peeling himself off the couch. “You’re about to become a sister-in-law.” He was all handsome, toothy smiles beneath his thick, luscious beard.

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