Page 23 of One Last Chance

I giggle when I see that Sam’s right. Domenic’s fully tense.What’s up his butt?

“I’ll see ya. Say hi to your mom for me,” Sam says as he walks out of the bar. “Reed, always a pleasure,” he states as he passes and nudges him a little.

Shit, my mom! I need to call her.

“You done?” Domenic growls.

Turning around to face him completely with wine in hand, I take a sip then walk to a nearby table. Taking a seat, my eyes travel to Domenic as he orders a beer and brings it over to the table sitting opposite me. He accidentally brushes my thigh with his knee, and I freeze.

“You and Sam seem cozy.”

How dare he?

“You have some nerve, Domenic. I waited for over forty minutes for you to arrive.”

“Sorry, Cassandra was extra attentive tonight.”

Oh, so he wants to play that game?

I smile, although I’m dying inside. Then I sit back and twirl my hair in my finger. “Oh, I know what you mean. I love it when Bryan is ‘extra’ attentive.” I use air quotes to really accentuate the word.

Bryan? How the hell did I come up with that?

Domenic smirks and leans on the table folding his arms. “Bryan, ha? And what exactly does this Bryan do?” His green eyes bore into mine, and I can see he’s playing me. Somehow, he knows there is no Bryan in my life.

“Um… he’s a real estate agent.”

“Real estate, hey?”

“Yes. Real estate. You have already wasted my time today. Can we cut to the chase?”

“Sure,” he says, placing his hands out. “Be my guest.”

Clearing my throat, I begin, “Well, you can start by explaining to me why you said you don’t want to work with me?”

“Mmm… let me think?” he answers sarcastically, placing his finger to his chin in thought. Then with all seriousness, he states, “Did you ever think that maybe I couldn’t handle seeingyouagain? The day you left, you took my heart with you, and since then, you’ve spoiled me for any other women?”

I swallow hard, my breath hitches, and my hands feel clammy. I didn’t expect him to be so damn honest.Did he just say I took his heart, and that I’ve spoiled him for other women?No, he can’t be speaking the truth.

“Domenic,” I say sadly and gently place my hand over his.

He removes it swiftly and looks away.

“You have Cassandra.”

He laughs and turns to face me again. He’s so beautiful. My memories of him don’t do him justice. No man will ever compare to him.

“Cassandra, you really believed that story? Fuck!” he growls. “You just don’t get it, do you? I loved you, and when I finally got you, you left without a single word. And not only that, you wouldn’t even answer my calls. I will never have what I had with you that night with anyone else. I tried… God, I’ve tried. I have fucked women every night to get rid of the memory of how you felt beneath me in my bed, screaming out my name as I brought you pleasure.”

Not liking his admission that he’s fucked women every night, I pull away, sit back in my chair, and have a large gulp of wine.

“And just when I was going to move on and ask Cassandra to marry me, you fucking come back.” His words sound venom, like a foul taste in his mouth.

“I… I don’t know what to say… I’m sorry, Domenic. I’m sorry I left without a word. I know that was wrong now.”

He doesn’t answer, just takes a swig of his beer, then slams it down. “You’re some piece of work, Chloe.”

“Look…” I say sternly. “I know what I did was wrong, but this is business, and I’m here to do a job, and you’re making it very difficult to do that.”

---