Page 96 of When Morning Comes Around

“I like to think so.”

She held his gaze. She was tempted to tell him about the guest house at Dom’s new place, but she didn’t think he’d go for it.Besides, it wasn’t her place to invite him to live there. Dom had suggested it, but that didn’t mean she should ask. It wasn’t likely that her dad would move anyway.

He picked up the TV remote. “I’m going to put my shows on. You should go and get dressed. Come and let me see you before you go out.”

“I will. Can I get you anything before I go take a shower?”

“Nope.” Just as she reached the door, he added, “But you can do me a favor and text me if you’re not coming back tonight.”

She felt the heat in her cheeks as she turned back to him. He laughed. “You’ll always be my little girl, but you’re far from a kid. I’m asking that if you’re going to spend the night with Dom, will you send me a text and let me know. I don’t want to be worrying about you. If you text me, I’ll know you’re safe.”

“That I haven’t broken down on the side of the road again?”

“Because you’re with Dom.”

She swallowed.

“He’s a good ‘un, and we both know it.” With that he turned the TV on and took out his dentures.

She took her time in the shower and spent far too long getting dressed and doing her makeup. It was only a night at The Boathouse. But no matter how much she tried to tell herself that, she wasn’t buying it. It was her first big night out with Dom. She swallowed, and maybe her first night with him. She grinned at herself in the mirror. It was about time!

She was glad that he hadn’t wanted to rush things. She and Dale hadn’t been physical in a long time – it’d been so long thatshe couldn’t even put a number on it. She knew it was years and not months, though. But even so, it hadn’t been all that long since they were still together. She made a face. That hadn’t worried Dale – he’d been screwing Adrienne before Sadie had even made it to the airport.

She came back to the moment when the doorbell rang. She checked herself in the mirror one last time before running downstairs.

When she opened the door, the sight of Dom took her breath away.

“Wow!” She fanned her hand in front of her face.

He chuckled. “I think that’s my line. You look fantastic.”

She shook her head. “I did my best. But you …” She let her gaze travel over him. He was wearing a dark brown leather jacket over a black shirt, and he looked good enough to eat. When he leaned down to kiss her, she noticed that he smelled fabulous, too.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, going for more than the peck that he’d offered.

“Let him come say hello and goodbye so that you can be on your way,” her dad called from the living room.

Dom winked at her as she stepped back and led him to the living room.

“Hey, Harvey. How’s it going?”

“I’m doing great. Go on, you don’t need to hang around here being polite. Go and enjoy your evening.”

“We’re on our way in a second. I just wanted to deliver these.” He set a bag on the end table and her dad raised his eyebrows. “Jake got some more of that treacle toffee – he sent you half.”

“He’s a good lad.”

“He is.”

Her dad smiled at her. “You look beautiful, honey bun.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Sadie went to kiss his cheek. “At the risk of annoying you, I have to ask – do you need anything before we go?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

“What can I …?”

“You can go in the kitchen and occupy yourself with something while I have a word with your man.”

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