Page 16 of Starts With a Bang

Sven:I’m up for a buddy watch on Wednesday if you’re available.

Dom:I’ll make time. You pick the movie.

Sat, Jul 13, 2024 at 4:30pm

Dom:Free tonight?

Me:For you? Always! Do you want to make up our missed movie night?

Dom:I have something better in mind.

Me:Color me curious.

Dom:I need some surveillance help with a case.

Me:Ohh. A mission. I’m in! What do I wear?

Dom:Dress low-key. Nothing sexy. I need you to blend in at a bar and watch for someone to arrive. Snap a discreet photo or two if they do. I was just there asking questions last night and don’t want the bar staff to get suspicious and tip off the guy.

Me:Is this dangerous?

Dom:Would I ask you if it was?

Me:No. You’d ask Kerry. But he’s away with Keegan this weekend, doing a vineyard tour or something. My money says they’ll be married before the year is out.

Dom:What’s the wager?

Me:A kiss.

Dom:I’ll take that bet.

Me:I’ll be sure to use a lip mask every night to keep my pucker supple.

Dom:Uh, which pucker? What am I kissing?

Me:Guess we’ll find out, won’t we?

Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 1:10 pm

Me:Kerry’s lawsuit got dropped during the deposition. Normally, I’d assume that Kerry would’ve told you already, but he and Keegan skipped out before the celebration lunch to party in private.

Dom:That’s the best news. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll act surprised when Kerry eventually reaches out.

Me:We’re having a party at The Feisty Bull tonight. You should come. I’ll be good.

Dom:I have a hard deadline on a case I’m working. Kerry’s lawyer was so impressed with my work that he’s hired me to do freelance work for his agency. I’d come otherwise. Still on for our Wednesday movie?

Me:Yep.

Saturday, Oct 26, 2024 at 9:00 pm

I looked at my reflection in the upstairs powder room as I washed my hands. Though I’d dressed as the male version of a noir vixen for the Halloween party, my expression was more melancholy than seductive. Dom had said he’d try his best to make it, but I had resigned myself that he’d be a no-show again. I’d existed on a meager diet of Wednesday watch-alongs because that was the best Dom could give me. And it was enough most of the time, but on other occasions, the loneliness and pining became unbearable. Maybe I needed to try harder to meet new men.

I forced a neutral expression on my face, dried my hands, and left the bathroom. A man stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his head down. He wore a trench coat, suit, and a fedora. I didn’t need to see his face to know who waited for me outside the bathroom. Any notion of meeting someone else vanished like my willpower around a holiday dessert table.

“Dom, you made it!”

He looked up and gave me a rakish smile that matched his costume. The grin widened as Dom raked his gaze over my slim-fitting black pants, tight V-neck black cashmere sweater, and the pearl choker around my neck. “You look good enough to eat.” Heat bloomed in Dom’s cheeks, and I decided he hadn’t meant to say that.

---