Page 24 of Forbidden Passion

The elevator doors slid open, and the woman stepped out. “You two take care.”

Tessa raised her hand. “You, too.”

When the doors slid closed, Tessa looked up at Dominik. The muscle in his jaw ticked, telling her he was more upset aboutthe situation with the doctor than she had first thought.

“I’m sorry.”

He glanced down at her. “For not telling me you were getting harassed?”

She sighed and nodded. “I thought I could handle it on my own. I know how busy you are right now, and I didn’t want to disturb you with this.”

“That’s not your place, Angel. I’m the one who protects you, but I must know about these things so I can fix them. I can guarantee that man will never bother you again.”

She kissed his chest. “I know I was wrong.”

“We’ll talk more about this when we get home.”

She nodded and rested against him.

The ride home was silent, but Dominik kept hold of her hand, and his thumb rubbed back and forth on her knuckle. When they got home, Dominik came around, opened her door, unsnapped her seat belt, and lifted her out of the truck.

He took her hand and led her into the house. “Why don’t you go and shower first?” he said.

She hoped he’d shower with her, but she didn’t push him. She nodded. “Okay.”

Tessa took her time, giving Dominik a chance to settle a bit more. When she walked out of the bedroom in her lounge pants and shirt, he was looking out at his backyard.

“I’m done,” she said.

He turned, glanced at her, and nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

She watched him move around her and into the bedroom. Her heart sank when she realized he was more upset than she’d thought. Another thought popped into her head. She remembered when his body stiffened when the older lady mentioned children. It was one thing they hadn’t talked about. Now that she thought about it, they really hadn’t talked aboutthe future at all.

He’d said he wanted them together forever a few times in the beginning but hadn’t heard anything else in the four months she’d lived with him.

Tessa decided to start dinner. She’d try to get the courage to ask him some questions, but she didn’t want to push too much now since he was already upset.

The chicken she’d thawed that morning was frying while she cut the potatoes into small chunks and then into a boiling pot of water. She checked the rolls she’d put in the oven to find them just about done.

She heard his footsteps behind her. “I hope you’re hungry.”

She glanced over her shoulder to see him pulling a beer from the refrigerator. When he didn’t say anything, she turned back to the potatoes and concentrated on them. Within thirty minutes, the rolls were done, the chicken crisp and brown, and the potatoes mashed.

Nothing was said as Dominik set the table while she brought over the bowls and plates of food.

“Do you want another beer, Dominik?” she asked before she sat down.

He shook his head.

She’d rather have him yell at her than ignore her. Any appetite she had fled. She sat down and put a tiny bit of food on her plate. She tried to take a few bites, but every time, she’d have to take a drink of water to get it down her throat.

Tessa finally set her fork on her plate and stood. “I’m going to grab my book and read for a while. Leave everything here, and I’ll get it later.

He grabbed onto her arm when she passed him. “Where do you think you’re going? You hardly ate anything.”

She looked away. “I’m not very hungry right now.”

“Sit down, Angel,” he murmured.

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