Page 28 of Forbidden Passion

She explained that Dominik had come up behind them when Dr. Farley was trying to flirt with her.

Nicole laughed. “Oh, God, I wish I could have seen his face when he saw Dominik.”

Tessa grinned. “It was hilarious. What was also funny was the way he stayed as far away from me as he could today and didn’t talk to me unless it was necessary.”

“Good, that bastard has made it hard for several of us. Maybe Dominik scared him enough to stay away from all the women.”

Tessa nodded. “I think he did.”

Tessa went on to talk about the woman in the elevator and the ride home, how the night went slowly downhill, and how she went to bed alone for the first time she and Dominik had been together.

“What do you think is bothering him so much?” Michelle asked.

“I’m not positive, but he acted like he had thought about children but didn’t want them with me.”

The feeling of despair was still fresh.

“I can’t believe that,” Nicole said. “That man loves you more than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

“I think he loves me, but I’m not positive. He said a few things the first night we were together but nothing about feelings or the future since,” Tessa told them.

“Guys are such pussies,” Michelle growled.

Tessa and Nicole burst out laughing. The three didn’tdrink very often and were all feeling buzzed and loose.

Nicole raised her glass. “I agree with that.”

Tessa just snorted and took another drink. “What should I do?”

“Could you just ask him what the problem is?” Nicole asked.

Tessa thought about it for a minute. “I don’t know. I’m afraid of the answer. What if he’s with me until Pierce is caught?”

“He asked you to move in with him,” Michelle said.

“Yes, but the way he phrased it was because his house had better security and a bigger bed. Nothing has been said about making it permanent.”

The three sat in silence for a minute.

“God, I don’t know what I’d do,” Nicole confessed.

Michelle patted her arm. “I say give it time. You guys have only been together for a little over four months.”

Tessa nodded. “I’m planning on it, but I hate the awkwardness between us, and I don’t know how to change it.”

“Act normal,” Nicole said. “Try to put it out of your mind for now. Put all your feelings out there. You don’t have to say anything. I think the actions will speak for themselves.”

Michelle nodded. “I agree.”

“I’m horrible at pretending or lying,” she said.

“Don’t think of it like that,” Michelle said. “Think of it as keeping the peace for now.”

Tessa thought about it for a moment and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll try that. I’m glad we got together tonight.”

“I am, too. We need to do this at least once a month,” Nicole said.

Tessa smiled. “I’d like that. How about my place in a few weeks?”

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