Page 12 of Inspiring Dominic

“You assume a lot about me,” I teased. “Of course I always prioritize work, but you can’t live life limiting your fun because of business. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase about all work and no play. Well, sometimes, my play is work or vice versa, but I always make sure I take the time to enjoy myself.”

Dominic nodded, but he didn’t say anything for a couple minutes, his mind seeming miles away. The soothing music playing through the car speakers helped ease us being in complete silence, but there was a comfortability between us that couldn’t be ignored.

I had to admit that I was surprised that Dom had not only agreed to come with me to Cuba, but he also didn’t react like I thought he would upon realizing that I was the journalist behind the articles about some of the resort bars for Prescott Holdings being staples for illegal money laundering.

“Most of my life, I’ve felt like I was waiting on the sidelines watching my team score touchdowns without me,” he stated, still looking out the window. “I played football in high school and college. Got drafted by the NFL only to have an injury during training camp which swiftly ended that career. The crazy thing was, I never really wanted a career in the NFL. I wanted to work at Prescott Holdings, but football was the first thing I was truly great at, and in a lot of ways, I clung to fact that for once, I had something that was just mine. My family didn’t expect me to drop everything and miss football practice.”

“You’re always putting your family before yourself,” I speculated.

“In some ways, yeah,” he confirmed. “But I guess what I’m saying is that at damn near forty, I’m still trying to figure out how I got here. How I managed to go through life living through others—friends, family, and even strangers—instead of myself. I thought I would be married by now with two kids and a couple dogs.” He let out a forced laugh. “Pretty damn pathetic, huh?”

“Not at all,” I answered, pulling over on the side of the road so I could face him. “Feeling stagnant in life is something so many people experience. We all have our triggers that make us question our journey or ask why it took us so long to get to a certain place.” I gently touched his arm, the heat radiating from his body a welcome feeling. “You just need to be inspired, Dom. That’s all.”

His eyes darkened, indicating that I sounded much more sexual than I intended. In the back of my mind, there were a bunch of reasons we should focus on why we were both in Cuba and keep that in perspective. However, those details seemed tiny in comparison to the way I felt about him. The need to introduce him to things he may not have experienced and help him loosen up.

We hadn’t kissed since he learned that I was one behind the Sam Stevens pseudonym. Moving forward at this point meant crossing a visible line instead of a faded one, but I didn’t think we could ignore our chemistry if we tried.

Kiss me,I internally pleaded, wondering what he was thinking. He wanted to, but something was holding him back. Or he was just thinking about everything that had occurred between us so far.

I’d never met a man like him. One who seemed genuine to a fault and open to new possibilities despite having all the reasons why he shouldn’t trust me.And now you’re in Cuba together.Figuring out more about Robert Lanson was one thing. However, sitting there, his eyes studying mine, all I could wonder was if he was feeling the same things I was.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here?”

I jumped at the voice of the person who’d approached the driver’s side of my car. “Gabriella, you can’t sneak up on me like that.”

“But you’re on my property,” she teased, motioning for me to get out the car.

I hopped out of the car, giving her the biggest hug.

“I didn’t even realize I was this close to your house when I stopped,” I told her. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” She looked over my shoulder appreciatively at Dominic. “Who’s the eye candy?”

“I’m Dominic,” he stated, reaching out a hand.

“I’m Gabriella,” she said. “Most folks call me Gaby except my cousin here.”

“Gabriella was born in the States, and she actually found me on Ancestry.com,” I explained. “We’ll be staying in her guest room while we’re here. Gabriella and I were roommates in Chicago for a few years before she moved to Cuba with her fiancé.”

“Who ended up being a cheating, lying, no good piece of shit, sorry excuse for a man,” Gabriella added. “He left, I stayed. Now I have a new boo.”

Dom flashed her a smile. “His loss I’m sure. It’s nice to meet you, Gaby.”

“Same.” Gabriella looked from me to Dom. “Are you two dating?”

I shook my head. “No, nothing like that. I’m here for work, and Dominic decided to accompany me.”

Raising a curious eyebrow, Gabriella crossed her arms over her chest. “You want me to believe nothing’s going on with you two when you were looking so intently in his eyes a few minutes ago?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out. I also didn’t appreciate the amused expression on Dominic’s face when he told Gabriella, “Not as much is going on between us as I’d like, but I plan on breaking your cousin down and changing that.”

Gabriella all but swooned, eating it up as she told us to get out of the street and where to park our rental.

“I don’t believe you,” I whispered to Dom as we got our bags out of the trunk. “You didn’t even kiss me in the car before Gabriella showed up and I know you wanted to. Is it because you know I’m Sam Stevens now?”Really Samara?I sounded like I was whining, and Ihatedwhiny people.

Dom stopped me from picking up my carry-on, and placed my book bag on his shoulders instead. “That’s not why I didn’t kiss you,” he said.

Don’t look at his lips.“Then why?”Fail.

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