Page 112 of Always You
“I came to see you, baby. Damnit, woman, we need to talk. Can I come in? It’s fucking cold here.”
I moved to the side to let him in.
His eyes roam my body, stopping at my breasts. I forgot I’m not wearing a bra. My nipples peek out through the thin material. I wrapped my arms around my chest. Drinking him in, I missed him so much. He’s not,
mine, and he still has not answered me to why in the hell he came all this way.
“Dominic, why are you here in Manhattan?”
His voice is hoarse when he speaks. “Angel, I-I needed to see you, to talk to you. I tried to give you space, but we need to talk. You have ignored me every chance you get. You don’t answer my calls or texts.”
I rest my hand on my hips. Space, what the fuck space? Is he serious?
“You could’ve waited until I got back,” I snap. “Go back to your fucking fiancée. I don’t need you here.”
thirty-six
DOMINIC
My face and hands are numb. Damn it, it is so cold here. All I brought was a hoodie and a backpack with two changes of clothes. Yeah, I didn’t think much about the freezing cold. Mila stands, hands wrapped around herself, probably to keep me from staring at her perfect nipples peeking through the thin material of her shirt. She glares at me coldly.
“You could’ve waited until I got back,” she snaps. “Go back to your fucking fiancée. I don’t need you here.” Her voice is laced with venom.
I walk to the red brick fireplace, warming my hands. Her lips form a tight line pressed together. Her guard is up. I look for the cut on her temple. It’s covered with her raven hair.
“Angel, if you would have talked to me from the beginning, we could have talked things out—you’re a damn stubborn woman.”
She laughs sarcastically. “Oh, when should we have talked? When you texted to go over to find Samantha right after you fucked her?”
Her pained-filled eyes break my heart.
“Baby, stop right there and just let me talk for once. I have so much to say. First, I know. Sophie told me about the text. I did not know about any of this. Samantha came to my work; she said she wanted to talk. She got my phone when I left. Remember I had the plumbing problem?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“Well, I told her I was busy, I didn’t have time to talk, and we had nothing to talk about. So, I left the office to talk to the plumber. She must’ve gotten my phone then.”
She frowns, her shoulder slump as she sits on the couch. She keeps her distance from me as expected. It tugs at my chest.
“So, how did she get in your place? Hmm, because the way she looked as if you two were sleeping buddies,” she says through gritted teeth.
“Can I finish, woman?”
“Fine, continue.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how she got my key, but I’ll change the locks. She planned it for you to go and staged it to make it seem like we’re together.”
Her head tilts. Her green eyes sparkle with relief. “You’re not back with her?” she asks. Unsure if she can believe me.
“No, baby, I would never cheat on you, or leave you for anyone. But, Mila, I didn’t use you, nor would ever use you. Especially after Liam showed up at my house with the news of what my mom had done. I was wordlessly shocked. Fuck, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I still can’t.”
I sit next to her on the couch. I reach for her hands. Luckily, she lets me hold the soft warmth of her hands. An exhale blows out of her cheeks. She glowers at our hands clasped together when she turns her eyes back to mine.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you found out? Why did you wait, like it wasn’t important? We’re you protecting your mom? She wanted to kill me, Dominic. I’ve never been so scared in all my life. The thought of leaving Dante terrified me. I-I couldn’t stomach you raising Dante with Samantha.” Her hooded eyes glare into the crackling fire.
My chest burns; the thought of losing Mila would leave me terminal. I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, sighing with so much desperation, she will give us a chance to fight this together—my beautiful Angel.
“I would never defend Rachel for what she did. She deserves to pay for what she did. Mila, baby, I didn’t know how to tell you. I was terrified of losing you. What first came to mind was that when you’d look at me, you will see what she did, baby. Fuck, baby, I’ve never been so scared in my life, Mila. The thought of my mom hurting you. I can’t live without you, Mila. I wouldn’t know how to, I would never raise our son with another woman, Mila. Never. Like I said, if it’s not you, it’s no one.”
