Page 56 of Kingpin
Alannah
“If you put that dress on, we might not make it to dinner.”
I giggle as I zip up my favorite black dress and Dominic stands in the doorway grinning. He took the time to go home and change while I was at work, and he’s a tall glass of water to a woman dying of thirst as he stands with his hands in the pockets, wearing a navy blue suit with sky blue pinstripes. He dresses like he has a tailor living in his closet at River City, so I had to break out my favorite dress just to keep up.
“Hey, I thought the same thing when you picked me up wearing that suit,” I respond. “So, you started it.”
“Oh, I see. You’re one of those people?”
“What? What people?”
“A one-upper.”
“I am not,” I snip, as we laugh together. “There’s just going to be a lot of girls checking you out, so I have to step my game up so they know you’re with me.”
“Okay, I get it now. Trying to protect what’s yours?”
I fight back a smile and glare at him, because it sounds so good to hear him say he’s mine. He’s right, but I won’t tell him that.
“So, I think I’m ready. You?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Am I ready? Fuhgeddaboutit.”
The bright city lights of St. Louis shine into the car and help to keep a continuous smile on my face. The speed at which all of this has happened is crazy, and it’s a bit surreal to be driving on the highway in St. Louis with Dominic in the driver’s seat. It’s all so much different than the cold of Alaska, where it’s either bright most of the day or dark most of the day, depending on the time of year. I’m here with him, instead of there with my parents and my friends of the past decade. It’s a drastic change, yet I don’t feel out of place or afraid like I expected. I guess that’s because being with Dominic makes me feel so comfortable, plus I lived in this city a while, so it’s not completely foreign to me. Nonetheless, it’s a trip being here with all of this going on, but my excitement-to-worried ratio is two-to-one. I feel like there’s a great adventure ahead of me, but I’m going through it with Dominic, and it’s all okay. I’m okay.
We decided on Red Lobster this time, and we made sure tonotmake reservations. The last thing I could handle is another Isle of Capri situation. So, we park and walk into the restaurant hand in hand like a real couple ready for the long haul of commitment.
To be honest, at this point in time, I don’t really know what I’m doing. Dominic and I are together, but there’s a lot of other stuff that’s going on under the surface. I haven’t forgotten that he’s in the mafia, or that he has a checkered past that probably includes hurting people in the name of “family business.” I also haven’t forgotten that he has ongoing drama with the guy from Lumiere Place—the one he thinks sent the guy to shoot him. I know things aren’t picture perfect with him, so if you’re wondering how I’m holding his hand as we walk, I don’t have an answer that even I understand. The only thing I do understand is that I want to be with him, and how I feel about the other stuff is the same as I felt about it when we were kids. Dominic treats me the way every woman wants to be treated by the guy she’s with, so that’s what I’m trying to focus on. I know I have to figure out if I can accept the other stuff, but right now I’m just enjoying being with him. I’m enjoying reliving the part of my life I’ve always cherished most, and it feels too good to just throw it out. I don’t know how to explain it in a way other people would understand, so I’m not looking for an explanation. Instead, I’m hanging on to what I realized when he showed up to my house yesterday; Dominic is the love of my life, and there’s nothing more powerful than knowing that’s true.
Once we’re inside, we’re taken to our seats immediately. It’s hard not to think about the last time we had dinner, but we both do a good job of acting like it’s not in the back of our minds.
Our waiter, a tall guy with a super-thick mustache, takes our orders and we’re left alone. I sip my wine and take a second to soak Dominic in. He has grown up to be so incredibly hot that I’m still surprised by it. Who would’ve known that the lips everyone used to make fun of him for would end up being his best feature. It took a little time, but he grew into everything with absolute perfection.
“What’s up?” he says when he sees me staring at him.
“How’d you get so hot?” I ask with a giggle.
“Look who’s talking,” he replies, and we share another laugh.
“No, really, Dominic. You’re twenty-five years old, you make a ton of money, and you’re gorgeous. So, I really want to know how you got to this point without at least a long-term girlfriend. Any other guy who has what you have would be taking advantage as often as possible.”
He lets out a sigh and sinks into his chair, making himself comfortable.
“Well, growing up, my concern was never about getting girls,” he begins. “When I was a kid, everybody made fun of me, especially girls. I’m sure you remember that. So, as a result, I guess I decided I wouldn’t give anybody that kind of attention. At least until I met you. You’re the first girl I ever had a crush on, and that kinda stuck after you left. Not to mention, I’ve had some crazy experiences with women in the past, let me tell you.”
“Ooh, please do. I love stories about crazy women!”
“Oh yeah? Well, I’ve got a few. I knew this one girl who told me she was pregnant with my baby three days after we met.”
I burst out laughing. I even manage to draw the attention of the table next to us.
“Are you serious? How’d she try to explain that one?”
“She didn’t,” he continues after a sip of his champagne. “She found out I owned casinos and the next thing I knew, she showed up with a positive pregnancy test. She brought it with her when we went out on a date. Pulled the stick right out of her pocket at the dinner table and told me how happy she was thatwewere pregnant.”
“Oh my god! That’s crazy and gross at the same time,” I exclaim while laughing like a kid with a sugar high. “So, then what’d you do?”
“I laughed a little, then I got up and left her crazy ass at the table alone.”
