Page 89 of Swept for Forever
Victory surged through me.
Right up until I turned toward the back gate and saw Dom standing there with his arms crossed, blocking my way.
Nice one, genius.
All that top-shelf strategy, outmaneuvered in five seconds flat by Mr. Lawman himself.
He took his time looking me over, his gaze sweeping from my wild hair to my bare feet before inevitably landing on my T-shirt.
MyIBuffaloberry HillT-shirt.
Perfect. Just perfect.
“Hello, Autumn.”
“Dom.”
Damn. Even now, standing there like a fugitive caught mid-escape, his name still felt good on my tongue.
But it didn’t stop my throat from going dry when I asked, “What are you doing here?”
His expression gave away nothing. “Take a drive with me.”
I glanced down at my T-shirt again, cringing. “Let me get dressed.”
His gaze stayed on me, appraising. “Fine. But no funny tricks. If you run, I’ll find you.”
The chill didn’t come from the air. It came from his tone. I replied, “No funny tricks.” Then I darted back inside.
Mom was waiting in the hallway, her eyebrows raised. “Where did you come from?”
“The back,” I said, already halfway to my room. “I need to get changed. I’ll be out for a bit.”
Mom followed me. And to my horror, she let out a dreamy sigh. “What a gentleman.”
I shot her a look. “What?”
She beamed. “Finally, a man with some presence.”
I rolled my eyes, yanking my berry-print T-shirt from the laundry hamper.Still damp.Letting it drop, I reached for my backup. Hanging in my closet was the flowy dress I’d picked up from the Buffaloberry boutique. I hadn’t worn it in a while, but it still reminded me of how it felt to be safe with him.
When I stepped back outside, he was in deep conversation with Mom, as if he’d known her for years. So much for him being all curt and cold.
I could already see that the jury would eat him up. Well, the female ones anyway.
Then his gaze landed on me, and something flickered in his eyes. Recognition.
But it didn’t linger.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice even.
I lifted my chin. “I’ll get Lulu.”
“Nah, leave Lulu with your mom.”
Mom nodded, already reaching for Lulu. “Yes, honey. Leave her with me.”
Dom wasn’t giving me a choice.
