Page 103 of Beautiful Desire

“Not since what?”

Shaking my head, I continue.

“Nothing. It’s been about a year since I last spoke to them. They told me I was throwing my life away being somebody’s lowly PA and I should get a real job,” I say with a little more bite than I intended. “I’m sorry, I just still get worked up over what my family thinks of me and my job.”

Dom takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze. A surge of electricity shoots up my arm from the slightest touch.

“Hey, don’t be. It’s their loss. You’re an incredible woman, and if they can’t see what they’re missing out on, then that’s on them.”

“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely.

He drops the subject of my family, and my shoulders sag with relief as he pulls out the food and lays it before me. A meat and cheese charcuterie board, fruit salad, champagne along with flutes, bottled water, and – of course – some cannoli. Everything looks delicious and I’m starving, so I dig right in.

We start to eat, and the whole time, it’s filled with easy conversation. No awkward silences, and nothing seems to be off-limits for him. I don’t realize how late it’s getting until I find myself yawning.

Of course, Dom sees this and says, “Let me get you home. You must be exhausted after working all day.”

I don’t argue because he’s right. I am.

“Okay. Let me help you clean this up first,” I tell him.

“Are you sure?” His eyes go wide in shock.

“Yeah. It won’t take more than a couple of minutes. Plus, I would hate to leave the candles burning and have them burn down this beautiful gazebo.”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

He makes his way around the perimeter to blow out all the candles while I pack up the leftovers and our plates inside the basket. I’m just folding the blanket when he comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle and pulling my back flush up against his chest. Although I’m tired, my body comes alive from his touch.

Speaking directly into my ear, he says, “You ready?”

His deep, sexy voice sends a shiver down my spine and has me ready for something entirely different. He must be able to sense what I’m thinking, because he rubs his hardness against me.

“I’m ready for that too, but that’s not what I was talking about.” Dropping a quick kiss to my cheek, he steps back from me, and I instantly miss the warmth of his touch.

He bends down to pick up the basket and grabs my hand with his free one as we walk down the stairs of the gazebo. I start heading in the direction of where we left the boat when he tugs at my hand.

“This way,” he says, and cocks his head behind him.

“But the boat is this way,” I say, and point over my shoulder.

“Trust me?” he asks.

Without even thinking, I respond, “Yes.”

A smile pulls at his handsome face when he says, “Good girl.”

Those words have a direct path to my core, as I feel wetness grow between my legs. We walk hand-in-hand in the opposite direction of the pond, and I’m starting to wonder if he’s taking me home or back to his home, this big mansion.

After about ten minutes, I see a stone pathway leading to the side of the house. Only it doesn’t. It brings us back up to front, where Bill is once again standing outside the Mercedes waiting for us.

We both climb into the backseat as Bill gets into the driver’s seat, starting the engine and taking off back in the direction of the city. Dom pulls me into his side and drapes his arm around me. I rest my head on his shoulder, and his hand gently rubs up and down on my arm, lulling me to sleep.

I feel my eyelids getting heavy, and before I know it, I’ve succumbed to exhaustion. It seems like I was only out for five minutes when I’m being lightly shaken awake.

“Miss Parker, wake up. You’re home.”

“Hmm?”

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