Page 22 of Reckless Desire

He snorted. “No. You did. As I recall, there were things you were supposed to do as a wife but didn’t.”

The heat rose to her ears. Dominique wanted to cuss him out, but she wouldn’t embarrass Vincent or herself. Xander wasn’t worth it. She let out a sigh of annoyance. Waving a dismissive, “You know what, it doesn’t matter. You’re not worth me wasting another breath on. I’ve released you to your destiny.”

“Heh, I see therapy’s been working for you.”

“Excuse me, Dominique, there’s actually something else I need to go over with you. Can you please step back into my office?”

“Yes, sure, Mr. Moretti,” Dominique said, turning to him with a big smile. She didn’t hesitate to walk into Vincent’s office without so much as a glance back in Xander’s direction.

She heard Vincent turn the lock while she stood in the center of his office. A moment later, his arms encircled her. Fighting back tears, Dominique sagged into his muscular chest. She didn’t hate anyone, but Xander ranked close to the top of the list. It was still jarring to know he’d been there, of all places, after her moment with Vincent. The echo of his accusation that she was the cause of their failed marriage filled her head again. Her body went rigid.

“Hey, hey, relax,” Vincent spoke softly, resting his chin on top of her head. “I’m here. You’re okay.”

Feeling the safety and warmth of his arms enveloping her body provided a small measure of comfort. “Thank you,” Dominique murmured. “I know better than to let him get under my skin, but it’s like he knows exactly what to say to push my buttons.”

Vincent gently spun her around until they were facing each other. He lightly lifted her chin with his finger, prompting her to look up and lock eyes with him. “Listen to me,” his voice was firm yet gentle. “As long as I’m around, he’s not going to push your buttons. I won’t let him get close enough to you to do that. Understood?”

She looked intently at Vincent, trying to find any sign of deception in his words. But before she had the chance to respond, he spoke again.

“Look, I know things might seem uncertain right now because we’re just getting started, but I promise I won’t hurt you. And I’m not letting anybody hurt you.”

Dominique let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping as if a weight had been lifted from them. “Okay, I trust you.”

“Good girl.” Vincent leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips.

Dominique grabbed his tie. “Really, baby boy? You must want to visit your grandma again.”

Love is like a chess game. It’s not about who’s smartest, but who plays their strongest. Love is a game of chess. You have to be smart but also trust your heart.

~Unknown

Chapter 9

“I can’t wait to see what you think of my mama’s recipe,” Vincent said while setting the plate with a generous helping of lasagna in front of Dominique.

“This must be your plate ‘cause this is way too much.”

Vincent placed a small bowl of garlic knots in the middle of the dining room table. He lowered himself into the chair next to her. “I think you’ll be able to eat all of it after you take the first bite. Thank me later. But first, give me your hands. Let me bless this food.”

After a quick blessing over their dinner, he and Dominique dug into their plates.

“Omigod!” Dominique praised while stuffing another forkful of the pasta in her mouth. “Mmm, this is so delicious!”

“Told you. My mama’s recipe is better than my grandma’s. At least that’s what my dad always says.”

“Wait. The one you went to visit last month?” She stared blankly at Vincent for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter.

“Oh, your little ass got jokes now.”

“Yeah, since you’re a survivor. It wasn’t funny that day, though. I really thought you were going to the upper room to be with our Sky Daddy.”

Vincent let out a hearty belly laugh. “Yeah, for real. I think I was three steps away from seeing him, but you brought me back. Thank you.” He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss on her lips.

They continued to chat casually while finishing their meal. Dominique shared updates on her consulting business, with several new clients recently signing up. They then shifted to discussing Vincent’s case and the progress he had made since arriving in Chicago a little over a month ago. Although his inside connection was providing useful information, it wasn’t enough for him to make significant headway. He still had some resources left to tap into, but time was running out.

“I wish things were going in my favor. Right now, it’s slow-moving. I’m not going to worry about it. I have a backup plan. We’ll get to the bottom of things soon enough.” He said it more to reassure himself than anyone else.

Dominique rubbed his arm, speaking with sincerity. “I hope you do, but I have even more faith you will.”

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