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Dripping wet and starting to feel the chill, I went to go dry off. Besides, this was no conversation for an evening gown. This was definitely a yoga pants type of chat.
On the way to the bathroom, all I could think about were Dominic’s words tumbling over in my head. Could Ransom really lose his company? I was there when he built it. Maybe he would let me help.
After washing up, removing the layers of makeup, and changing into a wide-necked sweatshirt and black yoga pants, I stood in the doorway stunned.
Dominic’s voice was laced with frustration. “The only reason you’d blow this off is for a pussy. You’re seeing someone?”
Ransom took a giant step forward. “It’s none of your fucking business!”
His words hit me like a slap. Dominic didn’t know about us.
Dominic took a step toward him so they were chest to chest. “You should be packing to go with me to Seattle to save your company, but instead you seem to think handing me your proxy will be enough. So, who is she? You would have told me if it was Phoebe, but you haven’t, so who’s the girl you’re fucking?”
Ransom bent and lunged forward, using his shoulder to hit Dominic square in the gut. Even though Dominic seemed ready for it, he still had the wind knocked out of him. But the brawl didn’t end there. After Ransom threw a few punches, Dominic elbowed him on the head until he let go. Then it was down to a good old-fashioned fistfight.
Dominic had a smug expression as he stood dancing on the balls of his feet. “You’re trying to keep her from me. Afraid I’ll steal her from you, right?”
Ransom’s lip curled. “Leave her out of this!”
Dominic’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Why? Who is she?”
He threw a right hook. “Leave it alone!”
Watching the two of them like this, I felt like I was in an out-of-body experience. Surely, Ransom couldn’t have been telling his teammates that we were together and not his brother and Aunt Lori. If he loved me, wouldn’t he have shared our decision to be together with his own family? If we were truly together, wouldn’t he be proud of that instead of trying to hide it from his brother?
Dominic batted his fist away. “Who is she?”
Ransom surged in and pulled his legs out from under him. They both fell to the floor with Ransom on top pummeling Dominic’s sides. “Leave her out of this!”
Dominic lifted his feet and shoved Ransom back onto his ass. “Who?”
I’d had enough of this. Taking a step forward, I crossed my arms. “Well, I thought it was me. But now I’m curious. Sounds like there must be someone else involved.”
Ransom growled, pushing to his knees. “Goddammit!”
Dominic pointed between us. “Wait, you two? You finally made it work?”
I choked back a sob. “I guess not.” I ran into the guest bedroom, locking it, and flopping on top of my research. It felt like all the air went out of the entire world. I was left gasping and crying, unable to catch my breath.
With two sets of fists on the door, I knew the lock couldn’t hold for long. By the time it gave way, the door flew open and I already knew what would happen. Ransom would apologize, Dominic would take the blame, and I was supposed to forgive them. It’s what we always did. But this time was different.
Ransom knelt next to the bed, pushing my hair back. “Raven, I’m so sorry.”
Dominic held up his hands. “This is all my fault, sassy pants. I should have announced my visit. It came up so quickly and I knew I’d have to convince this dipshit to come in person.”
I shook my head a little and sniffled.
“Say something, anything,” Ransom implored, handing me a tissue.
It was tempting, but I remained silent. Saying something led to conversation and I really couldn’t deal with it right now.
Ransom continued to paw at me, thinking touch would make it better. “I swear I’ve never been with anyone else since you were here in November. Dom’s talking out his ass.”
Dominic nodded. “I was. I could tell there was a tail he was chasing. Didn’t realize it was yours.”
I narrowed my eyes at Ransom and lifted a brow.
Ransom opened his mouth a few times. He knew what I was asking him with that look. He knew I wanted to know why he hadn’t shared what I thought was our new relationship with his brother. And he didn’t have a good reason. Well, maybe he was just chasing tail after all.
