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It's not real, Reese.
"But wait... remember, we said we'd try to keep it realistic? During our first meeting, I poured champagne all over you, and you thought I was hitting on you." I snorted at the memory.
He chuckled. "Now that I think of it, 'smitten at first sight' doesn’t sound like me. How about this: you came in, and I thought you came on purpose to try and pick me up. I got annoyed. Then you clarified that you just wanted a dress."
I considered this. "It sounds realistic. But I also like the smitten-at-first-sight version. I've always thought there’s something dreamy about the idea of love hitting you out of nowhere. Or at least lust. Feeling that spark before you even know the person."
He laughed without humor. "That's a recipe for disaster because you only judge a book by its cover."
"I know, but I still like the idea of it. Soulmates and all that."
He turned to look at me and seemed confused. "You believe in...soulmates?"
"Yes," I said.
"Your fiancé cheated on you with your best friend."
I winced.
"Fuck. Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"No, you shouldn't," I murmured. "I get what you're saying, though. I should probably forget about romance. Reality is cruel." I frowned. "But maybe that's why I believe good things do exist."
"Right. So we have our meeting set in stone. I honestly don't think anyone's going to ask details about how many times we've been on dates and stuff like that."
"They might. We should probably know things about each other, just so we're not blindsided."
"All right. You go first."
"I grew up in Chicago. I went to college here."
"Did you ever work in the chain of bookstores?" he asked.
"No. That was sold before I was old enough to work. I was in finance for a long time, and then my ex and I wanted to open a spa in the building where my grandmother still runs The Happy Place."
"What's that?"
"It's the first bookstore she and my granddad ever opened."
He nodded. "Right. I'm assuming the spa didn't work out?"
"No, not at all. After I broke off our engagement, the whole project fell apart. I did wind up working at The Happy Place for a while at that point. Then Travis, my cousin, bought the buildings adjacent to Gran’s and opened The Maxwell Hotel. I’m the CFO.”
I hesitated, unsure how much more of my past to unload, but knowing Malcolm, he'd bring it up.
“Malcolm didn't take it well at all that the business fell apart. He’d been working for an investment fund, and the fund would have invested in the spa. But after I backed out of the agreement, they fired Malcolm.”
"Serves him right," he sneered.
"He tried to sue my family for it repeatedly." I swallowed hard. "And last year he decided to blackmail me. Said he’d give a little interview about why our relationship ended if I didn't get him his old job back."
Dom turned to face me again.
"Hey, eyes on the road."
"Continue. I’m shocked."
"Yep, so was I."
