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He seemed to hesitate again. "No, I do. He’s housebound and doesn’t get much social interaction. Since Mom passed away, the only person who’s around him full-time is his nurse. We play chess once a week.”
That was even sexier to me than those muscled and tattooed arms.
“Who plays better?” I asked.
“Lately, I do. But I let him win from time to time. Not too often because then he catches on.”
Oh, be still my beating heart. "That's incredibly thoughtful," I said.
"So you've been working since I dropped you off?"
"No. I was downstairs at The Happy Place with my sister and my grandmother. We were... chatting."
"Your voice changed. Are you hiding something?"
I blushed from head to toe. "N-No." And now I was stammering. Good God, I was a wreck when I talked to this man. "I told them about you and our game of pretend. They were shocked and then proceeded to tell me that I should go ahead and act on my instincts if there was something between us."
Why in the name of all that is holy did I tell him that?
"Good to know your grandmother and sister are on my side."
I snorted. "Dom, there are no sides here."
"What did you tell them?"
"That I didn't want to confuse things."
"Reese." His voice was dangerously low.
I sipped from my drink, needing the liquid courage. It was loosening my tongue. I wondered if Tom made it stronger than usual. Then I remembered that I didn't eat much today. Yep, that would do it.
I couldn’t believe it. I was tipsy while talking to a guy I was attracted to but wanted to stay away from. That was going to work out in my favor for sure.
"I haven't eaten much today, so I’m blabbing even more than usual. Just ignore me if I say something stupid.”
"Not at all. I like knowing you intimately."
Tendrils of heat curled through me before pooling between my thighs. I swallowed hard.
"Did you see the email from Monika?" Dom asked, and my stomach bottomed out.
"Oh no. I haven't checked my emails. When did she send it?"
"A few hours ago. She's got it all mapped out."
I grinned. "Let's hear it."
I braced myself as Dom went on. "She's proposing another evening event instead of a day of activities. She could only find one space on short notice, so she can’t offer more than one option. It’s Friday in two weeks.”
“Let me check my calendar." I pulled it up on my phone and scrolled to that date. "Friday is good.”
“For me too. Though she pointed out that it’s understandable if someone can’t make it."
"So we’d have an easy way out," I said.
"Do you want that?" His voice was now a whisper, a little apprehensive.
"No, I don't," I replied just as tentatively.
