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"Daisy," he greets, and his deep voice is a purr. "Please sit."
I do, unable to keep myself from staring. Dominic Falcone is an intoxicating man, and being alone with him in his own home is making me lose my mind. The things I want to do to him, and the things I want him to do to me...what is wrong with me?
The meal reflects the late hour—two roasted turkey sandwiches with crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and toasted bread and what looks like a handful of chips. My heart stutters in my chest. Did he make this himself? The idea of it is so touching, so opposite of what I would expect from this hulking, deadly man, that I have to blink away tears before he can see.
"Did you do this?" I ask, unable to live another second without knowing. It's such a small thing, but I'm stuck on it. I can't remember the last time someone prepared a meal for me.
"I did." Dominic's mouth quirks up, just slightly, a hint of a smile. "Is it okay?"
"It's more than okay," I tell him, picking up the sandwich and taking a bite. It's delicious, and I can't help the moan that slips out at the taste.
Dominic's eyes gleam, and I'm not sure why. "I'm glad you like it. You must be hungry after such a long day."
"Starving, actually." I swallow. "But mostly exhausted, too."
"I can only imagine." Dominic leans forward, his forearms on the table. "I hate to turn the subject back to more difficult things, but I wasn't able to get into contact with Carlo on my own. He must be screening my calls. So I have my...employees looking for him, and I've posted extra security around the house. Don't worry, my people work quickly."
I nod, taking a sip of the glass of ice water Dominic poured for me. "Okay. That makes me feel better."
"It's the least I can do, considering Carlo is my blood." He looks troubled but shakes it off before he continues. "And I'd be lying if I said it wasn't also a selfish move on my part. I can already tell I'm going to like having you here, Daisy." Dominic sits back, and there's that ghost of a smile again. "I'm a solitary man, but this house is too big and too empty sometimes."
The sandwich is simple enough, but I'm way hungrier than I thought I was and make quick work of it. Dominic takes small bites of his own, but he's more intent on watching me, a pleased look on his face as he does so.
"Do I have something on my face?" I joke, but Dominic just shakes his head.
"I like providing for you, Daisy," he tells me, his deep voice rolling over me and I just know my cheeks are going red again. "And I like seeing you enjoy what I provide."
My mouth drops open, but no sound comes out, and Dominic chuckles. "Am I embarrassing you?"
"No," I answer honestly. "You're confusing me a little. I'm not used to..."
"Attention?"
"Anyone paying this close attention to me. Ever." I take a gulp of water.
Dominic stands, takes my plate, and places it in the dishwasher, and I immediately miss his company across from me.
"All the staff here are very discreet. They're used to keeping secrets, so you don't have to worry about anything getting out. Not from my people," Dominic tells me. "But is there anyone who is going to be looking for you that you WANT to know that you're safe? Friends? Roommates? Family?"
I wilt a little in my seat, shoulders slumping. "Ah...no. I used to live in one of the suburbs outside of the city with my mom, just the two of us. She was a nurse around here, but she'd been dying to move to the coast since I was a kid. I wanted to move to the city anyway and save up some money to go to school, and Mom gave me a little money to make the move. She took a nursing job in Florida and moved not long after I did."
Dominic leans back against the counter, his broad chest and thick arms looking even more enticing with his dress shirt unbuttoned a bit at the collar. "Do you get along with your mother?"
"Oh, yeah." I nod. "I just don't get to see her very much. We talk every so often. She's happy in Florida."
"And your father?"
I can feel myself sinking in my seat. This is not my favorite subject. "He...well. He gave my mom a fake name, and when he found out she was pregnant with me, he disappeared. She thinks he had another family and just went underground so he didn't get caught cheating on his wife." I shrug one shoulder, running my finger over the ring of my water glass.
Dominic is silent, but when I look up his jaw is clenched, his hands gripping the edge of the countertop behind him. "How dare he," he growls.
My mouth falls open, but Dominic seems determined not to elaborate on his outburst, instead letting go and turning away to wash our dishes. "You should get some rest," he tells me, drying his hands on a towel. "Tomorrow, I'll be out all day, but Ashton will be around and Elena will be here as well."
"Wait! I want to go with you…tomorrow!" I quickly add when I figure out he might think I mean I want to join him tonight. "To the restaurant. I said I'd work for you for free."
Dominic's expression darkens. "It's not safe. Carlo could be out there.”
"Oh." I deflate a bit, but Dominic isn't finished.
