He revs the engine like a cocky prick, and they pull away, leaving me staring at an empty patch of sidewalk. My heart is hammering in my chest, and something dark claws up my insides.
The reality of everything I just witnessed hits full force. I’ve been lusting after a woman who belongs to another man.
Chapter 7
Dominic
Ipluck a baby wipe from the packet on the kitchen counter and start cleaning the remnants of Lil’ Peach’s breakfast off her sweet, cherub face. A smile tugs at my lips when she grunts in protest, thrashing her head from side to side as she tries to push my hand away. She’s got a surprising amount of fire in her for someone so small, and I love watching the first hints of her personality come through.
Her tiny, chubby fingers are next. I let out a soft laugh when she peers up at me from her highchair, scowling. She’s the spitting image of her mother when she pulls that face.
That thought settles heavily in my chest. There’s so much of my sister in this little girl. So much Violet is missing. Moments, I know she’d be cooing over if she wasn’t so lost to the drugs.
I toss the dirty wipes in the bin, then lean down to unstrap Peach from her highchair so I can change her out of her pyjamas, but before I can, my phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s probably another job, since things have been quiet the past few days.
When I glance at the screen, I see Dante’s name. My mood shifts straight away as my eyes move over the message.
Dante: Lunch meeting at La Riviera at one sharp. I want everyone there, don’t be late.
Me: K
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter under my breath, sliding my phone into the back pocket of my jeans.
It’s not the meeting I have a problem with. It’s where it’s set. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid that place ever since I saw Emily climb onto the back of that bike. Haven’t been near that street in a long while, no matter how strong the urge has been to just drive past.
It’s bad enough I’ve been acting like a fucking stalker when it comes to her. Now that I know she belongs to someone else, it sits even worse. I know exactly what I’d do if someone pulled that kind of shit with my woman. I would end them without hesitation.
After I park the car and start walking towards La Riviera, I clench and unclench my hands, trying to shake off the nerves building in my chest. Lil’ Peach was still asleep by the time I had to leave, so Mrs B agreed to watch her at my place.
I don’t plan to stay long, either way. I’ll listen to what the boss has to say, then I’m getting the fuck out of here.
I’m hoping Emily isn’t working today, but the second I open the glass door and step inside the restaurant, the first thing I see is her smiling face.
Fuck.
For a second, everything else fades, the hum of conversation, the clatter of cutlery, even the music playing softlyoverhead. My focus narrows until it’s just her, and I don’t understand why that keeps happening.
Her eyes meet mine, and my breath catches. She looks genuinely happy to see me, which only makes this whole thing worse. I’m not used to garnering this kind of reaction from people, so a mix of guilt and something I refuse to name twists low in my chest. Does she see something in me the others don’t? If she knew what I’d been doing where she’s concerned, she’d probably slap me with a restraining order.
As she walks over, my pulse kicks up a notch, that familiar electricity sparking under my skin. It makes no sense—she hasn’t done anything, hasn’t said anything—and yet my body reacts like it’s already braced for impact. I try to play it cool, but my throat’s dry, and my palms are slick.
I thought I’d worked through this. I thought knowing she had a boyfriend would’ve been enough to shut this down for good.
Instead, it lingers, heavy and unwelcome, a quiet reminder that some things don’t disappear just because I want them to.
“Dominic,” she says, her voice warm and easy.
“Hey,” I manage, though it comes out rougher than I intend.
Her scent hits me as she approaches. It’s sweet, clean, with a hint of caramel. It’s the kind of smell that lingers, soft but addictive, just like her. She smells and looks good enough to eat.
Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, but a loose strand has fallen forward, brushing across her forehead. I shove my hands into the pockets of my dark jeans, forcing myself not to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.
The urge to touch her is stronger than I want to admit, and even though I know she’s not single and probably hasno interest in a man like me, my body refuses to cooperate. Every glance, every step she takes towards me sets my pulse racing, and I feel like I’m losing control over myself.
“You finally came back. I was wondering if you ever would. How’s your adorable niece? You should’ve brought her along.”
Her tone is light, teasing even, but there’s a warmth underneath that makes my chest tighten. I can’t stop my eyes from following her, from taking in the way she moves and how easily that fucking smile of hers lights up her damn face.
