“Don’t.”
I laughed roughly. “No worries. It won’t happen again. Enjoy your fucking coffee and booze.” My feet stomped to the door.
“Wait.”
That command cracked against my spine like the tip of a whip.
“I’m sorry. You caught me…at a bad time.”
“Clearly,” I snorted.
“You’re new here.” Dominico turned in his chair, peering across the room.
I inched behind the door to prevent the light from the hall to fall on my face. “Yep.”
Dominico studied me, but it wasn’t like he could see properly. No doubt he was smart enough to realize I was the one he’d saved. But he didn’t bring up the attack. Didn’t ask if I was okay. The silence pulsed in time to the grandfather clock’s steady rhythm. I felt his gaze and forced myself not to fidget, while the voices in my headscreamed at me, demanding to know what I was doing here in the first place. Cathy wouldn’t have received such an unwelcoming welcome. No, I just had to come and try to make it better.
It was the danger, I decided. This man wore it like one of those custom suits. It was addictive. I couldn’t stay away.
“What’s your name?” he finally asked.
“Bennett.”
Dominico made a sound at the back of his throat that radiated his displeasure. “Do you have a first name, Bennett?”
“Sure do. And a middle one too. How about I give you my social while I’m at it?” I bit my tongue too late.
“Funny one.” Dominico rose. He prowled closer. My breath hitched, but he stopped halfway at the central coffee table. “Tell Franky thank you for the drink.”
That was it.
No shared bonding over the mutilation. The dark knight wasn’t going to check in with my feelings.
What an idiot! Lord Almighty, had I really been expecting him to care?
I had.
It dawned on me. Dominico Grimaldi hadn’t saved me because it was me. He didn’t know me! I was stupid for thinking it was anything personal. He’d walked in on one of the servants being attacked, and he’d only stepped in because he probably felt some claim on me—me, the maid. Not me, the person. He would have done the same if I were any other piece of property. A dog or a car too. Hell, he’d probably have more feeling if I had been his precious sports car.
I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around myself.
“Will do!” I scooted around the door and drew it closed behind me.
Yeah, I was stupid for thinking he’d notice me. That he would be interested to know someone he’d met before now worked for his grandfather. I was just a servant, a tool to a man like this. It would be better to stay in the shadows. He was never going to look atme.
***
“Thank you, Rae.” Arabella sat up, pulling the lace wrap around her shoulders. “Such a beautiful summer. Too bad it will be fall in a couple months. I wish I could live down south where you’re from. I’d give anything to trade the mild winters for the blizzards we get up here.”
I hummed politely.
A fiery breeze whispered over my long sleeve uniform. I wanted to rip the black long sleeves off and let it kiss me. Bright green leaves rustled above, and the hot sun twinkled down, mocking us with its brilliance.
Must be nice to curl up out here and read all afternoon.“Is there anything else I can bring you, Miss?”
Arabella placed her book upside down, keeping the open page on her knees. “No, but…can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” I shifted, easing the blisters on my left heel while putting my weight gingerly on the ones forming on the left.
