Page 36 of Miss Treated

“What?” I barely recognized what he was saying since I was trying to breathe.

Concern etched his brow. “Kels, what’s wrong?”

“I need to go.” I turned, hoping if I put my back to Joel, he wouldn’t see me.

Dominic’s gaze went over my shoulder. “Tell me the guy staring over this way isn’t the reason for your panic?”

Fuck. Fuck. God only knew what kind of scene Joel would make. He loved his wicked games. “He’s not coming this way, is he?” My gaze scanned the far wall for the nearest exit.

“Not yet. But judging by the way he’s watching you, it’s only a matter of time. An ex?”

I hated feeling this vulnerable and exposed in front of Dominic. My past was colliding with my future to remind me, no matter how far I’d come, no matter how much self-reflection I’d done, I could still be dragged back into that dark place. “Yeah.”

His gaze studied mine. So much was reflected in his depths, it was impossible to know exactly what he was thinking. “You still have a thing for him?”

I didn’t hesitate. “No.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

There was no way to avoid being honest. “He has a way of making me feel small.”

Dominic’s eyes filled with a combination of sympathy and fury. He put his hand on my arm. The warmth burned my skin and distracted me fully from any thoughts about my ex. “Then the last thing you will give him is the satisfaction of leaving.”

My unsure gaze met his. He made a good point. I didn’t want to give Joel the satisfaction of making me leave. This was an event to which I’d been invited, and he’d see my departure as a sign of weakness. I straightened my shoulders and took a shaky breath before giving Dominic what I hoped was a brave smile. “You’re right.”

“He didn’t hurt you, did he? Because if so, I take back my words. We should absolutely leave now.”

“No. I mean not physically.” Instead he’d surgically ripped the pieces of my self-esteem away until there was nothing left. I glanced over to see him approaching. Shit. My entire body started to tremble.

Dominic put his glass down on a nearby table before tugging me closer to him. He leaned down to murmur, “You are smart, successful, and by far the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.”

I searched his eyes once he pulled away and saw nothing but sincerity. It was all I could do not to tear up. I’d needed the boost more than he could ever know. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Would it be totally shitty of me to ask you to pretend to be my date?” I’d turned him down and now was asking him to fake it.

But he didn’t appear annoyed by my request. “I’d love to be your fake date more than anyone else’s real one.”

I might’ve dwelled on the sweetness of his words if the sound of my ex-fiancé’s voice hadn’t completely ruined the mood. Its very timbre reminded me how Joel could compliment me in public, yet shame me the moment we were alone.

It was all I could do not to throw up. I wasn’t sure what nauseated me most: Joel’s mere presence or the memory of who I’d become in that relationship.

“Kelsey, I thought it might be you.” Joel flashed his devil’s smile. The type I used to enjoy putting on his face. Now I’d love nothing more than to wipe it off. He looked much the same as the last time I’d seen him, with his dark hair cropped in a close cut and his short beard groomed to perfection. He’d always taken more time to get ready to go out than I had.

My smile was tight, my nod curt. “Joel.” I couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries. Or fake my way through anything.

He surveyed Dominic, straightening to his full height as if it would offset the couple inches he was lacking compared to him. The gesture was comical. He’d long been insecure about men who were bigger than him, and so he was literally sizing up my date.

He held out his hand. “I’m Joel Schaeffer.”

Dominic didn’t bother with a smile. Instead he took my ex’s hand in a brutal handshake judging by Joel’s wince. “Dominic Chambers.”

Joel cocked his head to the side, his gaze focusing on me. “You look beautiful, babe.”

There it was. The charm I’d fallen for when I’d first met him. Yet now it only turned my stomach.

Dominic snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. The move was subtle yet spoke volumes. He was claiming me. The gesture might have been for show, but my skin heated at the touch despite the layers of clothing between us.

“I told her the same as she was putting on this dress earlier,” Dominic responded smoothly.

Joel grinned, putting his hands up in mock surrender. “Ah. The new boyfriend. No worries, man, it was a harmless compliment.”