Page 48 of Miss Treated

The Dominic effect.

He chuckled. “I have a suspicion my mail might find itself sorted from here on out. Guess I have you to thank.”

“Hm, yes, nice white lie.” About him being a one-woman guy.

He grinned, stepping closer. “Was it? I’m gonna grab a shower, then I’ll make you breakfast.”

Good. Maybe in the meantime I could calm down enough to remember why I’d decided friends was the best place for this relationship.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dominic

I showered quickly, chuckling to myself at Kelsey’s obvious jealousy and then her confusion when I’d claimed I was a one-woman guy. But I’d started to accept it as the truth. For the first time in my life, I was completely besotted with one woman and not at all interested in any others. If that wasn’t a sign I was ready for commitment, what else was?

It wasn’t like anyone went into a new relationship having been successful at a previous one, right? Okay, maybe if someone was widowed—but damn it, I was getting off track. The fact was I wanted to try a real relationship for the first time in my life. And I wanted it with the woman in my kitchen, no matter how slow I had to go in order to make it happen.

After dressing casually in cargo shorts and a T-shirt, I walked out to see Lady curled up with Kelsey on the couch.

I’d not only gotten my run in, but had also managed to hit the Starbucks for her this morning. “What kind of omelet can I interest you in? I have onions, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and bacon, not to mention a number of cheeses.”

“I like all of those things.”

“Great. I’ll make you the Nicky special.”

“Your family calls you Nicky, don’t they?”

“Yeah, it used to annoy me when I was younger, but now it’s sentimental. You want to call me Nicky?”

“No, Nicky should be reserved for those who ruffled your hair as a kid.”

I laughed, thinking the same. “You care if I call you Kels sometimes?”

She smiled. “Now you ask. No. So long as it’s not in a business meeting, I don’t mind. Just don’t call me babe again.”

“I promise not to.” I’d called her that to make a point to Joel. Otherwise, I’d banish the word from my vocabulary.

“I’d offer to help, but I kind of hate to disturb her.” She rubbed Lady’s belly.

I poured her a glass of orange juice and set it beside her on the side table. “I’d rather my two girls spend time together.”

She raised a brow.

“I meant that in a purely friendship kind of way.” I totally didn’t. And I needed to stop blurting out stupid things if I wanted her to believe in my sincerity. Kelsey wasn’t the type to fall for a line although I could come up with some doozies to give her. There wasn’t one I wouldn’t mean, but how was she to believe me yet?

After cooking up our omelets, I set the table out on the balcony.

“This is delicious,” she commented after taking her first bite.

“Thank you. It took me some time to learn how to flip them successfully, and now I’m obsessed and make them almost every morning. But wait for my bourbon-and-honey-glazed salmon tonight. It’s my signature dish.”

I could get used to this. Her at my place. Me cooking her breakfast and starting the day with her. Looking forward to how we’d end the day together too.

“Is it your go-to date night meal?” she teased. Her tone was light, but I could tell she was genuinely curious. Good. I wanted her to care about the answer.

“You’re the first woman I’ve cooked for outside of my family.”

Her expression was skeptical. “Really?”