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And one of the loudest thoughts in my brain is how excited I am to tell Dominic all about it.
By the time I get home, Lana is in the middle of cleaning Felicia up after dinner. I swoop in to give my daughter a big kiss before giving my best friend a hug.
“Thank you for agreeing to watch her,” I say.
“Are you kidding? I’d rather be her full-time babysitter than wait on tables all day for chump change. Your man’s already paid me for the entire month.” She bumps her hip against mine. “You’re one lucky duck, Arin.”
“Ifeellucky.”
“How’d it go today?”
I can feel myself on the edge of word-vomiting, but I don’t care. “It wasamazing. I had some of the models try on my dresses and it was probably the most magical thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Lana laughs as she wipes Felicia’s hands with a washcloth. “You see your dresses all the time.”
“I know, but it’s different getting to see them actuallyonsomeone. Like how an author feels seeing their books in a store, or a director seeing their movie up on the silver screen. It’s just more… Tangible? Real?”
“I’m glad, babe,” Lana says with a genuine smile. “Seriously, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Do you need someone to give you a ride home?”
She glances at Johnny, who’s stationed himself at the front door. He never enters farther than the main hallway, as per Dominic’s instructions. I’m glad he’s taking the work/personal life separation so seriously.
Lana shakes her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. I can tell she has a lot of questions, but she doesn’t ask anything. She gives me one final hug before heading out. “I’ll see you both tomorrow, okay? Take care of yourselves.”
I don’t know why it feels like a warning, but it does. “See you tomorrow,” I say softly as she leaves.
“Mommy!” Felicia giggles as I pick her up. “When’s Daddy home? Wanna story.”
I look at Johnny. “You mean he isn’t back yet?”
“Apologies, Ms. Wilson,” he says, hands clasped before him respectfully. “It seems that Signore Costello is stuck in a meeting. Would you like me to relay a message?”
I shake my head despite the sting of disappointment in my chest. “No, I’m… I’m sure he’s got a lot on his plate right now.”
Johnny nods politely. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
Despite how tired I am, I go through the usual process of getting Felicia ready for bed. I help her take a bath, brush her teeth, and change her into her cute cat-themed pajamas. The story she chooses tonight is a classic: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
“They’re like us,” she comments, pointing at the illustrated picture of the bear family going for their walk. “Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear.”
I smile gently, noticing how right she is, except… ExceptourPapa Bear isn’t here right now, too busy with work. I’m not going to lie, it’s upsetting. I thought Dominic would be around to spend a little more time with us. I yearn for us to be together as a whole family, but I have a weird sinking feeling that I might be asking for too much. Am I being selfish? I know I can’t have one hundred percent of his attention, but surely, he could at least be home for dinner, right?
After Felicia falls asleep, I head into my bedroom and browse through my closet. I’m feeling restless tonight. As I sift through all the outfits Dominic so graciously purchased for me, my thoughts begin to drift. I wonder what he’d say if he saw me in the pink Chanel day dress on my hanger, or maybe the tight Versace number next to it. Or maybe…
If I wore next to nothing at all.
An idea pops into my head. Maybe Dominic not getting home until later is a blessing in disguise. At least this way, I’ll be able to surprise him when he returns.
Slipping quietly into my studio, I browse through the private collection of lingerie that I’ve been working on in my free time. They’re considerably faster to make compared to dresses—there’s a lot less fabric to deal with—but no less complicated. There’s something incredibly enjoyable about experimenting with cuts and different types of accents.
Obviously, putting them on is what makes themsuperfun.
When I spot one particular barely-there number made of red velvet, I let out a wicked little giggle. Dominic will lose his damn mind when he sees me in this. I pick it off the rack and skip off to my bedroom, quickly changing. It’s soft against my skin, but awfully drafty. Sometimes you have to brave being a little cold if you want to reach a level of peak sexy.
I throw on my bathrobe before sneaking out, tiptoeing down the hall to Dominic’s bedroom.I lay down on his bed, squeezing my knees together at the thought of him coming home to find me like this—a meal ready to be devoured.
Now all I have to do is wait for my man to come home and make him regret taking so long.
