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I faced straight ahead. If any of the staff walked out here right now, they’d probably wonder what the hell was going on.
“So apologize,” I said through clenched teeth.
He didn’t say anything right away. I could feel him watching me. “I was trying to figure out how to get a moment to talk to you in there. My conduct last night was inexcusable. I won’t pretend otherwise. I’m so sorry—the last thing I wanted to do was take advantage of you. If you’re uncomfortable working with me, I’ll do anything in my power to make things better.”
So that was how this was going to be. Dominic was going to act like last night had been a momentary lapse in judgment and nothing more.
I tried to laugh, but it came out like a cough. “You think I’m uncomfortable around you?”
He hesitated before answering and rested his strong hands on the dashboard. I stared at his hands, remembering how good they’d felt. He briefly drummed his fingers and then sighed. “I’m just saying I wouldn’t blame you if you were. What happened between us was completely my fault, Melanie, and I’m more sorry than I can say.” He looked me right in the eye. “I promise I will never touch you at work again. You have my word.”
I didn’t want his word. I didn’t want his promises. I didn’t want his apology.
I just want him.
“Thanks, Dominic,” I said, rather mechanically. “You have totally set my mind at ease.”
His expression was full of pity. I wanted his pity about as much as I wanted a root canal. Yet only Dominic Esposito could make sympathy seem sexy. “Mel.”
“You should go now.” I turned the ignition. “It looks weird, the two of us sitting out here in my car at dusk.”
He didn’t leave. He sat there in the passenger seat of my Prius, taking up a ridiculous amount of room with his broad shoulders and muscles. If he hadn’t just—sensibly—blown me off, I might have been tempted to climb into his lap.
Who was I kidding? I was tempted no matter what. I crossed my arms tightly across my chest so that I couldn’t accidentally discard my dignity and straddle him with abandon.
“All right, you get home safe, and I’ll see you in the morning,” Dominic said in a friendly voice as he opened the door. Then he climbed out and waved to me as if we were two old bosom buddies who’d just met for coffee.
I thought about flipping him the bird, but I didn’t. I just drove away.
