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I blinked and focused on the screen where he was pointing. One of those Food Network baking shows was on, the type where someone walks in and orders an eight-foot-tall cake sculpture of the Empire State Building or something, and then all the bakery staff spend the episode rushing around in a crazed panic to make it happen before some magic deadline.
“We’ll go there sometime,” Dominic said with certainty.
I rubbed my eyes. It had been such a long day, and I was having trouble focusing. “We’ll go where?”
“Las Vegas.”
“You mean just the two of us?”
He threw me an exasperated look. “Of course just the two of us. We don’t require an entourage, do we?” He stroked my hair and started thinking out loud. “It’s a four-hour drive. I’ll spring for a suite at New York-New York, get Cirque du Soleil tickets, and detour through the Grand Canyon on the way back. Should be extra spectacular in the fall.”
I felt a delicious shiver roll through me as he let his fingers sift slowly through my hair. I smiled up at him. “Sounds like you have it all planned out already. But the restaurant has been so insanely busy that I guess Vegas will have to wait.” I planted a kiss on his chest. “It makes me happy that you want to take me there.”
He tipped my chin up, kissed me softly, and then pulled back with a curiously intense expression on his face. At times like this, when Dominic allowed his feelings to shine through, it made me feel like anything was possible.
“I will take you there, Melanie,” he said seriously. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
I touched his cheek, moved by the sentiment. Considering Espo 2 had a line out the door every night, I knew it was impossible to take off and leave town. Hell, we couldn’t even seem to find time to take an evening off for a normal date. But I loved hearing that Dominic thought about such things. “I believe you,” I told him and then fell asleep in his arms.
“Melanie.” Tara was waving a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Melanie.”
“I’m here.” I blinked. “Were you saying something?”
“Nothing important. I was just complaining about my brother-in-law some more and how he’s never ever at home these days.” She gave me a rather sly sidelong glance.
“Really?” I picked up a stack of papers and started sorting them needlessly. “That’s interesting.”
The door opened, and Dominic appeared with Leah in his arms. Her little fist was clutching a wad of Dominic’s shirt, and she gurgled happily. Dominic was wild about that baby, and it was easy enough to picture him as a father someday. Suddenly I envisioned myself participating in that picture, handing over a small, swaddled figure, then serenely watching as Dominic cradled his own newborn child in those strong arms, gazing down at a tiny face with awe and wonder.
I had no idea ovaries could convulse, but mine surged rather ferociously. It almost hurt. I quickly crossed my legs under the desk and was grateful that my thoughts had stayed in the confines of my own head. Seriously, a moment ago I was mulling over the fact that Dominic and I hadn’t even gone out to dinner, yet now I was fantasizing about bearing his children. There had to be something pathetic about making such a cosmic leap, even if it was just in my own imagination.
“Can I steal Melanie for a few hours?” Tara asked. She reached for the baby, but Dominic didn’t show any sign that he planned to give her up.
Dominic squinted at me, then turned his attention back to Tara. “Did you ask Melanie if she wanted to be stolen?”
“This is for her own good,” Tara argued. “When was the last time Melanie had a night off? Workaholic habits are bad for your health, Dom. You’re something of a lost cause, but allow me to save my friend. After all, I don’t have very many.” She sniffed for theatrical effect.
He raised his eyebrow at his sister-in-law. “Tara, I know damn well you have a veritable ocean of friends.”
“I like this one. Don’t be greedy. You’ve been hogging her.”
“He’s not exactly hogging me,” I said, feeling a little embarrassed. “I do work for him.”
Tara seemed to find that funny. She smiled and then covered her mouth like she was trying to smother a laugh. “Yes,” she agreed. “You do work for him.”
Dominic frowned slightly. “Melanie, Tara’s actually right about one thing. You deserve a night off.”
“Sure,” I said with artificial sweetness. “I’ll take a night off when you do.”
He looked at me, and his mouth twitched.
“I don’t want a night off,” he said easily, and I didn’t think he was talking about work anymore as he stared at me intently. I stared back.
The brief silence was broken when Leah grabbed his nose and let out an ear-piercing squeal like she’d just captured a rare prize.
“Here,” Tara laughed. “Give me my child before she maims you.”
“No chance of that,” Dominic said, and fondly kissed Leah on the cheek before setting her on Tara’s lap.
