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"And where are you from originally? You mentioned before that you moved here a few years ago."
"Umm, I grew up in a small town about five hours from here," I said, evading specifics. "It's not really worth mentioning – a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of place."
"Wow, so you're a small-town girl at heart. What made you decide to move to the city?" he pressed further.
"Let's just say I needed a change of scenery," I deflected, flashing a smile to mask my unease. "And speaking of changes, how did you end up becoming a doctor? Was it always your dream?"
"Nice attempt at redirecting the conversation, Miss Rosewood," Dominic chuckled, clearly recognizing my attempt to divert the attention from myself. "But yes, becoming a doctor was always my goal. I wanted to help people and make a difference in their lives."
"Mission accomplished," I said, giving him an appreciative smile. "Your dedication is truly inspiring, you know."
"Thank you, Calla," he replied, his eyes warm with gratitude. "But don't think I've forgotten about my quest to uncover more about you. I'm nothing if not persistent."
"Fair warning, Dr. Harrington," I warned playfully, taking another bite of my breakfast. "You might find that some mysteries are better left unsolved."
"Or perhaps," he countered, his gaze never leaving mine, "the reward is worth the challenge."
I tried to maintain a carefree smile, but the way he looked at me, as if he truly wanted to get past my defenses, made my heart race. It was unnerving how quickly Dominic had managed to make an impression on me.
"Calla," he said softly, his voice laced with sincerity. "Why won't you let me in? I genuinely want to get to know you better. The deeper stuff, not just your favorite movies or favorite hobbies or favorite color. I want to know what makes Calla, Calla."
His question caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks flush as my mind raced for a response. I fumbled with my fork, trying to buy time.
"Can you pass the salt?" I asked weakly, attempting to change the subject. I could see the frustration flicker in his eyes, but he complied, passing me the salt shaker with a raised eyebrow.
"Thanks," I muttered, sprinkling some on my eggs before finally looking back up at him. His expression had shifted from amusement to concern, making it clear that he wasn't going to let my deflection slide this time.
"Calla," he repeated, leaning forward slightly in his chair. "Talk to me. Why do you keep your walls up?"
"Look, Dominic," I sighed, placing my fork down on the plate, suddenly losing my appetite. "It's not that I don't appreciate your interest, but... I've had my share of disappointments and heartaches. It's hard for me to trust people."
"Calla," he murmured, his eyes softening. "I understand that, but please know that I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to learn more about you – the real you, not just the surface. I want to share in your joys and your pain."
"God, Dominic," I whispered, feeling the knot in my chest tighten. "I wish it were that easy. I don't even understand it all myself. It's just the way I am. Sometimes it feels like opening up is the hardest thing in the world to do."
"I know it's difficult," he said gently, reaching across the table to place a reassuring hand on mine. "But don't you think it's worth taking a chance? We could have something truly special if you'd let me in."
"Maybe," I admitted quietly, my eyes filling with tears as I considered his words. "But please, not now. Can we drop the subject for now?"
Dominic had disappointment veiled in his sigh of frustration, but he honored my request.
For the rest of the meal, we kept the conversation light and breezy, avoiding any topics that might bring us back to the emotional minefield we had just navigated. And while I appreciated his understanding, part of me couldn't help but wonder if letting him in would be worth the risk. The small talk we had engaged in just to avoid the awkwardness eventually turned into uncomfortable silence.
We had gotten to the point in the breakfast where we were chasing the last morsels around our plates with our forks. Dominic finally broke the string of silence, "What are your plans for the rest of today?"
"Um, I have some errands to run, and I need to start thinking about the file structure you got me working on. I want to hit the ground running tomorrow," I replied, trying to sound upbeat as I pushed aside the nagging feeling that I was sabotaging something genuinely good with my stubbornness.
"Sounds fun," he grinned, attempting to lighten the mood. "Do you mind if I tag along? I promise I won't bring up anything too deep."
"Sure," I agreed hesitantly, touched by his persistence but wary of the emotional territory we might inadvertently stumble upon.
"Great!" Dominic exclaimed, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Let's get dressed, and we can head out."
As he disappeared into the bedroom, I couldn't help but feel conflicted. It was clear that Dominic cared about me. Enough to respect my boundaries while still gently pushing me to open up. But the thought of letting him in, of exposing the raw and vulnerable parts of myself that I had worked so hard to protect, terrified me. My past experiences had taught me that vulnerability could be dangerous, and I wasn't ready to take that risk, even for someone as wonderful as Dominic. At least not yet.
"Alright, I'm ready," Dominic announced, emerging from the bedroom in a casual button-down shirt and jeans. His hair was tousled, and he looked effortlessly handsome.
"Damn, you look good," I teased, hoping to keep things light as we prepared to leave the apartment.
