Ambition (Private 7)

I blushed as I looked across the tiny table at him. Dominic had been saying things like this ever since we left the hotel, but I

couldn't tell if he was serious, or if he was just feeding me lines. But then, what did it matter? I could use the ego boost either way. "I

was thinking that after this I might take you to a couple of my usual places," Dominic said, placing his menu down. "Usual places?" I

asked. "Clubs. Have you done the club scene?" he asked. "Um, no," I replied. "And I'm not really sure I should. I have to get up kind

of early in the morning." "Well, you could always just stay up all night," Dominic replied with a smile. A suggestive smile? "That's

what I usually do." "We'll see," I replied. Time for a subject change. I didn't want to know what he thought we would do if we stayed

up together all night. "So, is your cousin here? I'd love to meet him."

"He promised to bring out his special dessert for us personally." Dominic took a sip of his white wine and smiled. "If we make it

through the first four courses. The service here is truly Italian. Which means excessive." My stomach grumbled as a delicious -looking

dish was carried past our table. "Sounds good to me. I'm starving," I replied. Dominic smiled. "A girl with an appetite. Are you sure

you go to Easton?" I laughed and felt myself truly start to relax for the first time all night. Suddenly I felt grateful to London and Vi-

enna for blindsiding me with this date. If I had gone out for dinner with the two of them and Sabine, I was sure the conversation would

have centered around the fund-raiser and maybe even Cheyenne. Maybe they would even have gotten around to asking me what hap-

pened with Josh. But here I was simply being showered with compliments and attention. A much more satisfying way to spend an

evening. "Actually, you'd be surprised by how much the girls in Billings can put away," I told him. "Just a couple of days ago we--"

My cute little anecdote died on my tongue as I heard familiar voices just on the other side of the patio door. I had about half a sec-

ond to prepare before Noelle stepped out into the courtyard, with Dash's hand on her waist. I felt as if the bricks were falling away be-

neath the legs of my chair. So much so that I actually gripped my armrests for support. Dash. Dash's lips, Dash's hands, Dash's eyes,

Dash's longing desperation. Suddenly every image, every feeling, everything from the night of the Legacy came rushing back, hitting

me like a tidal wave to the chest. Dominic and I had scored the back corner table, and in the dim light Noelle had yet to spot us, but

Dash had. He had looked right into my eyes the second he arrived, as if he had expected me to be there. But then he tripped. He braced

himself on one of the tree trunks to keep from going down. My heart was in my throat. Okay. So maybe he hadn't entirely forgotten

that night. "Dash! Are you all right?" his mother asked. She could only be his mother. Tall. Blond. Perfectly manicured and coiffed.

Then his father, the spitting image of Dash, but with salt-and-pepper hair. , "Just a couple of days ago you... ?" Dominic prodded, un-

aware that anything was amiss.

Noelle finally figured out where Dash was looking and spotted me. I endeavored to smile. She whispered something to Dash's par-

ents and they all looked over. Dash cleared his throat about ten times and straightened his tie. Finally, at the obvious prodding of his

mother, he cleared it one last time, squared his shoulders, and walked over to us. Omigod. Omigod, omigod, omigod. "Is something

wrong?" Dominic asked. "Dash," I said through my teeth. "What?" "Dash McCafferty is here," I said. Dominic looked up just as Dash

arrived at our table. "Reed. Dom. How are you guys?" Dash asked, his tone formal. "McCafferty!" Dominic cheered, getting up to hug