XOXO

I could have easily told him in an email that Clarice agreed to sign the contract, but I was desperate to hear his voice. I also wanted extra confirmation that he was alone.

I’m ninety-nine percent sure he was.

Before we ended the call, I wanted to tell him that our non-date was the best non-date or date I’ve ever had, even though his parents crashed it.

I was able to see a side of him that I didn’t know existed.

I heard him laugh.

I saw him smile again and again.

And I got to hold his hand when he helped me get into the Uber. I don’t know if the wine caused the jolt of electricity I felt at his touch. I couldn’t tell. I was too wrapped up in the realization that his hands are large, his skin is soft, and his eyes are specked with the smallest flecks of gold.

“Daydreamer!” Sinclair calls out from outside my bedroom door. “You need to get to work, young lady.”

For the first time since I started working at Modica, I’m taking my time getting ready today. I spent most of that in a warm shower. I used the expensive Matiz body wash Sinclair got for her birthday from her brothers. I snuck just a little because it makes my skin so smooth.

Once I finished toweling off, I chose an outfit from my closet. I’m wearing a red dress with a black blazer. I cinched the dress at the waist with a macramé belt and pinned a faux diamond brooch to the blazer’s lapel. My hair is on top of my head. I tried to center it in a bun, but it’s crooked and too far to the right. I doubt anyone will notice. Today is all about Clarice and the signing of the contract.

“I’m coming,” I say in a voice loud enough that she can hear me over Dudley’s barking.

He snuck out of my room when I went to shower. I’m hoping Sinclair has taken him out for his morning walk.

I head toward my bedroom door. Swinging it open, I find my roommate on the other side in a pink T-shirt and jeans with her hair braided to the side.

She leans to the right to look around me. “Is The Dick in there?”

Startled, I bark out a nervous laugh. “No. Why? Where did that question come from?”

Narrowing her eyes, she straightens. “It came from that hopeful place inside of me that wishes one of us would get fucked into tomorrow soon. Since I have no one on my radar, you’re going to have to take one from The Dick for the team.”

I push past her. “You must have someone on your radar.”

I hear her footsteps behind me. “There’s no one. I’ve done the one night stand thing. It’s not for me. I need a connection or at least a good meal before I hop into bed. You had both last night with Dominick.”

I did.

I spin around to face her. “I spoke to him on the phone late last night.”

Studying me, she tilts her head. “Is that your polite way of saying you had phone sex with your boss?”

“No.”

“You wanted to,” she states confidently. “I mean, who wouldn’t? I bet he’s a world-class dirty talker.”

I stare at her. “Sinclair.”

“Miss Voss,” she says in an attempt at a deep voice. It’s no better than her last impression of Dominick. “Drop your clothes. Get on my desk. I have something I want to show you. It’s big. It has energy, and it’s my...”

“Stop,” I interrupt her with a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

Her hands fly up to my shoulders. Holding them, she stares into my eyes. “I’m excited for you. He likes you. I think he wants to ravish you. He didn’t take you to his grandmother’s restaurant because he felt sorry for you because of what happened with Lowell. He took you because he wanted to be with you last night. Why the hell do you think he brought you that gorgeous bouquet of roses?”

“Those were a thank you,” I point out. “A client is signing with Modica today, and I introduced her to Dominick.”

“He could have thanked you at work today. He came here to see you. I believe he came here to stop your date with Lowell.”

That’s not possible. It was a coincidence that he arrived in the lobby at the same time as Lowlife.

She raises both hands in the air. “I have one more thing to say, and then I promise I’ll drop it.”

“Forever?” I ask skeptically.

“For an hour,” she answers.

Laughing, I glance at my watch. “Make it quick. I need to get to work.”

With one hand holding mine, she softens her voice. “You’re more beautiful and kind and everything than you realize. Dominick sees that. He came here dressed like a GQ model because he wants you. He took you to dinner because he’s falling for you. He told you to call him Dominick because he needs you, and he was alone when you emailed him last night because no one is you but you, Arietta.”