A Tiara Under the Tree

“And now you want the Christmas Council to forgive you?”

“I don’t give a damn if they forgive me or not,” Dominic barked. “I do care if you forgive me.”

It would behoove her to step backward but Waverly refused to show her fear...or desire. Dominic smelled wonderful, spicy yet sweet at the same time. Waverly cocked a questioning brow at him.

“I never left you,” Dominic clarified. His lips twitched for a moment before his eyes searched hers. “I couldn’t be here for a while, but I am now.”

Waverly licked her lips and squared her shoulders as he said, “I can’t get confirmation on speaking during the council meeting. I’m guessing Mayor Ascot is pissed at me and has been talking crap about me in my absence. If you stand by me during the council meeting, they’ll be more likely to say yes to my proposal.”

“And the proposal is?”

“The Christmas parade is coming. I’ve got several cars stemming from the twenties to the present, and I am going to take care of drivers for the floats so folks won’t miss any part of the parade.”

“You’re chauffeuring the parade to get everyone to like you? Or are you so hard up for customers?”

Dominic shook his head. His large hand reached out and brushed a lock of hair off her shoulder. “Haven’t you heard by now? My company has turned record-breaking profits six years in a row.”

“No.”

“What a shame,” he said, still with his hand on her shoulder. “I’m not here to increase my wealth. I am trying to fit in with the community. I’m trying to make things up with you.”

Dominic rubbed the back of his head. The sleeves of his shirt rolled up on his biceps, revealing the decorative tattoos. Waverly inhaled deeply, not realizing she’d missed seeing them these last few months. She tried to remind herself that she was approaching her thirties now and was too old for crushes on the bad boys.

Waverly moved closer to the opening of the garage and prayed for the winter weather to settle in. The heat radiating from her body made her dizzy. She swore her attraction to bad boys came from the first time she was suspended from a pageant. Bad boys did this to her and Dominic was the ultimate.

Waverly felt her brow furrow. “Dominic, I can’t give you what you want.”

Dominic’s hands went up in the air. “Do you think every man you come across wants you in his bed?”

Instead of answering, Waverly bit her bottom lip and pondered his question. If she answered honestly, she’d be considered conceited. Then again, she was already labeled that, thanks to the bastard, Blu. No matter what Blu said to her, Waverly was supposed to keep her composure and remain professional. She did neither. “Are you saying you want nothing sexual from me?”

Dominic licked his lips and cocked his head to the side again, this time making it apparent he was checking out her behind. “Don’t ask me to lie, Waverly.”

“Seriously?” Waverly placed her hands on her hips.

“Waverly, we didn’t meet in a boardroom. We met at a bakery and we blatantly flirted with each other. We even kissed on our first date before your morality clause came into question.” Dominic walked toward her, slow and deliberate steps.

“And then you helped with a pageant and then you disappeared.”

“C’mon.” Dominic groaned. “You’re killing me here.”

“Whatever, and that wa

sn’t a date.” Waverly backed up this time, ignoring her rapid heartbeat. “You shut out everyone in Southwood, including me.” She stood with one foot inside the garage and the other outside. Dominic stopped right in front of her. He placed one hand above her head. The space next to his ear twitched as his jaw moved. Her heart skipped a beat.

“You’re mad because you thought I left without saying goodbye?”

“I’m irritated. I thought we were at least friends.” To create space between them, Waverly folded her arms. Her elbows pressed against his hard chest and still the friction fueled her desire. Dominic’s disappearance had helped Waverly remain focused on earning her tiara back. “It’s cool—while you were gone, I was able to get a lot of things done without any distraction.”

“This kind of distraction?” Dominic dipped his head low and brushed his lips against hers.

It wasn’t like Waverly had never been kissed. Or kissed by Dominic. If she thought the first time their lips touched her insides were set on fire, this one melted her system. Waverly dropped her hands to her sides. Hypnotized, she leaned into him, urging him to pursue her further. Dominic obliged. Their lips parted and tongues introduced themselves with a seductive, moan-evoking dance. Waverly pressed her hands against his chest. The beat of his heart pounded and echoed against her palms. Dominic’s free hand scooped up Waverly’s rear. He drew her against his hard body and even harder erection. Desire pumped through her veins. In the distance, laughter from a group of kids leaving from the park interrupted anything further. She hadn’t realized she’d been lifted off her feet until Dominic set her back down on her sandals and her inner thigh scraped against his work jumpsuit from where she’d cocked her leg around his waist. When? How? Geez.

“Something like that?” Dominic asked.

Chapter 7

Without getting a final answer from Waverly last night, Dominic sat at the Christmas Advisory Council meeting Tuesday evening, wearing a blue suit his sister picked out for him. On second thought, it was more like her pet pig had picked out the suit when Alisha and Hamilton drove out to his ranch this morning. Hamilton oinked and snorted at the suit Alisha chose, which apparently met the pig’s approval.