Her Backup Boyfriend (Entangled Bliss) (Sorensen Family) (10 page)

“Practical. Classic.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

“It was, but it didn’t make it any less embarrassing that day in the parking garage when it decided to die on me. I had a line of cars behind me, waiting to exit the garage.” The horror and humiliation still twisted her gut. “I threw open the car door and for the briefest moment considered the possibility of making a run for the exit. Then I looked up to see Michael. Coming to my aid.”

She paused as she remembered how even in the stifling heat of the parking garage that July evening, which had made her own perspiration-dampened blouse cling to her skin, Michael had appeared fresh and cool with the most dazzling smile she’d ever seen. He’d later admitted that it had been the clinginess of her blouse that prompted him to ask her out for dinner that night. “And instead of looking contemptuous at my car or me, he’d smiled and offered to push the car out provided I steer.”

Dominic adjusted the pillows behind him and sat up, his arms crossed in front of him. This time she couldn’t miss the fact he was definitely shirtless. Holy Hades.
Easy there, Kate.
It’s just a little chest hair.
On a massively hard and taut chest that she was clenching her fingers tight to stop from going over to outline.
Those pecs.

She cleared her throat and swallowed some more water. “Half an hour later, my car was safely towed and we were headed to an impromptu dinner. And that’s when we started dating. I had never dated anyone like Michael before. I’d had boyfriends, of course, most with ambitions as high as my own, but none of them with the suave confidence Michael emanated. He never seemed to have any doubts about himself.” And it had been this sure confidence that immediately attracted her to him. That, and the charm of his smile. As to his attraction to Kate, that had always mystified her. She wasn’t perky and exuberant, radiating confidence like him or Payton. Yet he always told her she was beautiful and made her feel like a million bucks.

“So other than this alleged charm I’m still waiting to see, what else made you fall in love with the saintly Michael?”

Did Dominic sound annoyed? Maybe all this sharing wasn’t a good idea. How much did it reveal about her as well as her relationship with Michael? She thought about how to put her next words. “Michael took care of me, straightaway. Helped me unload my old car and get a steal of a lease on my first brand-new car. He even helped me fit in at Strauss, seeking me out for lunch and coffee, introducing me to several attorneys at the firm I hadn’t yet dared to approach. Things were just…easier with Michael.” Easier than they’d ever been in her life. He’d paid for their fancy evenings out, bought her exquisite gifts, planned luxurious vacations, and made her feel better about herself.

After all,
he’d
chosen
her
.

The room was silent, Dominic too quiet. And she was suddenly mortified at how much she’d revealed to him. She slid her legs out and came to her feet. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe I just unloaded all this on you. It’s pretty pathetic and I should let you get to sleep—”

This time Dominic slid to the edge of the bed, his legs on the floor, and took her hand to stop her. She looked down, noticing the way the sheet wrapped around his waist and what she was almost sure was the top band of his bottoms. She hadn’t realized how cold her hands were until his own warm, dry hand encompassed one.

“Kate.” He waited until she brought her gaze up to meet his. So serious. But warm. “You don’t need a guy to give you self-worth. To make you feel special. You’re worth all the people I’ve met this weekend plus some. Definitely more than that stick-up-her-ass Nicole chick.”

He raised his other hand up to touch her cheek. It was almost electric, and she started. And suddenly she realized where they were. What they were. Their present state of undress. Her mouth went dry as she thought about lowering her head, pulling his toward her, and kissing those lips that had been tempting her since she first met him.

She pulled back, taking a step to increase the space between them before she did something stupid.

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she said, trying to pretend she was unaffected by his words, by his touch, by his proximity, but her voice was shaky. “But it’s sweet of you to say it. And everything you’ve done for me this weekend. I really owe you.”

He was silent as she crossed the room, but when she paused before entering the bedroom, he said softly, “’Night, Kate.”

It almost sounded like a promise. Not a good night.

She was clearly delirious. After spilling her guts like that, the only emotion she could have engendered in anyone was pity. Not lust.

Damn, she’d almost made an idiot of herself. Although…

She couldn’t help but wonder. What would have happened? If she’d kissed him? Would he have kissed her back?

Sleep. That’s what she needed. And perspective.

Morning couldn’t come soon enough.

…

Kate sneaked a peek at Dominic seated comfortably in her grandma’s easy chair, still amazed and touched that he was there. Most people heard the words “nursing home” and visibly flinched, as if warding off images of their own imminent end, and yet Dominic had not only agreed to come but actually looked like he was happy to be here.

He’d certainly surprised her. Not just today, but this entire weekend. Some men might have felt out of place at a lodge filled with stuffy lawyers, not the least of which was her ex, but he’d managed to seem completely at ease, holding his own with everyone. Especially Michael. He’d been like a white knight or something. And that wasn’t even mentioning the crazy stirring of lust and attraction that had her nervous and excited like a fifteen-year-old girl again.

And the weekend hadn’t even ended.

Dominic looked up and caught her eye. She saw a softness in their depths and she tried to ignore the uncomfortable pressure building in her chest. Neither of them had mentioned what had almost passed the night before when he’d touched her and said the most beautiful things she’d ever heard. She almost wondered if she’d imagined it all. Maybe dreamed it. But there’d been no way she could have imagined the warmth of having him hold her hands, of comforting her. Making her want to throw off her robe and wrap her body around that delicious heat of his.

He was like the devil. Tempting her.

Fred Astaire’s warm, rich voice pulled her attention back to the screen, where he was singing about dancing cheek to cheek with the starry-eyed Ginger Rogers.
Top Hat
, her grandma’s favorite. Kate had lost how many times they’d watched this together, particularly this past year. There was something familiar and comforting to Grams about the movie that she couldn’t get enough of.

Kate, though, was caught up with wondering how this gorgeous, sexy man could sit there like there was no other place he’d like to be.

Michael had come with her to visit her grandmother less than a handful of times in all their years together. Even before her grandmother’s ill health had forced Kate to make the hard choice to settle her here.

“You know,” her grams said, not taking her eyes off the screen, “for every move that Fred Astaire made, Ginger Rogers had to match it. Backward. And in heels.”

Kate smiled and nodded, having heard this statement every single time they watched a flick that starred the duo.

“And makes it all look effortless,” Dominic chimed in.

“She does, doesn’t she? You know, it broke my heart when Fred Astaire went on to dance in his movies without Ginger by his side. No one did it quite like her. Even that lovely Audrey girl was never a match to Ginger. Why men don’t know a good thing when they have it is beyond me.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Dominic said. “Sometimes men are idiots.”

Grams smiled at him. “Oh, don’t be too hard on your sex, young man. You men do have your moments. I’m sure this young lady can attest to that, right, dear?”

Kate swallowed a lump in her throat. She should be used to this by now, but she wasn’t. For she was certain her grandmother had no idea who she was, even though she’d reminded her as they walked in an hour ago. As her grams usually did, she was polite and sweet to everyone, choosing not to use names since it was too hard to keep track. For all her grams knew, Kate was just a woman who came by for something to do.

Someone knocked at the door and Sara, the day nurse, popped her head in. “Hi, Kate. I just need to check Mary’s pressure and give her her medication.” She came in, closing the door behind her. “You doing okay, Mary?”

“Quite well, thank you. With such delightful company and Fred keeping me company, what more can I want?”

Dominic stood and walked around the room. He stopped at a photo of Kate and her grandmother, taken when Kate was probably around twelve. Gawky, with long braids and a toothy grin, she looked happy with her grandmother’s arms wrapped around her.

He looked back at her and tilted his head, as if he was trying to picture her in those long braids again. She moved to join him, standing by his side as they looked at the picture.

In a soft voice, so as not to be overheard, he said, “I can see how much you love her, Kate. And even though she may not always know who you are, she can feel your love, too.”

Damn. Why did he have to go and say something like that? Her eyes felt hot and she fought back the tears that threatened. “I like to think so. It’s why I come here every week. She needs to be reminded that she has people who love her. I just wish I could get here more. It’s tough, though, with work.”

“I’m sure she understands. From what I can tell of this woman in this photo, she would be proud of you and all of your accomplishments.”

“You have to stop being so sweet. You’re ruining all your best boyfriend moments on an empty audience.” She smiled but kept her attention on the photo, not trusting herself to look back at him, even though she knew he still watched her. Afraid that if she looked too deep into those eyes, she might start believing this thing between them was real.

That
they
were real.

“True. I guess I can use this as material later. Just try and pretend you’re hearing it for the first time.”

“Deal,” she said and laughed.

She was standing so close to him that it seemed natural when he reached out to tuck her hair away from her face. Caressed her cheek again for a moment. As he had last night. She couldn’t help but press her face into his hand, just for that moment. To feel his breath against her skin.

“All right, Mary,” the nurse was saying. “You’re set. I’ll let you get back to your company.”

They broke apart, and Kate glanced over to see the nurse give them both a full grin before she packed the items on the tray. Kate’s cheeks grew hot and she tried to return the smile.

“You know, I’m feeling a little tired today, Sara. I might just take a nap. Would you be so kind to take me to my room?”

Kate knew it was unreasonable to feel the ache in her heart. Her grandma was tired, was all. She didn’t mean to dismiss them. She didn’t even really know who Kate was.

That did little to comfort her, though, as she watched the nurse help her grams to the next room. At least she looked happy. Content. Comfortable. It could be worse.

She walked to the television, about to turn it off when Dominic’s voice stopped her.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to see if Fred gets the girl. Care if we watch it a little longer? We still have a couple more hours until we need to be at my parents’, anyway.”

She looked at him with some suspicion. He smiled, lazy and confident, but not teasing. She managed a return smile. “Since I wouldn’t want you to wonder how the movie ends, I guess we can stick around. She’ll be out for hours anyway.”

“But you’ve got to promise me one thing. No breaking out in song.”

She tried to look offended as she slid onto the couch next to him. “I haven’t sung once—”

“You’ve been mouthing every word since the movie began. Don’t try and hide it.”

She bit back a smile. “Wait until we get to the car. I have the soundtrack.”

“I’ll just bet you do.”

Chapter Ten

Dominic’s sisters were busy chopping at the counter when Kate and Dominic walked into the bright, cheery kitchen. The aroma from the stove had Kate’s mouth watering.

“You made it,” Benny said and smiled.

His mom stopped stirring the big pot on the stove and wiped her hand off on her apron before stepping forward to crush Kate, and then Dominic, in a long embrace. “Welcome. I’m so happy you decided to come, Kate.”

Kate looked over at Dominic. “Wouldn’t miss it. Dominic tells me you’re quite the cook. And it does smell wonderful.”

His mother waved her hand dismissively, “Oh, this is nothing. Just a little stew.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Dominic whispered loudly. “Everything she makes, even a simple piece of toast, has to be prepared just right.” He cleared his throat, and in a louder voice, asked, “So what exactly do we have on the menu tonight, ladies?”

“As if you couldn’t tell,” his mom said. “The pork has been roasting in the green chilies all day. As soon as the tortillas are done we can eat. In the meantime, make yourself useful. Go see what the kids are up to. Last I saw them they were playing some video games downstairs.”

Dominic was being dismissed. Meaning her anchor, her partner in crime, was leaving her alone with these women. But short of begging him to stay, there wasn’t really any alternative.

He winked at her, and she knew he was trying to tell her everything would be fine.

She tried to relax. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Come over here. You can help Daisy roll the tortillas.”

Nervous energy drove through Kate, not just at being left with the women, but at trying to do something she had no clue about. She went to the sink and scrubbed her hands with soap and grabbed a towel that Benny tossed her. “I should warn you, the most cooking I’ve done is frying an egg and making a mean pan of Hamburger Helper.”

Daisy laughed. “This is easy. I’ll walk you through it. You see these balls of dough?” She lifted a red towel from the counter, revealing a pile of little balls. “They’re called
testales
. We’re going to roll them into a round tortilla and cook them on the hot
comal
—or griddle. Easy. Take this.”

Daisy handed her a long, rounded piece of wood and took an extra one for herself. “Now we want to lightly—very lightly or you’ll have dry tortillas—flour the surface like this. Okay, now once your
testal
is in front of you, settle the pin over it like this… Now roll, stopping just before you get to the edge.”

Kate stared at the ease at which Daisy had already flattened half the dough, and she pushed and made the same attempt. Only she pushed too hard on the left and it looked a little…slanted.

Daisy smiled. “You’re doing fine. Now, just turn the dough a bit like this, and do it again. And keep repeating until you have a nice flat disc.”

Kate’s mouth might have dropped open at Daisy’s quick, easy movements that resulted in a perfectly flat, round disc. She watched as Daisy dropped it on the hot griddle, continuing to move it around just so, and flipping it, until at the end it was a poufy, round tortilla. It had only taken her about a minute to cook it and then she was placing it on a clean towel and covering it before moving to the next
testal
.

“How do you do that so quickly?” Kate asked in awe.

“Lots of years of practice. Now go on. You won’t get any better unless you keep trying.”

Kate turned and saw Elena and Benny watching her with hidden smiles. “Don’t worry,” Benny assured her. “You’ll notice I’m resigned to chopping duty because even after all these years, mine look like a five-year-old made them.”

“You just stick to bandaging arms and legs and saving lives and leave the tough stuff to me,” Daisy said, tilting her head charmingly at her sister.

“I’ve told you, Daisy, you should really consider opening up a bakery or restaurant. You’re an amazing cook.” Elena cleared her throat and Benny shot her mother a grin. “Thanks to the tutoring, of course, of our dear mama.”

Kate looked over and caught Elena’s eye, who smiled jovially and winked. Just like Dominic.

But Daisy’s own smile was more resigned now. “Maybe once upon a time, but now I have other things to think about. Bills to pay. My children to watch out for and feed.”

Kate turned her dough and attempted to copy Daisy’s quick movements. This was a perfect opportunity to try and fulfill her part of the bargain. And help Daisy, too. “You know, Dominic may have mentioned to me a little bit about your problem. With your husband.” She hazarded a look up and saw the other women had stopped their preparation for a minute and were watching her and Daisy carefully. “If you’re interested, maybe I can meet with you some time. Talk about what you can do to protect your interests.”

Daisy’s attention remained on almost pulverizing the next
testal
. “Thanks, Kate. But I couldn’t take your time like that without paying you, and right now, things are a little tight. I have an interview tomorrow. Maybe once I have more steady income, okay?”

“Actually, you would be helping
me
out. You see, at my firm, all associates are expected to put in a certain number of hours on pro bono work. That is, working for free for those clients who can’t afford legal representation otherwise. Anyhow, I have been so busy this year I don’t have nearly the number of hours I should.” Which wasn’t quite true, but it wasn’t like Daisy could verify this. “So helping you out with your case would help me meet the minimum, while at the same time help you and your kids, too.”

Daisy looked at her with skepticism in those dark brown eyes. “Pro bono? I don’t know, Kate. Did Dominic put you up to this?”

Crap.

She hated lying, and especially to these wonderful women who were welcoming her so warmly. But she knew that if she told the truth, Daisy would outright refuse her and wouldn’t get the help she needed. “No. I mean, he mentioned what was happening, but I’m volunteering here on my own accord. I want to help.” That last part was 100 percent true and something in her tone must have assured the woman.

Daisy tossed the dough on the griddle and Kate watched as the little bubbles started to form across the surface. Kate tried one more time. “I’ll leave you my card, okay? No pressure. Take some time to think about it and when you’re ready, just give me a call and I’ll set up an appointment.”

Benny popped over and pulled one of the freshly made tortillas from the pile. “Sounds like a win-win to me. I don’t see the harm in you at least meeting with Kate, finding out your options.”

Daisy flipped the tortilla. “All right. Leave your card and I’ll consider it.”

Kate looked up and saw Benny and Elena smiling at her again. Embarrassed at their grateful looks, she returned a nervous smile.

They thought she was Dominic’s girlfriend. Here to meet his family because she loved and cared about him.

Maybe even wanted to make a future with him.

Would they still be as warm and appreciative if they knew that she and Dominic were lying to them all?

…

Dominic found the kids playing an active game of Wii Sports. From what he could tell watching the screen, Paul was beating his older sister up (virtually speaking) and hurling her into the water below, sending both girls into fits of giggles. It didn’t take them too long to convince him to give it a try, and fifteen minutes later, a remote in one hand and a nunchuk in the other, he was boxing his seven-year-old niece.

She was creaming him.

A sound from behind caught his attention. He turned to see Kate leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs, trying unsuccessfully to control her mirth.

“Hey, this is harder than it looks,” he said, wiping his brow. “Care to give it a try?”

“And miss this entertainment? Not on your life.”

But Kate soon discovered his nieces and nephew were as persistent as they were cute and, after some cajoling and pleading, she was standing next to him with the controls in her hands.

“I’ll try to take it easy on you,” he challenged. “I know how competitive you can be.”

She smiled wickedly back at him. “Just try and keep up.”

She held her hands up in front of her and jabbed forward, completely missing his avatar. But she didn’t stop and after a few more jabs, she nailed him with a few solid hits that sent his avatar flying into the virtual water below.

The kids cheered, and Kate threw her head back and laughed. The sound was beautiful, as was her face when he glanced over to see her cheeks bright with the exercise, her eyes gleaming.

There was only so much a man could take.

Before he could question the good sense in his actions, he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. Still winded from their play, her chest rose and fell heavily against his and it was hard not to appreciate the full swell of her breasts cushioned against him. But instead of showing anger or discomfort at the display, she seemed to melt further against him. And smiled.

“No fair, Uncle Dominic. You’re cheating,” one of his nieces called out. “Kate was so kicking your butt.”

“You know how boys can get, Natalie,” Kate said, still looking at him. “They don’t like being beaten by a girl.”

“Oh, is that right? I wouldn’t really know, since my record in Scrabble, so far, is undefeated.” He wriggled his fingers along her waist, earning a high-pitched cry as she tried to squirm away. Oh, she was ticklish all right. He did it again and she laughed and twisted her body to escape his fingers. “Oh, wait, you’re not ticklish, are you? Paul, I think you need to come and help me out.”

“Don’t you dare, Paul. Remember, I thought we were buddies,” Kate said, imploring Paul but unable to hide the next giggle.

In ten seconds, Paul was throwing his weight against her, trying to tickle her belly. “Help me out, girls.” It was all the incentive his nieces needed before they pushed against them, too, and they all fell back against the couch, Dominic underneath Kate but holding her against him, trying to fight off the little fingers of the girls trying to get under his neck and arms.

“Hey, you loafers downstairs.” It wasn’t hard to distinguish Benny’s voice from the others. “Dinner’s ready, so get those butts up here now, or Cruz is going to eat all the tortillas.”

The kids squealed as they piled off and ran for the stairs, trying not to be last.

Leaving the two of them alone. Kate still lying facedown on top of him, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. She felt too good, her body fitting so perfectly against his, he didn’t want to let her go.

His hand reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that was tickling his cheek. Her chin seemed to quiver as she sucked in her breath.

He would have to be a saint to resist taking advantage of the moment.

And he’d never claimed to be one.

With his palm, he cupped the back of her head and brought her mouth down to his. He’d been wondering what she tasted like more times than he could count, and as his lips teased hers, testing her to make sure she didn’t object, he was reminded of honey. He didn’t know what to expect when he deepened the kiss—resistance maybe, or disgust—but the heady feeling of her opening her mouth to him, allowing him to swirl her tongue with his own and fully taste her sweetness, nearly killed him. As when she climbed higher up in his lap and tilted her head to fully enjoy the kiss.

Trusting him.

“Hey, you two. If you’re not up here in ten seconds, you’ll be sitting at the kids’ table,” Benny yelled again. “I can’t hold the rug rats off much longer.”

With great reluctance, Dominic pulled back and watched as Kate’s eyes opened, staring back at him, dreamy and languid. Her lips were swollen and begged him to steal one more taste, but the sound of running feet and scraping chairs reminded him he’d be testing fate. The sounds seemed to seep through Kate’s consciousness, too, for she flushed and practically bolted upright and away from his lap.

“W-we’d better get up there.” She pressed her hands down, smoothing her soft black sweater down over her curvy figure, then repeated the action with her hair.

He smiled despite himself, trying to decide if he should tell her that due to the dreamy look still in her eyes and the swollen lips, no amount of fussing was going to tell anyone less than the truth of what they’d been doing.

He stood and reached out to smooth a lock of hair that was poking up on top of her head. “Yeah. We better.”

He should be reminding himself why that kiss was a bad idea. That it could go nowhere and might even risk things becoming awkward. But he didn’t care.

It had been worth it.

…

Kate could not get enough of the savory, tender pork wrapped in warm tortillas. It wasn’t as if she’d never had
chile verde
before. There were a number of very good Mexican restaurants within ten minutes of her house, but it wasn’t the same as homemade. Store-bought tortillas would never taste the same again.

She’d eaten one full burrito made of the flavorful stew and was thinking about a second when she saw Dominic was watching her with that gleam in his eyes. And any further thought of food was dismissed.

Only the memory of that kiss.

And Dominic, so strong and firm underneath her, his shoulders as she had gripped him tighter, his chest that she’d pressed herself against. The softness of his hair that her fingers found their way to as she pulled him in to her as she gave into the heady heat of his kiss.

She’d been lost.

Even now his gaze dropped to her lips, and she almost opened them, as if he was there now. Her lower belly swirled with desire again.

Which was freaking crazy.