Penny Serenade (11 page)

At lunch she didn’t feel much like eating. Even the cheesecake didn’t catch her fancy. She sat in the café, hunched over her notebook. She couldn’t come up with a single affirmation because she was too busy looking up anytime someone came in. Part of her hoped Dominic would come in and another part dreaded the thought of seeing him. All in all the afternoon dragged and she couldn’t wait to close up for the day and get home.

The evening was lackluster in comparison to the other night when she’d been secure in Dominic’s embrace. She missed his smell, both his manly musk and cologne, and the smolder of his eyes when he caught her gaze. Audrey wiped the beginnings of a tear away and glanced at the time. Twelve hours ago she’d been content in a lip-lock, aroused and ready to give into desire. His fiery kisses were hard to forget.
The stroke of his thumb along her nipples, even harder.
Audrey groaned.

Yeah, she’d fucked up and driven him away for good.

Chapter Five

Dominic drove straight to his sister’s house after work. His jaw hurt from having it clenched all day. No one had wanted to work around him and he couldn’t blame them. Dan had made the mistake of asking him how his date went, and he nearly bit off his head. Not a good day. He considered going home but decided to go and see his sister. A bunch of car horns blared around him and he realized he’d just driven through a red light.

“Damn,” he cursed aloud.

He hated that he couldn’t get Audrey out of his mind. It sure as hell didn’t help his mood. He wouldn’t make the mistake of bothering her anymore. The woman was far more complex than he realized. When she said he scared her, it flipped a switch inside him from hot to cold. He hadn’t expected her to sleep with him, the kiss would’ve been sufficient. But once she was in his arms, her soft body so close to his, well…he’d lost control. Had she said nothing more than to stop, they could’ve parted on better terms. The way she went on and on about her organized life and that how he’d disrupt it cooled his jets in a flash. He didn’t have any order to his
life,
it was the same robotic day as the one that preceded it. Get up, go to work, go home, and go to bed, with the occasional dinner over at his sister’s house.

Dominic pulled into Julie’s driveway and knocked on the door.

His sister opened the door a crack, acknowledged him and then opened it fully, a look of surprise across her face. “Hey, what’s up? I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Remember I said I’d paint your basement? Well, here I am.”

Her lip twitched.
“Um, now?
Right now?”

He couldn’t think of a better time. “Yeah, why, is it a problem?”

“No but the furniture isn’t moved yet,” she replied. “I figured you’d call first and we’d set up a time that was good for the both of us.”

“Now is good for me, and don’t worry, I’ll move the furniture myself. It will give me something to do. I don’t want to put it off any longer.”

“Okay,” his sister said tentatively. “That’s fine. Can I help?”

The aroma of roast beef and vegetables caught his attention. “Only if you weren’t busy doing something else.”

“Not really. Dinner’s in the crockpot for another hour so, I’m free.
Too hot to use the oven.
There will be plenty, so stay for dinner if you’d like.”

Since home was the last place he wanted to be, the dinner invitation sounded ideal. “That would be fantastic. So, are you going to invite me in?”

“Oh, right, right. Sorry.” She stepped out of the way to let him pass. “I’m just surprised to see you.”

He stepped in and pushed the door shut behind him. “Aren’t surprises supposed to be good? I mean, in general? What is it with everything having to be planned out?”

His sister didn’t deserve the brunt of his tirade, but she was the only one who would understand.

“I guess it depends on the individual,” she said in a careful voice.

He shrugged.
“Fair enough.”

“When you’re used to things a certain way, a surprise can throw you off balance,” she reasoned. “I know that happens to me. Why do you ask?”

Dominic shrugged.
“Just wondered.
Sometimes things happen that aren’t planned and you sort of find a way to fit it in, you know? I mean you hadn’t planned on my coming over, but here I am.”

“Sure,” his sister said over her shoulder and flipped the light switch on. “Not everyone can be as accommodating.”

He followed his sister downstairs to the basement. Its bare walls made it cold in an otherwise spacious area that served as part entertainment room, part laundry area. He’d been nagging her for years to throw some paint on the walls to warm it up, but she’d always come up with an excuse not to. Before he’d found his apartment he’d spent many nights on the sofa bed. It had been nice except for the bare walls. Tonight he was going to do something about that.

“I mean, you’re fine that I’m here, right? I didn’t ruin the rest of your evening.” He swung his gaze her way.
“Right?”

She smiled.
“Of course not.
Family is one thing, but I’m not a big fan of just anyone dropping by unannounced.”

“Oh.” He’d never had anyone drop by unannounced, so he didn’t know how he felt about it.

Adrenaline pumping, Dominic got right to work, pushing the sofa bed clear to the other side of the room. He trusted his paint jobs enough to know he rarely made a mess, but because it was his sister’s stuff, he didn’t want to risk ruining anything. The sofa weighed a ton and his back let him know all about it.

“Damn,” he grunted and gave it an extra hard push, knocking over the side table.

He checked that nothing had broken and gave an apologetic look to Julie.
“My bad.”

“No harm done,” she replied. “Um, I get the feeling you’re upset about something.”

“I’ve been better,” he grumbled, giving the sofa one final push.

“I’m going to guess it’s about the woman from the shop.”

A ripple of irritation went through him.
“Maybe.”

“Does she have a name?”

“Yeah, it’s poison,” he said.

His sister chuckled. “Oh come on.”

“Not like it makes a difference, but it’s Audrey.”

“Pretty name.
Reminds me of Audrey Hepburn.”

“Whatever,” he scoffed.

Julie pulled the side table to the other side of the room and started to roll up the plush rug. “You can talk to me you know. I’ve always been a great listener.”

Dominic grumbled under his breath and unfolded the tarp. In many ways he counted on that from her. It was getting started that he had trouble with. “I know. It’s just…” He stood and thrust his hands to his hips.
“Ah hell.
Remember how dad used to say I invaded his space. You know, he and I would spend a few days doing stuff together, but when there was something I wanted to do and he didn’t, he’d say that it didn’t fit in with his plans, and that I was in the way.”

Julie
nodded,
empathy visible on her face. “Dad was harder on you. I don’t know why.”

“Me either, but I’d be on top of the world after he spent time with me, only for him to want nothing to do with me for the rest of the week. I walked on eggshells never knowing if I was bothering him or what. Never knowing what I did wrong or said wrong. Years of mind games.”

“I don’t think it was intentional,” his sister reasoned. “I think he had his own problems. He raised us alone and had to change his life around when mom died. I don’t think he planned for his whole world to change. I’d say he did his best, and didn’t know any better. Anyway, what does this have to do with Audrey?”

“Something she said. She made me feel like dad. One minute she wanted me there and the next she was pushing me away, telling me she didn’t like surprises and her life was in order. Basically I didn’t fit into her plans and was in the way. It sort of pushed my buttons.”

His sister leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Ah. I see. Well, you guys just met.
Why the rush?”

“There’s no rush,” he replied, unsure how he’d fallen so hard so fast. “Things went from neutral to overdrive and then she slammed on the brakes. I was fine to let things be and leave. Then she rambled on about her perfect existence and it made me feel like I was some stain on her brand new carpet. It reminded me of dad and dredged up the past. Now I can’t shake it.”

“I don’t think you can place blame on her for something dad said years ago.”

He looked toward his sister.

“I’m not,” he rasped. “I just don’t like the way it feels, and refuse to be in someone’s way.
Ever.
It’s not a big deal, we’re not compatible and it’s better to find out now before I invest anymore time into getting to know her.”

“Couples can be together for years and not be compatible,” his sister argued, “and I believe opposites
do
attract. Why are you making a decision based on one night?”

Dominic blinked.
“Because it’s enough for me.”

Julie shook her head. “The better approach might be to let things cool down and then maybe in a couple of days give her a call.”

Why was his sister hammering him to still pursue Audrey? This was out of character for her.
“Nah.”

“You aren’t going to just let things hang there, are you? I’ll bet she’s confused too.”

“She made herself clear,” he grumbled. “I don’t need any more hints or excuses.”

“She might be used to being alone and independent.”

He put his hands out in front of him, palms up.
“So what?
I am too.”

“Some people don’t know how to let others in,” his sister reasoned. “They get set in their ways and only see things through their eyes. You should know
,
you’re set in your own ways.”

“Doesn’t matter.”
He paused to wipe sweat from his forehead. “She’s looking for perfection in her life and I’m far from it. We’re done.”

Julie’s brows arced. “I think you’re making a mistake.”

“The only mistake I made was hounding her until she agreed to go out with me. I should’ve taken no for an answer.” Here he thought he’d play it smooth.

“I’d expect that from you,” his sister said with a smirk. “Being pigheaded and all.”

Dominic knew she was joking, but he liked it better when she sided with him. Feeling defeated he gave up. He’d lose the battle no matter what he said. “I’m going to start painting.”

“Okay. Want help?”

“I’d get more done if you didn’t,” he replied, trying not to sound too gruff.

“You’re probably right.” His sister nodded and headed toward the doorway. “If you need anything just holler.
A drink, a snack, an aspirin.
Whatever,
just let me know.”

“Will do.”

Dominic opened the paint cans he’d brought over the month before. It felt good to tackle this project. He’d gotten into a terrible routine of work and nothing else. A set of paintbrushes sat inside the paint tray, all new and ready for him. He set up the ladder in the corner, climbed up, and got started.

When it didn’t feel like a chore, painting helped him pull together his thoughts. He’d gotten through end of the year tests in college by painting murals and props for the drama club. It allowed him to stop and think about things from a different perspective. To his frustration all his thoughts were about Audrey. With each stroke of the brush he tried to forget her. Tried to forget the damn patchouli scent that reminded him of her, and the delicate way she spoke when they’d first kissed. Her face had been flush, her eyes soft and sensual. She’d tasted so damn sweet. He licked his lips, sorry that they tasted of black licorice rather than her.

Getting her off his mind wouldn’t be an easy task. He’d been better off sticking to his routine without worrying about all the right things to do and say around a woman. Why did he think this one could be different? Appearances were deceiving. He must’ve been mistaken when he thought she’d eyed him in the shop.

Dominic cursed under his breath. Had he misjudged everything about her? Had he been that blind to misread the signals she’d been sending out? Thinking back to the café he tried to observe things from her point of view. He’d kept on her to tell her things about her life that were personal, and followed her back to the shop like some stalker where he all but pressured her to let him join her at the planetarium. Wow. He came on way too strong and didn’t give her room to breathe. Not his intention, but that’s what he’d done. Here he’d thought she was playing hard to get.