by Sabrina York
She shrugged, sending him a few inches away. “It’s not something you announce at a first meeting.”
“Still, if I had read your background report, I would have known.”
“Your mother took care of it.” She tried to keep her expression bland as she backed away from him. “Jessica seems restless.”
“Yeah.” With a sigh, Dom turned back to the stroller, and they walked the remaining path to the train area. He glanced at his watch when they arrived. “There’re a few minutes until the first train. Do you want to go into the gift shop?”
She nodded, and they entered the small shop. She smiled when she saw Jessica reaching for a huge giraffe by the door. “No way, kiddo,” she said, even as Dom was lifting it closer to the baby. “It wouldn’t fit in the car.”
He looked regretful, but put it back. “I guess you’re right.” He moved the stroller to a display of smaller animals, picking up a green turtle as big as his arm. “How about this, sweetie?”
Jessica made an ambiguous sound while turning her head back toward the giraffe.
Caris slipped over to the clothing racks, picking up a warm fleece coat with Oregon Zoo emblazoned on the back. It wouldn’t be her first choice for fashion, but necessity dictated she buy it. Necessity and the desire to avoid anymore cozy embraces with Dom. Her heart still stuttered when she remembered how good it felt to have his arms around her.
They arrived at the cash register at the same time. Dom clutched a handful of stuffed animals, and a zebra printed pacifier in a plastic package. The matching pacifier strap also featured a herd of zebras. She laughed at his selections.
“What?”
Caris shook her head as the clerk rang up her coat. “Nothing. Well, it’s just, she won’t know the difference between her current Power Puff Girls pacifier and the zebras.”
He lifted the pacifier. “She has to blend in.”
“Okay.” Caris reached into her purse for cash.
“I’ll get it,” Dom said as he pushed his purchases toward the clerk. “This is all together.”
Her mouth firmed. “I would prefer to buy my own things.”
Dom fished his wallet out. “Let me, Caris.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”
The clerk had paused, and she was eying them with interest. “So, who’s paying for what?”
“I am,” they said simultaneously.
Her eyes widened. “Um, okay, but for what?”
Dom plunked his Visa card on the counter. “I’ll pay for it.”
“Dominick.”
He grinned. “You sound just like my mother.” His smile firmed when he met her eyes, apparently seeing her displeasure. “I’ll take it out of your salary, okay?”
She gave a grudging sigh. “Fine.” Caris turned to the clerk. “I’ll wear the coat out.”
“Leave the pacifier and strap out too,” Dom said, as she slid the receipt in front of him so he could sign it.
Caris moved away from the counter to slip off her old jacket and put on the new coat. On their way out of the store, she dropped the jacket in the trash and followed him to the depot, where a small line was forming. They could hear the whistle before they saw the train round the last corner.
Dom left the stroller with the ticket taker, and then took the third row of seats from the front. He studied her when she sat next to him. “Are you upset?”
“I don’t like charity,” she burst out, lowering her voice as two little kids took the seats behind them. “I don’t like being beholden.”
His eyes widened. “You aren’t beholden for a coat.”
Caris sighed, knowing she was overreacting. Unlike his brother, Dom wouldn’t expect anything in return for his generosity, except that she do her job as Jessica’s nanny. “I’m sorry,” she said stiffly.
“Don’t be sorry. I didn’t listen.”
“It’s just a coat—”
“—and your pride.”
She found a small smile for him. “Thank you for understanding.”
Dom blushed, looking discomfited. “Um, you’re welcome.” He turned his head as the train picked up speed. “Look, Jessica. See the pretty lights? The zoo is all decorated for Christmas.”
Caris turned her attention to the lights on the tour, pointing out the bears as they went by. They went round a corner, and she found herself plastered against Dom. When they straightened out, she moved away, but not as much as she should have. His leg was pressed against hers, and their shoulders touched. She could lean forward and kiss him without much effort. Dom met her eyes, and she wondered if he saw the desire she was trying to hide. She licked her lips, and he moaned in the back of his throat. She saw him swallow before he wrenched his gaze from hers.
“Elephants. Look at the elephants, Jessica,” he said in a husky tone.
As the ride continued, she noticed they both made an effort to point out the various exhibits—especially the elk enclosure as they passed the loop again—but she knew her thoughts were on anything but the animals on display. It was with relief when the ride ended, and she was able to put some space between herself and Dom.
After retrieving the stroller, they moved on down the trail. Caris was relieved to find the insect house closed for the season.
Jessica seemed to be interested in the penguins and bears, but kept her attention focused on the cheetah beanie baby beside her in the stroller as they walked through the Education center.
“Hungry?” Dom asked as they approached the picnic pavilion. Only one family was braving the cold day to eat outside, and they all looked miserable huddled together.
“Not that hungry.”
Dom laughed, and they moved on to the elephant museum.
Before going to the elephant paddock, they stopped at a cart and got cotton candy. She glanced over at Dom, watching as he removed a bit of blue fluff from his cone and popped it in his mouth. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away when his tongue darted out to lick his fingers clean. It was only when she realized he had caught her staring that she was able to wrench her gaze from him. She fought against the blush trying to stain her cheeks, but she knew wasn’t successful in hiding her embarrassment. If only she could stop thinking about what else he could do with his tongue…
He knelt by the stroller, pinching a bit of candy from his stick and holding it out for Jessica. “It’s yummy,” he urged. She obliged by opening her mouth.
Caris cleared her throat. “Do you think she’s old enough?” She tried to keep her voice level, hoping to cover the awkwardness she could feel between them. He probably thought she was just waiting to pounce on him, which must be distasteful when he compared her to his girlfriend. She sighed.
“Never too young for pure sugar,” he said in a bracing tone. His expression wasn’t as cheery. He appeared disconcerted, and a flush tinged his cheeks.
They moved forward to the elephants, finding a mother and her calf pressed against each other. The mother cried out, which made Jessica wail. Dom lifted her from the stroller, and Caris pushed it as they hurried away from the elephants.
She was fussy through the Alaska and African exhibits, so they sped past. By the time they reached the pygmy goats, Jessica was asleep. Dom glanced at his watch after lowering her back into the stroller. “Wow. I have never made it through most of the zoo so quickly.”
“There are still a few displays to see.”
He nodded. “It looks like she’s going to cooperate by sleeping through them all.”
“We should probably forget the Children’s Museum today.”
He nodded, and they walked on to the Rainforest. He paused at the entrance. “We’ll have to take her out, and she’ll probably cry when she gets inside since it’s so muggy. Why don’t you go through without us?”
Caris shook her head. “Next time we’ll all go together.” She forgot how to breathe as her mind put a different spin on her words. It was getting much too easy to picture them all as a family, spending more days like this one with each othe
r. That was the last thing she wanted, she assured herself quickly.
He froze for a second, with his lips parted, seeming on the verge of speaking. Then he shrugged. “Okay.”
They were near the bat house when Caris slid on a puddle of spilled soda. She fell hard on her knee and cried out.
Dom crouched beside her. “Are you okay?”
“It’s not my day,” she said in a wet voice, half-amused by everything that had gone wrong, but also in pain. “Can you help me up?”
“Are you sure it isn’t broken?”
She bit her lip. “Pretty sure.” Caris held out her arms to grasp his shoulder, and grunted with surprise when he lifted her into his arms and carried her to a bench.
He went back for the stroller before kneeling on the cold stones to examine her leg. Blood seeped through the material, but she moved the leg without difficulty. “It probably isn’t broken, but maybe we should take you to the hospital.”
She shook her head. “No, thanks. I hate hospitals.”
Dom sighed. “If you’re sure. Can you walk?”
“I think so.” Caris tried to stand and winced. “I might need help.”
“Wait here.” Dom hurried in the direction of the entrance. He returned a few minutes later with a teenage girl in an Oregon Zoo coat. “She’s going to push the stroller while I carry you.”
Caris’s eyes widened. “There is no need, Dom. I can put my arm around your shoulder.”
“No. We don’t want to do more damage. You have two choices.”
“Oh, really?” She scowled at him. “What might they be, master?”
“I can carry you, or we can call an ambulance.”
She glared up at him, and then lifted her arms. “Carry away.”
Dom appeared to force back a grin at her disgruntled tone as he carefully lifted her into his arms. They started in the direction of the exit, with the girl pushing the stroller beside them. “You are so stubborn,” he said against her temple as she continued to hold herself stiffly and make it more difficult for him to maintain a hold on her. She didn’t bother with any retort except for a snort.
“Relax.”
He wanted her to relax? Caris almost shook her head. How could she relax when she was so close to him? She was a hair’s breadth from melting against him and sobbing like a baby. She couldn’t let herself relax.
They reached the Prius a few minutes later, and Dom turned to thank the girl after settling Caris in the car.
“No problem.” She gave them a smile, revealing gleaming braces. “Your baby’s cute. She looks a lot like you, ma’am.”
Her throat closed with panic, and she stiffened. “Thanks,” she managed to mumble, while shooting looks at Dom. He wore a frown, but didn’t look like he’d had an epiphany upon hearing the girl’s words.
Dom gave the girl a five before he lifted Jessica from the stroller and loaded her into the car. She whimpered a bit at the transfer, but settled back to sleep within seconds. Caris watched in the side mirror as he collapsed the stroller and put it in the trunk before walking around the car to slide into the driver’s seat.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Caris bit her lip, trying to pretend her knee didn’t hurt.
“Do you just want to go home?”
She nodded, disconcerted to realize the M & M had started to feel like home during the week she had been there. “Maybe we could stop for a bite at a drive-thru?”
“Sure.”
They arrived back at the ranch two hours later. Caris was dozing, and he watched her periodically, hoping she wouldn’t have another nightmare. He hummed along with the music absently, splitting his attention between the road, Caris, and Jessica.
As they pulled into the driveway, she lifted her eyelids and stretched.
Dom laughed. “You and Jessica don’t travel well.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Hm?”
“You’re both sleepyheads in the car.” He pulled the keys from the switch and dropped them into his jacket pocket.
“Oh.”
“I’m going to get you inside and come back for Jessica.” He saw her concerned look and smiled. “I’ll lock the doors. She’ll be fine for a few minutes.” He jerked his head toward the back seat. “She’s out, anyway.”
“I’m sure I can…” Caris’s words faded when he got out of the car and closed the door behind himself. When he came to her side, she lifted the lock so he could open the door. “I’m sure I can walk by now,” she said as soon as he opened the door.
“Let’s not go through this again.” Dom leaned in to lift her, and she stiffened. With her rigid posture, she was difficult to lift. He grunted and tried shifting her, hoping she would relax. She maintained her stiff position. He sighed and stood up, trying to balance her stiff body. He smacked his head against the car frame and cursed.
“Are you okay?” Caris asked, looking as if she wanted to laugh.
She should feel guilty, he thought with a grimace. It was her fault he bumped his head. If she didn’t hold herself like a statue, the transfer would be easier. “Just great.” He pulled his hand from under her thighs and touched the sore spot on the back of his head, wincing at the small bump already forming.
“Careful when you get out.” She giggled. “You don’t want to dent the car with that hard head.”
“Ha ha.” Dom leaned forward once more, sliding his arm under her thighs. He kept his head low, and his cheek paused a scant inch from her face. He turned his head to meet her eyes, and they were close to kissing. She was so close he could almost taste her skin, and he could feel her breath across his cheek. A soft groan escaped him when Caris moistened her lips. “Uh…” His head lowered toward hers seemingly against his volition. He was going to kiss her, and she didn’t look like she was going to stop him.
“What are you doing?”
They jerked apart when Lisa screeched the question from behind them. He pulled away and lifted Caris from the car, moving quickly but still gently. “Hello, Lisa. I didn’t know you were coming.” He struggled to fight the guilty blush creeping up his neck. They hadn’t done anything—but if he’d had another half-minute, they would have. He was honest enough to admit that to himself, in no one else.
She was glaring at Caris. “Why are you holding the nanny?”
“She fell at the zoo.”
“I can walk,” Caris said at the same time.
Lisa scowled. “She’s a big girl. Why don’t you listen to her?”
“Don’t argue with me.” He wasn’t sure which of them he addressed. He shifted Caris into a more comfortable position, noticing she had finally relaxed, and nodded toward the backseat. “Lisa, can you grab the baby?”
She heaved a sigh. “I suppose.”
He started to the house.
“Is Jessica okay with her?” Caris asked softly.
He frowned at the question, realizing her concern mirrored his own. “I’m sure Lisa can get her from the car seat and into the house.” Which of them was he trying to convince? It made him nervous to leave the baby with Lisa, even for a few minutes.
He walked up the stairs and pushed open the door. They startled Elena as they hurried through the kitchen. He sat Caris on the lounger in the sitting room and knelt to look at her knee.
She put a hand on his shoulder. “Check on Jessica first.”
He nodded and regained his feet. He cast a look over his shoulder as he left her, seeing her pulling at the hem of her jeans. She didn’t need him, he told himself. She could take care of herself. With a sigh, he exited the house and returned to the car, finding Lisa still struggling to remove the car seat. “What are you doing?”
“Taking out the car seat.” She shook her left hand. “I broke two nails, and I just had them done.”
He sighed. “You can unfasten the belt on the seat and lift her out.”
“I didn’t know that. I’m not super nanny.” Her lip curled. “Besides,
I don’t want the child to ruin another outfit.”
“Yeah, you need priorities,” Dom muttered as he pushed her aside and lifted Jessica. With a heavy heart, he accepted his niece would never be a priority for Lisa. He didn’t know the Lisa who had shown herself since Jessica’s arrival. Again, the questions circling his mind rose to the forefront. Had he ever really known her at all, or had he simply ascribed attributes to her that she lacked? She was unquestioningly beautiful on the outside, but what was in her heart? He would have to find out before he committed his and Jessica’s future to Lisa.
Chapter Seven
Dom went straight to Caris when they reentered the house. Elena had made her way into the sitting room by then, and she edged forward to take Jessica. Lisa hovered in the doorway, watching with narrowed eyes as he knelt on the floor. “How is it?”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “It’s fine now, Dom. I just need to wash it off.”
“I’ll carry you upstairs.”
“You will not!” Lisa said, hands on her hips.
Caris shook her head. “I’ll be fine. It’s only a scrape.”
He frowned at her, but backed away so she could gain her feet. He hovered nearby as she took a few halting steps toward the doorway. “Are you…?”
“I’m fine.” She bit her lip and kept going. Her knee throbbed with each step, but she refused to have Dom carry her. It was silly to be coddled for such a tiny injury. She hobbled from the sitting room and slowly made her way to the stairs. She used the banister to pull herself up each one, and braced a hand against the wall to steady herself on the walk to her room.
Dom shook his head at her stubbornness, but turned away to find Lisa glaring at him. “What?”
“I don’t like you touching her like that.”
He sighed. “She’s hurt, Lisa. Was I supposed to leave her in Portland?”
“I guess not.” She strode to the sofa and threw herself down across it—stylishly, of course, he noted. Even in her anger, she made sure to drape her body to display it to its best advantage. “What was she doing with you anyway?” Her lower lip puffed out.
“She is Jessica’s nanny.”
