I’m not sure she can handle it.
I’m not sure I can resist it.
Chapter Three
At the end of the day, I inwardly congratulate myself for not looking like a complete and total fool in front of Sophia. Her subtle perfume has assaulted my senses all day, infiltrating my nostrils, clinging to my clothes, and wafting around me as she moved. It has stirred up all manner of mental images of her—mainly with no clothes on. Her scent will stay with me into the night, long after she’s left and I’m home alone.
“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” I say as I stand and stretch. It’s been a long day of training, and not the fun kind of training, either. “We’ve covered enough for today.”
“Let me grab my things from Dana’s closet,” Sophia says as she rises.
I watch her walk on her four-inch heels and appreciate the way the muscles in her legs and ass flex. I’ve spent nearly every minute of the day with her and there is nothing I don’t like about her. She’s smart, witty, personable, and so very easy to get to know. I grab my suit jacket and follow her out to Dana’s desk area. She’s rummaging through her purse to find her keys and I patiently wait for her to indicate she’s ready to go.
The jingle of her key ring is my cue that it’s time to start walking to the elevators. As I begin to turn, she looks up at me and I once again feel the unmistakable pull to her. She gives me her best, full-on smile and I feel my lips part in surprise at the beauty radiating from her face. This is going to be harder than I thought it would be, especially after I realized during the staff meeting that she doesn’t react to other men the way she does to me. The blush of her cheeks, the demure smile, her downcast eyes, and the longing gazes happen only when she’s interacting with me.
The sun is close to setting as we reach the parking garage. We’re about to part ways, and even though I don’t want to let her go yet, I can’t think of a valid business reason of why we should spend more time together. I force myself to let her go, telling myself she will be back tomorrow and we can resume her training.
“Well, goodnight, Sophia. I will see you in the morning,” I tell her with a smile.
“Good night, Dominic. I enjoyed today. Thank you for taking so much time with me,” she replies with a heartfelt quality in her voice. She turns and starts to walk toward the street and I’m puzzled by her actions.
“Did you not park in the garage?”
She turns to face me again as she answers, “Oh, no. I don’t have a car. I’m going to catch the bus.”
“Where do you live?”
“Southwest of the city,” she answers without giving the exact area of Dallas she lives in, but I’m fairly certain I know where. It’s the higher crime area of Dallas proper and it’s not safe for her to take public transportation to that part of town at this time of evening.
“Let me give you a ride,” I say while using my thumb to point over my shoulder in the general direction of my car.
“I couldn’t impose like that, Dominic. I’ll be fine.”
“I insist,” I say with finality and fix my gaze on her until she resigns and does as I suggest.
With a deep sigh, she approaches me, “Dominic, I feel like I’m taking advantage and imposing on you at the same time.”
“You’re not. If I let you leave at this hour and take the bus, I’ll worry about you all night. It’s not how I was raised, Sophia. I don’t believe in leaving you to fend for yourself when I’m in a position to help you.”
This seems to placate her somewhat, but just in case, I continue, “If you deny me this, I won’t get any sleep and then it’ll be your fault when I’m grumpy all day tomorrow.”
She smiles at this and giggles as my words really sink in. “Okay, Dominic. If you insist.”
I smile and motion toward my car again. “Let’s go. I will drive you home.”
I open the passenger door and allow her to climb in. She gives me an odd look but I continue to patiently wait for her to sit until her shock passes. Once we’re both settled into my Mercedes S550, her eyes grow wide as she considers all the gadgets and gizmos it has. She looks around nervously but doesn’t touch anything. Her discomfort momentarily makes me feel self-conscious before she looks up at me in wonder.
“This. Car. Is. Awesome,” she says, emphasizing each word before her face splits into a wide, appreciative smile. A fleeting thought takes hold in my mind. You care what she thinks.
“Where to, ma’am?” I ask in my best English butler accent.
She laughs heartily at my feeble attempt and gives me her address to put into my GPS. It’s in the general area that I had originally thought and that worries me more. Not only is it a higher crime area, but she’s relying on public transportation to get her there. Dallas residents are known for being independent. Most everyone drives instead of using buses or other mass transit systems. As I’m pulling out of the parking garage, her stomach rumbles and I instantly know how I can keep her with me for a while longer.
“We haven’t eaten in a long time, Sophia. Would you mind having dinner with me tonight? I really hate going to the restaurant alone,” I say honestly. I’ve never admitted that to anyone else and I’m not sure why I said it to her, except that I really want her to say yes.
“Umm…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t ask if you’re married or if you have a boyfriend who would be offended,” I apologize, instantly filled with dread at the thought of her already having someone.
“No, no—nothing like that. It’s just that…well…money is a little tight right now. So, I should pass this time.” She’s kept her eyes trained out the side window, avoiding all eye contact with me.
“Sophia, don’t take this the wrong way, but I would consider it an insult if you paid for your dinner when I invited you to go with me. My mother raised me better than that. She’s ingrained in me. I don’t want to take your independence from you, but I just believe there are certain things a man should do for a woman, and paying for the meal when he invites her to dinner is one of those things.”
“Dominic, I don’t know any man who believes in that,” she replies with a mixture of shock and incredulity. “So, moving heavy things, paying for dinner, and what else?”
“Opening doors—including car doors—carrying luggage, protecting her by making sure she gets home safely from work,” I say with a pointed look, “and anything else that requires a real man’s touch.” The last part is very cryptic and I don’t suspect she will assume anything more than what my words actually relay. I hope she doesn’t look at the deeper meaning. Yet.
“I’m not accustomed to being taken care of like this, Dominic. Even with the simple things you’re doing for me. It just feels strange,” she confesses. “I hope I don’t offend you.”
“I understand that. It is hard to accept if you haven’t been used to it before now. But, Sophia, I don’t want you to feel bad about it because I actually do enjoy doing them. It makes me feel good to do these things, so don’t fight with me on them,” I explain, hoping she better understands.
“I will try to remember that. It may not always be easy for me, though. I guess I’m just used to being completely self-reliant.”
I look over at her and smile, “Let’s make a deal. I will coax you, but then you have to actually let me do whatever it is.”
“Deal,” she says with a smile.
“Dinner?” I ask again, testing her, but I also really want to have dinner with her.
“Yes, Dominic, dinner with you sounds very nice. Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” I answer and stop the route on the GPS to take her to one of my favorite places instead.
As I turn into the driveway to the Four Seasons resort, I feel the tension radiating off of her. I casually look over my shoulder and see her astonished look, her eyes wide and her mouth slighted parted. Oh, the thoughts that must be running through her mind right now. But I don’t want to frighten her or give her wrong impression, so I decide to save her from her o
veractive imagination.
“There’s an awesome restaurant inside the hotel. Have you ever been?” I ask casually.
“Uh, no, I’ve never been here,” she replies as her eyes dart around the landscape, no doubt looking for the alleged restaurant.
“Relax, Sophia. I brought you here solely for the food. It is out-of-this-world fantastic. I think you will like it,” I try to soothe her. “I’m not bringing you here for any other reason than dinner.”
I catch her look of disappointment that quickly changes to relief, then to confusion, but she doesn’t verbally respond. I can’t help but laugh to myself. Women. They’re offended when they think a man is hitting on them and they’re offended when they find out he’s actually not hitting on them. Her reaction makes me question how offended she would be if she knew about the images of her that have stayed with me since I first saw her two weeks ago.
After leaving my car with the valet attendant, I turn to her and say, “This way, Miss Vasco.” Her smile is warm and the suspicion has left her eyes, I’m much too pleased to note.
Once seated, she takes a moment to really look around the restaurant and take in her surroundings. It’s opulent without becoming ostentatious. The food is expertly prepared and perfect every time. I’m trying to watch her, gauge her reactions, and understand where she’s coming from without being overly obvious about it.
“Sophia, tell me about yourself. I know a little about your work background, but nothing about you personally,” I prompt after we’ve ordered our drinks.
She hesitates only a second before she begins. “There’s really not much to tell. Well, nothing that would be considered interesting, anyway. I’m twenty-three and from a small town outside of Austin.
“My parents and little brother still live outside of Austin. I miss my brother. He’s four years younger but we were always very close while we were growing up. I haven’t seen him in a while. Anyway, I moved to Dallas about a year ago and you know everything since then,” she finishes with a smile.
“So, no husband or boyfriend?” I ask with a casual aloofness that says I want to hear about her but I’m not overly interested.
“No, definitely no husband in the picture. No boyfriend, either—at least not anymore,” she says before tasting her wine. “This is delicious. You have very good taste. Thank you for ordering for me. I never know what kind of wine to get.”
The subtle change in topic does not go unnoticed by me but I can tell she isn’t comfortable talking about this subject yet. That’s just as well. I’m actually not ready to answer any similar questions from her. In fact, I know I need to rein in these wayward thoughts and feelings toward her. I just met her, and while I would like to get to know her better, we are not at the right time or place for me to even consider being anything other than business associates. In addition to that, I’m her boss, and that’s really the only fact I need to consider.
“Tell me about yourself, Dominic.”
“I’m originally from Denver but moved here several years ago. I’m twenty-nine now and started DPS when I graduated from college. I built it from the ground up myself after majoring in Software Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Colorado. My dad is a computer engineer, so he actually builds them and identifies the best components to go into them, so I have some knowledge of that aspect from just watching him work. My mom is a stay-at-home mom and was always there for my two sisters and me with everything we had going on.”
“So, no wife or girlfriend in the picture?” she asks and quickly looks down at her hands.
“No, no wife or girlfriend in the picture,” I answer truthfully.
The waitress returns to take our order and we’ve barely glanced at the menu. I look at her and ask, “Do you know what you want, Sophia?”
She looks up at me with her deer-in-the-headlights look. “Oh, um, no. I’m sorry. I haven’t had a chance to look. What do you recommend, Dominic?” She stutters her response and her face flushes with embarrassment.
“Would you like me to order for you?” I ask, tilting my head to the side and narrowing my eyes at her. She suddenly seems very uneasy and unsure of herself.
“If you don’t mind. I trust your judgment. The lunch you chose for us was delicious,” the relief in her voice is tangible and my curiosity is piqued.
I order the special of the day and another glass of wine for us both. We return to a normal, get-to-know-you type of conversation that flows easily, and I am again reminded how easy our first day working together seemed. There were no awkward moments and no forced niceties or uncomfortable silence. At times, it felt like I was working with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. It felt comfortable but new at the same time.
This makes her uneasiness just now even stranger to me. I decide to dismiss it and continue our friendly dinner without any confrontation. I normally meet any challenge head-on and ask the difficult questions; however, her demeanor tells me she may take it harshly. The waitress returns with our meals and Sophia eyes her meal apprehensively.
“Do you not like Ahi tuna?” I ask, careful to keep my tone carefree since she looks a little scared. “You can order anything you like.”
“No, I’m sure this is fine. I’ve just never had it before but I’d like to try it.” I smile reassuringly, “If you don’t like it, I really don’t mind sending it back and getting whatever you want. Just say the word.”
With my fork in hand, I begin to eat and notice, from my peripheral vision, that she’s watching me intently before she picks up her fork and begins to eat, mimicking my movements. I freeze midair as an old memory resurfaces, giving me the oddest feeling of déjà vu. The thought is so preposterous that it’s not even worth another second of my time.
“So, what do you think?” I ask between bites.
“This is so good! I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to try it!” She begins to consume the rest of her food and makes soft, mewling noises with each new taste. My own food waits as I watch and listen to her for a moment. Shaking my head and smiling to myself, I quickly reclaim my good sense and finish my meal.
“That was delicious, Dominic. Thank you so much for dinner,” Sophia says as we wait for the valet to bring my car around.
“You are so welcome, Sophia. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.”
The attendant pulls up with my car and I open the passenger door for her. She smiles and slightly bows her head before getting in. At least she doesn’t argue over it this time. The GPS is once again guiding me to her address and I start to make small talk with her on the short drive.
“Do you live in an apartment or did you buy a house?” I ask.
“Just a small apartment. It’s really not much to look at,” she says with a hint of humility.
“As long as it keeps you safe—that’s what matters.”
My alarm rises when she doesn’t respond to that statement. “Sophia, is it not a safe for you to live?”
“I’m not sure. There are some men that hang around outside the building and they make me uncomfortable,” she responds, her voice low and fearful.
“Have they tried to approach you?”
“They…they make catcalls and stuff like that toward me. Say things that unnerve me,” she answers but keeps her head turned away from me.
I don’t like the feeling I’m getting about this place where she lives. My foot presses harder on the gas pedal and the landscape flies by outside. My parents have always been adamant about the ways a man should treat and respect a lady. It’s innate to me now to stand up for those who need my help. The thought of anyone mistreating Sophia in any way makes my blood boil, but especially men who are obviously bigger and stronger and like to abuse their natural power.
When we pull onto her street, I’m instantly on guard and can’t believe my eyes. Her apartment is in the worst part of town, amongst the gangs and the drug deals conducted in plain view on the street corners. Her apartment building is run down and covered in graffiti. Garbage and li
tter is strewn all about, dilapidated cars line the streets, and all eyes are on us. Sophia fidgets nervously in the passenger seat as she looks at the entrance to her building—there are several guys blocking the door, daring her to leave the safety of the car.
“Sophia, you are not staying here. Is there anything in your apartment that you need immediately?” my tone is adamant and unyielding.
“Just my clothes and toiletries. There’s nothing else of value in there.”
“Then we will come back later and pack your things,” I say definitively, not giving her an opportunity to say no.
“Dominic, I don’t have anywhere else to go. And I need my clothes for work tomorrow,” the panic in her voice is rising and the color has drained from her face.
“I’ll take care of it, Sophia,” I say, determined to keep her from that rat-infested, condemned building and from the men leering at her from the doorway. If their reaction is any indication, they no doubt have vile plans in store for her. That is something I am not willing to leave to chance. Within minutes, we are back on the highway and heading toward the North Dallas area.
Dialing the head of my security team through the Bluetooth in my car, Nick Tucker answers, “Yes, Mr. Powers?”
“Tucker, I have a new employee we need to set up in one of our condominiums. Can you send someone over immediately and have it prepared? She will also need some clothes and toiletries. Have Mrs. Hernandez meet us over there so she can get whatever Miss Vasco needs,” I instruct.
“Everything will be ready by the time you get there,” Tucker promises
“I also need a team to go to her current apartment and pack all of her belongs. I will send you the address.”
“Yes, sir. We will handle it,” Tucker responds and we disconnect.
Her Dom (Dominic Powers #1) Page 3
