“Hi,” he mimicked back, dipping his head to capture her mouth with his own for a gentle kiss. She kissed him back, pressing her palms against his chest and leaning into him.
Lifting his head, Dominic stared down at her, his emerald gaze holding her captive. Something had changed. She was no longer fighting the growing attraction between them. The realization made his heart race, and he was unable to tear his gaze from hers.
He brushed his thumb against her bottom lip, smiling at her, but his smile faded when her tongue slid across the pad of his thumb before she drew it into her mouth. Her gaze never left his, and Dominic silently groaned, feeling a tightening in his groin.
Stephanie slowly withdrew his thumb from her mouth, seeing the stark hunger on his face and the blaze in his eyes. Her stomach tightened at the promise in his gaze as his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, drawing her to the length of his own body. His mouth covered hers for a passionate kiss, and she kissed him back with all the pent-up frustration and emotions she’d kept bottled up inside for the past week.
Dominic slid his hands from Stephanie’s waist to move further down to her backside, cupping her ass possessively in his hands as he drew her even closer to his body. Angling one of his legs, he rocked his pelvis against hers, chuckling when he heard the hitch in her breath.
Stephanie slid one hand down his chest and around his waist, as the other slid underneath his T-shirt to stroke against his abs. Hesitantly, she moved her hand from his waist to drop to his backside, but froze when she heard three throats clearing loudly.
Dominic reluctantly lifted his mouth from hers, staring down at her, his eyes burning with passion. “I forgot we weren’t alone,” he murmured huskily.
“Me too,” Stephanie whispered back, reluctantly moving away from him. Dominic took a step back. As if he were afraid to break the connection with her, he dropped his hand away from her waist only to capture her hand with his own, entangling their fingers.
Turning, Stephanie blushed at her companions’ slack-mouthed expressions. “Gena, Angel and Lyn, I want you to meet Dominic Delaney. Dom owns Outlaws,” she said, adding quickly, “He’s the friend I told you about.”
Angel shook her head silently, her gaze moving from a blushing Stephanie to the man standing beside her. Scrutinizing him, she wasn’t sure she liked what she saw. Dominic was gorgeous, and from the confident way he owned the room, she could tell he knew it. With green eyes that sparkled like emeralds, high cheekbones and full lips that accentuated his strong jawline, he was the kind of guy who knew he was sexy and would break a girl’s heart without thinking twice about it.
Watching him lift Stephanie’s hand up to his mouth and brush his lips against her knuckles, she pasted a smile on her face and stepped forward. “Dominic, it’s nice to meet you.”
Gena cleared her throat, taking a tentative step towards Dominic and holding out her hand, too. “It’s nice to meet you. Stephanie has told us so much about you.”
Dominic’s eyebrow shot up in surprise at her comment, and with a grin he took her hand, shaking it firmly. “Oh, I doubt that very much, but it’s nice to meet you, too.”
“Well, Stephanie, I certainly wouldn’t mind having a friend like Dominic,” Lyn purred as she stepped forward, thrust her chest out at Dominic, and smiled coyly at him. “Nor would I object to the greeting he just gave you.”
Dominic silently stared down at the blonde, and he watched as she shifted nervously under his scrutiny. Her face reddened with embarrassment when she realized her attempts to act the femme fatale were lost on him. He knew Lyn’s type well. He should; he’d dated enough of them. She wanted the world to bend over backwards for her, and thought her looks would be all she needed to get by. She wanted men to fall at her feet and give her the world.
Sliding his gaze back to Stephanie, he couldn’t help but grin when she rolled her eyes in annoyance. At one time or another, he’d have taken up what Lyn was so blatantly offering, but that was before Stephanie. Running his eyes over Stephanie again, his breath caught in his throat. She was naturally beautiful, and not manufactured like all the other women he’d met. Whether she knew it or not, she was his—now and forever.
Stumbling over her words, Lyn added hastily, “I mean . . . it’s just nice to meet you. That’s all.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Lyn. Stephanie’s told me so much about all of you, and I feel like I almost know you," he said quietly. Turning back to Stephanie, he murmured, “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”
Watching her shake her head, he grinned and pressed his forehead against hers. “Well, you are.”
Stephanie slid her hand up to stroke his jaw, leaning up to graze her lips against his. “I dressed up for you tonight,” she confessed, smiling when he slowly slid his eyes over her body, a cocky grin sliding across his mouth.
“Yeah?” he asked, his voice husky with desire.
“Yeah,” she mimicked, smiling devilishly at him before she spun around to smile brilliantly at her friends. “Why don’t we grab a seat while Dominic gets us a drink?”
Dominic shook his head and chuckled when she blew him a kiss. Linking her arms with Gena and Lyn, she headed towards the table. His gaze followed her, moving appreciatively over the sway of her hips as she sauntered to her usual table.
Reluctantly tearing his eyes off Stephanie, he tensed when he realized he was not alone. An unsmiling Angel stood in front of him. His own smile disappeared when she stepped closer to him, her voice a fierce whisper, “I know all about you, Dominic Delaney. I’ve heard of your reputation. You’re a renowned womanizer, and I know you have a girlfriend. I don’t know what’s happening between you and Stephanie, but if you’re playing her, I swear to God I will be your worst nightmare come true.”
Jabbing her finger into his chest, she whispered fervently, “Stephanie’s been to hell and back in the last six months, so if this is just some twisted game you’re playing to get her into bed, you end it now. She cares about you. More than I think she’s ever cared about anyone. It’s certainly more than she cares about her boyfriend. If you’re going to break her heart, do it now while she has time to recover and move on.”
“I have no intention of breaking her heart,” Dominic said angrily, savagely biting out an oath. “I care about her, damn it.” His gaze swung to where Stephanie sat with her friends, his face softening as he watched her laugh.
Angel watched his expression change, and she opened her mouth wordlessly. Lifting her hand to her mouth, she couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. Dominic glared at her, annoyance tightening his features. “What’s so funny?” he demanded.
Angel shook her head, laughter dancing in her eyes. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
Dominic ran a hand through his hair in exasperation, wondering if it were obvious to everyone. He finally nodded, swallowing hard. “With every fiber of my being, I love her.”
“Good,” Angel said, relaxing for the first time. “You’ll do, then.” Punching his arm, she said casually, “But, just remember this; if you break her heart, I’ll rip yours out.”
He watched Angel stride across the room to where Stephanie sat with Gena and Lyn, a smile curving onto his lips. He liked Angel Monroe. She had spunk, and she wasn’t afraid to tell him how it was. Stephanie needed friends like that in her life. His gaze moved to where Gena sat, grinning at the fact that she was carefully scrutinizing him. Chuckling to himself, he had the feeling that before the night was out, Gena would also be taking him aside and threatening to kick his ass.
“SO, YOU’RE JUST friends, huh?” Gena said, turning her head to where Dominic stood watching them, his arms crossed. She admitted to herself that she could see why Stephanie had fallen for him. And, she conceded, Stephanie had fallen hard. The kiss Dominic had given Stephanie, and the way she’d responded, had revealed the depth of her friend's feelings for the man watching them. There had been an intimacy, a poignancy that was missing from Stephanie’s relation
ship with Ben. Gena didn’t think she’d ever seen Stephanie respond to Ben the way she had to Dominic. In fact, Stephanie wasn’t prone to public displays of affection, period. Yet, she’d had absolutely no problem touching Dominic.
Gena smirked, waiting for Stephanie to respond. If that kiss were anything to go by, things between Dominic and Stephanie had progressed from just friends to so much more.
Stephanie blushed at Gena’s question, ducking her head shyly. “He’s my best friend,” she said. Pausing, she confessed, “With him, I don’t need to pretend to be anything but who I am. He sees through me when I’m faking it, and he calls me out on it. With Ben, I can pretend I’m okay, and he won’t know any differently. With Dominic, he knows instinctively I’m not. We’re already that in tune with one another.”
Taking a deep breath, she said quietly, “He doesn’t take the pain away, but when I’m with him, it doesn’t hurt so much.”
“Holy shit,” Lyn breathed, pressing her elbows down onto the table and resting her face in her hands. “You’re in love with him.”
“Yeah, I am,” Stephanie confessed. “And I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve only known him a week, yet I’m head over heels in love with him.”
“What about Ben?” Gena asked, her gaze involuntarily moving to the man who had walked behind the bar and was mixing drinks. “Or have you forgotten about him?”
“No, he’s all I’ve been thinking about,” Stephanie said, shaking her head. “I need to end it with him. I just don’t know how. I love him, but just not the way he loves me. I wish to God I did, but I don’t. He doesn’t make me feel the way Dominic does. When I’m with Dominic, I forget about everything but him. When I’m with Ben, I’m constantly pretending to be this perfect girlfriend. With Dominic, I’m just me.”
“I’ll happily take Ben off your hands.” Lyn sighed, closing her eyes dreamily. “He makes me so horny. Words do not describe.” Opening her eyes, she grinned playfully at Stephanie. “I can say that now, right? Now you’ve admitted you’re in love with the bartender.”
“He’s not the bartender,” Stephanie said. “He owns the bar.”
“Oh, my, I think I may be in love with him a little now, too,” Lyn teased, watching Stephanie roll her eyes. Leaning back, she said gently, “So does he have a girlfriend? Have you stalked her yet?”
Stephanie snorted. “No, I haven’t stalked her. Dominic and I haven’t even discussed our relationships with each other. We’re just hanging out, and getting to know one another.”
“So, you two haven’t had sex?” Angel said, resting her own arms on the table. She turned her head to where Dominic stood behind the bar, watching him laugh and joke with customers. Every few minutes, his gaze would travel back to Stephanie. He instinctively sought her out, as if he were afraid she would disappear.
She smiled softly. Dominic was the one. Listening to Stephanie talk about him and how she could be herself with him, she knew he would be the man to keep all of Stephanie’s demons at bay. She breathed a sigh of relief. He was everything Stephanie needed and so much more. He was her anchor; the one who would keep her head above the water when she thought she was drowning.
“No,” Stephanie confessed, blushing again. “We’ve kissed a few times, but we haven’t . . . I want to. I know he does, too, but it’s complicated. I want to break up with Ben before I start something with Dominic. I just don’t want to hurt anyone more than we have to. If Ben asks me if I’ve slept with Dominic, I don’t want to have to tell him yes.
“This thing between Dominic and I has happened so quickly. Its like an inferno between us that has slowly been building up, and is now burning out of control. I know I should walk away. I know I’m probably going to be making the biggest mistake of his life, but I can’t let him go.
“A month ago, I didn’t know him. If he’d passed me by in the street, I may have checked him out, but I wouldn’t have given him too much of a second thought. Now, he’s all I think about, and everything I’m terrified of losing. Now . . .”
“Steph, it’s okay to fall in love,” Angel said, gently touching Stephanie’s shoulder. “It’s okay to admit you feel something for Dominic, and you don’t want to hurt Ben. You’re allowed to fall in love with someone else.” Looking towards Dominic, her lips curved into a smile. “Something tells me he’s a good guy. He’s as crazy about you as you are about him. He can barely take his eyes off you. Even now, tending bar, he’s constantly seeking you out, looking for you. It’s sweet.”
“Angel’s right,” Lyn said, reaching out to link her pinkie finger with Stephanie’s. Looking across the room, she smiled at Dominic. A part of her was envious of Stephanie. Stephanie had everything she wanted for herself. Flicking her gaze back to her friend, she sighed heavily.
Stephanie was her best friend. They’d gone through so much together. She understood her. She accepted her. Lyn knew she had a reputation for being a man-eater, for being too pushy and for being too forward—for being easy. It was a misconception she had cultivated for herself. She didn’t want people to know the real her, just as Stephanie didn’t want anyone to know who she really was, either.
Stephanie thought she could pretend to be your average girl next door. And she was, if you discounted the fact that ‘next door’ used to be a mansion in Beverly Hills. She smiled indulgently. Her friend thought they didn’t know who she was, but they did. Lyn had grown up devouring movies, and from the moment she’d been old enough to walk and talk, she’d known she wanted her name up in lights. As soon as she’d laid eyes on Stephanie, she’d known who she was. She was the spitting image of her mother, except for her eyes.
Stephanie’s whole life had been splashed all over the newspapers. Lyn’s grip on Stephanie’s pinkie tightened protectively as she turned her head back to look at her. Stephanie had had a tragic life. Her innocence had been stolen the night her parents were murdered. Lyn’s expression hardened. She knew a little something about having her innocence ripped away.
Despite the tragedy of Stephanie’s life, she still had everything Lyn wanted. She had money and fame—whether she wanted it or not, and she had two gorgeous men vying for her attention. Lyn’s thoughts drifted to Ben Reynolds. She wanted him; she had from the moment she’d first seen him up on stage with a guitar in his hand. Stephanie thought Ben was safe, but Lyn felt differently. There was something deeper and darker within Ben; something she wanted to explore. She wanted to know every inch of his body, to touch every inch of it with both her hands and her mouth.
Lyn turned her head back to where Dominic was mixing drinks behind the bar and laughing with someone. Ben had never been able to handle Stephanie, but Dominic would. He’d keep her in check; he’d hold her demons at bay, and he’d prove to her that damaged people needed love, too. He’d make her happy.
After everything that had happened in Stephanie’s life, she deserved happiness just as Lyn deserved it. And Dominic was the man who held the key.
Once Stephanie was out of the way, Ben Reynolds would be all hers.
DOMINIC QUICKLY MIXED drinks, a satisfied feeling humming through him with the knowledge Outlaws was completely packed. He’d taken a gamble on his dream, and it had paid off in spades. Outlaws was now one of the hottest nightspots in LA, and he owed it all to his dedicated staff as well as his own hard work and determination. He couldn’t be prouder. The bar was bringing in so much money that he’d already started planning to expand and turn it into a franchise. For the past six months, he’d been traveling between here, San Francisco and San Antonio, scoping out sites for bars in both cities.
His heated gaze moved back to Stephanie. Everything in his life was coming together in every way. He had a successful business, and he’d finally found a woman he could see himself spending the rest of his life with. The more time he spent with Stephanie, the more he wanted to know everything there was to know about her. He was completely captivated.
Pressing the palm of his hands down on the bar, he breathed deeply. H
e felt for the first time in his life that he had balance. He knew he had a reputation as a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ kind of guy. He wouldn’t deny he’d worked hard and played just as hard, but as far as he was concerned, he had nothing to apologize for. Women he slept with knew the score right from the beginning. He’d always made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and they’d all accepted it. He wasn’t going to deny there had been tantrums and tears on more than one occasion, but he’d never promised forever to any of them. Stephanie was the first girl he’d ever envisioned forever with, and she was the only girl he wanted to spend it with.
Turning his attention to the mock strawberry margarita batch he was making for Stephanie and her friends, he chuckled softly to himself. From what he’d discovered about Stephanie’s own reputation, she certainly wasn’t innocent. She was wild, reckless, and did what she wanted when she wanted, and to hell with the consequences. That was her reputation, but deep down, he knew differently. He knew that this was the image she wanted to portray to the world. She wanted them to see her as the consummate wild child, one who didn’t give a damn about what happened. She used her image as a shield to protect herself from people seeing the real her. There was nothing reckless about Stephanie.
She’d revealed to him a side of herself she’d never showed anyone. She’d revealed her vulnerability to him. He still needed and wanted to know so much about her. But they had the rest of their lives for that.
“Dom,” Jax said, breaking into his thoughts. He glanced at Jax, who nodded his head towards the front door. “You’ve got trouble of the worst kind.”
Dominic grimaced when he saw Sandra pushing her way through the crowds, heading directly towards him. Cursing his luck, he quickly looked towards Stephanie’s table. Listening to the laughter coming from that area, he smiled briefly before turning his attention back to Sandra.
He slid his gaze over the beautiful blonde heading straight for him. When they’d first met, she’d played hard to get. He’d found it amusing that she thought she could fool him with disinterest. He’d seen through her game right from the beginning, but played along.
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