At Last

by Mindy McKinley

  A thrill went all the way through her but she kept sewing, determined that he would not completely upend her evening again. Besides, it could very well be Amy.

  Lord, she hoped it was Dom.

  Feeling all of thirteen years old, the very second she had cut the last thread, she scooped up her phone, smiled, and let out a little squeak. Missy gave her a strange look.

  “It’s Dom,” she told the cat as if it made any sense.

  Clearing her throat, she opened the message and found it hard to repress her smile.

  DOM: Page 100

  LULA: And?

  His answer came through surprisingly quickly. As if he were waiting for her. The thought made her stomach thrill.

  DOM: Just thought you’d like to know I’m a good student.

  LULA: Only 1100 to go.

  DOM: I suppose you’re farther.

  She laughed again. Oh, this poor man, he had no idea what he had gotten himself into.

  LULA: I did my thesis on it. I think I’m good.

  She watched as those conversation dots appeared.

  DOM: You wrote your thesis on War & Peace?

  LULA: Yes.

  DOM: Of course you did.

  DOM: Are you going to assign that to me too?

  LULA: I mean, if you want to understand the book as fully as possible ...

  DOM: Challenge accepted.

  She giggled and shook her head.

  LULA: Really, you don’t have to.

  DOM: Yes I do. I don’t back away from challenges issued by beautiful and intelligent women.

  Jesus almighty, she nearly disintegrated.

  DOM: Wait. It’s not 1200 pages is it?

  She laughed.

  LULA: No, only 200.

  DOM: I can’t wait to read it.

  LULA: You might regret saying that.

  DOM: I have a good feeling I won’t.

  Lord, her cheeks hurt from smiling.

  LULA: Goodnight, Mr. Adams.

  DOM: Dom

  When she didn’t answer he added:

  DOM: Goodnight, Lu.

  Dom was standing at her door again the next morning, holding two cups, his bag slung across his wide shoulders. Good Lord, the man was delicious. Today’s button-up was the same color as his eyes and it set off every one of her feminine alarms.

  The grin he gave her made her vibrate. How on earth could one man make her panties wet with just a smile? It wasn’t fair.

  “Good morning, Lu,” he said, holding a cup out to her. “I brought you tea. Infused with some berry I’ve never heard of and have no idea how to pronounce.”

  She laughed and took it. “Thank you, Mr. Adams, you didn’t need to do that.”

  “Dom.”

  She gave him an irritated look.

  He shrugged. “I got this one right? Tea?”

  “Tea.” She unlocked her door and entered knowing he was going to follow her in.

  Dom took extra care to make sure the door closed behind them, a move that sent excitement zinging through her stomach. What exactly was he planning?

  She busied herself putting her things away, and when she turned to say something he was right there. Just inches away. Her breath caught. He was so large, so solid in front of her. She wanted to touch him, spread her fingers over his expansive shoulders, slide them down his waist to ...

  “Miss Stanley,” he said, catching her attention. His voice was low and erotic, his eyes hooded, a devilish smile on his lips. “What were you just thinking about?”

  “Nothing,” she lied, her voice barely a whisper.

  He set his bag and coffee down on her desk and moved even closer. “Is that so?”

  Her heart was thundering in her chest. “Mm-hm,” was all she could manage to get out.

  Keeping her gaze, he lifted his hand and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. She shivered. “You are so beautiful, Tallulah.”

  She tilted her head into his touch and closed her eyes as he trailed his fingers down her neck. All her sense had disappeared. All she could feel was the warmth of his large body, the sinful feel of his hand on her skin. The scent of his cologne swirled up and around her. It was dangerous and so perfect.

  She opened her eyes to find him looking at her softly.

  “I think you were thinking about a kiss.”

  “You do?” she asked weakly. He was wrong; she had been thinking much more than that.

  “I do.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Because I was thinking the same thing.”

  Oh God. She had to stifle a whimper. “You were?”

  He nodded. “Can I kiss you, Lu?”

  She stared at him, trying to convey how much she wanted it without saying so. All she could really do was nod.

  When she did, he smiled and brought his lips to hers.

  The entire room spun and she felt herself tilt. His lips were soft, demanding, experienced. He coaxed her mouth open easily and she felt herself moan at the sensuous friction of his tongue against hers.

  He slipped his hands up to her neck as he kissed her and she could feel his desire growing against her hip.

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders, marveling at the muscles underneath. She could die here and be happy.

  Far, far too early, he pulled away. His eyes were wide and his breath just as shallow as hers. After a moment, he grinned and caressed her cheek again. “Anytime you want a kiss, sweet Lu, all you gotta do is ask.”

  She inhaled. “Is that so, Mr. Adams?”

  “Are you ever going to call me Dom?”

  “Maybe.”

  He chuckled and turned to leave. When he got to the door, he turned and told her, “And yes, that is so.”

  Dominic

  Dom smiled to himself all morning. Kissing Lula Stanley had set him sideways in the best way possible. Even some of his students pointed out that he was unusually chipper. He just shrugged and thought about how perfect she felt against him, how easily she melted under his lips.

  Christ, those lips. He could have feasted on them all day. And the way her breasts pressed against him, the way her fingers dug into his shoulders ... he was instantly hard whenever he thought about it.

  He spent way more time behind his desk than he normally did.

  When Chaz asked him why he was in such a good mood, he simply told him about the Menotti research Tom had given him the day before.

  Chaz believed it. It also wasn’t a lie. The research was exciting too. He had spent most of the night going through the box, just sorting things into categories. He hadn’t even read anything closely and he already knew this box would change everything.

  He was going to have to throw out most of what he had already written, but he didn’t give a damn. Historical research like this was a living, breathing animal, and he had to take this chance to tell the real story behind the notorious crime boss now that he had primary resources no one had ever had access to. Even if it set him back months. It was an extraordinary opportunity.

  So was kissing Lu.

  She was so sweet, so pliant, so goddamn sexy that it sent his head spinning. He was headed right back to her room after school for a second kiss just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Or three of four, really, he was open to any number of attempts.

  Whatever this connection was that they shared deserved to be investigated to the fullest. He was willing. Oh was he willing.

  He whistled to himself all ofeighth hour in anticipation and was out his door almost before the students were. A fellow teacher gave him a sidelong glance but he ignored it. More important things were at hand.

  Lula’s door was closed when he arrived and he waited only semi-patiently while she conferenced with a student.

  “Hey, Kaylee,” he greeted said student as she finally left.

  The sophomore looked up at him with wide eyes. “Hello, Mr. Adams, Miss Stanley told me that you are going to be helping with Lit Club.” She was exuding excitement. “I’m the president. I’m so glad you’ll be helpi
ng.”

  “Thanks, Kaylee, I’m excited too, I’ve been reading our first selection.”

  “Oooh don’t tell me what it is, I can’t wait to be surprised.”

  Chuckling, he held up his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Thank you! See you soon, Mr. Adams.”

  “Have a good night, Kaylee.”

  Lula was sitting at her desk, trying her damnedest to ignore him again. But the high color on her cheeks gave her away. When she looked up, that zing of electricity hit him harder than ever and it nearly knocked the wind out of him. “Hi, Lu,” he greeted her, leaning against the doorframe.

  “Hello, Mr. Adams.” There was a telling shake in her voice. She wanted another kiss too and he was more than happy to oblige.

  “How was your day?”

  She considered him with a pert cock of her head, “Mr. Adams, do you really care about how my day went?”

  He pushed off the door and came toward her. “Actually, I do.”

  She failed miserably at trying to hide her smile. It was fucking adorable.

  “It was a good day,” she answered, “It started pretty ...” Her voice drifted as she searched for the right word.

  “Fucking amazing,” he filled in for her.

  “Not my words.” She was flushing a deep red but didn’t look a bit unhappy.

  “Nope,” he said. He stopped at her desk and leaned over, putting both hands flat on either side. “Those are my words.”

  She inhaled.

  “Kissing you was fucking amazing.”

  “I don’t know about th—”

  He cut her off with a kiss just to prove it. It was deep and desperate and searching and it took her breath away. His too.

  “You were saying?” he asked, breathless, when he pulled away several moments later.

  She smiled and her dimple appeared.

  It hit him straight in the chest.

  “Was I saying something, Mr. Adams?”

  He growled and moved to kiss her again but the ring of her cell phone interrupted him.

  Her face fell when she saw the number. “I have to take this.”

  “Of course.”

  He immediately wanted to kill whoever had called. He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from yanking the phone from her and giving the caller a piece of his mind.

  “Yes,” she said cautiously. “Yes. I’m her granddaughter.” She listened to the caller intently, her face drained of color and her eyes started to water. “Yes, of course, I’ll come right away. Thank you for calling.”

  She ended the call and looked utterly lost when she looked up at him.

  His heart stuttered. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s my grandmother,” she answered in the smallest, most terrified voice he had ever heard. “I have to go.” She started to pile things frantically into her bag. “I have to go. I told them I’d be right there.” She looked so utterly distraught that it killed him.

  “Let me take you,” he suggested. There was no way in hell he was going to let her drive a car when she couldn’t even manage the zipper on her computer bag.

  “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” She grabbed her purse out of her desk and the contents skittered across the floor noisily. Covering her face with her hands, she took a deep, steadying breath. He could see tears forming behind her eyes.

  “I’ve got it,” he told her gently, grabbing the items and stuffing them into her bag. “And I am going to take you.” He held out her purse, fully loaded once again, and waited.

  She stared at it and then at him and then her bottom lip quivered. “She’s the only family I have.”

  “Okay, it’s okay,” he soothed and pulled her into his arms very briefly. He would have kept her there much longer if time weren’t of the essence. Instead he pulled away and put her purse over her shoulder. “I’m driving,” he told her, “and you aren’t allowed to argue.”

  “But ...” Her bottom lip trembled again.

  “No arguing, now come on.”

  Shoulders sagging, she nodded and let him lead her to his car.

  The drive was quiet. Lula sat wringing her hands, leaning forward like she was ready to leap out. The only thing he had gotten out of her was that they needed to get to Chicago General Hospital. The look of misery on her face was a kick in the gut every time he looked at her.

  “It’s going to be okay, Lu, I promise,” he offered softly, unable to come up with anything more helpful.

  She stared at him with her wide, sad eyes and wobbling lips. “I don’t know what I’ll do if ...”

  Dom reached over and grabbed her trembling hand with his. “Breathe, Lu. We’re almost there.”

  Chapter 10

  Lula

  The second Dom parked the car, Lula shot out the door and toward the hospital entrance. She didn’t pay attention to what Dom did, all she could think about was her grandmother.

  Nana. Nan. It was all she could process. Hold on, just hold on a little longer. She needed to tell her how much she loved her.

  As she raced through the lobby and up the elevator, she realized Dom was somehow right next to her. He was quiet, he didn’t ask questions, didn’t make unnecessary conversation, he was just there. As if it were a perfectly natural thing to do for someone he barely knew.

  When they arrived on the eighth floor, she told the receptionist who she was and why she was there in one long, breathless sentence.

  “Of course.” She typed in the information. “She is in room 842.” She looked at Dom. “Are you both family?”

  Lula panicked for a half-second and then blurted out a “yes,” praying that Dom hadn’t said “no” at the same time. She just couldn’t stand the thought of doing any of this alone. To her surprise he said yes and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

  The nurse eyed the two of them doubtfully but then just said, “Down the hall to the left.”

  She let out a breath, thanked the nurse, and grabbed Dom’s hand tighter as if to prove something. He simply smiled and followed her down the hall.

  Room 842 was a swirl of activity with Nan at the center. She was asleep, peacefully it seemed, amidst all the noise, medical equipment, and nurses’ conversations. She looked small and out of place.

  “Are you Tallulah Stanley?” One of the nurses asked her. She was motherly, her greying blonde hair tucked back into a smooth ponytail. Despite her bright pink scrubs, she had the air of a woman in charge.

  Lula nodded and stepped carefully into the room. Dom hung back. “Is she all right? Is everything all right?”

  “She is comfortable for now,” the nurse answered but her expression was tight. There was no sense of optimism in her eyes.

  Lula’s heart fell.

  “I’m going to let the doctor know you’re here,” she went on, “so he can go over everything with you. Why don’t you wait out in the hall for just a few moments?”

  She nodded and watched as the nurse hurried out of the room after shouting a few directions to the others. Dom silently took her hand and led her out into the hallway.

  After several achingly long minutes passed, they were led to a poorly-lit consultation room where the haggard doctor said many words but all she heard was “stroke” and “low chances of recovery.”

  Lula sat there silently, unable to react, and felt like her world was spinning away. The only thing that kept her tethered was Dom’s patient, silent presence.

  “We’ll do everything we can,” the doctor assured her. “But I would make sure that all her affairs are in order.” She studied his expression for any indication of hope but found none. His very pale blue eyes were blank, practiced from years delivering difficult news to families.

  Her insides seemed to sink in on each other. She was going to crumble. How was she going to live without her grandmother? Nana, beautiful Nana, who had always loved her, who had always picked her up ... She had barely survived the death of her mother. This seemed impossible.

  A deep sob erupted fro
m her and she fought a fierce well of tears. How was she going to do this? How could she do anything from now on?

  When Dom’s strong hand curled around hers, she felt a surge of strength. “Thank you, doctor,” she choked out. “I’ll make sure everything is taken care of. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”

  He nodded. “I will do everything I can to prolong your grandmother’s life, I assure you.”

  “I know you will,” she told him and reached out a trembling hand to shake his.

  “She’ll be undergoing intensive care for the next several hours. I suggest waiting in the family waiting room so the nurses can find you for updates.”

  Lula nodded and stood. When she swayed slightly, Dom weaved his fingers through hers again and answered for her, “We’ll be there.”

  The walk to the waiting room felt dreamlike. The lighting was cold and the noises of machines and nurses were jarring. Even the ding of the elevator seemed excessively loud. Dom just walked silently beside her, and when they got to the waiting room, he pulled her onto a hard plastic sofa and into his side.

  She melted into him without worrying if it was okay, she just needed another human being and he felt so damn warm and strong. The arm he had draped across her felt like a protective shell.

  A few hours later he gently nudged her awake. “Lula.” She blinked, she hadn’t been aware she had fallen asleep. It took her a moment to figure out where she was. “I’m going to go get you a tea and a coffee for me,” he said softly, unwinding his arms from her and sitting forward. “Do you want anything else?”

  She shook her head, amazed that he was still there and just so grateful. “No, thank you so much.”

  He smiled softly and stood. Just before he got to the door, he turned back to her, his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

  She nodded, her heart pounded, she knew he would be. “Okay.”

  Dominic

  As Dom walked back through the massive hospital balancing two hot drinks and a bag of cinnamon rolls, he asked himself why he was here. He could have left hours ago, dropped her off and been done with it. But he hadn’t and he didn’t intend to. Everything in his body told him he needed to stay with her and, besides that, he wanted to. No one was more surprised than he was.