“What about you?” she asked, realizing that for all the time they had spent together recently, not much of it had been in conversation. “Grapevine says you’re working on a manuscript.”
He chuckled. “The East High grapevine is correct for once. I’m writing a book about the Menotti family.”
“The crime family?”
“That’s the one.” He flipped a blinker on. “I suppose writing is to me what singing is to you.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” At this he looked at her as if to emphasize his point. “But not just the writing; it’s the research, the discovery. I love taking little scraps of information and pushing them around until they’re in the right order, until they tell the story they were meant to tell.” After a beat he added, “I suppose that sounds silly.”
His excitement was boyish and catching. If she thought he was sexy before, he was off the charts now. No man had ever been this attractive to her. It was overwhelming in the best possible way. “Not at all,” she told him, she left out the rest. “And how is the research coming along?”
He smiled at her. “Well, that’s a tough one to answer. I thought I had everything, had a good start on the manuscript, and then just this week I was given a massive amount of primary resources that will mean scrapping most of what I’ve already written.”
“Oh no!” she exclaimed. “And also yay? I’m not actually sure what the right reaction is.”
He chuckled. “You and me both. It changes everything though, I’ll have a real chance to write real history. I have a hunch that a lot of what’s been written doesn’t even scratch the surface.”
She curled her fingers around the hand that rested in his lap, surprised at her own boldness. “I’m happy for you, Dom.”
He looked surprised at first and then meshed his own fingers with hers. He smiled. “Thank you, Lu.”
They drove in silence for a few moments, fingers entwined, and she simply felt happy as he guided them carefully through the busy streets.
A few minutes later they pulled into a small steakhouse that she had never been to. “Ooh, I love steak,” she breathed. She sent up a quick prayer, Please, let me not eat like a horse in front of this man.
“Just wait until you see dessert,” he told her and made her wait while he came around to open her door.
She felt stupidly special and took the arm he offered with a giddiness she hadn’t felt since Bobby Schrader asked her to the homecoming dance freshman year.
The restaurant was decorated in typical old-fashioned steakhouse style, resplendent with horseshoes and a giant stuffed bull. She always thought having the head of a cow staring at her while she was eating a steak was a little unsettling but didn’t point it out.
After the very young waitress sat them at their booth, Dom smiled at her. “Order whatever you want.”
“I will have one of everything.” She sighed, looking over the menu. “Food is my favorite.”
He looked at her over his menu. “I thought it was cinnamon rolls.”
“Cinnamon rolls are food. I don’t discriminate.”
He laughed. “Fair enough. Have you checked out the dessert selection yet?”
Her eyes roamed down the menu to the desserts. Chocolate cake, New York cheesecake, tiramisu. She gasped. Grandma Julia’s World Famous Cinnamon Rolls. Her eyes whipped up to Dom.
“I thought you’d like that,” he said, clearly proud of himself.
“Dom,” she said, almost overcome. These last few days had been so terrifying and so unsure and he had made it ... bearable. “That was really sweet of you.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” he teased.
She felt a little childish for a moment but went on anyway. She figured she should just get it out there. “Well, you do have somewhat of a reputation. I’m sure you know.”
He folded his menu and leaned forward conspiratorially. “You know, I have heard a few things. Did you know that I have a harem? And I’ve done all but two positions in the Kama Sutra?”
She felt herself heat and had to squeeze her knees together yet again. He was so adept at taking awkward situations and turning them into perfectly acceptable conversations. “Is that so, Mr. Adams?” she asked, putting her own menu down.
“Apparently.”
She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “And what about those last two positions? Too difficult for you?”
His smile grew dangerous. “Haven’t found the right person to try them with.”
Her entire body thrilled. “Or maybe you’re afraid?” she asked, drawing a deep growl.
“You willing to find out?”
She was about to respond when the waitress appeared. Her heart was pounding, and she was certain her cheeks were apple red.
They both fumbled through their orders like horny teenagers and when the waitress finally disappeared, he looked at her with heavy, heated eyes.
“Lula, do you mind getting the dessert to go?”
“Shall we get dinner to go too?” she asked, frantically trying to reign in her hormones. She was more than a little tempted to just take his hand and make him fuck her behind the restaurant.
His mouth twitched. “Tempting, but I think we’ll need the energy for later.”
“You think?” Her brow climbed. “That’s not terribly reassuring.” She was desperate, vibrating from need. She needed to feel him inside her now. “I mean, if you’re not willing to put in the kind of effort I would expect ...”
His eyes widened. “Are you challenging me, Miss Stanley?”
“No.” She thought carefully about her next words. “I’m daring you.”
Keeping his eyes locked on hers, she felt his desire in every cell of her body. He lowered his voice and spoke dangerously, “Later, when you’re bent over, exhausted from coming, and can’t catch your breath, you just remember that little dare.”
She swallowed. She was so fucking wet. “And if I don’t?”
He shook his head and shifted in his seat with a groan. “You’re making it very hard to sit still, Lu.”
“Good,” she answered, enjoying how the tension wrapped around them. She hadn’t felt this alive with any man, ever. “I’ll make it hard later too.”
“Fuck, Lula,” he growled, dropping his napkin to his lap. “I’m not going to be able to stand up for the rest of the night if you keep talking like that.”
She smiled at him. “I’ll stop if you promise to make it worth the wait.”
“That’s a promise I can keep. I promise you won’t even know what hit you,” he declared, voice low. “I’ll turn you around a hundred different ways and make you scream my name so loud you’ll be hoarse.”
Dear. God. She whimpered quietly. She actually fucking whimpered.
He smiled knowingly at her and settled back into his seat as the waitress brought their drinks.
She drank half her glass of wine in one gulp and prayed that the food would come out quickly because she wasn’t going to make it otherwise.
When the food finally came to the table, he laughed as she shoveled large forkfuls into her mouth.
“Step it up, Adams,” she instructed, “we’ve got places to be.”
He chuckled and obliged.
Chapter 15
Dominic
Dom didn’t think his cock had ever been this hard before. Lula Stanley was turning out to be quite the surprise. In all the right ways. Who would have thought she’d be such a capable flirt? And bright and funny and so fucking beautiful that it hurt to look at her.
Good Lord, he couldn’t wait to explore every inch of her.
“My place,” she told him as soon as their cinnamon rolls arrived in their to-go box.
“Yes, ma’am.” He would have taken her wherever she wanted. The car was good enough for him. Hell, a closet would work. As long as he had his hands on her ass, it didn’t matter.
They rushed to his car, half giggling, half desperate, and she growled at him when he fumbled with
his keys.
“This century, Adams,” she murmured.
Had he any control, he would have teased her but he couldn’t. He needed that luscious body in front of him, he needed her nipples in his mouth, and he needed to feast on her pussy until she came all over his face. There was no time now for banter.
As they buckled into their seats, he looked down at his lap, cock fully erect, and then at her. “This is what you do to me, Miss Stanley.”
She grinned. “Just wait and see what else I can do.”
“Fuck.” He turned the car on. “Hold on tight, I might exceed the speed limit.”
“I should hope so.”
He laughed, maneuvered the car out of the lot, and sped off down the street, trying his damnedest not to think about how wet she was, about how her breasts were heaving in anticipation. How he was going to take her over and over and over. And definitely over her couch.
Her phone rang.
Fuck.
She jumped a little at the sound and fumbled for her phone with shaking hands. “Hospital,” she mouthed to him.
In an instant, he felt his chances of sinking his cock into her fade.
“Yes, this is Tallulah.” She gave him an apologetic look. “Really?” Her voice rose three pitches in excitement. “That’s amazing! I’ll be right there. Thank you for calling.”
“She’s awake,” she squealed once she hung up.
“Lula, that’s awesome,” he told her. Despite his hard-as-a-rock cock, he was thrilled Nan was okay. An evening of frustrating hard-ons was worth the joy in her eyes.
Her face fell after a moment. “Oh, Dom, I’m sorry, I really need to go back up and see her.”
“Don’t apologize, it’s okay. Your grandmother is more important.”
“But I really wanted to ... I don’t want you to think that I—”
He cut her off by wrapping his fingers around hers. “Lu, there will be another time, it’s okay. She needs you.”
She caught his eyes and nodded after a moment. “Thank you, I’m just so happy I ... I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to talk to her again.”
“I’m happy too, for both of you.” Christ, what was wrong with him? Old Dom would have been beyond irritated by the situation. But he wasn’t. He was truly happy for her. It might take bashing his head against a brick wall to take away his throbbing erection, but for Lula, it seemed, he’d do just about anything.
Jesus, nothing made sense anymore.
He pulled up to the hospital entrance. “Would you like me to come up?”
She smiled at him. “I think I’ll go up alone. I don’t think I can focus with you there.” She was blushing delightfully. “I’m likely to jump your bones in a utility closet.”
He laughed. “You know I had that exact thought earlier.”
“Great minds,” she answered, tapping her forehead. “I really am sorry, Dom.”
“Stop it.” He leaned forward and kissed her. It wasn’t sensual in any way—he couldn’t have handled that without exploding. “We’ll have another chance.”
“God, I hope so.” She groaned.
“Get out of the car,” he growled, “or you’re just going to have to figure out a way to sit on my lap.” He imagined her pussy sliding over his cock, her ass on his steering wheel, and his brain nearly short-circuited.
Her cute, “A tempting thought,” didn’t help.
“Out.” He shooed her away, “And keep me updated, okay?”
“I will,” she promised. With a shy smile, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been wonderful.”
That kiss. That tiny, simple kiss made his entire world shift. Everything was sideways. Dazed, he cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”
Sighing sadly, she opened the car door and stepped out. “Goodnight, Mr. Adams.”
“Goodnight, Lu,” he breathed.
He watched her walk into the hospital. Her, not her ass, and drove off shaking his head. For the love of God, what was he doing?
Lula
“Lula,” Nan whispered when she walked through the door, her voice crackled through dry lips. She tried reaching out to her, but her arms were tethered by a myriad of IVs and other medical wires.
“I’m here, Nan.” Lula rushed forward to grasp her hand. She kissed her forehead and relief filled her, she was so very grateful that her grandmother was awake and lucid. She hadn’t been sure how the stroke was going to do to advance her dementia, and just having the chance to talk to her again was more than she had hoped for.
“Lula,” Nan said again, clearly using all of her energy to communicate. Her fingers curled weakly around hers. “Love you.”
“Oh, Nan.” Tears slipped from her eyes. She pressed her lips to the hands she had known her whole life. “I love you too, so, so much. I thought you were leaving me.”
With a feeble hand, Nan reached up and touched Lula’s cheek and whispered, “Not ... ready,” before she rested back into the pillow again. She was asleep again in seconds.
Letting out a breath, Lula wiped her tears, pulled up the chair, and settled next to her for the night. Now that Nan was awake, she wasn’t going anywhere.
Around six the next morning, Nana woke again and was in surprisingly good spirits. Her mind was clear and she joked with the nurses as they poked and prodded her.
The nurses kept telling Lula that Nan had made an astounding recovery considering her dementia and the severity of the stroke. The doctor had even better news; she was going to be able to go home the next day. Nan clapped her hands together like a little girl and Lula fired off an excited text to Dom.
LULA: Nan gets to go home tomorrow!
The speed of his reply made her smile. She could just picture the smile crinkling the corner of his eyes.
DOM: That’s amazing! I’m so glad.
LULA: Me too!
What did she say next? How did she thank him for saving her from the sweeping loneliness that had threatened her? He answered her before she could think of anything worthwhile to say.
DOM: Will you be at school tomorrow?
LULA: No, I need to make sure she gets checked out and transferred.
DOM: School’s not the same without you.
She blushed. Deeply.
LULA: Because you have no one to torture?
DOM: I think you might have this situation backwards, beautiful.
She shivered with happiness.
LULA: I’ll be back for good Monday as long as everything goes as planned.
DOM: I’m not sure I can wait that long to kiss you.
Her entire body trilled and she smiled as she typed.
LULA: I’m not sure you’ll have to.
DOM: That is VERY good news.
LULA: Have a good day, Dom.
DOM: You too, Lu.
The next morning was a flurry with all the paperwork that would release Nan back to the memory center. But it was a happy one. Dom had messaged her through the night and she felt like a giddy schoolgirl as she signed on all the dotted lines and thanked the hospital staff until her throat ached.
Nan was in good spirits, if a little less focused, but she knew who Lula was and her vitals were perfect. Before noon she was settled back into her room at the memory care center and Lula snuggled up with her to watch John Wayne.
It was perfect.
And every time she thought about Dom, she would beam. He wanted her. Of that much, she was certain even if she couldn’t quite understand it. And she wanted him. Lord did she want him. All she could think about was running her hands down his abs, licking the curve of his neck, running her fingers through his hair ...
“Lula,” Nan said later in the evening, pulling her thoughts from the thousandth fantasy she had that day. Her eyes looked a little brighter. “Lula, you’ve been smiling all night.”
Embarrassed, she tried to wipe said smile from her face but couldn’t. “I’m just so happy you’re feeling better, Nan. That you’re back here and settled.
”
“Hogwash,” Nan tossed a hand through the air and searched her face. Her voice was still weak, but it had enough punch to get her point across. “That is the smile of a woman who is thinking about a man.”
Lula blushed. Why did she ever think she could hide anything from this woman? It hadn’t worked a day in her life, it wasn’t going to work now. Even after a stroke and dementia the woman could read her like a large print novel. “Okay, fine, I might have been thinking about a particular man.”
Nana smiled brighter than she had seen in ages, her pale blue eyes danced. “Lula Jane, did you really think you could hide anything from me?” She chuckled when Lula shook her head and said, “You know that means you have to tell me about him.”
With a deep breath, Lula laced her fingers together and tried to find the words. She was aware that she was smiling like an idiot but couldn’t help it. How did one describe such a man?
“I work with him at East,” she started. “I’ve known him for a while, but we’ve never really interacted much.” She took a breath. “He’s handsome, Nan, so handsome.”
“He’d better be smart too.” She pointed at her. “You deserve no less, you hear me?”
Lula smiled. “Of course, Nan.”
“And what is this handsome man’s name?”
“Dom.” She knew the word came out reverently because Nana’s eyebrows shot up to the ceiling.
“Well, now I must know everything.”
For the next several minutes Lula tried her best to outline how things had progressed with Dom. He was so easy to talk about, so easy to like. Defining what they were to each other, on the other hand, was extraordinarily difficult.
“He sounds perfect,” Nana said when she finished her very lengthy account.
He was. And that worried her. He had a reputation for being the perfect man right up until he wasn’t interested anymore. What if they took this farther? “He’s pretty great,” she finally answered with a sigh and didn’t add why she was worried about that.
She would inevitably fall in love; it was a bad habit of hers. And when that happened and he inevitably moved on, would she just have to watch him from the sidelines at school day after day?
She wouldn’t survive it. Not a chance.
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