Chapter 19 Hannah
Hannah
“Ruby, darling, I’ve got a busy weekend ahead of me, but I’ll give you a call next week, okay?” Felix, one of my most frequent callers, says into my ear.
“Okay, Felix,” I answer without hesitation. “Have a good weekend, honey.”
Felix is a bit of an odd man, who doesn’t always act like the typical caller.
Sometimes he goes for orgasm gold, but more often than not, he just wants to talk to someone who will listen.
I have a few other callers like him, and honestly it’s kind of refreshing, considering most calls involve me hearing them jerk off.
The call ends shortly after that, and it only takes one glance at my phone to see it’s my favorite time of the day—quitting time.
Quickly, before another horny dude can call my line, I switch my CMA phone to “off duty” and stand up from my desk to stretch from side to side.
My hips and back crack audibly with each movement.
You wouldn’t think spending eight hours sitting in a chair taking sex calls would make you feel stiff, but I’m telling you, my twenty-five-year-old body feels like it ages five years every time I have to work a shift.
I start to grab my purse and keys but pause when I realize I didn’t drive here.
Dom drove me here. Shit. He spent most of the day out in the van, only coming in to check on me a few times, and truthfully, I don’t even know if he’s still here.
Regardless, I’m thankful for everything he did for me last night and this morning, as it made me feel cared for in a way I haven’t in a long, long time—even if he was just doing his job.
Phone in hand, I send him a quick text.
Me: So . . . can you still give me a ride home? Or did you leave already?
I hit send, but then I can’t stop myself from adding another message.
Me: It’s no biggie if you can’t. I can call an Uber or something.
Dom: Hannah, of course I can. I’m waiting downstairs for you.
At his words, my heart trips a little inside my chest, but I swiftly counter that by taking a long, cleansing inhalation into my lungs before letting it out slowly through my mouth. Relax, Hannah. It’s just a ride. No big deal.
I send Dom another text, letting him know I’ll be down in a minute, and finish up the process of closing down my sex cubicle. Red lights off and computer shut down, Ruby is officially done for the day.
Hallelujah.
Purse, keys, and phone in hand, I wave to Monica on my way out. She smiles and waves back, her cute face always a bright light in the otherwise dark room that is working at Call Me Anytime. I offer a friendly smile to the other girls as I walk by them too.
Lana, a woman in her early thirties who takes the Emerald calls, winks in my direction as I pass her booth.
The other day in the break room, we had a really nice conversation where I learned she’s a single mom to a little boy named Cullen.
She’s incredibly sweet, and her reason for working at CMA hit close to home—it’s not about choice; it’s about survival.
We even exchanged cell numbers, and I’m going to make a point to invite her to lunch with me and Monica from here on out.
Stepping out into the hall, I close the door behind me and make sure it locks tightly for the safety of everyone still inside, and then I make my way down the hall to the stairwell door and push through.
Light from outside pours into the narrow space, and my eyes blink and water as they try to adjust. I swear, I work in the equivalent of a cave.
With slow and purposeful steps, to make sure I don’t fall, I make my way down the two flights to the exit door and push through into the fading sun of spring.
And the first thing my gaze comes into contact with is Dom.
The van is gone, but he leans against the wall of the building, one cowboy-booted foot kicked up against the brick, his phone in his hand as he scrolls.
He’s not in his normal professional-detective-suit attire but, instead, sports the same clothes he had on this morning.
Though, with the crispness of his white T-shirt, it appears he’s made at least one alteration.
This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed how attractive he is, but for some reason, right now, it feels impossible not to look. Gawk, actually. Because hell’s bells, Dominic Dunn is . . . handsome. He’s the kind of rugged, magnetic guy who could make any room feel too small just by stepping into it.
I take in the way the sun’s rays bounce off his light-brown hair and the way his blue-green eyes are so damn striking that I can actually see the colors from this far away. My gaze travels slowly down his body, taking in every inch of his muscled-up frame.
He’s not just handsome, Hannah. He’s insanely flipping hot in the most entrancing way.
He’s even got a little scruff on his jawline going today, which he manages to pull off just as well as the clean-shaven look of every other day.
And he probably didn’t shave because he was too busy sleeping outside your house so that you’d feel safe.
The realization hits me in the chest, a raw, poignant ache spreading beneath my ribs so quickly that I falter a little in my steps.
Dom’s head jerks up, and when his eyes lock onto my face, his mouth kicks up into this attractive-as-hell half smile that I feel from my stomach to my freaking toes. “You ready?”
“Yep,” I answer, practically having to claw the words out of my own throat as I close the distance between us.
He kicks away from the wall and gestures for me to go first, then falls into step beside me as we walk down the sidewalk toward the parking garage three blocks away.
We’re silent at first, awkward even, but after we cross the street at the first curb and step up onto the next block, Dom pulls us right out of it.
“By the way, after I dropped you off this morning, I ran to the auto parts store and got you a new battery.”
My head spins to face him at Mach speed. “You did?”
“Yeah,” he says with a nod, his whole face lighting up with a smile. “I’ll put it in for you when we get back to your house. Then you won’t have to worry about it.”
My heart squeezes at the gesture. It’s not just thoughtful—it’s selfless. And something about that strikes me deep. Besides Lovie, I can’t remember the last time anyone did anything like that for me.
“Wow. Thank you, Dom,” I whisper with my whole chest, wanting him to know how much I mean it. “Just . . . thank you.”
“Hannah, it’s no problem.” His easy grin and the playful way he winks at me send an unexpected warmth beneath my skin. “Besides the job, I’m a single guy with lots of free time.”
He’s single? I assumed a guy like him was already snatched up by some beautiful bombshell.
“Seriously.” He reaches out, his fingers grazing my forearm with a touch so light it sends a shiver down my spine.
The warmth of his skin against mine ignites a flicker of want.
For him. I nearly laugh. It figures I’d finally find the time to feel my vagina when it’s the very least appropriate opportunity I can imagine.
I mean, this is Detective Dominic Dunn—the lead police officer on the murder investigation I’m participating in by taking sex calls, for Pete’s sake.
“I was happy to do it. I know you have plenty on your plate already.”
I force myself to put him back in the safety of his box for my sanity. He’s doing his job—that’s it.
“Oh yeah.” I nod, laughing sardonically.
“Quite the little life I have going, huh? Wake up; do phone sex; come home; talk about NCIS with my mom, who has no idea who I am; go to sleep; repeat.” I snort.
“At least Lovie’s there tonight, so I’ll have a little bit of conversation and get a good night’s sleep. ”
“Lovie’s there all night tonight?” Dom asks, his face taking on a new look. His eyebrows are drawn, and his mouth is twisted in consideration.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Well . . . why don’t we mix it up a little then? I already planned to go out tonight. Why don’t you come with me?”
My chin jerks back. The whole concept of this conversation is so foreign I’m having actual trouble grasping it. “Go out? Like, as in . . . out?”
“Yeah, why not?” Dom chuckles. “A little beer and karaoke. Maybe even some food if you’re feeling peckish.”
I laugh, overwhelmed by the feeling of . . . freedom. Of interest. Of . . . companionship. “Actually. Yeah. That sounds really good.”
“Great.” Dom smiles, and this time it touches the corners of his eyes. The sight sends my heart skipping a beat. And your vagina, well, she’s feeling awfully perky right now.
Clearly, I need to get it together.
We’re just making it to his car in the garage, and he holds the door open for me to climb inside. I do, but with what feels like a million tiny butterflies inside my stomach. Their wings are moving so fast it feels like I have to work to settle my ass in his passenger seat.
I tuck my purse down by my feet, and when I glance over my shoulder, my eyes catch sight of the brand-new car battery he bought. For me.
The reality of it hits me again. He didn’t have to do this—any of this. And yet, here he is, going out of his way, making me feel like I’m worth the effort.
The secret smile that wants to spread across my lips can’t be stopped.
My gaze lingers for just a moment too long as he climbs into the driver’s seat.
Maybe it’s the way he adjusts the seatbelt across his broad chest, or maybe it’s the way his jawline looks even sharper in the soft light of the garage.
Whatever it is, there’s no denying it—I’m starting to want Dominic Dunn.
9:00 p.m.
After we left the parking garage, Dom took me to a little diner called Mo’s to grab a bite to eat. We ate cheeseburgers and fries and managed not to talk about my Call Me Anytime calls or the case he and Shane are working on.
It was a breath of fresh air.