49. Elyse
CHAPTER 49
Elyse
ALMOST FEEL NORMAL
PRESENT
“ W hich one? Sage or celadon?”
Paisley’s eyes squint as she looks between the two ribbon color swatches. “Those literally look exactly the same.”
“No,” I drag, trying to hold back my laugh. They really are nearly the same color, and I’m mostly just messing with her. Mostly. “The celadon pulls more gray undertones, whereas the sage is warmer.”
She stares at me, looking more confused than ever. “You’re starting to make me think I’m color blind. They look identical.”
“They are very close. The more you look at colors, the more you’re able to tell them apart.”
“Is this a test, and I’m failing it? Am I getting fired?”
I laugh at her questions. “Why on earth would I be firing you?”
She crosses her arms. “Because, you called in yesterday and you never call in. We all assumed you were getting ready to fire us or something.”
A heated blush blooms on my face, so I cough in an attempt to conceal it. She’s right, I never call in. I’m not sure what came over me, aside from the fact that leaving my warm bed, with Dominic draped over me like a weighted blanket, seemed like the last thing I felt like doing. So I didn’t. Instead, I fired off assignments via email to Paisley and Faith and Ben and stayed home.
It was easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
It’s been three weeks since Dominic and I officially got back together, and it’s been fulfilling to say the least. While the sex has been great, and there’s been plenty of it, it’s been so much more than that. We’ve fused our lives together.
Gone are the days of coming home to an empty house and sad leftovers. Even when Dominic isn’t home—because he’s on shift or tending to something work-related—his presence is everywhere. His shoes are gathered next to mine at the entry, his clothes hang in my closet, his toiletries are in the bathroom. I didn’t realize how much I would like it.
He took my advice and contacted Ethan’s contractor, who quickly got to work. The renovations became more of an undertaking than anticipated, forcing Dominic to move in with me. He was already staying with me as much as possible, but this made it more official.
Things almost feel normal. Almost.
Though it’s been weeks of silence from whoever was trying to get my attention, we still don’t have any answers, leaving a dark cloud hanging over everything.
Under Sheriff Doyle made the call to pull back on patrol surveillance due to resources and lack of evidence that it was still needed. Dominic was pissed about it, but understood. Since then, the most we get is a patrol drive-by each shift. I still don’t go anywhere alone, and we take as many precautions as necessary, but it’s starting to feel pointless.
Maybe it was Stuart, and because he’s locked up, the threats have stopped.
Either way, it’s hard to fully embrace all the good things that have happened lately without feeling the looming shadow that it could all be taken in an instant.
But for every stress and worry about what comes next, Dominic is by my side.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine I wasn’t always sharing my life with him. It’s only been weeks, but it feels like it’s been longer than that. We fit together so seamlessly, I’d never guess we were ever apart.
As I’m about to put Paisley out of her misery, there’s a double tap on my door. When I look over, Dominic is standing in the doorway, in his work uniform, looking way too delicious. He shoots me a grin while lifting a bag.
“Brought you lunch.”
“Hey,” Paisley greets, already on her way out.
Dominic lifts his chin to her, and as soon as she’s past him, he closes the door. In three strides he’s on me, the takeout bag tossed on my desk. My back is pressed to the wall and his hands are cupping my face.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he breathes, and then captures my mouth, planting a consuming kiss on my lips, which I quickly deepen.
“We saw each other this morning,” I sigh, as he trails kisses down my neck.
His lips pause against the curve of my neck, his breath hot on my skin. “Not the same,” he murmurs, low and rough. “Morning you is a grumpy brat. Midday you? In charge and fucking sexy. Drives me wild.”
A laugh bubbles out of me, though it’s cut short when his teeth graze my collarbone. “Dominic,” I scold, but my hands betray me, gripping the front of his shirt and pulling him closer. “You’re going to wrinkle my blouse.”
His palms slide down my sides, settling on my hips as he leans back just enough to meet my eyes. “You say that like I’m supposed to care.”
“You’re supposed to care because I have a meeting soon,” I remind him, trying to sound steadier than I feel. “One where I’ll need to look professional and not like I’ve been thoroughly kissed in my office.”
A slow grin spreads across his face, the kind that always makes my stomach flip. “Thoroughly kissed, huh? Would you rather look thoroughly fucked instead?”
I swat at his chest, laughing again. “What are you doing to me?”
“The same thing you do to me,” he counters, leaning in for another kiss, this one slower, softer, like he’s savoring me. My resolve wavers for a second—or maybe ten seconds—before I finally plant my hands on his chest and push him back.
“Lunch,” I say, a little breathless. “You said you brought me lunch. Stop distracting me before I get hangry.”
His grin widens, and he grabs the takeout bag from the desk, holding it out like a peace offering. “Fine, fine. Food first. Eat your lunch and then I’ll eat you.”
I roll my eyes, taking the bag from him. “Not here. You can do that last part at home.”
He leans against the edge of my desk, watching me open the bag. “Gladly, querida mía.”
In the middle of eating, Jenna, my bride, taps on the door.
“Hi,” she calls out as Dominic stands, knowing it’s his cue to leave.
She frowns when she sees the food spread out on my desk. “Sorry, I can come back. I know I’m a little early. ”
“You’re fine,” I tell her, wrapping up my sandwich. “Come on in.”
She sinks down onto a chair and Dominic leans down to give me a quick kiss.
“I’ll see you at home. Don’t forget to wait for Gavin to follow you.”
“I won’t forget.”
With one more quick kiss he’s out the door, leaving me with Jenna.
“Is that your boyfriend?” she asks, her face bright with a curious smile.
I laugh, a flush creeping up on my cheeks. “Yeah. He’s pretty affectionate. Sorry, if that made you uncomfortable.”
She shakes her head. “No, I think it’s cute.” Her smile fades slightly. “Sometimes I wish Matt was a little more affectionate. He’s not big on PDA.”
The last few times Jenna and I have met to go over wedding details, Matt has been noticeably absent. I’ve been meaning to ask, but I try my best to stay out of my client’s personal lives. There are a variety of reasons the groom would choose to skip out on meetings, but I don’t have a good feeling about any of Matt’s reasons. I haven’t had a good feeling about Matt from the start.
Just as I’m about to begin showing Jenna the latest mockup for the table layout, a knock sounds.
Dominic hesitantly walks back in with a shy grin.
“Sorry for interrupting.” He lifts two small takeout containers. “I forgot to give you dessert.”
He sets a box down in front of me and one in front of Jenna. “It’s nothing fancy, just pie from the diner.”
Jenna looks up at Dominic, “Oh. Don’t feel obligated to give me one.”
“It’s fine,”he tells her. “I have to go back on shift, and don’t have time to eat it. It’ll go to waste. ”
She smiles with a creased forehead, like it’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her. “Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, craning my neck to give him another goodbye kiss.
Hi cradles my jaw and kisses me softly. “Okay, now I’m really leaving.”
Once he’s gone, I try to get back on task with Jenna, but she seems unfocused, distracted.
“Everything okay?” I ask her, worried I’ve offended her somehow.
She lets out a long exhale. “No—I mean yes.” Pausing, her eyes get slightly misty. “Things have been a little strained with Matt lately, and seeing you and your boyfriend, and how sweet he is with you, just made me feel a little sad about my own relationship.”
My lips stretch into a straight line. “As your wedding planner, I can tell you it’s perfectly normal for your relationship to be strained during wedding planning. It’s stressful, and you’re blending your families together. It’s a big undertaking. But,” I hesitate, “as your friend, woman to woman—the right guy won’t ever make you wonder. The right guy shows up. Your future husband never makes you feel like your wants and needs are a burden.”
She nods slowly, the worry in her brows deepening the longer I speak.
“Marriage isn’t just a wedding,” I continue. “It’s one of the strongest, most legally binding contracts you’ll ever enter into. The person you pick as your partner needs to be someone, who even at their absolute worst, is still better than anyone else you could’ve chosen.”
Tears start to shine in her eyes, her bottom lip trembling. “I’m—I’m not sure if I should go through with it.”
My shoulders rise as my gaze settles with hers. “So don’t.”
Tonight is my last free Friday evening for a while. With my schedule packed full of weddings to prepare for, I fully intend to make the most of it. And because of that, I can’t wait to get home and have Dominic all to myself.
As I step out of the winery, the excitement to get home has me quickening my pace toward the parking lot.
I’m supposed to wait for Gavin to finish up, but he has at least another hour left of work, and I don’t have an hour of patience left in me.
It’s been so long since anything has happened, I’m reaching the point of accepting Stuart was the one behind everything. It makes the most sense.
I’ll just text Gavin when I get home. No harm, no foul.
With the winery in my rearview mirror, I let out a breath, relaxing into my seat. It’s a short drive home, and I finally got my car back from the shop. The sun is still out, my favorite playlist is blasting through the speakers, and soon enough I’ll be jumping into Dominic’s arms, giving him my favorite greeting.
At the stop sign that acts as the divide between the viticulture area of Red Mountain and downtown, my phone buzzes with a new message. Glancing at the screen, I see it’s from an unknown number.
UNKNOWN
I’m done waiting for you.
My stomach drops. I look around the vacant road with nothing but acres of vineyards stretched before me and not a car in sight.
I shake my head, willing away the panic rising in my chest .
The message isn’t necessarily nefarious. It could be nothing.
Determined not to let myself spiral before I’ve had a chance for Dominic to determine if it’s something to worry about,I continue the drive home, gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual, and ignoring the pit that’s now taken residence in my stomach.
Halfway home, I notice a dark sedan in my rearview mirror. At first, I think nothing of it, but every turn I make, the car follows. My heart rate accelerates. I take an unexpected left; the sedan mirrors my move.
My phone buzzes with another message.
UNKNOWN
Time is up.
A frenzy grips me, my chest tightening as my breaths come in shallow gasps.I press the accelerator, weaving through traffic, taking random turns in an attempt to lose them. The sedan matches my every move, its headlights glaring in my mirrors.
I remember a narrow alley behind The Jackalope, barely wide enough for a car. Swerving sharply, I enter the alley, scraping the side mirrors against the brick walls. The sedan hesitates at the entrance, unable to follow.
Emerging onto a different street, I make a series of quick turns, finally losing sight of the sedan. My hands tremble as I navigate the remaining streets home, constantly checking the mirrors for any sign of pursuit.
Pulling into the driveway, I barely take the time to turn off the engine before jumping out. Dominic is exiting his patrol SUV, having just gotten home.
He takes one look at me and rushes to my side.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” His words are hurried.
I collapse into his arms, the adrenaline finally catching up to me.
“Someone followed me,” I manage to say between gasps. “They were texting me while it was happening.”
His stance goes rigid. “And where the fuck was Gavin?”
My shoulders start to curl in, as if making myself smaller will somehow lessen the magnitude of my reckless decision.
“I left without him,” I say quietly.
Dominic takes a step back, his stare sharp and cold. “What do you mean you left without him?” He runs both hands through his hair, exhaling so loudly it sounds like a hiss. “One rule. One fucking rule, Ellie.” He stalks off toward the end of the driveway. “Fuck!” he yells. “Fuck!”
And then he’s on his radio, barking out calls and commands to whoever is on the other end of it. The entire time, his grip is on his service weapon, ready to take it out at a moment’s notice.
Within a matter of minutes, the front of my townhouse is littered with patrol cars, my phone has been confiscated, and Dominic hasn’t looked my way once.