Chapter Four
Dominik ripped open another envelope from the stack of letters on his desk. It took him a moment to understand, and then he got pissed.
He didn’t want her to pay for the locks, so he ripped up the check before he read her note. If anything, it made him madder. The way it was worded, she wouldn’t see him again and wished him well.
“What the fuck?” He reread it a few more times and got the same impression. Even though he knew she was doing it for him, it still hurt. Jesus, was he ever going to find a way to deal with her, or would he have to move away?
That wouldn’t be easy since his business and his house were there. He had over thirty employees, so he couldn’t just close the business. They’d all lose their jobs.
He carefully folded the note and stuck it in his side drawer. He had no idea why he was saving it, but he couldn’t get himself to throw it away.
The next few weeks passed, and every day away from her was getting harder. He fought himself daily, thinking if he went to her, he’d never let her go, and that was what scared him. He couldn’t see Tessa putting up with his dominance for long, and then he’d lose her.
The weekend came and another week without seeing her. It had been five excruciating weeks, and if he could just see her across the room, he’d be fine.
Dominik sat at his bar seat like he did every Friday and Saturday, hoping for a glimpse of Tessa. He was just taking a drink of his beer when he heard the door open. He automatically turned to see who it was and about choked on the liquid in his mouth.
She was finally there. His frustration grew when he saw the noticeable changes in her. There was no animation, and she looked pale. She was also thinner and had dark circles under her eyes, telling him she wasn’t sleeping.
Tessa glanced his way and smiled slightly before turning toward one of her friends. He went to stand and go to her but caught himself. For the hundredth time, he reminded himself that she wouldn’t be happy with him. They were from two different worlds. She was angelic and had a great childhood. If she knew where he’d come from, she’d run. He made so many excuses, hoping they would help keep him from going to her.
“Hi.”
It was like déjà vu. He turned toward his angel.
“Hi,” he tried to sound casual.
“I … I just wondered why you didn’t call me back when I left a message,” she said.
“Why would I?” Fuck, he hated the pain that flashed in her eyes.
“You’re right. I just wanted to thank you again for saving me.”
He scowled. “You don’t have to thank me again.”
“I think it will help me get back to normal. I’m close, but that was one thing I thought would help.”
“It doesn’t look like you’re even close to normal. Are you getting counseling?”
“What do you mean? I’m doing fine,” she said.
His face darkened. “Hell, you are. You’ve lost too much weight, and it doesn’t look like you’ve had a decent night’s sleep recently.”
“I’m trying the best I can.”
“You need help,” he told her.
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
She held up a hand when he opened his mouth. “This is not your problem.” Tessa shrugged. “I guess I just had to say it one more time. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and you probably already forgot about it…”
“That’s not something I’ll ever forget,” he told her.
She looked away. “Is there any chance we can go somewhere and talk?”
“For what purpose?” The longer she stood next to him, the harder it was getting to push her away. “Listen, any relationship between us would never work. You and I are from two different worlds.”
Her brows snapped together. “What does that mean?”
“I’m from the wrong side of the tracks. I grew up with a mother who was a drunk and only cared about me because she got extra money for me every month.”
Her face paled. “So that’s the reason you think we’re different?”
He nodded. “That’s the main one. There are others.”
“What are they?” she asked.
God, he was about ready to lose it. He spotted one of the female bartenders who always had a thing for him, but he’d never been interested. “Hey, Monica.” He waved over Tessa’s shoulder.
Monica walked over to him and wrapped an arm around his neck before kissing him on his cheek. Jesus, the pain that filled Tessa’s eyes made him furious at himself.
“I’ll leave you to your date,” Tessa said. “But you shouldn’t assume anything about a person because you’ll most likely be wrong.”
“What does that mean?” he asked.
She shook her head sadly. “It’s not important. I promise to leave you alone and not bother you again. Be safe.”
She turned and walked away, and he had a mad urge to yell for her to come back.
“Hey, hun, did you want me for anything?” Monica asked in a testy tone.
He looked at her. “Sorry. I just wanted to see how you were doing?”
Monica scowled. “That’s it?”
“Yeah, someone told me you’d gotten hurt.” It was the first thing he could think of to say. He didn’t want her to think he was interested in her.
“Hurt? No, I haven’t been hurt,” she said.
“Oh, hell. It must have been someone else they were talking about. I’m sorry.”
Monica straightened away from him. He could see the disappointment on her face and felt like shit. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I better get back to work.”
Dominik turned back to watch Tessa. His concern rose when he caught her rubbing her temples. She turned and walked out the door.
What the hell is she doing, leaving alone like that? He stood to follow her. He was a few feet from the door when one of her friends grabbed onto his arm to stop him.
“Dominik. Wait. I need to talk to you,” Michelle said.
“Later. I want to make sure she gets home.”
“Nicole was waiting outside for her, so she’s not alone.”
Dominik sighed in frustration but turned to face Michelle. “What do you need?”
“I need you to stop messing with Tessa. You’re tearing her apart, and she is still dealing with the attack.”
“I’m not trying to mess with her. I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
“Showing you care and then pushing her away is doing her more harm. She’s been through enough. Her life has mostly sucked,” Michelle said.
His eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”
Michelle looked away and then turned back. “I can’t tell you much, but I can tell you her whole life has been a struggle. She was finally starting to believe she could be happy. After the attack, her pain reminded me of her in college. I don’t want her to go through that again. And she will if you keep messing with her emotions.”
His stomach tensed. “Why did she have such a hard time? Didn’t her family help her?”
Michelle looked confused. “What family?”
“Her family. Her parents and any siblings she might have?”
Michelle looked even more upset. “Is that what you think?”
“Yeah. I assumed she grew up somewhere in the suburbs,” he said.
Michelle shook her head. “That’s what’s holding you back?”
“No, but it’s the most important one.” He waited for the woman to talk. He wanted to shake her, and then she stood in silence. “Tell me.”
Michelle sighed. “I won’t tell you all of it, but I will tell you there was no family.”
He was shocked. “What?”
“She’s never had a family. Her mother set her on church steps when she was a few days old and then left.”
God, the thought of that beautiful woman going through that made him sick. “Why wasn’t she adopted?”
“She was addicted to heroin, so she had to go through detox but then had some health issues that families didn’t want to deal with. She went from foster home to foster home.”
Oh, fuck. He didn’t want to think she’d had it worse than him, but she did. At least he had some stability, being able to stay in one apartment his whole childhood.
“What else?” he asked.
Michelle shook her head. “I won’t say anymore. It’s her story to tell. Now, tell me, what else is keeping you away from her?”
“One is our size difference. I’m twice her size, for God’s sake.”
“Maybe, does that mean you’d hurt her somehow?” Michelle asked.
“Fuck, no. I’d never hurt her.”
“Then I don’t see the problem. Will it bother you if people stare when you are together?”
“I don’t fucking care about that shit. I don’t want her to feel embarrassed or sad because of it.”
Michelle snorted. “I wouldn’t worry about that, Dominik. She hasn’t cared about what anyone thought as long as I’ve known her. What else?”
“I’m afraid I’ll scare her.”
“How?” she asked.
“I’m a very dominant man, both in bed and out.”
“Once again, would you ever hurt her?”
“No!”
“Would you ever become a stalker and forbid her to see people or shit like that?”
“No. I will want to know if she’s safe, though.”
Michelle smiled. “That’s a good thing, and it’s something she needs.”
“What if she can’t handle me … you know … in bed?” Jesus, he couldn’t believe he was asking her this.
“Do you know what I think?” she asked.
“What?”
“I think if there are things that bother either of you, you’ll be able to talk it out and compromise.”
Fuck. Could it be that easy? “It would destroy me if she left me.”
Michelle patted his arm. “I have to tell you about the first time she saw you. I’ve never seen a person fall for someone within a minute. She told me it felt like you were her other half. She’d say stuff like that every time she saw you.”
Dominik swallowed and ran his hand through his hair. “Holy hell.”
“What?”
“I felt the same way,” he said.
Michelle smiled brightly. “My advice is to stop being a pussy and go get your woman. And stop thinking about the what ifs.”
God, it felt like he could finally take a deep breath since he first saw her. The ball of anger disintegrated, and he felt good.
“I’m going to get her now.”
“Good. It’s about time. Oh, by the way, if you hurt her, I’ll cut off your cock and shove it down your throat.”
His head snapped back. “Jesus, woman. I didn’t know you were so violent.”
She smiled. “Well, now you do.”
He hugged her and walked out the door. He needed to get to his angel as quickly as he could. Only when he had her in his arms would he feel whole.