Chapter 12
Iached all over but insisted on a shower when I got to Dom’s place. I hated the smell of smoke that clung to my skin and hair. Hannah went to the beauty supply place and got me the shampoo I asked for, and she helped me wash my hair. Even after three washings, the smoke scent was there, but at least it was more manageable. I dressed in some leggings and a loose shirt of Dom’s, grateful when Hannah removed the plastic my arm was wrapped in to keep the cast dry.
“Why couldn’t it be a removable cast?” I grumbled.
Dom walked in, carrying a tray. “Maybe they were fast to figure out you’d be ripping it off the first chance you got, Cherry G.” He winked. “Troublemaker.”
He’d showered again as well and looked more relaxed. I knew he was as tired as I felt, but not as troubled. He slid the tray onto my lap. “Lunch.”
I picked up the spoon, tasting the thick soup. “Delicious.”
He perched on the end of the bed. “Rosa,” he said simply. “The fridge is full. Lasagna, more minestrone soup, ziti. Charly brought a couple of casseroles and did some shopping. She brought you some more clothes too.” He looked upset. “All of yours are gone.”
“Everything?” I asked.
He nodded. “Sorry, Cherry. Everything.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “I know how upsetting that must be.”
“Not as upsetting as it would be if this had happened a month ago.”
“Why?”
“When I moved in to the smaller apartment, Connie let me store a bunch of totes filled with things I didn’t have room for in the apartment in the basement of the building. Not long ago, she discovered a leak, and Chase and Hannah graciously let me move them to their basement about a month ago. All my photos and a lot of my things are in those totes. The apartment was too small for me to have them out or to have too many photos around. I lost what was out, but I think Hannah has copies of a lot of the photos. The knickknacks and other things… Well, I suppose they’re just things. My mother’s quilt makes me sad, but…” I trailed off, trying not to cry.
“Maybe some things can be salvaged. Once we can go in, I’ll pack up what we can,” Dom assured me, stroking my hand.
“We’ll help,” Chase said, coming in with Hannah.
“Of course we will,” she agreed. “If it’s just smoke, we’ll take it somewhere.”
“We do ozone bombs in cars,” Chase mused. “Gets rid of odors. Maybe we could try that on other things.”
Dom nodded in agreement. “Good thinking.”
“Once we can get in,” I agreed, amazed at their offer. “I wonder when they’ll know what it was that caused the fire.”
“Soon, hopefully,” Hannah murmured.
I was suddenly exhausted, and the soup no longer held much appeal. Dom looked at Hannah, who took the tray and gave it to Chase. “Sleep a bit, Mom. You might be hungrier later.”
Dom helped me settle, and he gave me some pain pills. “You want me to stay?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Hannah smiled. “We’ll come back later.”
Dom walked them out and returned, pulling off the hoodie he wore, leaving him in a tight T-shirt.
“How’s your head?” I asked, concerned.
“A bit touchy. I’m tired too, so a nap is a good thing. The kids are coming back later.” He stretched out beside me, letting me arrange myself so I was close. I felt better when I could touch him.
I sighed quietly, hoping some sleep would help. I felt jumpy and on edge. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the smoke around me. Felt the fear creep into my chest and make me tense. I fought back the emotion that was swelling. I was safe and here with Dom.
Yet, it kept building.
He tightened his arm around me. “You can cry, you know,” he whispered, understanding my emotion. “You lost your home, your place of employment, all your things. I know you’re trying to be strong for Hannah, but you don’t have to pretend with me.”
I looked up at him, meeting his intense, steady gaze.
“I know you’re here. That I’m safe. But I feel almost…scared,” I confessed. “The last time I lay down for a nap…”
“I know. I understand. You have every right to feel whatever you feel,” he murmured. “But I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“If you hadn’t come—” A sob escaped my mouth.
He nestled closer, pulling me to him. “I know. I keep thinking that. But I did. And you’re here and safe. Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise.” He pressed a kiss to my head. “Let it out, baby. You’ll feel better.”
I buried my face into his chest and began to cry. I let myself grieve for my lost possessions. My job. My home. How close I’d come to losing everything. Dom held me, not offering platitudes or telling me everything would be okay. He let me cry until my own thoughts changed from “what if” to “what now.” I still had most of my photos and keepsakes. They were with Hannah. I never really liked the apartment, and I would find another place. I had already known I was going to have to give up hairdressing soon. My legs and shoulders couldn’t do it full time anymore. I would find another job.
And I was alive. With Dom. He was with me, his heat soaking into my skin like a warm blanket. His scent wrapped around me, and the faint whiff of smoke was disbursed by his cologne. By him.
With a long shudder, my tears stopped. I wiped my face with the tissue he handed me and cuddled as close as I could get.
Then I slept.
Later, my boss called to check on me, tearfully informing me the salon was gone and she wasn’t sure if she would ever reopen. I didn’t tell her I wouldn’t return. I wasn’t ready to say that yet.
“I have no idea what happened,” she wept. “The girls locked up, and they said everything seemed fine.”
“Could be an electrical fire,” I suggested.
“When I think of what could have happened…” she said. “I would never have forgiven myself if you had died, Cherry.”
“Well, Dom got me out,” I soothed.
“Thank God for that man.”
I glanced over at him. He was beside me, his hand on my leg, but he was watching the news on the TV, content to be close. We both needed that right now.
“Yes,” I agreed. “Thank God for that.”
“I’ll be in touch soon,” Connie promised. “Be sure to file a claim with your insurance and get me the information.”
“I will.”
I sighed as I hung up the phone. “At least my car and tenant insurance are through the same company and a broker I’ve used for years,” I said. “I know them, and they know me.” I had already called my broker, and he was coming to see me and would visit the apartment site to take pictures. “I didn’t have a large value for the contents since it was furnished. And what was destroyed can’t be replaced,” I added sadly.
Dom squeezed my leg. “Still, the claim can be filed, and you can use the money to purchase what you need. Once you find a new place.” He was quiet for a moment. “Maybe this is a good time to think of relocating.”
I tilted my head, studying him.
“You don’t want to do hairdressing anymore. Your apartment is gone. Hannah is here.” He swallowed. “So am I. Maybe you should look here.”
“And do what?” I asked.
He shrugged. “You said you had experience with other things. Explore the options.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking nervous. “You can stay here as long as you want. We could look for a place together.”
“You want to live together?” I asked. “It’s only been?—”
He cut me off with a shake of his head. “I don’t care if it’s only been a day, Cherry G. You’re it for me. I have never loved someone the way I love you. We can live together if you want that. I do. And you can take your time and find a job.”
I blinked at him. He sounded so certain.
“We can look for a place together. I wanted to buy a house, so you can help me pick it. Let it be a place you love and make it our home. We can fill it with memories together. I’ve never had that, but I want it. I want it all with you.”
Our eyes locked, and I saw it. His conviction to us, to this relationship, was clear and solid. That was what he wanted. Me. Here. With him.
“I-I have to think about it.”
There was a knock on the door, and he stood, bending over me. He dropped a kiss to my mouth with a smile. “Of course you do, Cherry G. You have to think and overanalyze and worry. Wonder if you should do something that puts you first. That makes you happy. The answer to that is yes. But you do what you have to, then we’ll move ahead. I’ll wait.” He headed to the door. “In the meantime, I’ll get more places to look at.”
He left me on the sofa, my mind spinning.
Everything rational and responsible told me his idea was crazy. We hadn’t known each other long enough. We needed more time.
The smaller part of my brain was jumping up and down like a schoolgirl. Live with Dom. Be close to Hannah. Build a life with him. We were older, so why waste time if it felt right?
And dammit, as much as I tried to fight it, as much as I resisted, Dom Salvatore felt all sorts of right to me.
Did I dare do this?
Hannah, Chase, Maxx, and Charly came in, and I put aside my thoughts.
But that schoolgirl kept jumping.
And from the grin on Dom’s face when he looked at me, he knew it.
Cherry’s gaze followed me all evening. Despite the full refrigerator, the kids had brought pizza, and we sat around, casual and comfortable, eating and laughing. But whenever I looked at Cherry, her eyes were already on me.
I knew what she was doing. Overthinking. I understood it was part of her nature. No doubt a learned habit since after her husband died, she’d had only herself to rely on, so she was careful with decisions.
I wanted her to go with her heart on this one.
In the kitchen, I stacked the dishwasher, looking up when Hannah came in, carrying some glasses. I added them to the rack, shutting the door and wiping my hands.
“What’s up?” I asked, knowing she’d come in for more than assisting with cleanup.
“Mom told me what you suggested. About her moving here. Moving in with you.”
I crossed my arms, leaning against the counter. “You have issues with that?”
“No. I think you’re good for her.”
“I sense a but.”
“It’s fast.”
I chuckled. “Hannah, may I remind you that you and Chase went from roommates to lovers in a matter of weeks? It’s the same amount of time your mom and I have been seeing each other. And frankly, at my age, I’m not the most patient of men anymore. I know what I want, and I don’t want to waste months dancing around the issue.” I met her gaze. “I love your mother. I want to build a life with her, and I think, despite her worries, she wants the same. I want to make her happy. She deserves that, yes?”
“Yes, she does. And I would love to have her here. And to know she isn’t alone.” Hannah nibbled her lip. “You really love her?”
“Absolutely.”
“What about Josh?”
“I hope to get him back in my life. I think your mom would be a big part of that.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I always wanted a sibling.”
I chuckled. “Well, he’d be a little brother of sorts, I guess.”
She grinned. “So, for sure, you’d be my step?—”
I laughed, cutting her off. “If you’re gonna call me Dad, then I’m going to insist on making it official with Cherry G out there.” I winked. “Cherry S has a good ring to it, I think.”
She blinked. “Wow. You men move fast here, don’t you?”
I cocked my head to the side. “Would I have your blessing, Hannah?”
A smile curled her lips. “Yeah, Dom, you would.”
I grinned. “Thanks.”
I didn’t say anything to Cherry. I didn’t want to add to her overthinking. I wanted her to recover from what had happened so we could move forward. She was a great patient—for two days. Then she became restless and bored. She walked around the house, rearranging things. Folding and refolding blankets as best she could with one arm. Dusting things she’d already dusted. We went for walks, Hannah came and took her to lunch, but by day three, she was ready to get back to life.
We were sitting on the sofa when the call came in from her insurance adjuster. I got up to get us more coffee when I heard her gasp of anger and a string of expletives leave her mouth. My eyebrows shot up in surprise, as she rarely swore or got angry. She stood, pacing as she spoke, and I watched her, trying not to notice how sexy she was when she was mad. The color in her cheeks highlighted her prettiness, and the scowl she wore reminded me of a sexy librarian, especially given she was wearing a set of reading glasses she’d forgotten to take off.
She hung up, tossing her phone down.
“Problem, Cherry G?”
She pulled off her glasses, dropping them beside her phone. “The fire was caused by a curling iron left plugged in. It fell off the shelf onto the unfolded towels the girls never finished.” She was almost growling. “It was an older one without an automatic shut off. You always check before you leave. Everything. Their carelessness cost Connie her business and me my home.” She met my eyes, furious.
“It could have been worse,” I reminded her.
“I know. I repeated myself over and over. They were always anxious to leave at the end of the day. I wasn’t there, and they closed up without finishing their work, and now none of us has a job.”
I looped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I’m sorry, Cherry G. I know that must hit hard. So unavoidable.”
“It makes me mad.”
“I can tell. What can I do to help?”
“I know you have to go to the garage. I want to come with you. I don’t want to stay here alone. I can visit Charly and the kids.”
“Sure,” I agreed easily. I would feel better if she was where I could see her. “You get ready.”
At the garage, I got busy, fast. Cherry headed to the house, and knowing she was okay and safe, I got to work. Cars and trucks were parked everywhere, and I grabbed the schedule, figuring out my first job.
Hours later, I wiped my hands, pleased at what we had accomplished. I was headed to the staff room, needing five minutes and a cup of coffee, when I heard it. Cherry’s voice and her laughter coming from the office. I walked in, surprised to see her and Charly, the computers on, invoices and inventory sheets on the desk.
“What’s going on?” I asked. “This hardly looks like a visit.”
Charly grinned at me. “We need help with the books and keeping up. Everyone is so busy. I hired Cherry.”
I blinked. “You hired her?”
Charly looked incredibly pleased with herself. “It’s perfect. She has experience and needs a job. We need help. Chase is busier than ever with his custom work. The new client is bringing more business than we thought. You’re getting more in demand with your extensive experience. Cherry can take over a lot of the office stuff. She knows the software we use.”
I met Cherry’s gaze. Her eyes were warm and filled with excitement. She was smiling. The thought of having her here and close every day made me stupidly happy.
“Don’t overdo it,” I warned quietly.
“I’m not. Charly is showing me everything. I can only use the one arm, so I’ll be slow, but once this silly cast comes off, look out!”
I had to grin. She had a job, which was another reason to stay here. I bent and pressed a kiss to her head. “Look out, indeed. Go get ’em, baby.”