Chapter Eight
Dominic
As I pace the hallway to the bathrooms, I clench and unclench my hands. I was one step away from shoving my fist through Xavier’s face. Watching him hanging all over Bella is more than I can tolerate. Especially when I warned him off her the other day.
Son of a bitch. I shove my head from side to side, popping out the kinks. What’s wrong with me? It’s not like I have any claim over her. But that doesn’t stop the blinding rage inside of me that wants to choke the shit out of him.
The only thing stopping me is that he’s my best friend who’s had my back through every scuffle I’ve ever been in, and to return that loyalty with a busted face is repulsive.
“Is everything okay?”
I spin on my heel and come face to face with my kryptonite. Bella licks her lips as she studies me with those enormous green eyes. Vibrant. Radiant. They nearly glow in the light. They’re the biggest thing about her. The rest of her is small. Perfect. My hands itch to pull her to me and smash my lips over hers until she forgets Xavier exists.
“Dominic?”
Shit. I’m scaring the crap out of her. I shove my hands into my pockets. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” She wipes her hands on her jeans as a couple comes out of the men’s restroom. The woman leans against the man as they laugh and straighten their clothes.
When they pass by, the woman sways toward Bella, knocking into her and sending her careening into me.
“Sorry!” The girl turns her head toward us with guilt-riddled eyes.
“Oh….” Bella’s face flames red as she braces her hands on my chest and tries to steady herself.
“I’ve got you.” I clutch her upper arms and hold her upright. The touch of her palms against my shirt burns my skin, and it takes every ounce of my willpower not to scoop her up into my arms and drill her the same way the man leaving the bathroom clearly claimed the woman in his arms not five minutes ago.
My heart pounds erratically in my ears as she sucks down a breath and shoves backward, putting space between us and dropping her arms down to her sides. I press my back into the wall and rake a hand through my hair. Way to go. Keep scaring the shit out of her with your obsessed energy.
Bella is a good girl. The type you take out on a date and kiss good night. Not the kind of woman who wants to be banged in a bathroom.
“Listen.” I shove my hands into my pockets and exhale to take up less space in the hallway. “Everything is fine. Xavier and I had an argument the other day, and I was reminding him of our agreement.”
“I see.” She licks her lips and glances out of the corner of her eye. Dude, she didn’t follow you to make sure you were okay. She was on the way to the bathroom and felt obligated to check your wellbeing.
As she should, you probably look like a raging lunatic.
“How was school today? Any surprises this week?” Now what? Three sentences and we’re out of conversation starters.
“You mean besides you, dropping a phone off to me?”
“Yeah, besides that.” Heat climbs up my neck. “Did it work?”
“Yes, the phone works fine, and no messages or calls from Brock, so everything was great.” She gnaws on her bottom lip, causing my heart to skip a beat.
“What?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. At least, I don’t think it is.” She glances over her shoulder toward the crowded bar. “A few minutes ago, the waitress brought a drink over to me and said someone paid for it.”
“Who?” If Xavier is trying to get her wasted so he can take her home…. My hands ball into fists. All bets are off.
Her eyes meet mine. “Brock, I think. She vaguely described him, and said she thought that was his name, but wasn’t positive. She said his name could’ve been Brian or Bob. I didn’t see Brock anywhere tonight, did you?”
“No.” That son of a bitch. “I didn’t see him, but I wasn’t looking for him either.” I take a step toward the bar.
“Don’t.” Bella grabs my arm. “It probably wasn’t him anyway. How many guys are here tonight with blond hair? Probably 50. Any one of them could’ve bought me a drink. Besides, it’s best if we act like he doesn’t exist.” Her fingertips press into my flesh, warming my skin. “Thank you again for the phone. It was thoughtful of you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How was work this week?” She drops her arm to her side as two girls speedwalk past us, yanking the door open to the bathroom. Although I can’t make out what they’re saying the animated way their eyes flash and hands wave in the air is a clear indication they’re angry about something.
“It was good. I worked on your brother’s tattoo. Sam is getting the head of a lion on his shoulder. It’s going to look fantastic.”
“Your artwork is always fabulous.” She bites her bottom lip, and my entire body tightens in response. I want to be the one kissing those lips. Sucking them into my mouth. Devouring her. “Have you drawn any new designs? The last ones I saw took my breath away.”
“A few.” I shrug as visions of page after page of Bella in every position imaginable overwhelm me. There’s no way she’s seeing that notebook. No one has and no one ever will. Even if it’s the best work I’ve ever done.
“Can I see them sometime? Maybe I can come over tomorrow, and you can show them to me.”
“Uh….” I step to the side and stare at the wall behind her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Tattoos aren’t your thing. You don’t have to pretend to be interested.”
“What do you mean by tattoos aren’t my thing?”
“Well….” I cringe as her eyes flash, letting me know I’m on shaky ground, but there’s no way around it. If she sees my portfolio, she’ll know I’m obsessed with her to a level that Brock can’t even compete with. I rarely have time to work on designs for clients because I’m fixated on every curve and line on her body. “You’re a good girl.”
“That’s so annoying.” She waves her hand in the air between us. “Why do I have to be labeled a good girl, and why is that bad anyway?”
Sweat breaks out on my forehead. This conversation is going epically bad. This is why I don’t talk to her. I always stick my foot in my mouth and make her angry. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.” I’m sinking fast, and no lifeboat is going to float by and get me out of it.
“You implied it.” She crosses her arms over her chest, causing her breasts to strain against her tight top. Jesus. Get your head out of your ass. She taps the toe of her shoe on the floor.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re just not the type of girl that comes in and gets a tattoo, and there’s nothing wrong with those kinds of girls, either. It’s just two different types of people.”
She gives me a death glare. “Does your boss have a tattoo?”
“Rob? Yes, he’s covered in tattoos.”
“No. The woman. Rissa, I think you said her name was.”
“No, Rissa doesn’t have tattoos. She doesn’t like the commitment of having artwork drawn on her because her ideas of beauty change over time.”
“Ugh.” She spins on her heel and marches away from me.
“What in the hell is that about?”
She flips her head around, causing her hair to whip across her face. “That’s because this Rissa woman is perfect.”
I wrinkle my nose, trying to make sense of her comment. She doesn’t even know Rissa. “Do you need me to drive you home? You rarely drink. Are you sure you’re not too drunk to drive?” That would explain this entire bizarre conversation.
The rest of her body whips around as fast as her head did, and she stalks back toward me with her index finger pointed at my chest. “I’m not two years old. Nor am I a prissy princess who can’t tie her own shoes.” Her finger pokes into my chest as adrenaline courses through my veins. It probably shouldn’t turn me on that she’s yelling at me, but it does.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t take care of yourself.”
She tips her chin up. “I’m a grown woman who can make her own decisions, which I fully intend to start doing tonight. And that includes taking Xavier up on his proposition.” She frowns and withdraws her finger. “Well, not all of it, but some of it. It’s time I take control of my future and make my own decisions. To hell with what my brothers, my parents, or even what you think. I’m in control of my life. Not anyone else. Thank you very much.”
She dismisses me and stomps back to the bar with her shoulders back and her ass swaying. If that was for me, I’d be one happy man. But it’s not. It’s for my best friend. Fucking great.