Chapter Twenty-Six
Dominic
I’m on edge by the time we get to my brother’s football game. Yes, I’ve won Bella over, and I couldn’t be happier about that. But that doesn’t mean I’m excited to flaunt our newfound relationship in front of her brothers or her parents. I was granted a reprieve when we came out of my room, as everyone had already left for the field.
Xavier’s pickup included, and without his much-needed pullover sweatshirt or his ride to the game. Clearly, I need to thank him for pushing us together.
I shut off the engine and drum my fingertips on the steering wheel. The spot I used to drop off Levi has been filled by a Jeep, and we’ve been relegated to a spot half a field away from where my group stands near the home team’s endzone, and concession stands.
“If you don’t want to be seen with me, I understand.” Bella wipes her palms on the knees of the jeans she changed into before we left for the game.
“Don’t.” I turn to face her while clasping her hand in mine. “That’s not it.” I clear my throat and give her a halfhearted smile. “Okay, that’s it. Sam and Ben aren’t going to be happy. They’ve made it clear over the years that you were off limits.”
“Jerks.” Her eyes flash with anger. “If they would’ve minded their own businesses, we would’ve gotten together sooner.” Her eyes narrow into slits. “Right?”
“Yes.” I squeeze her fingers and lift them to my lips, kissing the back of her hand and erasing some of the hostility from her features. “I would’ve still worried that I wasn’t good enough for you, but I wouldn’t be anticipating a kick in the balls. And then getting kicked out of the house.”
“They aren’t going to do anything to you.” She straightens her shoulders and leans back into her seat. “I’ll see to it.” I chuckle, which earns me another glare. “I’m serious, Dom. They won’t say a word. If they do, I’ll–”
“You’ll what?” I arch my eyebrows. I love her feisty personality, and knowing it’s to stand up for me makes me feel on top of the world.
“Don’t underestimate me.”
“Oh, babe, I won’t. I promise you that.” I wink as I place my hand on the back of her neck and pull her closer. “Have I told you that you’re beautiful when you’re protecting me?”
“No.” Her eyes dance as she scoots closer and laces her arms around my neck.
“Well, let me remedy that.” I kiss her lips, sucking down her goodness and letting it seep through my pores. When I pull back, her face is flushed, and her eyelids are heavy. “Darlin’, you’re gorgeous.”
She sighs and scrapes her nails down my neck, making every inch of my skin tingle. “Is it too soon to take you back home and ravish you again?”
“No.” She inches closer towards me until she’s halfway across the center console.
Bang. Bang. Bang. The window rattles as the cab of my pickup shudders under the attack of Sam.
Bella settles back onto her seat. “Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag.”
“Yes.” I kiss her lips quickly and grab the door handle. Her eyes widen as she freezes, causing my heart to skip a beat. “What?”
“Umm…. I don’t know how to tell you this. I was so busy enjoying you. And everything.” Her face is beet red as she bites her bottom lip.
“What is it?”
“Mom and Dad heard us last night.”
Oh, fuck. I groan under my breath. This is worse than I thought.
“It’s fine.” She clutches my arm. “They were fine with it. Okay, they weren’t fine, fine with it. But they’re good with us being together. I just thought you should know there’s that out there also.”
“Okay.” I inhale and straighten my shoulders. “That explains why Jake’s mom was waving at me when I drove by and looking like she knew a secret.”
“It’s a small town.” Bella smiles weakly. “Everyone knows everything.”
Bang. Bang. Bang. The cab of my pickup shakes under Sam’s attack once again. “Then, let’s shout it to the world.” I wink while yanking open the door and sliding out. Sam stands in front of me with his hands on his hips.
“What do you think you’re doing?
“That should be fairly obvious.” I roll my shoulders back, slam the door shut to protect Bella from whatever fallout ensues, and pull up to my full 6’2” height.
“Listen, asshole.” He grips the front of my T-shirt. “My sister is not someone you bang and drop. That’s been the deal all along.”
“I don’t intend to bang her and drop her.” I shove him backward as the passenger side door slams shut. Shit. I jerk my gaze over the cab of my pickup as the rest of the guys eat up the distance between the parking lot and my pickup. “Do not come over here.”
“While I happen to have found that I love it when you tell me what to do, this is not the time.” She hustles around the front of my truck in her attempt to get to us.
“Bella,” Sam barks as he drops his arms to his sides. I’m not out of the woods yet, his hands are still balled into fists. “Get back. This is between Dominic and me.”
“Bullshit.” She marches up to us and slaps her hands on her hips. “I’m an adult.” She taps the toe of her tennis shoe on the grass. “And I can see whoever I want.”
“Apparently, you saw a lot of Dominic at the house last night because the word is all over town.” He clasps a fisted hand into the palm of the other, cracking his knuckles one at a time.
“Bella, please, let me handle this.” I step between them, putting myself in the line of fire. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“What’re you talking about?” Bella scrunches her face as she studies him.
“Jake stopped me on the way home this afternoon with some not-so veiled references to Dominic dropping you off last night and questioned me about your relationship status. Apparently, Mom called Jake’s mom first thing this morning.”
Bella laughs and shakes her head. “You’ve got to love a small town.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her to me and whispering, “Not as much as I love you. If he tries to punch me, I’m going to kick his ass.” I keep an eye on Sam as I speak to her while my other friends join the party.
“You couldn’t kick my ass,” Sam growls but rocks back on his heels. “So, this is something serious?”
“Of course.” I tighten my hold on her as she snuggles against me. “You don’t think I’d disrespect you, Ben, or your parents if Bella wasn’t my endgame, do you?”
“No.” He rotates his shoulders and neck, making a popping sound.
“This is great.” Xavier beams and slaps me on the back. “I feel like a proud papa sending his two baby birds off to soar in the clouds.”
“Jesus,” Ben groans and punches Xavier in the chest. “You sound like an idiot.” He eyes me up and down as he catches up on what he missed. “So, does this mean you’re going back on skins now? Because I’m tired of being stuck with my brother as part of my team.”
“What’re you talking about?” Sam asks.
“Dominic has been obsessed with Bella for years. He got her name tattooed on his chest three years ago and pretended it wasn’t there by avoiding being on skins. And then those portraits of her that line the walls of his old bedroom. It’s fucking creepy.”
Clearly, I wasn’t as slick as I thought I was. If Ben had questioned me at the time, would I have told him the truth? Maybe not. I was still young at the time. Too young to settle down. But now? Now, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than settle down with Bella and start a family in the future.
“Romantic.” Bella waggles her eyebrows and stands on her tiptoes, kissing my jaw.
“Certifiably creepy,” Ben says.
“Sexy.” Her eyes twinkle as they catch mine.
“Darlin’.” I turn her toward me and run my hands along her back. “I apparently was only keeping secrets from you and Sam.”
Bella smirks. “My brother is stupid, and I was too afraid you’d never notice me to see past the front you put on.”
“Lord,” Ben groans and slings his arm over Xavier’s shoulders. “This is getting gross. Let’s go watch the game.”
Sam shakes his head. “This is horrible. Now, every time she’s over, we’ll know what they’re doing.” He shudders. “No one wants to know that.”
“Too bad.” I kiss her lips and close my eyes. Heaven. How did I stay away from her so long? Why did I–
She digs her nails into my skull, and I forget everything else.