Chapter Thirty-Two
The Next Day
Bella
As I drive down Main Street, I scan for open spaces. The café is packed for lunch, so nothing close to my parent’s office is open. I pull around the corner and park. When my phone dings, I swipe it open.
Dom: Hey, baby. Miss me?
Me: Always.
Dom: I’m headed to work.
Me: Be safe. I’ll see you tonight.
I climb out of my car and walk to my parent’s office. After yesterday’s awkward conversation in the kitchen, I wanted to make sure everything was okay between us. When I walk in, the doorbell chimes, causing them to look up and smile.
“Hello, dear.” My mom drops the paperwork in her hand onto their receptionist’s desk and embraces me.
“What’s going on?” My father surveys the room as if he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Nothing.” I laugh as my mom rolls her eyes. “I wanted to stop by and make sure that everything is okay. Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity, and we didn’t get the chance to talk after the craziness of Brock.”
My phone dings again. “Just a second, Dom messaged me.”
Dom: Promise?
My heart races as I tape in a response.
Me: Of course, I promise.
“Dear, we’re fine.” My mom pats my father’s back. “Aren’t we, honey?”
“Yes, everything is fine.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
I narrow my eyes and study him. He doesn’t look mad, but he isn’t happy either. “It doesn’t feel fine when you give me that look.”
“You just surprised us. And you know I’m not good with surprises. We weren’t prepared for all these changes at once. We’d barely come to terms with you and Dominic dating, and then, you threw out this business about changing career goals.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “And then Brock was harassing you. It’s a lot to take in at one time.”
I strategically chose lunchtime to visit, knowing that they’d be alone until their receptionist returned from her break.
“I understand. I didn’t intend on springing everything at once. And if I could’ve avoided the entire Brock thing, I would’ve.”
“Don’t.” My mom places her hand on my upper arm. “You had nothing to do with that. And the rest….” She shrugs and steps back. “The rest isn’t your fault either. We pushed you from the beginning. We got excited at the thought of working with you and didn’t give you the chance to breathe. We should’ve realized it wasn’t something you’d enjoy.”
“Your mother is right. You’ve loved doing makeovers since you were old enough to brush your dolls’ hair. And cut it.” He cringes. “I spent more time vacuuming doll hair out of the carpet than I did dog hair when you were growing up.”
I smile as some of the tension eases from the room. “I did always have a pair of scissors in my hand.”
My phone dings again. This man.
Dom: Good. I can’t wait to get my hands on you again.
Heat floods my core.
Dom: And my mouth. My tongue. My fingers.
Me: Stop. I’m at my parent’s office.
Dominic and I talked for hours last night about my plans. The future. Us. Okay, we talked for a few minutes every hour. We were busy the rest of the time.
“I know this will make you happy.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she leans her hip against the desk. “And that makes us happy. We discussed this last night. Do you want to go to Cosmo full-time?”
“I can’t. It would be too much to go full-time with work and college classes.”
“You don’t need to work.” He grabs a red stress ball with their logo imprinted on it in white lettering and flips it from one hand to the other. “We’ll take care of your classes. Or if you’d rather drop all your college courses, that’s fine as well.”
“No, it’s fine.” I wipe my hands on my shorts. “I’m good with everything. I want to keep going to college, but I’m going to switch my emphasis to business.”
“That’s a great idea.” My mom’s eyes light and then she straightens. “If that’s what you want that is.”
“It is. And Dominic’s mom is going to manage a new shop here in town, so I’m hoping she’ll let me work there a couple of days a week.”
“That’s wonderful.” My mom snatches up the phone receiver.
“Stop.” I laugh and roll my eyes as she sets the phone back down. “I can talk to Mira myself. I don’t need you to put in a good word for me.”
“It’s fine.” She waves her hand toward me. “I need to speak with Mira anyway. If we’re going to be planning a wedding–”
“Mom, stop! Dominic and I just got together. Let’s not rush things. I’m going to school. I’m still living at home. Dom lives with Ben and Sam. There’s no need to push for marriage.”
Not that I don’t want to marry Dominic. I do. It would be a dream come true. But we can wait. A few months, at least. Mrs. Dominic Wood. Giddiness swells inside of me.
No one needs to know that when I was in high school, I used to write Mrs. Dominic Wood in my notebooks. Now, it’ll be a reality. At least, it will be someday.
My phone vibrates in my hand again.
Dom: Naughty Little Wildflower, can’t get enough of my dick?
Fuck. My entire body flames at once.
Me: No, I can’t.
Dom: Fine. I won’t send you a dick pick to hold you over.
Oh, my God. Shit. Why do I now wish I had a dick pick?
Me: Please?
“Yes, please don’t rush things.” My father’s face is red as he drops the stress ball onto the desk. Apparently, even a stress ball isn’t helping keep his blood pressure down. “Let an old man catch his breath for a second.”
Ten minutes later, I step out into the midday sunshine and wave to Mrs. Martin, who’s watering the plants in front of her shop. The hanging baskets of pink, purple, and white petunias are gorgeous. They’re full and brimming with color. I don’t know how she does it. I can’t keep a cactus alive.
“Bella.” She grins. “You look lovely this afternoon.”
“Thank you.”
“I told you that Dom would look good on you.” She winks and sets the red watering can on the sidewalk.
“Yes, you did.” Oh, Jesus. My face floods with heat as I speedwalk down the sidewalk toward my car. A robin flies down and lands on the ledge in front of my parent’s picture window and tweets a simple tune. I don’t see how life could get any better than this.
I dig my keys out of my pocket as I round the corner and run smack into a hard chest. Dominic. “Couldn’t stay away?” I smile as I glance up.
“No, love, I couldn’t.” I gasp as Brock wraps his sweat-covered hand around my neck and squeezes while shoving my back into the brick wall.
His eyes swirl with venom as he digs his fingernails into my flesh and presses his body into me. The bricks cut into my back as I mold myself to the building in an attempt to keep his body from grinding into mine.
“I have a protec–”
“I don’t give a fuck what you have.” The pressure intensifies until I’m only able to let out a rough gasp as I try to suck down a gulp of air. “You’re a fucking bitch. You had no business going to the police on me. Now my dad is pissed, and Tabitha is refusing to take my calls. And all because you fucked with me.”
“I didn’t.” I lurch my head to the side as I shove into him, forcing his fingers off my neck and knocking him backward. The scent of his cologne and the clammy slickness of his skin, makes me want to vomit. “You fucked with me. You wouldn’t leave me alone. I did the only thing I could to protect myself.”
“Yeah, you sent your asshole brothers and that pussy boyfriend of yours to my place of business, embarrassed me, had your father fill mine full of lies, got the police involved–”
“You were harassing me. Just like you are now. You’re violating a protection order.” I raise my knee and smack into his balls with the force of my entire body while shoving his chest backward. He stumbles, catching his balance before falling and grabbing my shoulders.
“Fucking bitch!” Spit flies out of his mouth as he slams me back into the wall. “I don’t give a fuck about a restraining order. You fucking cow.”
Tears sting my eyes as the air is knocked out of my lungs.
“You fucking piece of shit.” Dominic’s voice echoes off the bricks as he grabs Brock’s shoulder, spins him around, and punches him in the face. “I told you to leave my girlfriend alone.” Blood splatters from Brock’s nose as his head jerks sideways from the force of Dominic’s punch.
“Fuck.”
“You’re a fucking freak.” Dominic continues to pummel him, causing Brock’s head to smack against the brick like a melon splattering on the sidewalk.
I rub my hands up and down my arms as my heart pounds erratically in my chest. Why is Dominic here? Shit. What would’ve happened if he hadn’t shown up when he did?
“Kiss my ass.” Brock bounces off the wall and bullrushes Dominic. But he doesn’t move.
“Bella, call the police.” Dominic wraps his huge bicep around Brock’s neck as he twists him toward the building and places him in a headlock.
“Right.” I blink as I dig my cell phone out of my pocket and make the call.
“911. What’s your emergency?”
“My ex-boyfriend violated a protection order.”
“Where are you, and is he still there with you?” The woman’s voice is smooth and calming. Is that Clarabelle Johnson?
Dominic’s eyes are as wild as Brock’s as they continue to scuffle, with each of them landing body punches. Or at least Brock attempts to hit Dominic while receiving punches to the side and gut.
“I’m at the corner of Main and 1 st Street. And yes, he’s still with me.”
Brock sags against Dominic as they both gasp for air. I straighten my shoulders as I scan Dominic for injuries. The man is gorgeous. If he didn’t have this asshole in his arms, I’d climb him like a tree.
“Bella…,” Dominic growls. “Listen to the nice police officer and stop eye fucking me. You’re distracting me.”
“Yes, Sir.” I fight back a giggle as I focus on the call. How does he do that?
“That’s not helping.” He bites his bottom lip as his eyes rove over me, and then he frowns. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Your neck is red.” He straightens and punches Brock in the kidneys.
“Stop it, asshole.”
“Never.” Dominic glares at Brock. “You caused my girl to get a bruise on her neck.”
“I’m fine, Dom, I promise.” I shift my attention back to the voice on the phone.
“An officer is two blocks away. Stay on the line.”
“Clarabelle, is that you?”
“Yes, Bella?”
“Yes, it’s me. I heard you’re dating Dominic. Good catch.” Her voice is softer, as if she’s trying to keep someone at the station from hearing her.
“Yes, he is.”
“And you ruptured my kidney and my liver.”
“Sounds like an even trade.”
As the sirens blare, my parents, Mrs. Martin, and Mrs. Walker from the library, come spilling around the corner.
“Oh, my God.” My mother clutches her neck as the sirens from the police car blare in the distance. “Bella, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I wave her off as she starts to inspect Dominic. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Dom nods to her in reassurance.
“Thank God.” They all gather around, chatting with each other as Jake’s police car rolls to a stop. He climbs out as the car is still rocking backward into park.
“You need to put this man under arrest. He broke the protection order.” My father steps forward as Jake grabs his upper arm.
“I’ve got this.”
“Right. Okay.” He nods and stops in his tracks.
“Well….” Jake smirks as he removes his handcuffs from the pouch on his belt. “It looks like you did a fine job of a citizen’s arrest. If you ever–”
“No.” I yank Dominic’s arm as Jake takes possession of Brock and pull him into my arms. “No, you don’t. That was enough excitement for a lifetime.”
“Baby.” He cradles my face, stroking my cheekbones with his thumbs. “Jesus.” Tears swim around the edges of his eyes. “Fuck.” He slams me against his chest and sucks down his breath. “You scared the life out of me.”
I wrap my arms around his waist and fight down a sob as the adrenaline of the last several minutes seeps from my body.
“Is everything okay?” The voice at my side is muffled, but I don’t have the energy to lift my arm and talk to Clarabelle.