Chapter 7 #2
I only stayed at the bar for one drink before realizing this wasn't for me. I didn't want to go back to my room. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. For sure, I’d fantasize about Reese. It surprised me how obsessed I’d become with her in such a short amount of time.
I needed to clear my head, so I went outside. It was cooler in the evening than it had been during the day, but it was just what I needed. I had to get my thoughts straight and my libido under control.
I walked around the corner, remembering there was a sitting area there. Right now, everyone seemed to be busy schmoozing inside, so with any luck, it would be empty.
I turned around and stopped in my tracks. It wasn't empty. Reese was sitting there, holding her phone. No, wait. It was bigger than that. It had to be a tablet. The light was illuminating her face, which was scrunched up in concentration. She looked fucking adorable.
What was it about this woman that disarmed me so quickly?
Get your shit together, Dom. You need your guard up. Remember what happened the last time you let it down.
"You didn't go to sleep after all," I said.
Reese gasped, straightening up and placing a hand on her chest.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I was so immersed in my book that I didn't even realize you were here." She pressed a button, and the light on her tablet went dark. But the moonlight was strong enough that I could still see her perfectly.
I went up the steps, and she tucked her feet under her, making space for me. The small couch was like a swing, and when I sat down, it moved a bit.
"What were you reading?" I asked.
"A thriller. It wasn't my best idea considering how dark it is around here. I was wondering how I’d manage to go back to my room."
I leaned closer. "Don't worry. I'll be your escort."
She pressed her lips together. I repeated my last sentence, waggling my eyebrows, and we both started laughing at the same time.
"Not my best line," I admitted.
"No, it was just what I needed," she said, holding her belly as laughter shook her. "I didn't think anyone else would be out here."
"It wasn't exactly my scene. And I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep."
"Oh, a fellow insomniac?"
I frowned. "No. I just didn't feel tired yet. You have trouble sleeping?"
She nodded, running her hand through her hair. I barely held back from reaching out and wrapping my fingers in it. I'd been close to her all day, and now it felt unnatural to push down my interest.
It's all for show, I reminded myself.
"I've had trouble sleeping since I was a little girl," she said. "It started after we lost Mom. I kept searching for her in the evening.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
She was quiet for a beat before adding, “Thanks. I don’t know why I brought that up.”
“I don’t mind.” I was interested in her story. Reese was a beautiful woman with a huge heart, and I’d never met anybody like her.
“Anyway, I tried a lot of therapists over the years. I even have a sleep schedule. I try to avoid screen time for a few hours before I go to bed. I couldn’t resist reading, though.
But they’ve all told me that if I can’t sleep, I shouldn’t stay in bed.
If possible, I should get out of the room, walk a bit.
I saw this place earlier today and wanted to enjoy it by myself. ”
"That makes two of us," I replied. "Want us to just sit quietly?"
She laughed softly. "We can try."
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke, and it was perfect. This moment was just what I needed, and I thought it was exactly what she wanted too.
"Thank you for today," she said eventually.
"What do you mean?"
"The show you put on was very helpful and very convincing."
"Oh, yeah.” The fucking show. I was starting to wonder if any of it had been for show at all. I'd used every opportunity to be close to her, and I had zero regrets.
"You still have feelings for him?" I blurted. It was none of my business, but I needed to know.
"That's a loaded question. I want to slap the shit out of him every time I see him. Does that count as a feeling?"
I chuckled. "Hell yes."
"But it also hurts every time I see him with her, so maybe somewhere deep down, I do still have feelings for him. Even my therapist hasn't been able to work that one out."
Fuck, that stung. But why? I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Hell, I just got out of a nightmare of a marriage, for God's sake.
"But I couldn't ever see myself getting back with him," she continued. "He's hurt me and my family so much over the years."
"What do you mean? He physically…?" I was going to punch that moron.
"No, no." She shook her head. "But as I told you, he tried to cause a lot of trouble with lawsuits, general harassment.
But my cousin Declan, the lawyer, put the fear of God in him.
At least that's what I thought. Malcolm moved away from Chicago for a bit after that, and I don't like that he's back. "
"Want me to find out why he’s here?"
"Don't worry. I'm sure my cousins are already on it. Even though I didn't tell them a word about him."
"Then how would they know he’s in Chicago again?" I asked.
"They know everything."
"And you don't mind?"
"No, not one bit. They've always been protective of me and my sister. Anyway, it's been a while since we had to deal with Malcolm. I hope he won't cause any trouble. Maybe he just wanted to come back to Chicago because it's where he's from." She seemed to be talking more to herself than to me.
"How long ago did you two split up?"
"Years ago."
I jolted my head back. He's been hassling her ever since? What an asshole.
She dipped her head. "I've been working on getting myself back on track ever since. But I still haven’t healed completely.”
"Go easy on yourself. Your fiancé cheated on you with your best friend. There's a lot of trauma to deal with from that."
"Yeah. And it's not like I haven’t dated in the meantime."
That got my attention. So she did date.
Reese cleared her throat before continuing. "It was just all so shitty—what happened, I mean. It kind of took the fun out of dating."
I could work with that. Why did I suddenly want to prove to her how much fun I could be?