5. Dom
5
dom
“Hey, she okay?” Joe asked, stepping up beside me.
I looked at the woman who’d been occupying my thoughts lately. Eyes closed, body still and lax. I thought she’d all but passed out the moment her lids went down. I wasn’t surprised. She’d had a hell of a night.
And, yeah, she’d said she was fine, but my instincts told me she was the type of person who said she was fine, even when she wasn’t. Especially since she hadn’t seemed to track half of what I’d said during the evac.
Joe moved to peer into the rescue vehicle. I stepped forward before I realized what I was doing, placing myself between him and her before he could get too close.
He looked at me and raised an eyebrow, as if he, too, was surprised by the action. I wasn’t usually the possessive, territorial type, but my protective instincts were flaring at a five-alarm level.
Huh.
“She presented as having mild shock,” I told him, feeling compelled to say something. “I had to repeat myself several times, and some of what I said didn’t seem to register.” Like me telling her that Ben was aware of the situation and was on his way, only to have her ask me to call Ben and let him know.
“Lot going on,” Joe murmured, his casual shrug at odds with the calculating gleam in his eyes.
That was true, but I suspected there was more to it than that. I suspected there was a whole lot more to Ella beneath that quiet, reserved exterior.
My mind drifted back to the conversation I’d had about her a few days earlier.
That call earlier in the week had turned out to be a false alarm, and we headed over to Keegan’s for some downtime, as planned. Admittedly, ulterior motives had factored into my decision to go.
Over cards and darts, Keegan told us Ben was very appreciative of our participation in the calendar shoot and what it could mean for their operation. He spoke candidly about the financial burdens facing the shelter. The place was barely staying afloat. The only reason they were still operating was because of Ella and her exceptional money management skills.
Apparently, she wasn’t a vet tech, like I’d originally thought. She managed the business side of the operation.
My subtle attempts to pry more information about my current preoccupation had been only marginally successful. Not because Keegan was being tight-lipped, but because he didn’t know. Ella had shown up one day with the Help Wanted ad in hand and was practically hired on the spot. According to Ben, she kept to herself, was a magician with a budget, worked her ass off, and loved animals.
I wanted to know more. Like, Where did she come from? What brought her to Cecilton? Does she have anyone in her life looking out for her? When did she last have a decent meal or a good night’s sleep? Why was she the only one in the shelter at night?
“I’ll send one of the EMTs over,” Joe said.
“ Not Chas.”
Joe smirked. “Jonah?”
I nodded. Jonah was older and happily married with adult kids. He’d do just fine.
The storm had tapered into a light, persistent drizzle by the time Cap gave the all clear.
Some of my crewmates were rolling up hoses near the shelter’s entry. We’d been on scene for a little over an hour, battling smoke that had seeped through hollow walls and pockets of electrical sparks. Thankfully, the fire hadn’t gotten out of hand—just a few singed wires and some scorched wall panels in the basement. It could have been a lot worse.
My attention kept drifting back to Ella. She wasn’t in the back of the rescue vehicle anymore. I didn’t know where she’d wandered off to, but I guessed she was wherever the animals were.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d looked when I’d arrived on scene. Soaked to the bone, hair plastered against her cheeks, body trembling. And yet she’d refused medical evaluation.
Maybe it was nothing more than exhaustion and adrenaline. Still, the way she hadn’t seemed to hear me calling her name until I practically yelled in her face nagged at me. It could have been the chaos of a fire scene or a case of mild shock. My gut told me it was neither of those.
“Hey, Dom,” Keegan called, hauling a coil of hose over his shoulder. “We’re about done here. You good to go?”
I shot a glance at the big red engine waiting by the curb, along with the mobile rescue unit. The guys were putting everything back in place, neat and tidy.
“Just about. I need to check on something first.”
He grinned knowingly, his hand coming down on my shoulder. “No problem.”
I managed a half smile and made my way back to the outside kennel, where I knew I’d find Ella. Now that everything was under control, the fire investigator was snapping photos for documentation, cause analysis, and damage assessments. Some local press photographers were milling about as well, hoping to get a scoop.
Par for the course. Fires were always big news. And at an animal shelter? High pathos factor there.
Sure enough, Ella was out back with the animals. She was sitting under the covered area, leaning against the wall, surrounded by wet, furry bodies. Daisy was on a blanket next to her, the Lab’s head resting comfortably in Ella’s lap while Ella stroked her ears.
Ben was off to the side, talking to someone—probably an insurance investigator—and offered a head nod when he saw me.
Movement beyond the fenced-in area had me looking over that way. I caught the reflective glare of camera equipment through the hedges that kept the outer runs from public view. I wasn’t the only one who noticed the lurker.
“Hey,” Ben called out. “This is a private area. There’s nothing to see here. Go on now.”
Ella’s head snapped up, and for a second, I swore I saw fear ghost over her face. Then she blinked, jaw tightening, and turned away. The moment she saw me standing there, her features relaxed a little, and my chest swelled.
“Coming to check on me?” she asked with a small smile.
“Maybe,” I said, stepping up so my body blocked the camera angle. “How are you?”
“Better, thanks,” she replied vaguely.
I didn’t buy it, but what could I do?
“And Daisy? How’s she doing?”
“Ben says she’s good. Are you guys done here?”
“Just about,” I confirmed. “The building’s stable. Power’s cut to that old wing. A crew will check for damaged wiring. My guess is minimal structural damage, all things considered. We set up some fans to suck out the smoke, but the smell will linger for a few days. ”
She nodded, visibly relieved, but that tension in her jaw never eased. “I appreciate what you did tonight. I don’t think I could’ve lifted Daisy on my own. Thank you.”
I found myself wanting to reassure her, maybe even tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She wasn’t ready for that yet. I wasn’t sure I was either. This was new territory for me. The strength of the pull I felt around this woman wasn’t something I’d ever felt before.
“It is kind of what we do,” I answered, offering a small smile. “Oh, and the captain says the shelter can stay operational if the main area’s safe. So, that’s good news, right?”
“It is,” she agreed. “I don’t know what we would do otherwise.”
Silence hung in the air between us. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn’t seem to make myself walk away, not with Ella sitting outside in the damp, chilly air. Even surrounded as she was with warm, furry bodies, she couldn’t have been comfortable.
“You could probably head inside now,” I suggested.
Her eyes flicked back toward the hedges. A brief check confirmed that at least one of the photographers was still skulking around despite Ben’s directive to leave. Ella shifted away, turning her back to him.
“Are they still taking pictures inside?” she asked.
“They were when I came through a few minutes ago, but I can’t imagine they’ll be there much longer.”
“Then I’ll stay out here for a while yet.”
Was she worried that she’d get in the way? Or was there more to it than that? Or maybe I was overthinking things, looking for a reason to hang around.
“Hey,” I said softly. “You sure you’re okay?”
Her gaze lifted to mine. For a moment, she looked like she might say something else—something important. Then she swallowed, dropped her gaze, and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “I’m fine. Really.”
My gut clenched. She wasn’t being completely honest with me. She didn’t trust me, and I got that. Especially if she’d heard some of the rumors about me and my exploits—both of which left me feeling more ashamed than boastful these days.
Regardless, I wouldn’t push the issue. For her, I would be patient. Something told me she was worth it.
“Okay. I’ll let you rest.” Still, I hesitated. “Hey, do you have a phone?”
She reached for her pocket and stopped. “Oh. It’s probably still in the basement.”
Right. Because she’d dropped it while throwing caution to the wind and trying to shut down a malfunctioning, sparking breaker box. I got that she’d done so with good intentions, but the thought of her putting herself in danger bothered me at a core level.
“How’s your memory?”
She blinked. “Pretty good. Why?”
I rattled off my digits. “That’s my personal number. If you need anything, let me know.”
Then I took off before she could respond. Would she call? Probably not. But I hoped she would.
The next day, I made it over to Mama C’s earlier than usual, hoping for a distraction. Images of Ella wet and shivering were on a constant replay loop in my head. It was all I could do to keep myself from heading over there and seeing for myself that she was okay. Then again, it was Sunday. Maybe she wasn’t even there.
I wondered where she lived. What she did in her off time. Who she did it with.
Yeah, I had it bad. As I’d mentioned, this was a new thing for me, this interest bordering on obsession. I needed to know more.
My siblings had gone through something similar. Nick had spent hours in our nonno’s bookshop, just to get a glimpse of Kat. Vinnie had ended every shift at the diner when he knew Haven was working. And Paulie had been an absolute wreck when he believed his Allison was returning to Boston. My sisters hadn’t been any better with their now husbands, but they were less obvious about it.
Dare I hope that my obsession with Ella meant that she was the one I had been looking for? Or was my subconscious simply manifesting Nonno’s vague comment because I wanted it so badly to be true?
The scents of fresh garlic, tomato, and basil wrapped around me as I entered the kitchen, making me feel instantly at home. I greeted my parents, along with the dozen or so next gens earning a paycheck. I remembered those days. Sweating over the sink. Bussing tables. Scrubbing pots and pans until they shone. Every kid in our famiglia paid his or her dues by working in the restaurant at one time or another. One thing I would say about my family: they taught us the value of working hard for what we wanted early on.
“You’re early,” mia mamma said, waving me down for the obligatory kiss on the cheek. “What’s wrong?”
I laughed. “Nothing’s wrong, Mamma. Lucia said she’d have the proofs from the shoot today.”
“She and your sister are in the back.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Since when do you care about proofs?”
She must have seen something on my face because hers split into a wide smile. “Your nonno, he was right, wasn’t he? You met someone!”
I didn’t even think about lying to my mother. She had an uncanny knack for knowing when we did.
“I did meet someone,” I said carefully, “but I don’t know if it’s going to amount to anything.”
“Your eyes tell me different. You like this girl.”
“I barely know her,” I protested.
“So, bring her to dinner. Introduce her to Nonno. We’ll tell you if she’s the one you’ve been waiting for.”
“We’ll see. Don’t get your hopes up though.”
“Bah,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “ Il destino will decide, not you. Now go. I’ve got a lot to do before dinner.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. The woman was prescient. Like my grandfather, she had a gift for spotting soul mates. The fact that she had seemed so optimistic that I’d found mine buoyed my mood. I was up for the challenge.
I found my cousin Lucia in the break room, staring at a laptop. My youngest sister, Gina, was hovering over her shoulder.
Lucia beckoned me over, her eyes lighting up with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “Dom! We heard about the fire at the shelter. How bad was it?”
I slid into a chair. “Not as bad as it could have been. Thankfully, there was more smoke than actual fire. We contained it quickly.”
“The highlights that popped up in my browser this morning were scarce on the details. Any idea what started it?”
I’d scanned the online highlights myself. Lucia was right; there wasn’t much in the way of information. I’d been more interested in the on-scene photos—or more accurately, if Ella had been captured in any of them. She had. There was one of her sleeping in the rescue vehicle and one of her sitting outside later. Both images had been taken from a distance and were hard to make out due to the rain, smoke, fog, and shadows created by the lights of strobing emergency vehicles. The only reason I had known it was her was because I recognized myself near her both times.
“Cap thinks it was a short in the wiring.”
“What about the dogs? They’re okay, right?”
“They’re all fine. There was someone there when it started. She managed to call it in and get the animals to safety.”
Gina let out a low whistle. “ I can’t even imagine how scary that must have been.”
My chest tightened as I thought of Ella, soaked from the storm, racing back into the smoke to rescue that Lab.
“How bad was the damage?”
“They’ll need some repairs and a complete electrical overhaul in the older section. It won’t be cheap.”
Lucia turned her laptop so I could see the screen. “Well, this is going to help. These are the proofs from the shoot. They’re even better than I hoped. Especially those shots with you and the puppy. Women are going to be lining up at your door. You might become the most eligible bachelor in Cecilton when it comes out—if you’re not already, that is,” she added with a wink.
Yeah, that was the last thing I needed. More unsolicited female attention. Although I supposed that by doing the calendar, I was kind of soliciting for it, wasn’t I?
“Please,” Gina said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be telling him things like that. His head can barely fit through the door as it is.”
The gibe landed softly. Gina was one of the few who knew I didn’t wholly embrace the playboy persona. When that whole saving the cat thing had happened, Gina was the one who had come by my place with food, hung out with me, and kept the she-wolves at bay until I was put back on rotation.
Lucia smirked. “Mmhmm. Well, it’s not a bad thing. The shelter needs donations now more than ever. We’ll get these into production ASAP. If they can ride the wave of press coverage, it’ll bring in more funds.”
“And while Lucia’s working the calendar angle,” Gina said, her eyes glittering with excitement, “I was thinking I’d offer to do something with the shelter’s website, you know? Have you seen it? It’s tragic. I’ve already got ideas that will appeal to visitors and get them to open their hearts as well as their wallets.”
And that right there was why Gina was my favorite sister, though I’d deny it in front of Sofia. “I think that’s a great idea,” I told her. “In fact, I was going to mention something along those lines to you today.”
“Great minds,” she said with a grin. “I’m thinking tons of puppy pictures, behind-the-scenes videos, staff interviews.”
Lucia nodded. “Count me in! People love a personal angle. If we can show the staff’s dedication, it’ll tug heartstrings—especially if we highlight a few of the animals’ rescue stories.”
“And of course, we’ll put the charity calendar right there on the home page with a great big Donate button.”
As Lucia and Gina lobbed ideas back and forth, an image of Ella’s panicked face flashed through my mind. Of how she had flinched at the reporters and their cameras. Something told me she might not be thrilled about the personal angle. But the shelter definitely needed the help.
Lucia, oblivious to my thoughts, tapped her chin. “We have to feature the woman who saved the animals too! What’s her name?”
“Ella,” I said without thinking.
“Ella,” Lucia hummed, looking thoughtful. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Was she at the shoot?”
I nodded. “Yes, but she stayed in the background.”
Lucia snapped her fingers. “The petite brunette you kept looking at? Oh, she’s perfect.”
“Wait,” Gina said, looking between me and our cousin. “What’s this now?”
Lucia tapped her screen, then turned her laptop toward my sister and grinned like the Cheshire cat. “See that look on his face? He’s looking at her .”
Gina sucked in a breath. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, even as I leaned forward to see the image. Lucia had captured me in a completely unguarded moment, staring off at something off camera. The moment I saw the image, I understood Gina’s reaction. My focus was absolute. My expression, a potent combination of abject longing and determination.
“Nonno was right,” Gina breathed. “He said you were going to meet your true love at the photo shoot.”
“Calm down,” I said with a casualness I didn’t feel. Inside, my heart was hammering, and my blood was pumping. “He said I might meet someone. I barely know her. But I got the impression that she’s the kind of person who shies away from the spotlight.”
“She cares about the animals enough to risk her own safety to rescue them,” Lucia argued. “She might be willing to take one for the team. People will go nuts over it, and let’s face it—the place needs the boost.”
“Well, we won’t know unless we ask,” Gina said, shooting a glance my way. “Let’s head over tomorrow and see what they think. If they’re on board, we’ll get a few test shots and take it from there.”
I hesitated, mentally picturing Ella’s reaction if Lucia and Gina tag-teamed her with this. I loved them both, but they could come on a little strong. The women in mia famiglia weren’t known for being quiet and demure.
Would Ella shy away like she had last night? Or would she embrace the idea? Either way, I felt like I needed to be there to run interference if necessary.
Finally, I said, “All right. I’m coming too.”
“Why?” Lucia asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Let’s just say, I’m going along to make sure you two don’t steamroller her into doing something she’s not comfortable with.”
Gina’s eyes widened. “Wow. You really do have a thing for her, don’t you?”
A thing? Yeah. But as of that moment, I had yet to identify what that thing was. I worried that Nonno’s prophecy was clouding my judgment because I wanted it to be true.
“Have you asked her out yet?” Gina asked as her gaze turned calculating.
“No.”
“Why not?”
I shifted uncomfortably. I didn’t have to answer because Gina looked into my eyes and did it for me.
“You don’t think she’ll say yes, do you?” Gina asked softly.
“That would be a first,” Lucia murmured. “Maybe she really is the one for you.”
Was she? I didn’t know. I knew only that she commanded my thoughts like no one else ever had, and she had from the moment I first saw her.
Last night’s events hadn’t done anything to lessen the hold either. Ella’s bravery, her determination to save the animals, her refusal to get treatment, the way she’d flinched from cameras, how she’d vanished from the scene as soon as the press inched closer—they only strengthened my need for more.
“Anyway,” Lucia said, shutting her laptop, “I see others arriving for dinner. Let’s pick this up at the shelter tomorrow, shall we?”
“What, are you just planning on showing up there?” I asked. “Shouldn’t we call first?”
Lucia laughed. “Haven’t you ever heard that it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission?”