Our gazes lock and I can barely contain my smile.
She chooses to move her attention to Aaron, ignoring me altogether.
Goddammit!
“Holy shit. What happened to Dom?” Aaron asks.
“That’s her natural hair color,” I offer.
“I remember, but it seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“It’s not only the hair… there’s something about her…” he lets his words trail. “Wow. She’s all grown up.”
“She’s twenty-five. She’s been grown up a long time now.” The defensiveness in my tone is unmistakable.
“Down, boy,” he says. “It was meant as a compliment.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?”
I roll my eyes at him.
CHAPTER 10
Dominika
As usual, Aaron’s mom hugged the living daylights out of me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a sweet woman, it’s just that a year after Aaron graduated, she’s still thanking me. No matter how many times I downplay it, she won’t hear of it. I was born in Austria, but I grew up in Budapest before coming to LA. Math is a big deal there. I guess I take it for granted.
Aaron’s going away party is well attended. It’s no wonder. So many guests have been there to support him throughout his difficult journey. I’m so proud of him. It’s amazing to see him stepping into his new life. Although there are people everywhere, I catch a glimpse of a familiar face in the crowd causing my next step to falter. I knew Rod had already arrived because he texted me to find out if I was on my way. So why is my heart beating like thunder? And how the hell do I fan down this pulse of heat to my cheeks?
Dear God, is it possible to have permanent heart palpitations from a simple kiss?
I wait for an answer, but clearly, God is busy elsewhere.
Figures.
My teeth dig into my bottom lip as I take him in. Rod lives in jeans and t-shirts. Even dressed down, it’s impossible to remain oblivious to his good looks and well-defined body. When he dresses-up, the bad boy takes a backseat to the debonair man. Like now. One can almost forget there’s an inked Adonis beneath the elegance. His tall and muscular body is adorned in a pair of slim pants, a fitted suit jacket and a shirt. The head-to-toe black look intensifies his mesmerizing dark brown eyes.
Then there are the shoes.
The classic Gaziano & Girling Cambridge oxfords are straight from 57th Street in New York––a far cry from the poor boy who used to have holes in his cheap shoes.
Hmmm.
I force my eyes to pull up to his face, but I get distracted. My gaze is glued to his chest––just hairy enough to make him manly. It’s amazing how a few undone buttons can conjure so many improper thoughts. As I continue my inspection, I can’t help but approve of the new tight beard.
God, you’re gorgeous.
I do my best to avoid focusing on his lips because if I do, it’ll only bring me back to yesterday’s kiss and how his mouth thoroughly claimed mine. I can’t allow myself to slip back into that fantasy.
“Dom!” Aaron waves me over.
“You’ve been summoned,” Claire says.
“Looks like it,” I do my best to keep it light, praying to God she doesn’t hear the tremor of nervousness in my voice.
