Page 62 of Dominance

“Except they’re not, most of them.”

“And why areyoubeing so nice all of a sudden?”

“When was I not nice?”

“When were you home or at the office or anywhere near me this week to be nice or not?”

“So the absence of me equals the absence of nice?” He smirks. “It wasn’t exactly my choice. And I figured you’d want time to?—”

“Think about how I don’t like being told what to do with my time?”

Adriano gives me a look, somewhere between surprise and amusement. “That was…”

“Not nice?”

As if on cue, we both burst out laughing, breaking the tension.

Then, to top it off, he reaches over as he looks back at the road, resting his hand on mine, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Parking is always a disaster in the city, but Adriano, and being with him…

He makes it look easy.

Inside, the place is an explosion of fabric, flowers, samples, mannequins in bridesmaid dresses. Basically, the most overwhelming shop I possibly could have picked.

Instant. Stress.

“So, this is the place?” Adri muses.

“I really just picked the first place I could find online near our apartment that had good reviews.”

“Solid thought process.”

“Thanks, it’s a talent of mine, waiting until the last minute and?—”

“Pulling out a miracle?”

“How’d you know?”

“Careful deduction.”

“Well, Sherlock, what does your deduction tell you I’m thinking now?”

“That you’d rather run screaming out the door and go get ice cream?”

“Damn. You’re good.”

“And you’re going to be fine. This place has that New York charm. Let’s just see what the lady…”

“Peggy,” a loud, gum smacking, nasal voice interrupts. “Come on, let’s get this over with, huh?”

She’s like someone out of a bad TV show. Leopard print tights, pink high heels, and hair halfway to the ceiling. Her desk is a disaster, scattered with photos, albums, swatches.

Adriano side-eyes me as he falls in behind the woman, mocking her put-out expression.

“Sit down and tell me how many people, where, etc.”

“Um, sorry, but your last name wouldn’t happen to be Bundy, would it?” Adriano asks offhandedly.

“No. Monagan. Why?”

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