Page 10 of It Started With a Scarf

"No, I mean a wife."

"Uh, no, I don't. I do not have a wife." Dominic thought about the women he had dated in the past, and he realized that none of them had anywhere close to the spark in their eyes as this woman did. He wanted to talk to her forever. He was so engaged in her eyes and in their conversation that he hadn't even seen a guy approach their table.

"Oh, hey!" she said to him as she turned that way.

Her profile.

Even her profile was beautiful.

"I didn't see you over here," the guy said.

"I was just sitting here for one second while I was waiting for you. There was barely any room at the bar. You guys are busy. This gentleman was nice enough to keep me company." While she was talking, she stepped off of the stool and gathered her things. And just like that, she smiled at the other guy and said, "Are you ready?"

"I’m ready when you are," he said with a shrug. "Sorry for making you wait."

"I'm Dominic," Dominic said. He held his hand out, and she shook it clumsily since her hands were full.

"They should have taken these things for you at coat check," Tom said, taking her attention.

"I wanted to hold them," she said to him. She turned promptly to Dominic with a smile. "Hello, Dominic. Thanks for the chair and for the good conversation. I'm Marley (a smile) with the scarf."

"Hey, Marley."

"Hey." Her smile broadened. "Take care, Dominic."

"Okay," he said dumbly.

"Are they taking care of you, Mr. Decker?" Tom asked. But just as he said it Dominic's server walked up to them. Tom gave the server a knowing glance and took off with Marley.

They walked across the crowded room together.

She didn't even glance back at him.

Chapter 3

Dominic

Nearly a week later

"I know you're needed in Chicago, but when are you coming home?" Dominic's assistant asked from over the phone. Blake was her name. She was his little sister's friend from Chicago. She had wanted to move to Milwaukee to be near a guy, so his sister, Lila, asked if Blake could have a job at his gym. Dominic brought her on as a personal assistant even though he felt confident managing his own affairs. She was part-time, but she was good, and Dominic was about to offer her a full-time position since there were so many other things to be done at the gym.

"I'll probably come back sometime in the next few days. Why, is everything all right?"

"Yeah, it's just that people like it when you're around. The Brewers are finished in the playoffs, and several of the guys have been coming around more. Britt was telling me that Jacob and Smitty were asking about you today. People like it when you're there. They look for you. They want your approval."

"Thank you, I take that as a compliment, and yes, I'll be home soon. What about Ty? Is he doing all right?"

"Yeah, everybody loves him. Britt's helping him get settled. I canceled that lunch you were supposed to have with Abe tomorrow."

"Thank you. Sorry about that. I'll be back before long. I'm helping EJ with some things at the gym here. He's got that new guy, Stef, from California, and he's training a couple of others."

"I know, and I know you're busy. No pressure, we just miss you. How's Chicago other than helping your brother? How was your dad's thing, and the baseball games?"

"I only went to one game, but it was good. Cubs won two out of three. I’m sure you heard talk about it at the gym"

"Yeah."

"Dad had that thing with the Bears, too."

---