Page 173 of Love Among the Ruins
But if Sven was here it meant …
Immediately she looked around, her heart pulsating at a memory recalled. On a hot summer’s evening, filled with people and laughter, a shiver passed over her.
Dominic would not be far away.
“What’s the matter now?” Stefanos asked.
“I thought ... I … saw someone.” She turned towards the bodyguard again, but he had disappeared. She was seeing things. Holding her head in her hands she took a deep breath. She was a hot mess.
“Eleni?”
She felt him long before she heard him. Goose bumps scampered across her skin. A tingling started in her belly. Her sixth sense alerting her. She didn’t need to lift her head or look up.
Dominic’s hand touched her arm gently, sending a ripple of charge through her skin, enough to make her heart jolt, even as her mind filled with all manner of thoughts.
“Dominic!” A loud crash followed. Miranda crashed onto the bench alongside her, knocking an empty cocktail pitcher over.
“Miranda.” Dominic’s voice was level. “This is a surprise.”
“What are you doing here?” Stefanos asked him, sounding as shocked as Eleni felt. His questioning gaze burned into her.
“Don’t look at me, I don’t know what he’s doing here.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Dominic. She still couldn’t believe he was here, turning up most unexpectedly. She’d come here to get away from this man, and this—him being here—was abnormal. Stalker-ish.
“You are the most handsome looking man I have ever worked for,” gushed Miranda. “You’re so—”
Eleni grabbed Miranda’s hand. “Stop talking.” Miranda freed her hand away, standing up shakily. Her face was flushed. “But ... I want to tell him. I neeeed to tell him.”
“Oh, Jesus.” Beside her, Dominic facepalmed.
“Why don’t you and Miranda go inside and dance?” Eleni suggested, deciding to have some fun.
“Dom will you come?” Miranda squealed.
Dominic’s face twisted. “Don’t call me that.”
“But will you”
“Yes, Dom, why don’t you?” Eleni suggested. Under the veil of darkness illuminated by lights, Dominic’s face shimmered.
“I don’t dance.”
Miranda collapsed onto the bench again in disappointment.
“Miranda will be happy to show you,” Eleni insisted, enjoying watching Dominic squirm.
“I so will!” Miranda sprang up like a Jack-in-the-Box. “This is already one of the best nights of my life!”
Eleni winced, feeling uneasy. As much as she enjoyed making Dominic uncomfortable, she didn’t want to do it at Miranda’s expense. Her friend would be most upset when she sobered up.
“We need to talk,” Dominic said, staring at Eleni.
“We can talk any time you want, Dom,” Miranda chimed in. “I’m all ears, I always have been.Always.”
“For the love of God.” Dominic wiped his hand over his face, before bending down and putting his face level with Eleni’s. He put his hand over hers. “Please. It’s important.”
Electricity sparked at their touch, and she yanked her hand away. Her head felt light and now that she knew she wasn’t seeing things—now that Dominic was here in the flesh, for real. Her mind calculated that he’d sought her out for a reason. She stood up, then wobbled as if her legs were boneless. She’d had too many shots, too quickly, and on top of cocktails. This was the second time she was in such an inebriated state with Dominic around.
Why did this always happen?
