Page 78 of Sweets and Sycamores
“They’re putting up a canopy to create a dance floor. There will be a band, and their instruments need to be covered in case of rain.”
Allie thought about the last time she had been on the dance floor. With Dom. The flirtatious comments that transpired between them.
She only had two weeks left here, so she should be honest with him. Would it be the end of the world if Dom rejected her? Probably. But she would go back to Pearls Fields and forget about her embarrassment. With time.
The alternative, where he wouldnotreject her, made all the hypothetical pain worth it, and her stomach filled with butterflies.
It was decided, then.
Allie would tell Dom how she felt when he returned from his trip with Brandon.
Chapter 29
THIS IS HIS LIFE
Dom and Allie worked quickly and quietly to prepare the pastries and bread before her boss left with Brandon. Allie didn’t miss all the glances Dom stole at her through the silence, as she was doing some heavy glancing of her own. Dominic would be back later in the afternoon, so he decided to post a shorter schedule for Dom’s Sweets today. Allie was happy to run the place until the lunch rush hour faded, then lock up and go on her daily walk through town.
Frustration bottled up inside her with every failed attempt at finding the place cursed by the Witch. Dominic had helped her conquer her fiery power, and now it was her turn to help him, but she felt useless. There must be something she was missing. Allie had resolved to roam the unexplored parts of the town until she foundsomething. Anything.
“I’ll be back soon,” Dom said as he donned his jacket. Allie gathered the remaining pastry boxes and walked him outside to Brandon, who had been honking for the last five minutes. “What is wrong with you?”
Brandon, unsurprisingly, grinned as if this was the best day of his life.
“Just making sure you knew I was here.”
“Everyone in the damn town knows you’re here.” The men exchanged a look that Allie couldn’t translate, which ended with Brandon cackling and Dom muttering something to the gods.
“Drive safe,” she said.
Brandon thanked her and got into the driver’s seat, but Dom stood there, watching her for a long minute. He looked torn, like leaving was the last thing he wanted to do. He stood there, frozen, like the air was hard and compressed between them, and he wasn’t sure if he should take another step.
Allie took that step for him. She grabbed the lapels of his leather jacket and smoothed them over, although there was no crease in sight.
“Don’t forget to smile at the Sanders.” Allie chuckled, raising her eyes to his. Dom had his hair loose, wild strands flowing on the chill breeze around his jaw. One corner of his mouth ticked up, almost imperceptibly, as if to show her this smile. “Something like that.”
“Yeah?”
Allie nodded.
Dominic moved closer as if her nod meant more to him than just her approval of his crooked smile.
He grabbed the back of her neck and stared into her eyes. Allie read a silent question in the calm green and urged herself to sit still. Dom sighed, then leaned down and pressed a quick kiss on her forehead. His lips were soft and warm against her skin, his fingers squeezing her nape.
It was a silent promise, a wordless acceptance, a mute desire, yet all so loud and clear that Allie felt branded. If she looked into the mirror, she’d find a Dom mark in the middle of her forehead.
“I’ll be back soon,” he repeated, then jumped inside the car, leaving her wide-eyed and with her mouth open, quietly reaching for him.
“Where’s Dom?” Anna asked, as she always did, looking around the space for him. Allie had no doubt the woman had less of a sweet tooth and more of an interest in the man running the place, given the fact that she was here every day. Most times, her boss would only tip his chin at Anna, or give her a bitter “Hey.” Not more or less bitter than any other greeting Dominic offered, to be fair, but Allie noticed how Anna deflated from his lack of attention. Her crush was evident, as were Dom’s subtle replies hinting toward rejection.
“He’s away today. What can I get for you?”
“I’ll get the weekend special.” This week was raspberry cheesecake cups. “Is there…” Anna cleared her throat. “Is there something going on between you two?”
She grimaced, like the question tasted bitter and made her sick. Allie scoffed and shook her head.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“Dom is my business!” she hissed. Allie had a strong feeling her boss might disagree.
