Page 55 of Sweets and Sycamores
This would be a great opportunity for her to test the waters. There was no reason for her to lie about her tattoo, so she resumed dancing as she came up with a strategy to check if Dominic had even the slightest interest in her. Allie had nothing to lose since she’d already decided to tell him she could be leaving the town early. And if this was one-sided, she would stomp on her crush before it grew into something else.
She inched closer to him and tilted her head up to whisper in his ear.
“I have…more than one.” She stepped back, but Dominic’s hands gripped her waist harder, keeping her in place. This time, he stopped their slow dance, his emerald eyes scanning her body up and down, as if he was searching for the tattoos. The music came to a crescendo, signaling that the end of the song was near. His jaw clenched so hard that Allie feared it would snap.
But then he pulled her against him in a swift movement and bent her back at the waist on the last notes of the melody. Her curls fell back, leaving her neck exposed, and Dominic leaned over her until his lips breathed hot air on the skin of her neck.
“I’d like to see them.”
Chapter 21
WE’RE…COMFORTABLE
If Dominic hadn’t been holding her, Allie would have slumped to the floor from the shock of his reply. While the words were innocent, she could have sworn his tone had a flirty flavor, but the music had been too loud over his voice. It was also possible he had an artistic curiosity about tattoos, given that he had one, or more, not that Allie knew or ever thought about what hid under Dominic’s clothes.
Three days later, she was still spiraling over his words.
“I’d like to see them.”
After their eventful dance, Tina and Harper had asked them to bring the cake out. Allie had stumbled on the way to the van twice and told Dominic she felt a bit dizzy from the wine—lie, she only had one glass—so Brandon or someone else should help him. She wanted to protect the cake from her clumsiness, which she had, but her dragon made up for her lack of destruction. Ekko had stolen a piece of cake and flew away with it, smudging chocolate all over his snout and his white bowtie.
Dominic had seemed unfazed by her not helping with the cake.
In fact, he'd acted normal for the past three days, too. If Dominic’s words held more meaning, he would have saidsomething by now. Her feelings were silly in the first place, given her limited time in Sycamore Falls. Limited time with him. Likely Dom knew better than her, knew better than to get attached to someone who was leaving sooner or later.
Sooner. Sooner would be good. The distance would allow her to forget about any fluttering feelings blossoming for her Mage boss. Not only that, but it would give Dominic his peace back.
Allie struggled to ignore all the gossip and whispers she’d caught wind of during the wedding.
“Why did Dominic dance with her?”
“Why did Brandon dance with her?”
“Out of pity, of course, but were they safe? Should we have done something about it?”
“Why did they allow her to attend the wedding?”
It would not be the first nor the last time Allie heard words like these. They hurt, but she had grown thick skin and trained herself to overlook them. What didn’t sit well with her was all of these people pestering Dominic for the remainder of the event. Was he fine? Did he need anything? Maybe this or that person should help him at the bakery while he looked for permanent help. While he still had a bakery.
If Allie left, it would get the townspeople off Dominic’s case, and they would cease with the surprised looks they tossed his way when they found the bakery still standing.
Today. She would tell him today. This way, she had a couple of days before the weekend to make travel plans and leave everything in order at Dom’s Sweets.
They were getting ready to close for the day, Dominic packaging the unsold inventory to take over to Mia’s for today’s toddler story time at the book shop. Allie wished that at least once she could have gone with him on one of these volunteer deliveries, but she didn’t want to take away from people’senjoyment and Dominic’s kindness. Which seemed to happen every time she breathed.
“I’ll be right back,” her boss muttered, running out the door holding two boxes in his muscular arms.
They’re just arms, Allie.
Today he wore his standard black T-shirt, dark jeans, and boots, and she’d chanced fugitive looks at the tree tattoo on his arm that was a work of art. The tattoo, that was.
He rushed back in, since he’d left in just his T-shirt, cold clinging to his body and clothes. Dominic rubbed his hands and headed to the back, passing by her.
“Dominic.” Allie’s voice made him stop. “Can I talk to you?” He turned on his heels and his eyes narrowed to slits, as if he wanted to determine if this was serious, or if she just wanted to eat an extra cupcake. But Allie schooled her features into something serious—or so she hoped.
“Sure.” Dominic pointed to the table closest to them and took a seat. She sat down facing him and clasped her hands on the table, holding his gaze. She was reminded of the first time they sat here like this, coincidentally at the same table, on her first day in Sycamore Falls. When they had tea, and he’d agreed to let her stay.
Allie had done her fair share of overthinking since the wedding about how this conversation was going to go. She remembered all the times she had tried to thank him and Dominic cut her off, so she decided to save that for the end and start boldly. Overthinking about it did not make it easier, though. Unfair. Allie took a deep breath and exhaled the words.
