Tessa Bailey

I’m going to feed you before I introduce you to God.

When I start to pull the dress over my head, he stops me. “Leave it. I’m going to make you come in that dress. Then I’m going to fucking burn it.”

“Sit up. I’m about to banish the word coffee from your vocabulary.”
I prop myself against the pillow and take the offered cup. “Never going to happen. When I die, I want my ashes sprinkled over a Starbucks.”

“Let’s go home, then.”
“Where’s home?” I ask, laying my head on his shoulder.
“Wherever you are, girl.”

We haven’t skated in years.” She wobbled and righted herself. “How dare you look so good doing this.”
With a snort, he caught Rosie around the waist and tucked her into his side. “I look good? Honey girl, I was just thanking God I’m the only man here.” He shook his head. “Christ, you’re the most beautiful woman on earth.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, swallowing through a veritable heat flash. “Last time, my father was here watching us, remember?”
“Remember?” he returned drily. “I was innocently trying to keep you upright and he thought I was copping a feel.”
“Innocently.” She raised an eyebrow. “Sure.”
He winked. “Come on, now. I was the perfect gentleman.”
Rosie hummed, letting Dominic turn her in a circle on the ice. “My father called you Octopus Hands for a year.”
Dominic’s head tipped back on a laugh. “He did, didn’t he?”
“Yes. And it was well earned.” They skated in the direction of the water, and the sounds were so soothing. The breeze, blades on ice, her husband’s voice. “He was wary of you right up until the day of the snowstorm.”
He shivered and squeezed her closer. “Don’t remind me.”
She ignored his gruff request. “Sophomore year, wasn’t it? They dismissed school early because of the blizzard and I never made it home. The snow was too thick to see my hand in front of my face. I had to wait it out in the pharmacy, but the power lines were down so I couldn’t call anyone.” Rosie tugged him to a stop at the wall of the rink and cuddled into his warmth. “You searched for me for hours. Almost gave yourself hypothermia.”
“Found you, though, didn’t I?” Dominic said quietly, cradling her cheeks and sinking toward her for a kiss. “I’d still be looking if I hadn’t. I’d look forever. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She slid her hands into his coat and settled them on his stomach, fingertips tucking into his waistband. “You’ll always love and protect me. Through everything, I never lost faith in that. Not for a second.”

“If I’m not doing that, I’m doing nothing. I’ve been doing nothing.” Rosie laid her ice-cold hands on the sides of her face. For the past week, she’d been feeling apprehensive, positive things were moving forward too easily with her and Dominic. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Was this why? “Oh my God.”
“That’s enough of this,” Dominic ground out, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Stop upsetting her.”

She didn’t even know which part of her was in command. Her head, her heart, her lady business. Or maybe they all were, three bitches hitting the switches of her control panel.

You want to dance some more, or can I bring you home?”

“Where is home?”

“With me.”

“Mmmm.”

He made a sound in his throat, leaned in a little closer. “I know they don’t require a picture to keep your account active. This was about making you smile, not me.” His gaze fell to her mouth, taking its time finding her eyes again. “Well worth it.” With that, he set down the drill and pinned his crew with a look. “Back to work.”

I can be in a room full of people that I know and still not feel like I belong.”