“I got some bad news today…or yesterday… what time is it?” I looked towards the clock on my wall but couldn’t quite make out the time. “Anyway, I was upset.”
Morgan was silent for a while, probably absorbing my lame ass reason and trying to make the connection between being upset and putting myself in danger. He’s always been extremely practical, my brother. All this excess emotion was probably wigging him out.
“Bad news?” he said at last.
“Yeah. My supervisor told me that the board is most likely going to go with Danna’s project even though mine is clearly better.”
He raised himself on one elbow before twisting around to look at me. “Why? Is it because of that name thing you were saying? She’s a name?”
“She’s the name.”
“But aren’t you like…going to fix that by marrying Dom?”
I sighed because I couldn’t help it. “Might be too late.”
“Hey, don’t give up. It ain’t over till the fat lady sings and she most definitely has not done that.” He lay back down and we both turned on our backs, staring at the ceiling. When we were kids, I would sneak into his room and lie next to him and we’d both stare at the ceiling in much the same way.
“Okay, I won’t… do you…umm.”
“What?” He sounded mildly exasperated. “Spit it out.”
“Do you think Dom will still want to marry me after all this?”
He snorted. “He called you his fiancée in front of the president of a motorcycle club. I think he’s obligated.”
“Yeah, but do you think he wants to?”
Morgan was quiet for an awfully long time.
“I’ve known that man for almost twenty years, Nico. One thing I can tell you for sure; if he doesn’t want to do something, ain’t no force on this earth or heaven that could move him.”
“Nice. A stubborn man. Just what I need.” Despite my sarcastic words, I was relieved. We managed to doze off just as the sun was beginning to lighten the horizon, which meant that when my alarm went off at 7 a.m., I was grumpy as fuck. So I threw Morgan out with a blown kiss and went to get ready for work. Morgan wanted me to take the day off, but I’m not that precious.
Besides, work was safe. It’s not as if the bikers would come looking for me there.
I wasn’t even expecting them to look for a random girl like me; I was nobody special.
I shuffled more than walked as I dragged my sorry ass into the office. Jacinda, saint that she was, already had coffee percolating merrily. She’d also brought snacks!
“My mother is in town. She made the samosas,” she told me as she slid a plate my way. The food perked me up considerably and I even summoned a smile of thanks for her.
“Please tell her I love her.”
Jacinda laughed. “Will do. So who was that guy last night? I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
I stared at her in horror. “Who, Rooster? I met him last night.”
“No, not the big fat one; the tall muscular one who kinda looked like The Rock.”
I frowned in puzzlement. “Dom looks nothing like The Rock.”
She barked a laugh. “Dom? He even has a big-ass movie star guy name.”
“He’s not that big,” I mumbled quietly, amid a mouthful of samosa as I avoided her eye. Considering the breadth of his shoulders, I knew I was full of shit, but I wasn’t about to be gushing over Dom of all people.
“Besides The Rock has no hair, and Dom has those wavy black locks. Furthermore, his eyes are blue.”
“Uh-huh…” Jacinda nodded patronizingly and I could tell that she was laughing at me, but I couldn’t seem to stop my silly protestations.
“He’s my brother’s friend!”
“Okay, okay, I get it. He’s not your boyfriend and you totally don’t like him.” Jacinda snorted as she stood up to get more coffee. I opened my mouth to emphasize that yes, I absolutely did not like him like that at all, but then closed it again. Even I knew when I was protesting too much.
“So what’s on the agenda for today?” I asked instead.
She brought me a sheet outlining the alleged ingredients in a new drug. “We have to test the veracity of this. Also, someone needs to research the sourcing because they’re making some pretty outlandish claims.”
“Oh, joy. Give it here.”
We worked quietly together all morning, peacefully as Danna didn’t deign to show her face. I was pretty absorbed in my work and it wasn’t until a knock on the door had me looking up that I realized how much time had passed.
I looked to the door then at Jacinda. She shook her head. “Danna doesn’t usually wait to be asked to come in. Must be a visitor.”
I straightened up, wheeling around on my chair. “Come in,” I called. When familiar blue eyes appeared at a rather higher point than I was expecting, I felt my heart stop.
What is he doing here?
He smiled tentatively. “Hey. Sorry to spring up on you like this, but I was wondering if I might take you for lunch?”
Jacinda gave the fakest cough ever, giving me a side-eye. I knew just what she was thinking and shook my head.
“No?” Dom actually sounded disappointed. I shot to my feet.
“No! I mean yes!” I winced at myself. “Yes, I will have lunch with you.”
“Oh.” His shoulders seemed to slump in relief. “Great. So are you ready or shall I just wait out here?”
“No, I’m good.” I took my lab coat off and perched it on my seat. Grabbing my purse, I made my way to him, feeling suddenly shy. I smiled a bit and he smiled back, stepping back to let me through the door.
“Have fun!” Jacinda called perkily and I knew we would be having words when I got back.
Dom had his hand on the small of my back as he led me out of the building. We passed a few people as we walked and there were a few double-takes. Clearly,
