“I know I don’t need to, but I’m going to.” Turning on the water, he rinsed his hands before reaching for the soap and giving her a stern look. “Unless you’re going to kick me out.”
“Of course, I’m not! But you need to work and shouldn’t have to go to this much trouble—”
Rather than listening to her continued protests, Mitch rinsed off his hands and reached out to snag her around the waist, pulling her in for a kiss and effectively shutting her up. Domi made an aggravated noise against his lips, but after a long moment, she relented, softening against him. Under other circumstances, his cock might have perked up, but his body knew this wasn’t the time.
When he finally released her, he raised one eyebrow.
“I’m here to stay, Domi.” He meant it in so many ways. This was her family, and she’d invited him to meet them. Was this how any of them would have chosen to get to know each other? Probably not, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to walk away when he could not only be useful but was somewhat necessary.
Domi stared up at him for a long moment.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” A stupid grin lifted his lips. “Now get your cute ass back to your daughter while I make lunch.”
“No, Julia’s got her. I’ll help you with lunch,” Domi contradicted. “I know my way around this kitchen, and you don’t.”
“Works for me.” He stole another kiss, then relinquished his spot at the sink so she could wash her hands.
“Why are you smiling like that?” she asked curiously as she turned on the water.
“What? Can’t a guy just enjoy spending time with his girlfriend and her vomiting family?”
“Yeah, the vomiting part is what makes the enjoyment a little weird,” she teased.
“Probably. But compared to the ER...” He shrugged. “Plus, you’re here, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” The craziest part was it was true. Giving her another wink, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, so he could call work.
Domi
She and Mitch had ended up sleeping over at Marcus’ that night. Rae stopped by with dinner, asopao de andules and asopao de pollo, from their favorite Puerto Rican place, though she refused to actually come into the ‘plague house.’ That was probably for the best. Domi was already a little worried about her and Mitch getting sick after this.
Stopping by her house to pick up some clothes and her laptop so she could work, she went back to Mitch’s with him after only a tiny bit of coaxing. After all, she didn’t want to get Rae sick, and Ana was staying at Marcus and Julia’s for a few more days. The bug had lasted about twenty-four hours, though they’d gotten through the worst of it in the first twelve. None of them were feeling back to one hundred percent, but Marcus had insisted they go home and get some rest. Domi had eventually caved.
She was exhausted but happy.
“Now that I’ve met your family, want to meet mine?” he asked, clearing his throat as they got out of the car. They’d driven in silence, both of them too tired to make conversation. “I mean, officially. My mom’s going to be mad my dad met you first.”
“Oh, is that the only reason you’re going to introduce us?” she teased, pulling her overnight bag over her shoulder. Mitch grinned at her.
“Distract my mom from the fact that my dad met you first by bringing you home with me for Passover? That’s not an insignificant reason.”
“Passover?” she asked curiously, wracking her brain. It took a moment to pinpoint the memory. “I didn’t realize you were Jewish.” Not that it mattered. It didn’t change a thing about him, though her mom might be disappointed she hadn’t found a nice Catholic boy. Though probably not since she’d already ‘met’ Mitch and liked him just fine.
“My mom is, but my dad’s Catholic.” Mitch came up alongside her, and their fingers entwined as they walked toward the house together. So half-Catholic. Her mom would like that. “None of us are really what I’d call ‘practicing,’ but we do the holidays. Passover is one of the bigger ones.”
“I’d love to go,” Domi said. A little flutter of nerves was already tingling in her stomach, but she would get over them. “Will I need to bring anything? Do anything special?”
“Just be yourself and tolerate my mom’s burning desire for grandchildren.” Mitch paused for a moment when they reached the door before putting his key in the lock. “Oooh, do you think we could bring Ana?”
Domi burst out laughing.
“I’m not kidding,” he said, opening the door, blue eyes sparkling merrily. “We can use her to distract my mom from both of us.”
“I’ll see what Marcus and Julia have to say about it,” she said, grinning. She doubted they’d say no, especially after the past day. Times of crisis could make people into a unit faster than regular times, which had definitely been proven true.
Having Mitch at Marcus and Julia’s to help and support her… he’d made everything easier by his mere presence. Also, she didn’t think Marcus would have let her help him shower, and he had started to really stink by the evening.
Flopping on Mitch’s bed, Domi let out a long sigh. It really was a comfortable bed, even if it wasn’t hers. Turning her head, she looked at him standing in the door, watching her with an amused expression.
“Thank you… for everything,” she said. He’d called out for two days of work, switching shifts with other nurses so he could stay with her to take care of her family. “I really appreciate it.”
“Oh, yeah?” A slightly wicked grin curved his lips, sending tingles sweeping through her body. She’d have thought she was too tired, but apparently, she was wrong. “Think you’re up to showing me how much you appreciate it?” The question was made with plenty of seductive heat
