“I’m also well.”
Before she could lock on to another avenue of small talk, Ronan stated, “I’ll be bringing my fiancée to meet you next weekend.”
“I see,” she murmured. There was a brief silence before she said, “I look forward to meeting her then.”
“Is the king around?”
“Your father is sitting next to me, listening.”
Ronan almost laughed. That was just like his father. He would sit and listen, never letting anyone know that he was there. It was an excellent way to gain the upper hand with people. Especially his son.
“I also look forward to meeting your fiancée, son. I trust that she is well-bred and of good standing.”
Ronan’s stomach turned at his father’s words. Caden Byrne spoke of a woman the same way he spoke of a horse. It was degrading, and it had always bothered Ronan. He knew that his father viewed his sister, Aisling, in much the same light. Rather than seeing his daughter for the strong, capable, and intelligent young woman that she was, Caden Byrne saw her merely as a pawn to better his own position, cement his power, or secure asuitable successor. It enraged Ronan, and there was nothing he could do to change it.
“I think you’ll find her acceptable,” Ronan stated.
“I’m sure I will.”
The “or else” was implied.
“We will see you next weekend, Ronan,” Bronwyn said. “Good night.”
Unsurprisingly, they didn’t wait for his response before they hung up.
Ronan tucked his phone back into his pocket and moved closer to the window. He watched as Dominique disappeared from sight for a brief moment, carrying what he assumed was the leftover pizza.
When she returned to the sofa, her hands were now empty, and she curled her legs beneath her as she sat down. Her cat came over and draped itself over her lap. Dominique ran her fingers through its thick gray fur as she picked up her book and returned to reading.
After a few moments, the book lay forgotten on the couch and her gaze was on the mark she wore on her wrist. He watched as she rubbed her thumb over it absently, obviously lost in thought. Even from this distance, he could see the regret and sadness on her face. Two emotions she hadn’t shown him this afternoon when he arrived at her office.
As he continued to watch her, unable to turn away, Ronan focused on his game plan, one that didn’t involve using his shadow magic. Here in the human realm, there was always a chance that someone was watching—fae or human. He needed her to go along with the path he decided to take, but he had to ensure that she wouldn’t change her mind.
There was no doubt in his mind—Dominique Proxa was the female he needed for his machinations to work.
CHAPTER THREE
The next day,Dominique found herself on pins and needles, waiting for Ronan to call. Or show up. Or otherwise irritate her in some way.
But he never appeared.
She finally decided she had a reprieve when she left the office with still no sign of him. It wasn’t until she got home and changed out of her work clothes that he ambushed her.
Dominique was in her kitchen, staring into the fridge and trying to figure out what to make for dinner, when the doorbell rang. Oscar meowed and darted toward the front door, probably hoping it was a food delivery.
Wondering who it could be, she followed and put her eye to the peephole. When she saw Ronan standing on the other side of the door, staring straight back at her, she hissed.
He smiled at her, the grin just a little crooked. “I can hear you.”
“I know,” she muttered.
Ronan waited a beat. “You gonna let me in.”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
His grin widened, and his eyes twinkled as he lifted a brown paper bag. “I brought empanadas.”
Dominique sighed. She loved empanadas. He rattled the bag for emphasis, and she swore she could smell a whiff of fried pastry. “Fine,” she mumbled, her fingers twisting the locks.
