A pair of older women walk out of the restroom behind me, and one of them says, "Dear me, look at that man. If I were thirty years younger..."
Her companion snorts. "You'd what?"
"Teach him a few things about life."
I press my lips together to keep from laughing, but then decidefuck it. I turn around. "My husband is hot, right? But he's also really smart, and very kind."
They blink in shock, but I smile and say, "Safe travels."
And then I practically float to where Dom waits for me. I don't know what that was about. My actions, my words, I don't know how to explain them. I only know I wanted Dom to be mine in that moment. I wanted him to belong to me. What the hell is going on in my head? In my heart?
"You ready?" Dom asks when I get closer. I don't say a word. I step into him, wrap my arms around his neck, and pull his mouth down to mine.
Mine.
Surprise suspends Dom's response, but only for a second. He eagerly snakes his arms around my waist, hauls me flush against him, and kisses me like we aren't in a dusty parking lot in the desert.
When the kiss breaks I pull back, but not too far. I can't stand the idea of not touching him, so I cup his cheek. "Sorry I attacked your mouth in public."
Dom tucks my hair behind my ear. "For the record, I like being attacked by you in public."
My fingernails lightly scratch over his stubble. "There were two women talking about how hot you are."
He crooks an eyebrow. "Feeling jealous, Chestnut?"
"Possessive."
Confusion blooms in his gaze even as he holds me fast to him. "What is it you want, Cecily?" His eyes search my face, looking for an answer.
"I'm not sure," I admit. "I've had so many different feelings toward you, and now I'm here with my family and my sick grandma. This experience is ripe for big emotions."
He nods like he understands. "You just tell me what you need from me, alright? I'll give it to you."
My head bobs in agreement. "Thank you for telling me about your parents."
A neutral smile tugs up one corner of his mouth. "You're the first person I've talked to about them, aside from my therapist. It only seemed fair, given that I have a front row seat to your family dysfunction."
I breathe out a laugh at the same time my heart does a twisty motion in my chest. "I appreciate that you trust me."
He traces my lips with a fingertip. "You are something else, Cecily."
"You too, Dom."
He drops his head for another kiss, something sweet, and small. Then he walks me around the car and opens the passenger door.
When we're back on the road, I hit play on Dom's road trip playlist, and we spend the remaining drive in companionable silence.
CHAPTER 39
Cecily
Grandma hasus booked into a cute hotel, The Sierra. The manager tells us it was renovated in the last couple years, and Tenley Roberts, the retired actress who lives in town, sometimes stops into the bar for a cocktail. I would never approach a famous person in the wild, but Kerrigan would have no qualms.
On the way to the rooms, Kerrigan says, "If we see her, I'm gonna ask her to sign my boob."
I smack Kerrigan's chest lightly. "Nobody wants to sign your tit."
"It's a signable tit," Kerrigan defends.
