My eyes light up when I read through his notes and see he has a shipment of guns coming into the marina in two days' time.
Quickly pulling my phone from my pocket, I send Lenny a text. I hurriedly put all of the documents back into place before carefully putting the folder on his desk, hopefully in the exact same spot. I hightail it out of his office and rush back to my room, heart beating fast and sweat rolling down my spine as I pray he doesn't notice I was in there.
I'm in the kitchen when I hear the elevator moving. If it weren't for my stomach growling at me, and my hands weren't submerged in soapy water, I'd run out of here, locking myself in my room again to keep from having to face Dom. But instead, I stay put, straightening my shoulders and taking a deep breath before he enters the room.
Jellybean yaps at him, her paws scratching against the tile floor as she excitedly runs towards him. I hear a deep chuckle echo through the room, and the glass in my hands drops back into the sink, splashing water across my pyjama top as I stand there, shocked.
I think that's the first time I've ever heard Dom laugh, and the sound shot straight to my stomach and sent a smooth shiver through my body.
"Hey, Jelly."
My jaw hangs, and I subtly glance over my shoulder to see Dom crouched down beside the kitchen island, stroking Jellybean as she jumps up at him, licking his beard.
What the fuck is going on?
Am I dreaming?
Focusing back on the task at hand, I pick up the glass I dropped a moment ago, swiping the sponge across it as I absentmindedly go about washing it while I continue listening to Dom coo at my dog. The dog who he's seemingly hated since I moved in here.
Have I entered an alternate reality or something?
Finishing up with the dishes, I dry my hands on the tea towel beside the sink and turn around, leaning against the damp lip behind me to stare at Dom, who's now sitting at the island, phone in hand.
"There was a lasagne left in the fridge with tomorrow's date on, so I thought I'd cook it tonight," I tell him.
He grunts but doesn't look up from his phone.
"There's enough for both of us," I add, a bite to my tone.
No response.
Not even a nod or a hum. Nothing.
Narrowing my eyes, I fold my arms across my chest.
He cocks a brow, and his lips tug up the slightest bit, but still, his gaze remains locked on his phone screen.
Fed up with him paying more attention to something orsomeoneelse, I move towards the island and slap my hands onto the surface, finally gaining his attention.
He turns his phone off, placing it face down on the countertop in front of him, and glances up at me with raised brows.
"Yes?"
"Would it kill you to acknowledge me for once?" I ask, voice raised.
"Who says I don't acknowledge you?"
I scoff, folding my arms again, but move them back to my sides when his eyes drop to my chest and a smirk takes over his face.
"You act like I don't exist!" I shout, throwing my arms up in the air and shaking my head. "Whenever you're at home, you spend all of your time staring at your phone. You hardly ever talk to me unless it's to tell me to stay here, and even then, you'd prefer to leave notes on the side so you don't have to speak to me. Instead of spending any time with me at all, you pass me off to any man who works for you, even thoughI'm unsure I'd want you to anyway. And every time we're in a room together, you act as if it pains you to look at me, for God's sake!"
By the time I'm finished, my chest is heaving, my cheeks are flushed, and my hair is a curly, tangled mess from running my hands through it.
He stares at me, his warm, honey brown eyes melting into mine as he stands from the island and unbuttons the collar of his shirt, quirking a brow as he slowly steps towards me.
"You think I don't pay attention to you, little viper?"
He takes another step forward, and I take one back.
