“Have a wonderful evening, Dominic.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze, then disappears off across the room.
I’m left staring at the slowly melting ice in my glass, with a head full of thoughts I shouldn’t be having.
“That was actually really fun,wasn’t it?” Mia sighs happily as she shrugs the fur coat up around her chin. “I actually enjoyed myself for once.”
“Me, too.”
“Usually the galas are so boring, but tonight everyone was in a really good mood. It was fun.” She gives me a shy smile. “And with you… It was just different. I dunno, I had a really good time.”
“I guess I can be the life of the party when I want to be,” I say with a grin, and Mia laughs out loud.
“I know all about your parties from back in the day. What was it, driving a Mini Cooper into a canal in Amsterdam to celebrate the world cup win?”
I press my hand to my eyes with a groan, and Mia laughs.
“I know all about you, Dominic Graves, don’t you worry.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “But you are a surprisingly good dancer.”
At that moment, rain begins to pelt against the windshield of the car.
“Great,” Mia groans. “What a way to end the evening.”
“Could be worse. Could be snow.”
“True, very true.” She leans her head against the carseat and gazes at me. “You got any plans this weekend?”
My heart takes a weird leap, and she’s still holding my hand so she’ll definitely notice if I suddenly get hot and fidgety.
“Not much really. Training, gym. Might head to the bookshop. Not much else. And you?”
She shrugs. “I was invited to a restaurant opening in Chelsea. Davino Pascale, you know the actor? He and I did a shoot a few years ago and he still DMs me every week like we’re besties. He’s been on and on about this restaurant for months, and he wants me to be there for his opening.” She eyes our joined hands shyly. “Did you… did you want to come? With me, I mean? It’s on Sunday.”
My heart leaps even higher, slamming into the base of my throat and beating so hard I’m sure she can see it.
“I’d love to.”
Mia gives me a pleased smile. “I’m sure their lasagna will have nothing on yours, but we’ll give them a chance anyway, ey?”
I stroke my beard pensively. “Might be a good chance for a new job. I am handy in a kitchen.”
Mia laughs out loud, and I’m sure it’s the prettiest sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
“Dominic Graves, professional chef. It does have a certain ring to it.”
The car turns down the tree-lined street and comes to a stop outside Mia’s house.
“Well, this is me.” She frowns as I hurriedly exit the car. “Dom, what you doing?”
“Stay there!” The rain pelts down on me, soaking the shoulders of my jacket almost instantly, but I don’t care. I run around to Mia’s side of the car, opening her door, and reach down to slide my arm under her legs.
“Dom!” She squeals.
“Put your arm around my neck, come on.”
She does so, laughing, and I scoop her out of the car.
“What are you doing?” She burrows her face into the crook of my neck with a shriek. “Oh my god, you’re gonna be soaked!”
We stop at the gate for her to input the code, and rush down the path to her front door, coming to a stop under the cover of her front stoop.
