I might’ve been surprised by this turn of events, but Dom wasn’t. He’d known exactly who he’d find when he walked in here.
Fucker.
He gave me a confident smile, holding his large hand out to me. “You can call me Dominic.”
I glared at his hand for a second before remembering what was at stake. Exhaling through my nose, I pasted on a smile as I shook his hand. “Good to meet you.”
“I think you’ll enjoy working with Penny,” Taff said, clapping Dominic on the shoulder. “He’s a wonderful man.”
Dom rolled his eyes. “Ryan doesn’t need to know that to do our taxes.”
“It’s about building relationships,” Taff said pointedly. “The kind that last. That’s what we’re looking to do here, right, Ryan?”
“Right.” I nodded belatedly. Fuck, it was hard to keep up with what was happening. This time last week, Dominic was just a ghost from my past. Now he was everywhere. Turning up at my stag do, my home, my fuckingjob. “Long-term relationships are what we hope to build with all our clients.”
That was all Dominic was to me. Another client.
“Exactly what I was hoping to hear.” Taff grinned. “Now, you look after Penny at lunch, Ryan. He’s very important to me.”
His words had a stone settling in my stomach. Suddenly I was looking at the friendly grip he had on Dominic’s shoulder in a whole new light.
My heart was beating in my ears. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from where Taff’s fingers lingered. Somehow, I managed to locate the words I knew I needed. “We look after all our clients, even prospective ones. Your company will be in safe hands with us.”
Dom tilted his head suddenly, his eyes narrowing at me. He stared at me for a few heartbeats, his gaze seemingly following mine. Right to where Taff wasstilltouching him.
Then Dom’s lips curled in an incredulous smile.
Fuck.
I snapped my gaze away, loosening the knot of my tie slightly. When had that got so tight?
“Well that’s good, because there wouldn’t be a company without Penny,” Taff said, suddenly solemn. “In fact, I wouldn’t even be here without him.”
I looked back at them to find Dom stiffening. “Thought we weren’t going to be sharing that, Christopher.”
Taff didn’t appear intimidated by the death glare Dom was now levelling at him. “Don’t be daft,Dominic.You saved my life and almost died in the process. If you think I’m not going to tell every fucker who crosses my path then you’re in for a wild surprise.”
I sucked in a breath. For a moment, I forgot everything. The fact that I wasn’t meant to know Dom. The ten silent years between us. The hatred that had built during them. “You did?”
Dom cursed under his breath. Now he was the one avoiding eye contact. “I was just doing my job.”
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t stop myself glancing at the scar on his neck. At the reminder of that awful night two years ago.
“Not everyone would’ve done that.” It took me a couple of attempts to get some words out. Christ, I hoped Taff couldn’t tell how strangled my voice was.
“No, they wouldn’t,” Taff said firmly. “Because of this man, I got to come back to my little girl. And now we have this company. None of it would exist without Penny.”
Dom gave him a tight smile. “That’s me. Right place at the right time.”
“And thank fuck for that,” Taff said. “Okay, I’m going to leave the two of you to it. Enjoy lunch.”
My eyes bugged wide. “Wait, you’re not coming with us?”
“Nope.” Taff was already on his way to the door. “You don’t need me. You’re in good hands with Penny.”
A heavy silence fell as he left. Dominic was the one to break it, offering me a charming smile. “Shall we head out?”
Fuck my life.
