Then he started singing. The words, in Italian, rolled out, lush and deep. His voice was astounding, so smooth and self-assured.
She couldn’t understand a word coming out of his mouth, so she just closed her eyes and let the melody flow over her. It soaked into her, stroking the depths of her soul.
When he stopped, she waited a moment or two before opening her eyes.
“Your voice is very good,” she said. He climbed to his feet again, brushing his knees off and looking abashed.
“Yep, surprised me too.”
“It did? You don’t normally sing?”
“Not since I was a little boy, when I was in the church choir.”
“What do the words mean? Is this something you sang in church?”
“It’s an old Italian love song.” He frowned. “My father used to sing it to my mother. But I’d rather not talk about my parents right now.”
“If you don’t normally sing, why did you do it just now?”
He cleared his throat. “Don’t laugh.” There was a vulnerable, little boyish quality to him now, and she knew that it was just for her. She’d asked himself to open himself up, and he had – as much as he was capable. For a man like him, that had to be hard. And he was making the effort for her.
She shook her head solemnly.
“I promise that I will not.”
“Lorenzo said that women like it when you sing to them.”
“You took love advice from a seventeen-year-old?”
He winced. “Seventeen and eleven months and one week. So, you know, a grownup, really.”
“That’s what you were talking to him about? His mother and I thought that you were trying to sell him on being a Blood Oath foot soldier.”
Dominic barked out a laugh. “I’ve been doing anything but. He’d join our pack yesterday if I let him. I told him that the pack would give him a scholarship and put him through school, and if he graduates from college with a degree in computer science, he could work for one of our businesses managing computer security.”
“Oh,” Zoey said, taken aback. She hadn’t expected that from Dominic. Maybe there were sides to him she hadn’t seen yet. “How did he respond?”
“Disappointed at first, but he cheered up at the thought that he could be associated with us on any level.”
“But again.” She squinted up at him. “You took love advice from Lorenzo?” she said, disbelievingly.
“Well, nothing else seemed to be working.”
She shook her head in frustration. “What did you expect? Did you not realize that blackmailing me into staying here by threatening to let Lorenzodiewould make me very, very angry?”
“Yes,” he agreed. “But I would have done whatever it took to get you to agree to let me protect you. I’d rather have you hate me, and be safe, than be happy with me but in danger.”
“Oh,” she said quietly. She hadn’t considered it from that angle. How had he managed to make being a total asshole actually sound sweet? “You know, if you’d just take the time to explain things to me, we might get on a lot better.”
“Romano told me that too. Damn it, I hate when that hairy bastard is right.” Dominic made a sour face. “It’s not personal, I promise you. I’ve just lived my life a certain way for the last ten years. I’ve built up walls so thick that no light could get through. Until you came along.” His blue eyes shone with warmth, a sky on a sunny day. He was focused on her, as if nothing else existed. “You’re my light, Zoey, you’re finding the cracks in my armor.”
“Oh,” Zoey said, in wonder. She blinked back hot tears. Nobody else had ever, ever made her feel like this. And, she realized, nobody ever would. This connection between them was special, and unique. And he needed her help. Without her, those walls would stay up around his heart and he’d never let himself feel all of the things that he deserved to feel. Being loved, being cherished. “That’s amazing.”
“If I agree to try harder from now on, would you consider going out to dinner with me tonight?”
“Well…” she pretended to consider for a moment. He looked at her expectantly, clearing his throat. “You did sing to me.”
“Yes, I did!” He gave her a winning smile. “And very well, too, if I do say so myself.”
