DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (22)

Savannah just grins as she pushes her chair back.

Aspen got up to take a call a few minutes ago.

News recently broke that her husband, Leland, passed away while on a work trip overseas. Their sources are saying it was a previously unknown heart condition, one that runs in his family. But being a stubborn man, Leland never went to the doctor to get checked for it. Even though his wife constantly begged him to.

When the story first came across my newsfeed online, I nearly spit out my coffee.

I knew the family would have to pronounce Leland dead eventually, and I’m positive the whole string of information was carefully crafted by Aspen before it was released. Still, the whole concerned wife angle was too much for me not to react to. Since, in reality, Leland had been cheating on Aspen, and Aspen was the one who asked King to kill him.

But sure, heart attack it is.

God, I wish I had someone I could talk to about this!

And it’s not because I’m scared of Aspen or King; I’m not. As far as I’m concerned, fuck Leland—he earned what he got. But it’s just such good gossip. And I want to get drunk with someone and laugh about it.

But there’s no one for me to do that with.

I take my phone out of my pocket, and my chest heats when I see a text notification.

Big Guy: Hope you’re having a good dinner. My family is over, and I’m about to kick a nine-year-old’s ass in Mario Kart.





I grin.

It’s been almost two weeks since our flight together, and other than the day right after, we’ve texted every day since.

We don’t message a lot at once, but it is every day. And it’s been so… nice. Like just so nice.

Me: Sounds like a great achievement. I’m about to sit outside around a fire and eat dessert with a bunch of adults.





Send.

While I wait for his reply, I daydream about being able to tell him everything about my family. He’s told me about his big family a few times, but with murder, crime, and intrigue, I’d definitely win the my family is crazier debate.

Big Guy: I can think of a dessert I’d like to eat by the fire.





“Damn!” Savannah exclaims from behind me, and I smash my phone against my chest to hide the screen.

“Oh my god! Nosy much?” I’m too embarrassed to sound mad.

Savannah starts laughing. “I wasn’t even trying to look.”

I push back from the table and get up, keeping the phone against my chest. “Sure you weren’t.”

“I wasn’t!” she insists. “I was going to try and startle you.” Savannah snickers. “But I startled myself instead.”

I lift a hand to cover my mouth in a vain attempt to hide my stupid grin. “That wasn’t the response I was expecting either.”

“So…” Savannah waggles her eyebrows at me. “Who is Big Guy?”

I slide my hand up to cover my eyes. “Just some guy,” I groan. “It’s new, and I don’t want to jinx it, but I really like him.”

“Hmm.” I drop my hand to see Savannah narrowing her eyes at me. “So, where did you meet Mr. No Name?”

I was tempted to change his name in my phone the other night, but now I’m glad I didn’t. Savannah and King share everything, and even if Savannah mentioned it casually, King would probably end up going into crazy overprotective mode and run a background check on him. Maybe even show up in Chicago to question him in person. And that would be bad. Like epic bad. And it would definitely kill this thing between Dom and me before it even started.

“At the airport,” I admit as my phone vibrates against my cleavage.

Because I have no willpower when it comes to him, I pull my phone back to check the message.

Big Guy: I really shouldn’t let you distract me with your dirty talk. Now I’m going to lose my next race and it’s going to be all your fault.





I press my lips together.

How is he so cute?

“What does he look like?” Savannah asks as she leans closer, arching her neck to try and look over the top of my phone.

I press the phone back against my chest. “Hot.”

Savannah snickers at my answer. “That’s a good start.”

I sigh. “He’s tall and handsome and has these beautiful eyes and…” I trail off when I see Savannah’s wide-eyed expression. “What?”

“You really like him, don’t you?”

My shoulders lift. “Yeah, but it’s long distance. And it just happened, and I don’t even know if we’re, like, actually dating or just, like, talking every day.” I lift my shoulders again. “But he makes me smile.”

Her expression softens. “Well, whatever it is, I’m happy for you.”

Warmer emotions push the embarrassment out of my cheeks. “Thanks.”

It wasn’t too long ago that Savannah and I got a little tipsy and shared our dream wedding ideas. Mine was ridiculous because it’s been forever since I’ve even had a boyfriend, so no real chance of a wedding anytime soon. And Savannah’s was ridiculous because she was already married. And her wedding was… unconventional.

“Come on.” Savannah grabs my arm and pulls me toward the kitchen, where patio doors lead into the backyard.