Page 23 of Disavowed

“Why?” Alex eyes went wide.

“Because he’s hot.” She laughed. “He’s tall, good looking, and built.” As much as she willed it not to, Dom’s naked, powerful body straining over her as they’d made love flashed before her eyes.

“Give me deets.” Alex giggled, then craned her neck to check on Nicky in the living room before turning back to Daisy. “Has he hit on you?”

“No, he’s too polite for that. Although sometimes I wish he would.” She smiled. “It might be good therapy.” To help me get my mind off you know who.

“Agreed.” Alex held up her wineglass. “Here’s to therapy.”

“Absolutely.” Daisy likewise held up her glass. “And my therapy is giving me a ride home tonight.”

“Mercedes in the shop again?”

“You betcha.”

She rolled her eyes in disgust. Maintenance costs for her beloved Mercedes were hellacious. A Ford Focus would have been more economical, but without the European panache.

Alex’s cell phone rang with the theme song to Law and Order SVU. “It’s Gray.” She put the phone to her ear. “Hi, honey. Daisy’s here.” She paused, then looked oddly at Daisy. “Okaaay.” Another pause. “See you soon. Love you.”

After ending the call, Daisy noticed Alex still sported a slightly worried expression. “Everything okay?” she asked.

“Peachy keeno.” Alex smiled a little too brightly, leaving her slightly suspicious. “So how ’bout we take a look at your drawings?”

For the next thirty minutes, they poured over her schematics, with Alex making a few design suggestions Daisy totally agreed with.

“Mommy?” Nicky stood in the kitchen doorway, scratching his head. “I need help with my homework. When is Daddy coming home?”

“Soon, baby.” She glanced nervously at the kitchen wall clock, then hastily got up and pulled dinner plates from the china cabinet. “Soon.”

“Let me give you a hand.” Daisy ruffled her fingers through Nicky’s silky brown hair. “I used to be pretty good in school. Maybe not as good as your mom, but I can probably help you out.”

“Okay.” His eyes brightened as he grabbed her hand and tugged her into the living room.

Alex followed them in a moment later, plunking a shot glass filled with what looked like whiskey onto the coffee table. “Drink this.”

She looked up, puzzled. “Why?”

“You’re gonna need it.”

…

Dom stood at the bottom of the stairs to the three-story brownstone. He leaned over and, while retying his bootlaces, surreptitiously glanced in each direction to see if he was being followed. Satisfied he wasn’t, he limped up the stairs to the front door.

After today, he needed a drink like nobody’s business and one of Alex’s homemade meals to fill his empty stomach. He lifted his hand, about to knock on the door’s glass window, when he caught sight of Daisy. A moment ago he’d been so drained he figured on catching some shuteye on the sofa before dinner, but seeing Daisy fired up every one of his nerve endings like a flare gun lighting the night sky.

She and Nicky sat on the sofa with their heads together over Nicky’s schoolbooks. A long, black skirt covered her legs and a snug red sweater contrasted with her dark hair. Unlike at the wedding when she’d had it pulled up into some fancy hairdo with delicate ringlets framing her face, now her thick mane of chestnut brown hair hung free, like a gracefully flowing waterfall.

She lifted her hand and pulled all that beautiful shiny hair to one side, exposing her neck that Dom knew firsthand smelled and tasted like vanilla and roses. When she threw back her head and laughed at something Nicky said, he found himself smiling. She was a natural with kids.

He snorted and shook his head. If he’d known she was at the apartment, he would have suggested Gray meet him somewhere else for debriefing. He turned to head back to his car when Gray bounded up the steps and somehow managed to unlock the door and shove Dom inside before he had a chance to escape.

Daisy lifted her gaze to his, and his heart rate kicked up a few thousand beats per minute. Oddly, she didn’t seem surprised to see him. In fact, her eyes were a bit glassy, as if she’d already downed a good stiff drink. Or two.

“Smells good, huh?” Gray all but pushed him inside the living room.

“Daddy!” Nicky bounded from the sofa and threw himself at Gray.

Gray draped his arm around the boy’s shoulder and gave him a hug. “Hiya, Nicky. How was school today?”