With disgust, he turned on his car and headed home. He knew where Carino lived and had actually drove past there a few times. But it was best not to tempt fate too much. Fate had made sure he had come to Hawaii to go up against a hotshot like Carino. Seriously, none of the other departments had even bothered him the way Carino did.
But by the end of his time in Hawaii, he would teach Carino just who the true Dom was.
Chapter Eleven
“Rome,” someone yelled behind him.
He turned and looked down the hall at the HPD and saw Amy Walsh, a former girlfriend. She was hurrying toward him with a smile. As usual, Amy threw herself at him leaving him no choice but to catch her.
Blonde hair, blue-eyed, and petite, she had a sweet and open disposition. More than once people had referred to the massage therapist as a fairy. All she was missing was the little outfit and the wings.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as he set her back on her feet.
“Gave a friend a ride. He had an appointment here, so I thought I would stop by and say hey.”
“You’re looking good.” And it was true. She had been his longest relationship since moving to Hawaii, a little over three months. She had wanted more and he hadn’t, but they had parted on good terms.
“Thank you, as are you.” She stood back and looked at him. “I’ve been hearing rumors from my friends.”
“And what would those rumors be?”
She gave him one of her cheeky grins. He had always felt a stirring of heat when he saw them but now, nothing.
“There was a lot of chatter last night at the club that you’d met a new woman and that you were very infatuated. I was hoping to meet her, make sure she’s up to my standards.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that curled his lips or the little spike in his heartbeat at the thought of Maria. Especially the way he’d left her that morning. She’d been so sweet, cuddled in his bed. He had wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed with her and snuggle the day away.
“Ah, so they were right. I heard she’s from the mainland.”
“Yeah, here for a few weeks on vacation.”
“I went by the club to see you last night. Was sort of surprised you weren’t there with this new mystery woman.”
“We decided to stay in.”
She studied him for a moment and then her smile widened. “It looks good on you.”
“Looks good on me? What are you talking about? Have you been smoking any of the White Sage? I knew that stuff was pot.”
She laughed. “No it isn’t, and you know it. You know I use it to cleanse an area before I give Reiki. Being infatuated, maybe a little in love. It suits you.”
He scoffed, trying desperately to fight the worry that had been in his head all day. If he didn’t admit it to himself, maybe he could keep himself from falling in love. “I just met the woman.”
“You were always a ‘settle down’ kind of guy, but I figured that you couldn’t until you found the right one.”
He rolled his eyes. “Listen, I don’t need any of your ‘woo woo’ stuff today. I got a nasty case that is getting worse by the day.”
She sobered at the mention of the killings. “Everyone is pretty spooked out there.”
“You need to be careful. Even being at the club isn’t safe. Don’t go off—“
“Oh, God, you sound like my brother. We have already moved on if you are talking to me like that.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine. I’m settled.”
Something in the way she said it caught his attention. “You’ve met someone.”
When she smiled, it was bright, and it was full of newfound love. “Yes. I have.”
He was happy for her, but there was a little niggle of doubt in the back of his mind. “This guy, did you meet him at Rough ‘n Ready?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not ready for you to meet him, but I promise he’s trustworthy.”
Something in his gut was bothering him. Something that he knew without a doubt wasn’t jealousy. “Just because he’s a cop doesn’t mean he’s trustworthy in the dating department.”
“Oh, now you really do sound like my brother. Worse, you sound like my father. You know I’m a good judge of character. I dated you for a while.”
“That’s not proof.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “You were always too hard on yourself. When are you going to accept that you’re one of the good guys?”
He shook his head and opened his mouth to try to gain a name from her, but she stopped him by pressing her fingers against his mouth.