She gritted her teeth for a moment and then shook her head. "That's okay. I have my car. I just need sleep."
He crowded closer to her, setting his hand on the counter next to hers. "I'll let you sleep. After you give me answers. Did you think I was kidding earlier?"
She licked her lips. "No. I … Tonight isn't good, Dominic. Call me in a few days. Okay?"
A kid returned to the desk and handed her a blue clutch that matched the dress she wore. Navy. Like last night. Only this one was silk and had almost no back to it. It was long and hung off her like a runway model if they came in petite sizes. He'd ogled her in it all day, ever since tugging her into that classroom earlier.
She wasn't wearing a bra, but he suspected something was built into the front of the dress because he'd only noticed the projection of her nipples a few times, now being one of them. He didn't even want to consider what she wore below. There was no panty line of any kind.
He took her elbow and led her a few yards away from the counter so he could speak without the teenager listening.
"Let me help," he stated, taking a slight risk by surmising she had a problem.
Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth. Then she regained her composure. "Help with what? I just have a headache. Nothing that can't be fixed with a few aspirin and a good night's sleep."
"Fine. But you'll do that in my bed."
She moaned, her shoulders drooping. "Listen, I get that you're bossy. And I'll admit it's sexy as hell most of the time, but tonight is not good. You'll have to accept that and let me go." She suddenly glanced from left to right and then stepped back, dislodging her elbow from his light grasp.
He narrowed his gaze. "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? Is that it? You don't want anyone to know we're into each other?" He kept his voice low, but his temper was irrationally on the edge. Maybe she was worried about what her friends would think about her dating a Dom.
She shook her head. "No. Lord. Of course not. Stop trying to find an answer for everything and accept that the entire world doesn't revolve around you and what you want. Sometimes no simply means no." At those words, she spun around and fled the entryway, pushing through the front doors, and disappearing into the night.
Dominic stood very still, wondering for long moments how that tiny little sprite of a woman had bested him. His instinct told him to chase after her. His gut told him to let her go. For now.
He also couldn't ignore the voice in his head. Maybe she's just not that into you, dude.
* * *
Lily was relieved when she started her car and pulled out of the parking lot without being followed. At least not by Dominic. She had no doubt she was being followed by Luke or someone he hired to tail her, but at least Dominic wasn't in any danger of being exposed online.
She jumped in her seat when a text came in, vibrating her phone in her purse. She didn't bother to look at it. Instead, she concentrated on making it home safely with her nerves so frayed she feared she might drive off the road. She was more distracted than if she'd been texting and driving. Or reading a book.
The venue was about forty minutes from her apartment, and by the time she pulled into her garage and then made her way up to her floor, she indeed had the full-blown headache she'd professed to have.
She locked herself in her apartment and dropped her purse on the couch. But she didn't permit herself to relax until she searched every room, closet, and bathroom to make sure Luke hadn't somehow managed to get inside and hide from her.
Irrational? Totally. But for the past twenty-six hours, her life had been one giant pile of irrational.
She left the lights off in her room while she slid out of the most amazing dress she'd ever worn, hung it up, and grabbed a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Paranoia had set in. There was every chance her apartment was bugged or wired with cameras. She put nothing past Luke at this point, and the last thing she wanted to do was let him see even an inch of her skin.
Trying to catch her breath, she headed for the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water.
Downing half of it, she plopped down on the couch and then groaned when her purse buzzed again.
Snaking her hand out to pull the cell from the outer pocket, she lifted it nearly unwillingly to her face.
Luke: I see you followed my directions. Now make that the last time you ever see Dominic Cordes.
She lowered the phone to her lap, closed her eyes, and took another drink.
What the hell was she going to do? Living her life permanently manipulated by Luke Vandergriff wasn't the answer. But so far, she didn't have a better one, and trying to solve this problem on Zia's wedding day had been out of the question.