Oh damn, I messed up. It didn’t go unnoticed by Dom that the smile Karen wore didn’t make her gorgeous dark eyes sparkle or dimples pop. Gingerly placing the tree on the floor, Dom cleared his throat. “Karen, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?”
“Sure.” Pivoting on her heels, Karen all but stomped off to the kitchen. She certainly couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say. If the little traitors wouldn’t be brokenhearted, she had a good mind to kick him and his big ‘ol Christmas tree out the door.
“Guys, me and your mom will be right back. I just have to talk to her about something,” Dom told the children as he left the room.
“You think Mommy is mad at Mr. Dom?” Kyle nervously inquired, hoping his sister would answer no.
Ashley nodded her head. “Yup, she’s mad.”
“How do you know?”
“Because that’s just how Auntie Starr looks at Uncle Kevin when she’s mad at him.
“Oh.”
Chapter 15
Before Dom could get good across the threshold, Karen turned on him hissing like a cornered cat. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here two hours late. Do you know how upset we were, thinking you weren’t coming?” Did I just say we? I meant the kids. Well, whether she meant it or not, it was too late. She had said it and couldn’t take it back. The last thing she wanted was for him to know how much the thought of him not showing up had hurt, making her feel unwanted.
When he hadn’t shown up on time, she had gone off by herself to nurse her bruised feelings in private. Wiping down the countertops, rearranging the spices in the cupboard, sweeping the kitchen floor, and making an extra pitcher of sweet tea hadn’t soothed her hurt feelings.
Taking the few steps to close the gap between them, Dom settled his hands on Karen’s hips, gently pulling her toward him. “Baby, I’m sorry I’m running a little late.”
“A little late!” Karen angrily huffed. “You need to learn how to tell time, Dominic Peretti, Jr.” She wanted to push him away, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. His big, rough hands felt so good touching her.
Dom chuckled. “Oh man, using my full name. I must be in serious trouble.”
This time she did push. “What’s so funny? There’s nothing funny about me and my children thinking you had stood us up.”
Refusing to let her go, Dom pulled her even closer. Leaning down, Dom buried his face in the crook of Karen’s neck. She smelled of lavender and vanilla. On impulse, he darted his tongue to steal a quick taste. She tasted sweet, just as he thought she would. “Babe, I would never do that to you and the kids.”
Closing her eyes, Karen softly gasped. She wanted to be angry with Dom, but was finding it hard to hold on to her anger. How could she when he was making her feel so good? Making her feel desirable. Letting her head fall back, she gave him free access. She didn’t recognize the soft moans as her own as he gently nibbled her fragrant flesh.
“What took you so long and why didn’t you call?” Karen queried in a breathy voice.
Dom’s lips tenderly kissed Karen’s neck, slowly making their way to her lips. “I was rushing this morning and forgot my phone. Then I had to go pick up the tree.”
His partial explanation came to an abrupt end as he took Karen’s mouth in a hungry kiss. He had meant to be gentle, but the moment Karen eased her arms up around his neck, opening her mouth and allowing him to freely explore, he didn’t hold back. The kiss was leaving them both breathless. Coming up for air, he further explained in a seductive murmur, “And then I had to get Ashley’s and Kyle’s gifts.”
“Oh,” was all she said. What else could she say? The man had broken her down.
Tilting her chin up to meet his gaze, Dom gently stroked her delicate jaw with his thumb. Her skin felt like velvet against his touch. “I didn’t mean to hurt you or the kids. I should’ve called you to let you know what I was up to. I wanted to surprise the kids.” A crooked smile curved his lips. “Kyle told me you never had a live tree.” Hunching broad shoulders, he confessed, “I thought it would be nice if the kids had one this year.” And every Christmas we spend together he wanted to say.
Karen turned the side of her face into Dom’s palm, kissing it. She had let her emotions get the best of her, thinking the worst of Dom. Here this man had been thinking about her babies and she hadn’t even considered giving him the benefit of the doubt. Instead she had bit his head off. “I’m sorry. Do you think you can forgive me?” she whispered, biting her bottom lip waiting for him to answer.