Dom’s calves burned as he pedaled his mountain bike through the bike trail in Fairmount Park. From the speed at which he was traveling one would have thought the fires of Hades were nipping at his heels. No, it wasn’t fire that was nipping at him, but rather a lovely mother of two young children.
For months he had done everything short of beg Karen to go out with him. With each proposition she turned him down flat. If he had been a lesser man his ego would’ve been severely bruised. Big time.
See, what Karen didn’t know was that Dom was a very patient man when it came to something he wanted. And he wanted Karen. And truth be told, Karen wanted him too. Although she tried to act aloof, she wasn’t fooling anyone but herself.
Trusting him with her children, stolen glances when she thought he wasn’t looking, and sudden nervous jitters when he was around all pointed to signs that she was feeling him just as much as he was feeling her.
And last night as they danced, she had allowed herself to slip for just a split second. And last night as they danced for just a split second she allowed herself to slip. Dom could still hear her soft sigh as she melted into his embrace. Pedaling faster, he tried to rid his body of the feel of her soft breasts, flat stomach and thighs pressing into his rock-hard body. She felt like heaven in his arms. This rare opportunity to get so close to her was a dream come true.
Just when he had her where he wanted her, had her in a vulnerable position, his luck changed like the Chicago wind. The magical spell was broken when the DJ switched songs and started blasting the music to the Mississippi stomp.
Taking a sharp turn down the thin bike trail, Dom clenched his teeth. “Jackass.” He was so close! No way would she have turned him down for a date if he asked within the next few seconds. The way she was holding on to him, dreamily swaying to the love ballad, he could have asked her to stand on her head in the corner and she would’ve gladly done so.
As soon as the popular line dance song had begun to play, Karen snapped out of her daze and started snapping her fingers. “Ooh, I love this dance.”
And with that, Dom stalked off the dance floor as Karen stayed behind, joining in the line dance with the others.
Pedaling even faster to gain momentum to tackle the hill ahead of him, Dom growled, “Damn DJ blocking my play like that.”
Half standing, half pedaling, Dom concentrated on getting up the hill. Reaching the peak of the hill, he leaned forward, preparing himself for the steep downhill ride. It must’ve been the adrenaline rush of going down the steep hill at rapid speed that caused the craziest idea to pop into his head.
Dom’s brooding mood evaporated. A wide grin split his handsome face. “Why didn’t I think of that before?”
Chapter 2
“Mmm, something smells good in here. I’m hungrier than a bear! I think I smell three little ones cooking in a pot!” The boisterous, jovial voice sent three set of feet scampering into the living room.
Dominic, sitting to the kitchen table drinking his morning coffee, and Janet, standing at the counter mixing batter for waffles, both gently chided the children. “Slow down before one of you falls.”
When their only grandchild pleaded for Karen’s children to spend the night after her parents’ wedding to keep her company, they couldn’t refuse her. Dominic smiled at his beautiful wife, Janet. “It’s nice having children around the house again.”
Pouring batter onto the hot waffle iron, Janet gazed over her shoulder and returned the smile. “Yeah, it really is. Feels like old times.”
“Uncle Dom! I knew it was you!” Zoe excitedly squealed as she leaped into her uncle’s arms. Ashley and Kyle weren’t far behind, coming up and hugging him around the waist.
“Hi, Mr. Dom!” Ashley and Kyle happily greeted. Dom gave a little grimace that which made the kids laugh. He did this whenever they called him mister. In truth it made him feel old. But Karen insisted on them calling him by the title although he assured her it was okay for the kids to call him Dom. Karen refused. She was determined to have her children address adults with proper titles.
Putting Zoe down on her feet, he tweaked the girls’ noses and gave Kyle a fist bump. “Y’all hanging alright?”
All three heads nodded.
“Grandmom is making us breakfast. She said we could help make the eggs.” Waving her hand as she squeaked off into the kitchen in her squeaky slippers, Zoe said, “Come on Ashley and Kyle.” Dom shook his head laughing. If his niece wasn’t so cute he’d hide those annoying slippers. What in the world would make Ava buy those things?