When the DJ called for couples, instead of Karen and Dom skating together, Dom had taken Ashley’s hand and Karen had taken Kyle’s. Karen grinned over at Dom as he shortened his strides so Ashley could keep up with him. Her heart swelled up with not only love, but gratitude for Dom. He had so unselfishly and willingly stepped up to plate where her children were concerned. The look on Ashley’s face beamed with daughterly pride and happiness as she made her way around the rink hand in hand with Dom.
And Kyle…the boy had called Dom Daddy during his distress. Once things had cooled off, Kyle had gone back to calling him Mr. Dom. Though Dom thought he hid the disappointment, Karen had seen it sweep across his features. She had felt a pang of sadness for her lover. He so wanted to be a father to the children. Hopefully, she prayed it would be soon.
Working up an appetite, the group decided to head back to Dom’s to order takeout. Before they reached their destination, Dom threw everyone for an unexpected loop. He didn’t know how Karen would react, but decided he would take his chances. If she refused, he’d have to persuade her. Coming to a red light, he looked in the rearview mirror at the kids and then over at Karen. “I want you and the kids to stay the night with me.”
There was no way he was letting them out of his sight after what happened earlier. For some reason he had a strong need to watch over and protect them even more than before. He wanted to do it every night from this point forward, but knew that was impossible until they married. But for one night, just this one night, he needed them close.
Karen turned in her seat to face him. She wanted to say yes, but was she doing the right thing? What would the children think? When she looked over her shoulder at the kids, they had that sad, puppy dog look they gave her whenever they begged her for something. She nibbled on her bottom lip. Just because they wanted to stay the night with Dom and she wanted to stay the night didn’t make it right. She didn’t want to get into the habit of them bouncing back between their place and his. With that thought she said, “I don’t know, Dom…”
Pulling off through the green light, he briefly cut his eyes at her. “It’s just this one time.” He dropped his voice so low Karen had to strain to hear him. “Baby, I just need to have you and the kids close by tonight.”
Karen’s heart melted. He didn’t have to spell it out for her. His tender voice and loving eyes brought the message home. He wanted to protect her and the kids and couldn’t do it while he was in one place and they were in another. No way would she stomp all over his manly desire to protect what would be his family. “Okay, this one time. Until…” She whispered, letting her words trail off because two sets of ears were in the backseat listening for any tidbits of information.
Dom grinned in the rearview mirror at the kids. “Your mother said yes.”
“Yay!” They both screamed.
“This is going to be so much fun! Just like a sleepover.” Ashley squealed.
“Where will we sleep? My sleeping bag is in the garage.” Kyle asked.
Karen looked over at Dom, raising an amused brow. “Yeah, where are we going to sleep?”
Dom chuckled. “You and Ashley can sleep in my bed, Kyle in the guest room, and I’ll take the sofa bed.”
“Are you sure? Ashley and I can take the sofa bed.”
Shaking his head, he told her, “No. I’ll be fine on the sofa bed.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“I do.” Looking in the rearview mirror at the kids, he said, “How about we swing by your house so you can pack an overnight bag?”
With big grins, they both nodded their heads. Making sure the adults were looking ahead, Kyle leaned over to his sister. “I think it’s working,” he whispered in her ear.
“So do I,” she whispered back, her large eyes twinkling with laughter.
Chapter 25
Moving around in the small kitchen, Karen and Dom worked together as they prepared breakfast. Reaching up on tippy-toes to grab a mixing bowl from the cabinet, Karen muffled a yawn. She hadn’t gotten any sleep at all. Sleep eluded her as she replayed the day’s events in her mind. She still couldn’t believe her in-laws, coming back after all these years to make a claim on her children, but for what reason? Their explanation of wanting to be a part of their grandchildren’s lives just didn’t sit well with her. After putting that out of her mind, she tossed and turned, remembering the last time she was in Dom’s bed. She remembered the things he had done to her in his bed. Although Ashley slept like a log, she found herself burying her face into her pillow several times throughout the night to muffle her screams of sexual frustration.