Page 33 of Sweets and Sycamores

WE’RE…COMFORTABLE

If Dominic hadn’t been holding her, Allie would have slumped to the floor from the shock of his reply.

While the words were innocent, she could have sworn his tone had a flirty flavor, but the music had been too loud over his voice.

It was also possible he had an artistic curiosity about tattoos, given that he had one, or more, not that Allie knew or ever thought about what hid under Dominic’s clothes.

Three days later, she was still spiraling over his words.

“I’d like to see them.”

After their eventful dance, Tina and Harper had asked them to bring the cake out.

Allie had stumbled on the way to the van twice and told Dominic she felt a bit dizzy from the wine—lie, she only had one glass—so Brandon or someone else should help him.

She wanted to protect the cake from her clumsiness, which she had, but her dragon made up for her lack of destruction.

Ekko had stolen a piece of cake and flew away with it, smudging chocolate all over his snout and his white bowtie.

Dominic had seemed unfazed by her not helping with the cake.

In fact, he'd acted normal for the past three days, too. If Dominic’s words held more meaning, he would have said something by now.

Her feelings were silly in the first place, given her limited time in Sycamore Falls.

Limited time with him. Likely Dom knew better than her, knew better than to get attached to someone who was leaving sooner or later.

Sooner. Sooner would be good. The distance would allow her to forget about any fluttering feelings blossoming for her Mage boss. Not only that, but it would give Dominic his peace back.

Allie struggled to ignore all the gossip and whispers she’d caught wind of during the wedding.

“Why did Dominic dance with her?”

“Why did Brandon dance with her?”

“Out of pity, of course, but were they safe? Should we have done something about it?”

“Why did they allow her to attend the wedding?”

It would not be the first nor the last time Allie heard words like these.

They hurt, but she had grown thick skin and trained herself to overlook them.

What didn’t sit well with her was all of these people pestering Dominic for the remainder of the event.

Was he fine? Did he need anything? Maybe this or that person should help him at the bakery while he looked for permanent help. While he still had a bakery.

If Allie left, it would get the townspeople off Dominic’s case, and they would cease with the surprised looks they tossed his way when they found the bakery still standing.

Today. She would tell him today. This way, she had a couple of days before the weekend to make travel plans and leave everything in order at Dom’s Sweets.

They were getting ready to close for the day, Dominic packaging the unsold inventory to take over to Mia’s for today’s toddler story time at the book shop.

Allie wished that at least once she could have gone with him on one of these volunteer deliveries, but she didn’t want to take away from people’s enjoyment and Dominic’s kindness.

Which seemed to happen every time she breathed.

“I’ll be right back,” her boss muttered, running out the door holding two boxes in his muscular arms.

They’re just arms, Allie.

Today he wore his standard black T-shirt, dark jeans, and boots, and she’d chanced fugitive looks at the tree tattoo on his arm that was a work of art. The tattoo, that was.

He rushed back in, since he’d left in just his T-shirt, cold clinging to his body and clothes. Dominic rubbed his hands and headed to the back, passing by her.

“Dominic.” Allie’s voice made him stop. “Can I talk to you?” He turned on his heels and his eyes narrowed to slits, as if he wanted to determine if this was serious, or if she just wanted to eat an extra cupcake. But Allie schooled her features into something serious—or so she hoped.

“Sure.” Dominic pointed to the table closest to them and took a seat.

She sat down facing him and clasped her hands on the table, holding his gaze.

She was reminded of the first time they sat here like this, coincidentally at the same table, on her first day in Sycamore Falls.

When they had tea, and he’d agreed to let her stay.

Allie had done her fair share of overthinking since the wedding about how this conversation was going to go.

She remembered all the times she had tried to thank him and Dominic cut her off, so she decided to save that for the end and start boldly.

Overthinking about it did not make it easier, though.

Unfair. Allie took a deep breath and exhaled the words.

“I’m thinking about leaving Sycamore Falls early and heading for Pearls Fields this weekend.

” She paused to check his reaction, but he had none.

Dominic stared back at her like he was frozen, like he wasn’t breathing.

“I don’t pose a threat to my sisters anymore, so I think they will take me back.

They might even help me learn about my power,” she explained, trying to convince herself as well.

Lydia had said she needed to prove she was in control, and she was…

in a way. Dominic’s green eyes moved over her face, and the familiar frown took its rightful place between his eyebrows.

“No.”

“What?” Allie’s head jerked back in surprise.

“You’re not leaving early.”

“Why not?” It was her turn to frown at him. “I’ll get everything in order by then, I promise. I’ll get the room cleaned—”

“No.” Her boss slammed his hands on the table as he stood up and left, heading up the stairs.

Dominic left Allie to close the shop as he wore a path on the carpet in his living room.

He pulled at the band in his hair and threw it on the floor.

His nails dug into the heels of his palms, anger making his breaths come out hot and fast. Anger with himself and his fucking lack of restraint.

He was sure his comment had put Allie off, and now she wanted to leave early.

For a man who had lived his life with his mouth mostly shut, he wondered what the hell was wrong with him that he opened it then.

Why did he have to act like a flirty ass at the wedding? He’d let Brandon get in his head, and now Allie wanted to leave because he had hit on her and made her uncomfortable. And his acting like a child earlier for sure didn’t help, either.

He’d always known she would leave Sycamore Falls, so why was it an issue now that she wanted to leave early? Why?

Because Brandon had been fucking right, and if what had happened at the wedding didn’t prove it, his present rage did. Dominic kicked the edge of the couch.

He liked Allie.

He liked that she was kind, patient, and willing to learn. He liked that she smiled at him sincerely. That she trusted him. That she was beautiful, soul and body, and she made him a better person. He liked who he became when she was around.

Having her around the bakery had been a blessing.

With her here, Dom had more time to spend on his mission.

This week, he’d left after the lunch rush for two to three hours, which helped cover more ground around the area.

He was still unsuccessful, but he needed to search every piece of land to find where the magic was broken.

And he could do this faster now, having Allie at the bakery.

Selfishly, he liked having her around. He stopped his annoying pacing and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had no right to be selfish. Ultimately, it was Allie’s choice, and he had to respect it, even if he wished it was different.

Now that he was coming back to his senses, he had to find her, apologize, and maybe ask her why she decided to leave early instead of acting like a jerk and yelling like a caveman.

Dominic went downstairs and knocked on Allie’s door. He waited for a beat, then knocked again. No answer. The lights were off in the bakery, too. If she wasn’t here…

Dom grabbed his jacket and went out into the cold night, zipping it to his chin. Fall was great and all that, but he hated the darkness that set in at four in the afternoon. It had been dark for a couple of hours already, and he didn’t keep the time he’d spent brooding by himself.

How long ago had Allie left? She practiced by herself at night almost every day, but today the thought of her alone in the middle of the forest made him more restless than any other day. He rushed along Maple Street, down the winding path to the secluded clearing he knew too well.

Barely a couple of moon rays escaped through the immense crowns of the sycamores to light his path.

But once a glimmer of red light caught his eye through the thick darkness, Dominic sped toward it, his chest growing heavy with the panic that had seized him the night he found Allie surrounded by fire.

Now she stood by the river with her back to him, her long, big curls loose, brushing the small of her back. Her right palm was up, and above it burned a fire the size of a wine bottle. Dominic slowed his pace, seeing that she wasn’t in any danger.

A soft purple smudge flew up and nudged her jaw toward him. Allie turned abruptly, her brown eyes wide, and the fire exploded into a tall, campfire-sized one.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she uttered, stepping away, but the flame followed her on her palm. Dominic fought the urge to clench his fist and put the fire out with his magic. He should teach her, as he’d promised to do.

“Stop!” he shouted. “It’s yours, it’s not going to burn you.” Allie obeyed, fresh fear lining her gaze, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Dominic talked as he approached her. “You are in control, Allie. Pull it back.”