Page 39 of The Best Worst Mistake (Off-Limits #2)
Abby
Back at the house, Starry has prepared a five-star feast, as Charlie calls it, for the three of us.
“I’ll get the food all situated for you if you’d all like to go and freshen up first,” she says, welcoming us each with a hug, as if we’ve all joined her for dinner here a thousand times.
I can tell that Starry and Charlie are as fond of Liv as I am, as they pepper her with questions about her and Dom while beaming at her replies.
Charlie shakes Dax’s hand warmly, exchanging words of how much they’ve already heard about one another from me.
Then Dax turns to Starry.
"You’ve created a beautiful home,” he says appreciatively. “And I hear you’ve been taking good care of Abby while she’s here.”
“Ah, a house is just a house,” Starry replies, smiling. “It’s the heart that turns it into a home.”
Dax smiles at me after that.
"Now, you two can use a few of the rooms down here to freshen up,” Starry says, leading Dax and Liv from the kitchen area down the long hallway of spare rooms, winking at me over her shoulder as they disappear.
* * *
When we’re all gathered back in the dining room, there’s a roasted bird in the middle of the table, surrounded with mashed potatoes, broccoli salad with little bits of bacon and grapes, homemade dinner rolls — which I’ve never tried until now — crystal goblets of red wine from the wine cellar in the lower level of the house, and probably something baking in the oven for later, since the house smells both sweet and savory.
Starry’s set the dining room with three place settings, but Olivia and I insist that she and Charlie join us for dinner, and grab two more.
“I haven’t seen either of you in months!” Liv says to Starry and Charlie, when we’ve all sat down together. “Dom is sad not to be here.”
“Speaking of, did he pick that out himself?” Starry asks, passing a carafe of wine around the table, nodding toward the enormous engagement ring sitting on Liv’s finger.
I smile at her while she nods at Starry, beaming.
“He’s perfect,” Liv says, sighing happily, then digs into the wooden bowl of palm-sized rolls nearby.
They’re still warm from the oven. “I wasn’t sure what it would be like to stay over there, away from everything I knew back home, but I can’t picture my life without him anymore. He makes anywhere feel like home.”
Dax catches my eye and smiles when she says this, and I feel myself redden. “I know the feeling,” he says quietly.
My heartbeat picks up the pace. I’m loving everything about today, but I’m dying for a moment alone with him, too.
After far too much food and laughter around the dining table, we’ve all helped clear the table and are gathered in the kitchen.
Liv and I are working through the pile of dishes near the sink when she announces that she and Starry have a lot to catch up on and that I should make sure Dax arrives home alright.
“I think I just got kicked out,” Dax whispers into my ear, sending a tingle down my spine.
“I’m kicking you both out,” Liv announces louder. “I mean, I’m sure you’re both welcome to stay here but you might enjoy some privacy at the end of a long day . . .”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, leaning into her by the sink. Even though Starry insisted that we don’t touch the mess, Liv and I are making quick work of them to thank her for preparing such a feast for dinner.
“It’s literally my job, girls,” Starry says, shuffling around us like a mother hen while we bump her away with our hips.
The sink is wide enough for both Liv and I to stand at the edges, passing dishes between us, then placing them in the double dishwashers on either side.
“You’re going to put me out of a job if you keep this up,” Starry insists, finally stepping back. She holds her palms up in front of her like she’s giving up.
“Consider it our thanks,” Liv says to her.
“Besides, I know Abby’s going to fight me on what I just suggested, so this will at least make her feel like she’s done something nice for us before she goes.
What she doesn’t know is that I’m totally jet-lagged and must get some sleep the second we’re done here. ”
“But the time change goes the opposite way,” I muse. “It’s only four in the afternoon where you live—”
“Shhh,” she says, grinning. “Details, details. Just get out of here!”
When Dax heads to the door to leave, Liv shuffles me out the door with him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she insists. “Love you, bye.”
She gives me air kisses on either side then grins before shutting the door with a thud.
I know she’s just trying to pass me off to Dax with as little awkwardness as possible, but she’s failing miserably.
Dax is watching the whole exchange from the bottom of the stairs in front of the house near his car.
“Pretty sure you’re quite well-versed in finding your way home,” I say, eyeing him shyly. Now that the time might be coming for me to venture off with him I’m suddenly feeling a little reserved.
“It’s always a good idea to have a riding partner.” He shoves his hands into his pockets.
I hear the bolt slide across the door behind me. Olivia’s just locked us both outside.
“She is ridiculous,” I tell him, laughing. “I am well aware of how capable you are of arriving home safely in this very sturdy-looking car.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he says, lingering on the last step. “I’ve been known to get a little off-track when left on my own. Especially when my thoughts are elsewhere.”
He shifts his weight, then grins up at me and I allow his eyes to meet mine, noticing something familiar come to the surface.
“Do you want me to come with you?” I ask, feeling nervous, afraid he might reject me since I have a feeling that if I get in that car with him, it’ll be the first time we get past kissing since I got to L.A. What if he’s still feeling hesitant after New York?
“Only if you want to,” he says, his gaze not leaving my eyes. He grins.
I walk down the steps, meeting him at the bottom, loving the way his arms envelop me the second I make it onto the same step as him. It strikes me that there’s really no other place I’d rather be than right here with his arms wrapped around me.
He watches my face.
“I think this goes without saying, but I am absolutely mad about you.” He brushes a strand of hair back from my forehead, but leaves his palm pressed against my cheek.
“I don’t think it’s much of a problem,” I tell him.
I swallow down the butterflies threatening to consume me.
“I meant what I said on the beach earlier today. I do want a life outside of work, one that holds more meaning than a pending partnership offer, or proving to myself that I can handle someone like Brett breathing down my neck every day without it breaking me. But” — I force myself to keep my eyes on his instead of turning away — “I meant what I said at that burger joint, too. I can’t promise that I’ll be good at any of this. ”
“Oh, I disagree,” he says.
“How would you know?”
“Because you already are.” His voice lowers and it feels like we’re the only two people in the world right now. “All I ask is that when you start to feel scared or nervous or, heaven forbid, real feelings for me, that you tell me. You don’t run.”
He searches my eyes until I take a breath.
“I won’t run,” I tell him. “I swear I won’t, this time.”
He leans in closer, and I think he might finally kiss me, but he stops just as I start to feel his warmth pour into my waiting lips.
“Good,” he says, “because you deserve to have it all. The chemistry, the heat, the feeling behind something that doesn’t have to end the second the sun comes up.”
“Who said anything about the sun coming up?” I tease him, closing my eyes so he can, please, for the love of God , kiss me.
“If I go back home with you, you can’t mistake the cold shoulder I’ll be forced to give you at the office as anything other than me maintaining my job until this deal is done. ”
“Is that a yes?” he asks.
His smile brushes against my lips and he pulls me in with his arms laced around my back.
I grab onto his belt and pull him into me so our bodies are tight against each other, and his rock-hard intentions are clear. I see sparklers behind my eyelids by the time we draw back from the kiss, and I tuck my bottom lip in, just to keep tasting him.
“Should we forget the ride and go back inside?” I ask with my eyes still closed. Just the thought of what the group inside might do if we try to sneak past them to hide out in my room makes me laugh.
“With all of them ?” he asks. His voice goes up an octave and he widens his eyes, as if I’ve just suggested a cold shower instead of a closer bedroom.
“And get potentially swept away in a riling game of canasta or something even longer, heaven forbid, like Monopoly?” I laugh.
“I love them, I do, and I’d love to do that another time, but tonight?
Not a goddamn chance. I’m taking you home with me. ”
Then he kisses me deeply, like we have all the time in the world.