Page 41 of Miss Treated

“God, that’s awful. Whenever Joel would mention setting a wedding date or starting a family, I’d get sick to my stomach. Almost like I knew it would only get worse.”

“When did you decide you had to leave?”

“He started controlling every minute of my time and became paranoid whenever I wasn’t with him. But by then I’d gotten so low. I’d lost my friends and—”

Fuck, her voice was breaking up, causing my heart to sink. Without thinking about it, I pulled her close into my chest for a comforting hug. Too bad my body wasn’t getting the platonic, “soothe her, not fuck her” message. Jesus, she smelled good. “You got out. It’s what matters.”

There was nothing casual about this girl. She needed stability. She needed a partner who would commit to a healthy relationship. And I was the complete opposite of a stable, committed guy.

“How did he find you tonight?”

“Had to have been my mother. Stupid move on my part. I told her I was in New York City staying at the Four Seasons and going to this gala tonight.”

I was instantly outraged. “Doesn’t your mom know how he treated you?”

“She joined Joel in telling me I was oversensitive. She also thinks it was stupid for me to leave him.”

“People who love you should support you. Of course I say that knowing full well navigating parental pressure is not very easy to do. I’m not so great at it myself.”

“You talking about your father?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t mean to make it about me.”

“Please make it about you. I could use the break from my dumpster fire.”

My chest rumbled with a chuckle. “Eh, I wouldn’t say full-on dumpster. Maybe like a barrel.”

She laughed as I’d hoped she would. Damn, it felt good to have her snuggled up to me. “I meant what I said downstairs. You are smart, successful, and sexy as hell. You let someone diminish your light once before, but you never will again. I have no doubt.”

The way she looked up at me, her face vulnerable, so fucking beautiful, had me breathless for a moment. But when she scooted up as if she was ready to kiss me, I hesitated. Here she was looking for something I wasn’t sure I was capable of giving.

Chapter Nineteen

Kelsey

I’d gone from being utterly humiliated having Dominic witness my reaction to my ex to completely turned on by the way he championed me. But just as I thought his lips would go crashing into mine, he kissed my forehead instead.

Stunned, I felt my face start to heat. How could I have read things so wrong? I tried to move out of his arms, but he tightened them around me.

“Don’t think it’s because I don’t want to.”

Feign ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “You thought I was going to kiss you. But it’s not because I don’t want to. Not because I haven’t imagined it every hour of every day since I first met you.”

Deciding honesty was my only course now, I asked, “Then why won’t you?”

“Because you’re vulnerable, and I won’t risk you waking up with regrets tomorrow.”

Although he was being logical and acting like a gentleman in not taking advantage, I couldn’t help wondering if there wasn’t another reason he’d backed off. Perhaps Joel’s words about my fragility had affected the way Dominic saw me. What could I say? My negative voice had always been the loudest in my head. “Okay.”

“I’d like to think we’re becoming friends? What about you?”

Friends were safe. Even if I was imagining all sorts of ways this friend could have me naked and beneath him. “Yes, we’re becoming friends.”

“Good. Get some sleep, Kels.”

The next morning I woke to an empty bed and the sound of water running in the bathroom. My fingers rubbed over his spot, finding it still warm. I’d shared a bed with Joel for years, yet I’d never missed his warmth or craved his touch the way I missed Dominic’s warmth and craved his touch after one sexless night.