Page 43 of Miss Treated

“If the pill helps you, there is no reason you shouldn’t be taking it. None.”

How ironic for me to say such a thing when I’d been ashamed over the stigma of taking antidepressants. Was this a full-circle moment? I think my therapist would have been proud.

Unfortunately, even with the medication, an abundance of turbulence had Dominic white-knuckle a lot of the flight. By the time the car picked us up outside of baggage claim, he appeared in need of a long nap.

He leaned toward me in the back seat of our hired town car, his features uncharacteristically serious.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“About?”

“I worry about your ex finding out where you’re staying and ambushing you at your hotel room again, especially if you told your mom the name of the hotel.”

Damn. He had a point. I hadn’t told my mother the name of the hotel, but I had told her I was on assignment for Chambers Tech in San Diego. It wasn’t a stretch to assume I’d be staying in the hotel across the street. “I hadn’t thought about it until now.” But the thought of changing rooms to a hotel further away was annoying. Why should I have to move?

“I appreciate you’re capable of making your own decisions, and I’m not trying to sway you. Okay, maybe I am trying to sway you, but I’m definitely not trying to control your decisions. So maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

“You could come stay with me for the weekend. Just to be safe.”

I could simply drive up to LA and stay at my brother’s house over the weekend, but they were out of town, and I’d be alone there. I could go see Daisy, but she probably had plans with her boyfriend. “I’m not sure—”

“Before you decide, you should know I have a guest bedroom with its own bathroom, a terrific view of the ocean, which is within walking distance, and a dog who would love to see you. The only thing I don’t have going for me is I’m liable to be a lousy host for the first few hours. But I promise to make it up to you by cooking a fantastic dinner tonight. You can take your time over the weekend in deciding if you want to change hotels.”

The last word was said on a whisper as he inhaled sharply.

“Are you okay?”

His smile was waning, his eyes heavy. “If I say no, can we pretend it’s only to get you to come over and take care of me?”

It was working. Especially after the way he’d taken care of me last night. “All right, I’ll go by the hotel to get some things, and then we can go to your place.” Having a change of scenery would be nice, and perhaps I wasn’t ready to part company.

His face relaxed in a smile, and two minutes later he was fast asleep.

The driver waited for me to go up to my room, repack my suitcase, and come back down. By the time we arrived at Dominic’s place, he was waking up, albeit slowly.

“Come on.” I took the key from his hand and let him into his condo. Wow. It was spacious with the light beachy colors and lots of glass—what I’d call San Diego style. I peeked at the ocean view and balcony but would have to take it in more completely later. Right now, Dominic needed help getting to bed.

He leaned on me, careful not to give me all of his weight.

“Is this how you were the other night when we got to New York?”

“Yeah, but minus the pretty girl and the drug. After a few hours, I’ll bounce back good as new.”

I got him to his massive king-sized bed, watching as he slipped off his shoes and lay onto his pillow.

“As you can tell, this is where the magic doesn’t happen.”

I stifled a giggle and pulled his comforter over him.

He reached out to take my hand, focusing those big browns on me. “Do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“When I wake up, will you tell me lies and say seeing me like this was the sexiest thing you’ve ever experienced? How you had to pull yourself away because of how attractive I am right now.”

“Only on one condition.”