Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Dominick smiles softly and tightens his hold on me. “Clearly, your date expectations are high. No dinner or drinks or movies. So, what are we talking here? Trip to London? Paris?”
“No.” I laugh, slapping his chest playfully. “I’m not that high maintenance, I swear. I just feel like every guy I’ve ever gone out with was lazy when it came to courting a woman.”
“Okay.” He nods with a smirk. “If you could go on a date anywhere, where would you want to go?”
I think for a moment and then say, “It’s not about the perfect date. It’s about knowing me. I dated this guy for years. I would constantly talk about my love of books and poetry and art. When an art show came around, I got us tickets, and he looked at me and said, ‘You like art?’ ”
I look at Dominick, deadpan, and he laughs.
“Dinner and drinks are unoriginal. I want a partner to experience the world with. I want to visit museums and wineries and art galleries. Every night before bed, I read, yet I’d mention going to the bookstore, and he’d get annoyed.”
I shake my head. “Looking back, I’ve dated some clueless guys, and I was starting to wonder if all guys were like that, but you’re giving me renewed hope.” I slide my arms around his neck. “So, thank you.”
“Great,” he growls. “I’m glad I could renew your faith in men so you can leave here tomorrow and find someone else.”
I laugh at his words. “Well, I don’t know about that. But I will be holding men to a higher standard. If their first choice of a date—or non-date—isn’t taking me to see the beautiful waterfalls in the Dominican Republic, then I’m saying no.”
Dominick chuckles. “Good girl. So, books, art, museums, and wine. What else do you love?”
“The beach. When I have free time, I pack a basket and my current read and go to the beach to have a picnic. I love sports—mostly football and hockey—but I’ve never been to a game. What about you?”
“Truthfully, you make me feel rather boring. I run my family’s business and travel for work quite a bit, but I rarely sightsee.”
“Okay, so I’m throwing your question back at you,” I tell him. “If you could go on a date anywhere, where would you go?”
He thinks for a moment and then says, “I wouldn’t care where I was as long as I was with you.”
“Oh my God!” I splash him with water. “You are such a flirt. I’m being serious.”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I’ve been so busy. I can’t even remember the last time I went on a date.”
“Ahh.” I nod in understanding. “You’re one of those guys. No strings or commitments. Catch and release.” I waggle my brows, and he shakes his head. “I get it.”
“It’s not that,” he says with a grin. “I’m not opposed to dating. I just haven’t found anyone worth spending time with. For the record, it’s been a long-ass time since I had sex.”
His eyes lock with mine, and even though I don’t know him well, I sense the honesty in them.
“So, school, huh?” he asks, changing the subject. “What’s your major?”
“I was double-majoring in business administration and hospitality at the University of Florida.”
“Gainesville,” he says with a nod. “That’s a good school.”
“I was a good student.”
“And now?”
“I dropped out to take care of my mom. I thought I’d go back after she recovered, but before I made it that far, we found out that she was dying.”
“And what would you have done with your degree?” he asks, focusing on school instead of my dying mom, for which I’m grateful because the last thing I want to do is taint this magical place with my depressing life.
“I’m not sure. I thought about going to work in the hospitality industry, maybe for a hotel or a restaurant.”
Dominick grins. “I own a few. I could get you a job.”
I laugh and shake my head. “In Coral Bay?”
“Soon. Give me your number, and I’ll let you know once we’re hiring.”
“You’re so ridiculous.” I playfully slap his wet chest and push away from him.
Instead of letting me go, he pulls me closer to him. “Tell me something about you that nobody else knows. A secret, a fear, anything.”
I swallow thickly at his sudden intensity. “You go first.”
He nods once and releases a harsh breath, then looks past me as he thinks about what to say. I start to think he’s not going to answer his own question when he finally speaks. “I’m terrified of failing.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“Probably,” he agrees. “But in my world, failure can mean …” His jaw tics. “In my world, failure isn’t an option.”
“I’m not sure I like your world.”
“It’s the only world I know,” he says, his tone filled with a darkness that sends a chill racing up my spine.