Chapter 9 Dom

Chapter 9

Dom

As expected, the first words out of Indie’s mouth when I walk through the door of her apartment are edged with the fire of a thousand suns. Burn me up, Baby.

“I’m not babysitting him.” She brushes past me, barely looking up from the box she’s carrying through the small kitchen.

The greeting only makes my smile grow wider. “Missed you too.” Grabbing the box out of her arms, I look down at the marker scrawled across the top. “Bedroom, perfect. That’s where you like me best, anyway,” I say, low enough that only she hears.

“Not enough for a repeat.” Her voice is honey sweet with a hint of spice, just like the scent that swirls around us when she leans in and pulls the box out of my arms. Without a second glance, she turns away from me, treating me to an unforgettable view of her ass in a pair of tiny spandex shorts.

I choose to believe the sway in her hips is for me.

When she’s out of sight, I move across the apartment to where Dean is talking to Poppy .

“The pod in the parking lot has all the heavy stuff. If you guys start on that, we can work on unpacking in here,” Poppy directs, watching me carefully.

I get it guys, I’m the problem.

“Do you know where she wants things, or should we just get them inside for now?” Hendrix asks.

Poppy looks around the space. One wall is lined with boxes and totes, leaving the rest of the small kitchen and living room combo mostly empty. Beyond that, it’s all clean lines and minimalist vibes. The balcony opens up to a view of the mountains. It’s everything I envisioned for a woman like Indie. Nonsense and a little untamed.

“If Indie’s busy, I can take an educated guess,” she says, excusing us to start with the heavy lifting.

The four of us are able to empty the pod quickly and start on helping to reassemble things inside. Which is perfect because being sequestered outside is not helping me gain any ground with the woman I want.

Dean swipes his hand across his forehead as he puts together a small desk.

“I’m going to grab us some water.” Leaving the bookcase I was setting up, I stand, taking a minute to stretch my back. My muscles are tight from being crouched over the project but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

There’s a little extra pep in my step when I find Indie standing by the fridge. Coming up behind her I reach around her, pulling out the waters one at a time, in no hurry to put space between us again.

“All this just to be closer to me? Moving seems extreme, but I can’t say I’m disappointed.” I step back just enough so Indie’s not trapped and uncap my water.

Instead of shutting the door, she reaches back in and grabs another bottle. “Here you go.” She presses the cold drink into my hand.

“What’s this for?”

“Just figured hauling that ego around is a lot of work and you might need another one so you don’t wear yourself out.” The annoyance in her voice can’t hide the gleam in her eyes at the insult .

“You already know stamina isn’t an issue for me,” I tell her, handing the extra bottle back. “But you might want it. You’re looking a little flushed, just like you did when you came on my fingers.” My smile grows as I add, “And my tongue and cock.”

“You can’t talk to me like that anymore. I’m seeing someone.”

Swiveling my head, looking around the space. “That’s funny, I don’t see her.”

“Just because she’s not here doesn’t mean anything.” The playfulness gives way to a defensiveness that doesn’t sit right with me.

“Are you trying to make me jealous, because it’s working.”

The confident mask she wears falters, and I see uncertainty flash in her dark eyes. “No. Why would I do that?”

“Maybe the same reason she was trying to make me jealous in Chicago.” Indie brings the bottle I gave her to her lips, taking a long drink. “You told her about me, didn’t you?”

The way she stomps off without another word is all the answer I need. If what we had meant nothing there would be no reason to share it.

Grabbing the waters from the counter I hand them out to the guys and then go back to the bookcase.

“Will you stop it?” Dean asks a few minutes later.

“What?” I know damn well what he’s talking about, but it’s more fun to push his buttons. Even if he’s not as grumpy as he was before falling for Mia, his tolerance for nonsense is still low.

“You’ve been humming ‘Happy’ like you’re yellow and wear bibs since you came back with water. What the hell do you have to be so pleased about?”

“Dude. I would pay money to see you curled up on the couch watching those little yellow fuckers causing mayhem. You’re a changed man, you know that.”

“Screw off. She lets me touch her boobs on movie night. Every damn time . I’ll watch whatever she picks, and you would too.” He glances over his shoulder. Whether he’s checking to make sure his girlfriend doesn’t hear or Hendrix, I’m not sure .

Screwdriver in hand, I pretend it’s a whip, sound effect and all.

“Really looked like things were going so well for you with your future wife, ” he mocks.

“She wants me. Fighting turns her on,” I tell him with a wink.

“Seems like it. Is that why she stomped away and you’re out here putting her bookshelf together?”

He takes the pencil from behind his ear and raises it, but before he can flick his wrist, I slap it out of his hand.

“Do I even want to know?” a silky voice asks from behind us making Dean chuckle darkly.

The look I shoot him shuts him up. But it’s not me he’s afraid of. Dean knows just as well as I do not to mess with Indie.

“Mia sent me over here. Said you had something I’d want?” Her eyes flick to me and the corner of her lip twitches before she refocuses on my soon-to-be dead teammate.

“Did she, now?” he asks.

“Basically,” Indie says, pulling her phone out of her pocket and unlocking it before handing it to him.

Without an explanation, he types something out on her phone before handing it back. “I told her you would be in touch. She’ll be thrilled to hear from you; I think you’re just what she needs.”

“Fantastic! I’m excited to meet her,” she says fucking beaming when she spins on her heels and walks away.

Blood rushes to the tips of my ears making them hot. “What the hell was that?”

“Not sure what you mean,” he says in the flattest voice I’ve ever heard.

“ One . She made it pretty clear to me she already has a girlfriend. Two . Why would you do me dirty like that?”

“Relax. I gave her Vivi’s number.” He must see something on my face that tells him I’m still not following. Shaking his head he continues, “Not sure this is any of your business if she hasn’t told you.”

“Suddenly you’re too good for tea time because you’ve got a girlfriend? ”

“You’re exhausting, you know that, right? Indie wants to work with nonprofits, helping build volunteer programs and creating talent solutions for their full-time employees . . . or something like that.”

“So you weren’t hooking her up with someone.”

“No. You’ve fucking lost it,” he says adding the final leg to the desk.

We both stand and I help him flip over the desk he’s working on, positioning it against the wall like Poppy instructed. With all the major projects done, and the day winding down, the group is gathered around a charcuterie board sipping on beer or wine. One person is notably missing.

Scanning the small apartment I catch sight of her dark hair gleaming in the late afternoon sun out on the balcony. Her head is tipped back and her eyes are closed as she sits with her legs pulled to her chest on the wicker lounge chair. She looks like she needs a friend. I may not be the one she wants, but I’m who she’s getting.

Before someone can spot me or try to stop me, I’m slipping out the door to join her. When I step onto the balcony, her eyes are still closed as the breeze makes her curl bounce around her heart-shaped face.

“I’ll be back inside in a minute—” It’s a tone she never uses with me, soft and unguarded. And gone the instant she opens those big brown eyes. “I thought you were Poppy. What do you want? I’m exhausted and don’t really want to deal with you .”

“Ouch. After I gave up my day off to help you move.” The glare she levels me with is cold enough to cause frostbite. “Not the right thing to say. Got it.”

“Is there a point, or are you just trying to disturb my peace?”

“I want to give you this.” I fish the piece of tissue paper I snagged from the box of kitchen plates out of my pocket and hand it to her.

“I already have your number.”

“That’s not what this is, but since you brought it up. Would it kill you to use it once in a while?”

Oof that eye roll almost looked painful.

“If it’s not your number, whose is it? ”

“That’s my friend Lara’s number. She’s on the board of a few local charities. I heard you wanted to make some connections. If she doesn’t sit on the board, she can tell you who does. Her father is the mayor, and she’s been working with nonprofits since she was sixteen.”

“The mayor’s daughter. Why am I not surprised? I’m not sure she’ll be much help to me. I’m looking at very specific charities—the kind that do meaningful work for youth, or focus on women’s health and marginalized communities. Not just ones that throw fancy galas so they feel better about life.”

Disdain drips off each word, reinforcing exactly what she thinks of me. It’s never been a secret, but she’s wrong on most counts. Not that she has any intention of letting me prove that, so I don’t even try. Words don’t mean shit to her. Whoever hurt her, they did a number. And if I ever find out who it was, I’ll be sure to return the favor.

“You caught me. Super tight with the mayor’s daughter. Practically gave me the keys to the city. I’ve even taken her to a few of those galas.” She turns the piece of paper over in her hand. “Just call her. She’s someone you’ll want to know.”

“And how should I tell her I got the number? If she finds out it’s you, will she run in the opposite direction?”

“Nah, babe. She’s always been satisfied with our encounters.” I don’t tell her it’s because I let her win at bingo, know how to waltz, and write out checks every single time she asks. Indie can find that out the fun way.

“Gross. On all accounts. Don’t call me ‘babe.’ And don’t tell me about your conquests.”

I chuckle and slip back inside, hoping she never realizes that when she’s spicy, it makes me want her more.