Chapter 30

Dominick

Dinner was the perfect thing to bridge the awkward gap between my life with my brothers and the life I've been enjoying with Chloe.

Jay went all Papa Bear on her, of course, but I saw that coming a mile away, and she handled it well.

Poor asshole has always been more like a dad to Luke and me than a brother, but what can you expect when we had a father like ours.

Glorified sperm donor.

Cleaning up the dishes from breakfast, I can hear the water going in the other room as Chloe takes another leisurely shower.

She really likes to luxuriate in the bathroom, I've learned.

As I'm loading the plates into the dishwasher, my phone rings. I wipe my hands on a towel and hurry over to answer it.

"Yeah."

"Hey, Dom. It's Brent. We're working on that new restaurant of yours, and we'd really like you to come over and explain the blueprints to the contractor."

My stomach pinches, and I mentally curse. I've known I needed to get down there to help at some point, but I don't like the idea of leaving Chloe alone.

Ethan, that asshole, is still up to no good.

Fuck. I have to do this. I've put it off for too long already.

"Sure, Brent. Is Joe down there now?"

I can hear the sound of construction in the background. "Not quite yet; should be here in about thirty or so. I've tried to go over it with him. But I'm the developer, not the man behind the vision. Hell, you're going to own the damn thing."

"Okay, okay. Um—" I look toward the bathroom "—let me get ready quick, and I'll be right down."

"Great. Thanks, boss. I'm sure your vision for Cornerstone will come together. See you soon."

I hang up. I need someone here with Chloe. I just don't trust leaving her alone. Ethan's proven himself to be far too crafty for that.

Fuck. Who can I call?

I start with Cam, dialing him up, but the damn thing goes to voicemail. I try Jay next.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Hey, bro. Can you swing by my place to keep Chloe company? I have to go to the Cornerstone development to meet with the contractor."

I hear him sigh. "I would, but I'm in the city. I won't be back till tomorrow morning."

Frustration bites through me. "The city? The fuck did you go there for?"

"Investors meeting with the board. I can't get out of it."

"Ugh, fine," I grumble, clenching my jaw. "Fuck. I don't want to bring her. She'll be bored to tears."

"Luke's home. I just got off the phone with him."

My mouth falls open as my brows shoot to my hairline.

"You're fucking kidding, right?"

Starting up a pace, I circle the coffee table before heading to the bedroom. I can't exactly go to the job site in my pajamas.

"I'm aware that you two drive each other nuts, but you know as well as I do that he'd never let anything happen to someone you clearly care about."

I sigh, yanking off my sweats and reaching for a pair of boxers in my drawer.

"That's not really what I'm worried about. He's going to be alone. With Chloe. Problems, Jay."

"Luke wouldn't do that." He laughs. "Well, I mean, he'll flirt. But he wouldn't actually make a move on Chloe."

"He better fucking not."

"Just call him. I have to go. Talk later."

I roll my eyes, pulling up the boxers and nodding. "Yeah. Bye."

Hanging up, I slip on a pair of jeans and find a simple gray tee from my collection. Slipping on a flannel since it's still cool this time of day, I pick up my cell again, staring at Luke's number.

"Ugh. Fine."

The line rings, and I wait for him to answer.

"'Sup, bro?"

"Luke, can you…swing by my place and keep an eye on Chloe?"

I can practically hear his eyebrow cock. "Keep an eye on Chloe? What are you doing?"

"I need to go to the Cornerstone job site and meet with the contractor."

"Yeesh, Cornerstone. You still up your ass about that dumb ‘mountain man' restaurant?"

Seriously considering throwing my phone against the wall, I take a deep breath and settle for squeezing it really hard.

"Yes. So? Can you watch her?"

"Like she needs a fucking babysitter, Dom. She's a grown-ass woman. And a fine ass at that."

"Why did I fucking call you?" I leave the closet for the kitchen. Is 10 a.m. too early for a drink?

"Oh, come on. Chill. Yeah, I can come over. But she's going to be pissed about it."

"Like you know so much about Chloe."

I settle for coffee instead, putting my tumbler under the Keurig to fill up.

"After dinner last night, I feel like I know her pretty well, and one thing she ain't is a fan of being bossed around."

"It's not that, you asshole. Ethan is out there. The Cobras are out there. I…I don't want her getting hurt because she's alone."

"Aww, big ole softy just wants to keep his wittle Chloe safe."

Struggling for control, I growl back at him, "I will fucking gut you."

"Fucking hell, Dom, un-clench. I'm heading out now. You won't have to worry."

It doesn't take Luke long to get to the penthouse, and as Chloe gets out of the bathroom, dressed and "freshly plucked"—her words—I try to put on my best sympathetic smile.

"Hey." I walk up and wrap my arms around her waist, appreciating the soft, worn-in fabric of her T-shirt. "I need to go to a job site for another restaurant I'm building."

"Okay. Let me get my jacket."

Chloe moves to leave, but I hold her close.

"I don't want to drag you all the way down there. It's boring. Honestly."

"Oh, good. I didn't actually want to go. I'm all fresh from the shower and stuff. I want to relax. When will you be back?"

"Um, probably in a few hours. But I, um…"

Chloe eyes me, her brow quirking as her spidey senses tell her something's up.

"Dom?"

"I called Luke. To, you know, hang out with you."

She sighs, stepping back. "You called Luke to watch me."

"I did."

Hanging her head, Chloe takes a deep breath, and I'm sure she's about to lay into me.

"All right."

My mouth falls open. "What?"

"It's fine, Dom. I get it. Just go. Do your building thing. I was just going to watch TV and maybe read anyway."

Relief washes over me. "You are so chill. Have I told you that?"

"Not nearly enough. Now, go."

I pull her along with me to the living room, but she hesitates briefly in the hallway before starting to walk again.

"What was that?"

"Oof, sorry. I got a little lightheaded. I probably just need to eat."

A thread of nervousness stitches through me, but then Chloe rights herself and smiles.

"You also spent a night in a cold jail cell. Catching something wouldn't be too far out of left field."

"I'm fine." She waves a hand at me. "And even if I did catch a cold, it's nothing that a little DayQuil won't fix."

When we exit the hallway, Luke has already made himself comfortable on the couch. Why did I give him a key?

"Hey, bro." He nods before grinning at Chloe. "Hey, rockstar."

I roll my eyes, but Chloe hurries over to him and gives Luke a huge hug. I'm flabbergasted, as Chloe would say.

"I'm sorry, what did I miss?"

Chloe looks over her shoulder at me as Luke continues with that fucking smirk.

"While you were arguing with Jay about accounts payable, Luke and I chatted. He's quite the rom-com aficionado."

"A what?"

"Chill, Dom. We'll be fine. Go be construction man."

Luke offers me a quick handshake, pounding on my back as he leans in to whisper something.

"I promise I got her."

The words are simple, but it's when Luke gets all serious that you know he means business. No one would guess the playboy was actually a scary ass mother fucker in a fight.

I nod once at him, breaking his hug to grab my wallet and keys.

"I'll be back."

"Hasta la vista, T2." Luke mock salutes. "I'll keep the package under lock and key. Or die trying."

Chloe laughs before laying a quick kiss on my lips, and I look down at her, staring hard into those pretty amber eyes.

"Call if anything comes up."

"I will, but we'll be fine."

Hesitating, I hold the side of Chloe's face.

"Oh my God, bro. Get going. Your team doesn't need to suffer because you're busy melting into Chloe's eyes."

Grinding my molars, I grin tightly as I flip Luke off.

"Bye."

Chloe fights her own smile. "Bye. See you later."

With that, I finally leave, and despite everything, I'm actually kind of excited to go detail my vision for Cornerstone to the crew.