✧

DOMINIC

Dominic admired Claudia more when she made his father happy, but he didn't want to get close. She made a crazy situation better. It surprised him that she signed his ridiculous contract. He thought about that. She probably did it for money and didn't care about him. But creating this contract secured his assets if anything happened between them.

It was hard to forget how compassionately she treated his father. This was bad. Dominic's father wasn't obligated to share his skepticism. After receiving unknown drugs, Dominic respected Claudia profoundly. He couldn't kiss her, despite his desire to. When Sunday came, they both had little to do.

After being upstairs all morning, he appreciated seeing her watching TV on the couch. Meeting his father the night before helped her open up, he thought, because she watched reality shows in the living room instead of his bedroom.

Dominic entered the room and said, "I can't believe you watch The Bachelor." He grabbed two water bottles from the kitchen and handed her one.

"I think the show fits in a situation like this," Claudia remarked, staring at the TV. "A charming and wealthy bachelor who avoids marriage, and what do we know? He has a plethora of women at his fingertips."

"Ha-ha. The men on the show are not like me. I want to settle down, but I can't."

"Yes, you can," she responded, keeping her eyes locked on the screen as an Asian man with chiseled abs removed his shirt and dove into the pool. Dominic chuckled and shook his head. "I'm sure this man is on the show for the right reasons."

"If only that were the case," he said, sipping his water.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Dominic Beretta is still single," Claudia said, grinning at him. "He is cynical."

She watched TV again. Dominic noticed her tube top behind the couch. He didn't want to look at her body, but it was there. A bra lifted her cleavage. His affection for her has been on his mind. It hurt to think of her romantically because he wanted her to have a pleasant life without him. But her company was comforting.

He sat down next to her after walking around the couch. She smiled again. "You're going to give up and watch this with me?"

Dominic felt silly. He couldn't sit there and say, "I want to touch you." With anyone else, he would say that. He respected Claudia. "Sure. It will be our first show together."

"And it will be something we'll tell the grandkids about."

He smiled. Things were returning to normal in their friendship.

Dominic watched the TV quietly. Not paying attention to anything that was going on. Luckily, Claudia was vigilant. "Do you even know The Bachelor's name?"

He shrugged and kissed her temple. She replied with a smile and a soft kiss. This kiss wasn't as strong as expected. "The way you dealt with my dad impressed me," Dominic said. "I never meant to shut you out."

She nodded, staring at his lips. His cock stiffened. "What are you giving me in return? Kisses?"

He cupped her cheek and said, "Nah, I want to take you somewhere. Let me show you another part of the estate."

Claudia's face had the sweetest lines. "Really? Where's that?"

"What fun would it be if you knew? Nothing would surprise you."

Dominic escorted her up and toward the stairs. "I'm still getting used to your house, you know. Everywhere will surprise me."

"Why did you ask then?" He cocked his head.

She chuckled. "I was curious."

"All right."

"So, what should I wear?"

A small smile tugged at his lips. "Put on your swimsuit, a long t-shirt, and maybe some booty shorts."

Claudia's stare turned colder. "I should have known that you wanted to see me in shorts."

Dominic brushed her hip. "I'd be happy to see you wearing anything."

"Even a wedding dress?"

She got him there.

"You have a point."

"Exactly, Mr. Bachelor," she said.

He caressed her arm and smiled. "Get ready. I'll wait for you downstairs."

"I can't wait."

Dominic grabbed towels, sunscreen, and water. Then he met Claudia at the side door several minutes later. Smiling, he neared her. "Ready?"

She laughed. "Yep."

They walked out of the front door and started down the driveway. "We aren't driving?" she asked.

When Dominic thought about them trying to drive around the trees, he chuckled. "No. We can't get there by car. It's not a popular location. Few people in the area know about it."

"Well, that makes me feel safer."

He couldn't stop looking at her beautiful profile as they walked along the small road in the sun. "Dia, do you know what I think?"

She looked over and met his stare. The tips of her cheeks flushed. The road ended at a guesthouse. "It's something intimate, I bet."

"Oh, please. I can think with my real brain, you know. I get why everyone likes you so much." Dominic didn't even think about what he was going to say next, but when he said it, he knew it was true. "Like my dad, I'm beginning to wonder if he is right."

Her lips curled into a sour smile. "Dominic, I'm sure he liked the other women you've introduced him to."

Dominic gasped at his name. He loved it when Claudia said it. As he led her across the main road and into the dense trees, he let out a breath. "No. My father has only met Amelia."

"Oh. I don't know what to say."

"It's okay." He stared straight ahead as they passed several stumps.

"Is this a trick?" she asked.

He lowered his eyes and looked over his shoulder at her. "Why would I trick you, Claudia?"

She went silent. "Anything can happen. You're part of the Mafia, and enemies are everywhere."

He ignored her comment. "Don't be so afraid out here. I won't let anything happen to you."

Claudia didn't reply as she tried to avoid the twisted vines and other plants. "Can we go home and wait for the doctor?"

Wait for the doctor? Dominic blinked and paused for the first time in ages. He wanted to take her somewhere peaceful and warm. He didn't want to return to Dickhead Dominic since she liked Nice Dominic. Dr. Harris told him he wouldn't be at the estate until late afternoon, so he thought about swimming. "The doctor won't be around for a while. You'll like it here. It might be your second home."

"That's no help." Claudia stared at his hand and bit her bottom lip, catching his attention. The surprising warmth in his gut had nothing to do with their emotional distance.

Static electricity jolted him when she held his hand longer than anticipated. Their feet lingered. He helped her get over a log.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Even though he was the one who came up with the idea, Dominic's chest tightened when he was next to her. He didn't want them to care about each other while they were putting on this act. They barely fooled his father. "We only have a little more to go."

"A little more? We've walked for how long?"

"Fifteen minutes, give or take a few." Dominic smiled slyly as she followed him around a fallen tree. The fact that he had even brought her here surprised him. "Welcome to heaven. At least, the closest thing to heaven."

Claudia stopped as she passed him on the path. He could feel his muscles tense up when she looked around and took everything in.

The clearing's tiny brook became a lake. The water rippled in the breeze. There were big, flat rocks. Purple and yellow flowers surrounded the lake.

Did she see what he saw? He knew his family had. If he had brought Amelia, she would have liked it too. His brother, Giovanni, and his wife adored it out here. Even some of their closest friends.

"Holy cow," Claudia murmured. "This place is beautiful."

"It is. The water is warm, too." Dominic raised his hand to shield the sun's brightness from the lake. The spot has always been a place to find peace. He could get away from everything for a while and come here to think. She let go of his hand.

"Thank you for bringing me."

Dominic became quiet. And the discomfort in his chest got tighter.

Claudia neared the water. "How deep is it?"

"I think it's about ten feet deep and twenty feet on the other side of the dock," he said. He crept behind her. "My sister-in-law Emery likes this spot. She came here every morning before she moved to New Jersey with my brother."

Before turning to face the lake, Claudia just stood there and took a big breath. "I can see why. It's quiet."

"It is."

"You know, I wish I could just come out here whenever I want."

When he spoke, Dominic looked into her eyes. "I know you do."

"And being close to each other now won't cause any problems. We just need to tell our story to your family, my foster family if they care, and the Guarini family whenever we meet them."

Dominic circled her. He could tell Claudia was trying to get past the obvious things they hadn't talked about, but he knew crossing a line again could ruin them. She would unknowingly become everybody's target. "We just need to keep doing what we had planned."

"I know you want more than just an arrangement with me," she remarked behind him. "Your behavior tells me. I'm fine with who you are and your past. But if I'm not right for you, forget it. The message is loud and clear."

Claudia tried to turn, but Dominic stopped her. "Why do you want to become a businesswoman?"

Her hands clenched as she faced him. "What?"

"Why do you want to go into business?" Dominic looked out at the lake and thought about what he was getting out of keeping her in place. "You went to college to learn how to run a business, and you came to my place of work to gain experience. What made you want to follow in my footsteps?"

She exhaled. "I don't want to talk about that. I... I can't right now."

Well then. "Let's go swimming."

He was afraid that Claudia was going to choke him. Dominic knew it wouldn't help to smile at her, so he lowered his chin. It all started when he took off his shoes and undid his belt. She was staring directly at him, and he didn't even have to look to know it. He felt her gaze as he slipped off his jeans and shirt.

He jumped in without looking back. Underwater, Dominic forgot everything. He preferred swimming. It was like snowboarding, where he soared.

Claudia's face was still bright red when he reached the top. He didn't want to chase her down if she turned and left. "You don't want to come in?"

She chewed her lip as she slid her shoe across the loose waterfront soil. Her confused eyes met his and then faded. Cute. Claudia captivated him.

"You're shy, Dia."

She paused. "Sometimes."

"But not when we are in my office or at my house." Dominic turned on his back and floated. "So? Are you going to join me?" He knew that if Claudia didn't move, he would have to make her move. "You should jump in."

She didn't look him in the eyes. "Why is that?"

He moved toward the dock. "I brought us out here to swim."

Her mouth pinched. "Well, I may not want to swim."

"Why?"

Claudia sighed, then groaned. "I'm not comfortable anymore."

"Because you want me to like you. You're trying to change who I am, Dia."

"Dominic, would that be so bad?"

"Yes," he answered quickly. "You said you wouldn't try to change the way I live."

Claudia stopped right next to the water. "That was before everything changed."

"Forty seconds."

Did she think he wouldn't go after her?

He would.

"Thirty seconds." Dominic smiled at her, hoping she'd jump in. Because he would have a great time tossing her body into the water.

She asked, "You're not going to answer me, are you?"

"You didn't ask me a question."

She made a face. "I thought things would be different once your father liked me."

"That might be true, but you won't be able to start a new business if we're together." Dominic knew this was devastating to hear, but he didn't want his lifestyle to make things difficult for her. "Fifteen seconds."

Claudia gripped the bottom of her shirt tightly and cursed. She quickly removed her shorts and placed both hands on her hips. "Happy?"

Dear Lord.

His dream came true because she wasn't wearing a one-piece. Holy crap, a two-piece red bikini. Dominic had no choice but to stare. He wasn't expecting this swimsuit. She had four outfits, and her choice made his heart leap.

He wasn't trying to stare at her. Claudia's red swimsuit settled over her heart. Since she wasn't moving, he missed her reaction to his wide-eyed stare. Dominic didn't count the inch and a half between her hips and ass.

Fuck.

He nearly drowned.

What was he thinking? Even though Dominic tried to avoid it, he was checking her out.

Claudia's tight shorts accentuated her wide hips and small waist, making her legs appear longer. As he glanced across her soft center and north to her round breasts, his gut clenched. He didn't know how the red top stayed on her or whether to be delighted or nervous around her.

Ordinary? Had he called her words "ordinary" and "simple"? Still, this woman...

Dominic thought of a saying from a long time ago. "Be logical." It was very true, and he couldn't believe it. He wouldn't have expected this reaction if he'd known how strongly his body would react to her bikini, and boy, did it react.

He was insane to believe he could suppress his feelings for her.

His smile went away. "I'll be happy once you hop in."

Her eyes narrowed as she asked, "Why is this important to you?"

"I don't know. Jump in before your blush gets to your soles." Dominic kept thinking about all the stupid things they could do now.

But her red face became more serious. Claudia walked sternly toward the edge of the lake, where the water was shallow. This let him see her ass, and it didn't stop him from physically responding.

She put her toes in the water while her arms were around her waist. "The water feels alright."

Yeah, it did. The air was also windy. Dominic's eyes went to her bent knee and stayed there for a moment. He coughed. Other parts of him became firm. Especially in his lower region.

Shit.

Dominic dipped himself, and when he emerged, it hadn't helped because her legs were now wet. Most likely, Claudia went down when he did. He was in deep water, hunched over so that the water was lapping at his mouth.

"You need something?"

"Why don't you come on over here?" Dominic's heart was beating fast. If she were smart, she wouldn't go toward him right now. His hormones surged once more.

Claudia was smart and stayed in her spot.

She turned around and dove under the water to get to the pebbles. He chewed his lip as she climbed onto a boulder from the water's edge. His cock...

"You look sad," she said to him.

He became frustrated and wondered what to do about his boner. Dominic just shrugged. "How can I be unhappy when you're wearing that?"

Claudia's feet fell into the water, while her legs hung off the end of the dock. "Do you like this color?"

"Maybe." He made it toward a column.

"Is that all you've got?"

"Yes."

"You're odd," she muttered.

"Well, coming out here with you is not what I expected," he admitted.

Claudia grumbled. "And why is that?"

When he tried to touch her foot, she moved her leg out of the way. No fun.

She asked, "Am I not good enough to be more than your fake fiancée?"

"We wouldn't work out, Dia."

"Seriously?" She retreated when he grabbed her other foot.

"We live differently."

"We like a lot of the same things. I like your style. You're also nice and fun." When Claudia moved back, she was out of reach. "And you should stop being such a jerk and forcing me away. It's not going to work."

He laughed at what she said. "You stand out and have a strong sense of self. Many women appear to struggle with knowing what they want out of life."

"It's always better to set and achieve goals. That's how I perceive things."

Claudia was incredible. Dominic enjoyed one-night stands and relationships that didn't last. Only Amelia and Yvette had ever yelled at him. For them, it was different, but for the other women he'd been involved with? There was only one thing asked of him. Most of the time, he didn't mind, but if he gave them a half-glare, they ran like ants. He felt sick when he thought about it. But not with Claudia. She didn't know how the Mafia operated, and she wasn't afraid of anything.

That made her his weakness.

Dominic wasn't weak. He was strong.

As he left the column, the water rippled. He dove to fight the overwhelming urge to take off his swimsuit. He struggled to ignore Claudia's poisoning and target status, but it was pointless. She drove him wild by probing into his personal life without realizing she was making him love her. Before he was 94% sure he wouldn't touch her in the water, he didn't know how long he had been underwater.

Before he went back under, the last thing he heard was Claudia's cry. "Dominic!"

✧