The Dating Experiment (The Experiment, #2)(53)

“You really hated her.”

Still did.

“I’m surprised you didn’t claw her eyes out.”

“Dom, your game is so obvious, the local Kindergarten has already rolled their dice and won. Quit it. I don’t care about her.” I met his eyes. “If you’re trying to bug me, it’s not working.”

“You sound bugged.”

“You sound like you want me to conclude that we’ll never work.”

“Yet, here you are, fighting with me.” He brought his beer to his lips. “Because you’re annoyed that I’m trying to make you jealous because you know you are.”

I took a big gulp of wine. “Stick your psychological bullshit up your ass, Dr. Phil.”

“You’re just proving my point.”

“I’m going to leave in a second.”

“I’ll follow you.”

“I’ll punch you,” I warned him. “I’ve done it before. I hit you with a wooden spoon, remember?”

He winced. “Yes, and it hurt. But you don’t have a spoon.”

“I have a purse.”

“Calm down, Grandma.”

“All right. I’m leaving.” I stood up, but he swept one arm around my waist and pulled me right back down.

“No, you’re not,” he said, holding me against his side. “Might I remind you that this was your idea? You’re the one who wanted to find single people on bad dates. He was the first guy we’ve found. You can’t be mad at me for getting jealous when he’s looking at you like you’re a piece of cake.”

“Please. He didn’t look at me like I was a piece of cake.”

“If he had a spoon, he’d have eaten you.”

“I’m a cheesecake. I’m too good to be normal cake. He’d need a fork for that.”

Dom turned his head and looked at me. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“You’re not supposed to. I’ve told you before—I have a superior wit. It’s my weapon. Taking people off-guard with my brilliance.”

“Brilliance? I think you’re full of shit.”

“I know. But you like my shit.” I paused. “I mean, my witty shit. Not my actual shit.”

“I’m so glad you clarified,” he said in a droll tone. “I couldn’t possibly figure out what the hell you meant.”

“I’m here to help.”

He tightened his grip on me, pulling me closer into him. We might have been sitting on backless stools, but he had such a solid grip on me, it barely felt like it. I was tucked almost perfectly against the curve of his side, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

It felt right.

Like I fit against his body perfectly. Like his arms were the perfect size and length to wrap around me and hold me against him. Like there was no other place I should have been.

No other place I was ever meant to be.

I tilted my face into him. “Dom?”

“Hmm?”

“Take me home.”





Chapter Nineteen – Dom


Not all love stories were perfect.

Some people snored.

Like Chloe.



Chloe dug her keys out of her purse and unlocked her front door. It swung open with one gentle push, and she stepped inside, clicking a switch and filling the hallway with light.

Her street was, otherwise, almost completely dark. There were no streetlights except at the very ends on the main roads, and since she lived in the middle, all she was illuminated by was the dim hall light and that of one porch light to the right of her door.

She turned, dropping her purse strap off her shoulder and down her arm until it rested in her hand. “Aren’t you coming in?”

I leaned against the pillar that held up the small balcony off her bedroom. “Do you want me to come in?”

“Do you want to?” She drew her lower lip between her teeth, and the apprehension in her eyes hit me.

She was nervous.

“I want to,” I said softly. “But I don’t have to.”

“I want you to.” She stepped back, opening the doorway for me. “I don’t have any pizza for you, though.”

“I think I’ll cope.” I followed her inside and shut the door behind me. She slipped against me, putting the key in the hole and twisting it. “Did you just lock me in?” I asked her.

“No. You’re free to leave at any time. All you have to do is twist the key.” She stepped away, hovering awkwardly. “Can I be honest?”

“I’d welcome that.”

She twisted her hands in front of her, dipping her head slightly so that her blonde curls covered her beautiful face. “I don’t…” She lifted her face to meet my eyes. “I didn’t invite you in to have sex.”

I didn’t say anything. I knew that.

“I had fun tonight. A lot of fun. And…we didn’t fight.”

“We bickered, Chlo.”

“We didn’t yell,” she corrected. “And, I don’t know. What happens if you stay, but we don’t have sex? Will that ruin anything?”

“Well, that depends. Are you gonna make me watch Friends? Or can we both decide on a TV show to watch? Because, you know. I’ve seen enough of that show to last me a lifetime.”