Maid for the Billionaire(30)

―Do you really think he hurt her?‖ Abby asked through the trembling fingers of one hand.

―He was capable of incredible cruelty in business and he often forgot to leave that ruthlessness at work.‖ Dominic took her shaking hand in his and kissed it softly. ―I thought that kind of anger was normal when I was young; the price you had to pay to get and stay on top.‖

―Oh, Dom….‖ She couldn‘t help the tears that slipped over her lashes and dripped onto his silk shirt.

He brushed her tears away with a light touch that seemed uncharacteristic of such a powerful man and that only made her cry all the more. Abby had seen men grow uncomfortable or impatient around tears, but Dominic was the first man to treat her like a delicate and precious creature he simply wanted to comfort and was afraid of crushing. How could she have doubted him at all? Tears for him turned to tears of shame that she buried in his quickly dampening shirt.

He didn‘t seem to care that her mascara stained his clothing. He let her cry softly against him, gently pushing the hair out of her face. His heart thudded loudly in his chest. When she quieted, he said, ―Don‘t waste your tears on me, little one. You wouldn‘t look at me with such tenderness if you knew half of what I have done to get where I am.‖

Abby sniffed and raised her head. ―We all carry regrets with us, Dominic. Today is what is important. The choices we make from now on are what define us.‖

He wrapped a long curl around one of his fingers thoughtfully. ―You make it sound so easy, Abby, but you don‘t know me. I‘ve been angry so long, I‘m not sure who I am without it. My sister was right, you should run, not walk away from me. I destroy everything beautiful I touch.‖

Abby put a hand on either side of his face, forcing him to look down at her. ―I may not have known you long, Dominic, but I know one thing. You‘re not nearly as awful as you think you are. Mrs. Duhamel wouldn‘t treat you like the son she never had if you were the monster you‘re describing.‖

Dominic shifted uncomfortably beneath her. ―When you look at me like that, I almost believe I could be the man you think I am. It‘s not that simple, though. People don‘t get a shot at that kind of redemption.‖

Abby pulled his head down and whispered against his lips, ―I have to believe they do.‖

He groaned against her lips, keeping the kiss feather light, as he fought some internal battle.

His hands held her just below her shoulders, held her like he was afraid she‘d pull away. ―What great wrong have you done, little one?‖

Abby‘s hands dropped to her lap. This was the perfect time to tell him that she had withheld information from him partly out of fear and partly out of selfishness.

Just say it.

What if Zhang is right and he doesn‘t believe me? Am I ready to lose him tonight?

She opened her mouth to tell him, but stopped at the expression in his eyes. When they settled on hers, dark with emotion, she could almost imagine that his next words were going to be a declaration of some kind.

I am going to tell him, I just need a little more time. She said, ―I did everything wrong after my parents died. I thought that if I sounded like I knew what I was doing, Lill would feel more secure. But when Lill needed me the most, I lectured and judged instead of listening to her. I treated her like she was unable to make good decisions on her own. My actions ate away at her self-confidence which only took more of a beating from me each time she made another mistake.

Mistakes that I helped push her toward. I see that now. If I hadn‘t met you, I might have lost her.

I have to believe that I‘ll have a second chance to get it right…to make things right.‖

He buried his face in her neck. ―Lady, you scare the hell out of me.‖

She looked up at him in surprise. ―I thought you said I calmed you.‖

He eased her off his lap and stood, running his hand through his hair with frustration. ―It was selfish of me to bring you to China. I don‘t want you to think …‖

Despite the sinking dread in her heart, she walked over and silenced him gently with her finger. I‘m a big girl. I stopped believing in happily ever after a long time ago. ―It‘s ok, Dominic…‖

He took her hand in his and scowled down at her. ―What exactly is ok?‖

She disentangled their hands and forced herself to meet his stormy eyes. ―You don‘t have to worry that I‘ll make a scene when we go back to the states. I won‘t regret this trip, Dominic, no matter what happens between us when we return.‖ And that‘s the truth. It has to be.

His expression grew darker, exhibiting none of the relief she‘d expected in response to her statement. The incredible male ego! So, it was alright for him to warn her not to think that this trip was more than a casual fling, but not for her accept it?

Did you think I’d fall at your feet and beg you to stay, Dominic? You’ve got a lot to learn about Dartley women. Abby said, ―Take it as a compliment, Dominic. You‘ll be the man I measure my future dates against.‖

He took both of her upper arms in his hands and held her immobile before him with a gentle touch that was in direct conflict with the steel in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something.

For just a moment, Abby let herself hope. Could he be jealous of the mere thought of her with another man? The thought had her heart jumping wildly in her chest.

What would it be like to be loved by an intense man like Dominic? No, stop it. Dominic is the transitional man, the inspiration to hold out for the real thing. Men like Dominic don’t settle down.