Maid for the Billionaire(43)

There had to be a way to fix this.

His cell phone rang with Jake‘s familiar tone. He flipped the phone open and held it to his ear. He deserved whatever his friend was about to unleash on him.

―Are you insane, Dom? Have you finally lost your mind?‖ Dominic held the phone away from his ear. Jake had put aside his normal cool and was unabashedly yelling into the receiver.

―Turn the plane around and drop Abby off in Boston before this becomes an international scandal that not only nullifies our contract with China but also lands you in jail.‖

―I love her, Jake.‖ Dominic said and slumped in his chair as he made the admission. ―But I screwed up.‖

Jake sputtered before saying, ―You think?‖ and continued to let off steam at an unusually high volume. ―Abby called Zhang in tears. Now you‘ve got one very pissed off Asian woman who is galvanizing what looks like military support for Abby on at least two continents. The press is all over this. Even Murdock couldn‘t squash the story. They know the truth behind the amendment to the contract and they know you forced Abby to go with you. You can thank Stephan for that. Abby has become an instant folk hero globally: the teacher who made higher education possible for women all over China. The jury on you is still out. The press is calling you either a romantic or a madman. You‘ve got to bring her back. ‖

Dominic ran a hand through his already wild hair. ―Jake, are people destined to repeat the sins of their parents? I think I‘ve become my father.‖

Jake took several audible calming breaths. ―You‘re not your father, Dom, and we all have control over what kind of person we are. Each word that comes out, each action that we take, defines us. If you want to stop being an *, tell the pilot to head for Boston.‖

It all sounded so rational, but the truth of the matter was that Dominic didn‘t want to return Abby to Boston. He‘d just discovered that he loved her. He couldn‘t let her go now.

That didn‘t mean he couldn‘t be a better man. Abby deserved a real partner. He wasn‘t sure what that would look like, but he was willing to let her show him. ―I‘m not bringing her to Boston. What‘s my other option?‖

Jake mumbled several cutting remarks beneath his breath, then said, ―How about apologizing and telling her that you love her? I don‘t know, something crazy like that.‖

Genius. ―I can do that. You‘re right. The solution is so simple.‖

A noise reverberated through the line that sounded suspiciously like Jake was smacking the phone on his own head. His aggravation rang clear in his voice. ―Nothing is simple when it comes to women, but if you do love Abby now is definitely the time to tell her.‖

―Relationship advice from a confirmed bachelor?‖ Dominic scoffed.

Jake calmed enough to joke. ―How do you think I stay single? I understand the female mind.‖

Dominic stood with sudden purpose. A week ago he had shared Jake‘s aversion to commitment. Now he found himself wildly hoping their earlier unprotected sex had created another bond between him and the woman he could no longer imagine his life without. ―I‘m going to do it. I‘m going to tell her that I love her. Thanks, Jake.‖

Jake groaned and added reluctantly, ―Good luck, Dom.‖

Dominic hung up with confidence. Abby had already admitted that she loved him. He had just realized that he loved her. All he had to do now was walk in there and tell her how he felt.

Hell, I might even propose.

What could possibly go wrong?

Abby raised her tear stained face from the pillows when she heard the bedroom door open.

Her head was throbbing painfully and her face felt swollen. She sat up and reached for the box of tissues on the small shelf near the bed. After blowing her nose loudly in a tissue, she hugged the box to her stomach. ―What do you want?‖ she asked, her gravelly voice sounding foreign even to her.

―I love you,‖ he announced as if those words would immediately erase their last conversation.

―No, you don‘t.‖ Abby felt none of the joy she thought she would at his declaration.

His eyebrows met with irritation and he moved to stand near one side of the bed. ―Yes, I do.‖

Abby blew her nose again, pulled a small plastic trash can off of the floor and began filling it with her discarded tissues. ―What happened? Jake called and told you that Zhang is going to help me leave you as soon as we land?‖

He shifted uncomfortably. ―Jake did call, but we can talk about that later. I realized that I love you.‖

Abby hugged the tissue box tighter and forced herself to be realistic this time. No more reading what she wanted into their interactions. ―No, you didn‘t. You think you do because I‘ve just become something you can‘t have. You don‘t like to lose. That‘s not love.‖

Dominic‘s jaw tightened with frustration. ―You are the most stubborn woman. You already told me that you love me. You should be happy.‖

Abby threw the small trash can at his head, but missed when he ducked just in time. ―I‘ll be happy when I‘m back in Boston trying to forget I ever met you.‖

―You‘re not going back to Boston.‖ Dominic‘s eyes glittered with determination.

―I‘m not staying with you on your stupid island,‖ Abby answered.

―We‘ll see about that,‖ Dominic said, defaulting to the domineering jerk she‘d thought he was the first night she‘d met him.

But she wasn‘t intimidated by him and it was about time he saw that. ―Yes, we will.‖