Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Rough Riders #7)(42)

She blinked at him sleepily. “I wish you could stay with me tonight.”


“Another time. Can I make it up to you tomorrow night? By taking you to supper? Someplace besides Dewey’s?”


“Or I could cook for us here.”


“Princess, we’d just end up in bed. And I don’t see how you cooking for me is a night off for you.”


“Are you asking me on a date, Deputy McKay?”


“Yeah, I guess I am.”


That skeptical look returned to her icy blue eyes. “Why? You promised me this wouldn’t—”


“Just say no if you don’t wanna have supper with me tomorrow night, Domini.”


“I don’t want to say no.”


“Good. Then I’ll pick you up at six.” He kissed her softly and left.


Chapter Eleven


“You’re going out with him?”


Like Nadia had a right to judge her on men. Domini sighed quietly. “Cameron McKay is a good man, Nadia.”


“He’s also police,” Nadia retorted, reverting to Russian in case Anton was listening. “Don’t you remember what they’re capable of?”


Domini absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder where the German shepherd had taken his pound of flesh. “It’s not the same. He’s nothing like the men who were terrorizing and brutalizing innocents.”


Nadia muttered in Bosnian. Domini understood enough to realize she’d been called a fool. She let it slide and changed the subject. “So Anton likes school?”


“Being with kids his own age is better for him than being with the so-called ‘babies’ at Sky Blue daycare this summer.” Nadia smiled at Anton over her shoulder. “He wishes he could ride the bus home.”


“Is he making friends?”


She shrugged. “He doesn’t say. He is disappointed he isn’t hanging out with you tonight.”


“I’m sorry I can’t watch him and you had to cancel.” Why had Rex insisted Nadia cancel their date? Wouldn’t he encourage Nadia to bring his son along? Even one time? Especially if he was serious about making them a family again?


The thought of Rex living in the same house with Nadia and Anton turned Domini’s stomach. She knew what Rex used to do to Nadia. She saw what he’d done to Anton and how that beating had finally forced Nadia into leaving the man for good.


Or so she’d thought.


“I’m sorry too. Anton likes coming here. You spoil him.”


Spending time with Anton didn’t equal spoiled in her book.


Anton raced into the kitchen. “Any cookies left?”


“No. You ate them all.”


“It’s time to go home anyway. Get your stuff,” Nadia said.


“But we just got here!”


“Domini has a life, Anton, don’t whine.”


His chin fell to his chest.


“Hey.” Domini tugged him until he was sitting on her lap. “You are part of my life too. You’ll see me again soon.”



“Promise?”


She smooched his head and laughed when he made a face. “I promise. Now vamoose, both of you. I need to get beautified for my date.”


An hour later Domini fussed in front of the mirror. Why bother pinning her hair up? Cam would just undo it at the first chance.


She tidied the kitchen, setting the plates in the dish rack to dry as she waited for Cam to arrive.


Three distinctive raps echoed…forty-five minutes later.


Domini opened the door.


Oh yum. Look at the sexy man on her doorstep. Double yum. The spicy scent of aftershave drifted from the open collar of his white button-down shirt. He wore dark blue jeans, combat boots and a wolfish grin.


“Excuse me?”


Domini’s eyes met his. “Um. What?”


“You said double yum and I’m wondering if that’s some kind of Ukrainian slang for ‘dumb ass you’re late’.”


“No. That’s American slang for you look and smell yummy.”


Cam actually blushed. The man could f*ck her like an animal and demand all sorts of kinky things from her, but a compliment caused him to blush? She bit back a grin. “Come in. We must’ve been on the same wavelength because we even dressed alike tonight.”


“I’ve often thought about how you’d look wearing my shirt…and nothin’ else.”


“Maybe later.” She kissed his smoothly shaven cheek. “You want a beer?”


He groaned. “Shit. I was probably supposed to bring you wine or flowers or something.”


“You’re fine.” In the kitchen she passed a bottle to him. “Need a glass?”


“Nope.” He rested his backside against the counter and sipped.


She sipped.


Drip drip drip echoed in the silence.


“What’s wrong with that faucet?”


“I don’t know.”