Ava walked over to where Dominic was busy packing. She touched his shoulder. He turned and looked at her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him softly. When he drew back and looked at her, she offered him a smile. “Thank you. I know I’m not always the easiest person to get along with, but I appreciate what you’re doing for me.”

“Your thanks is not necessary. You go above and beyond for those you care about, especially when you think you might be in love.”

Ava stood dumbfounded as Dominic turned away and continued his packing. Falling in love? This wasn’t a Disney movie. Real people didn’t fall in love in a matter of days. Despite that, not a single response came to her mouth as she stood in Dominic’s bedroom. Five minutes later, duffle bag full, briefcase in hand, they were leaving the trashed condo. Ava had no idea what to do or say next. Everything was well and truly out of her hands.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ava tried to keep her hands from shaking with nervousness as she and Dominic walked down the hallway to Maia’s classroom. They’d already been to the front office where Ava had checked out her daughter. She would’ve preferred for Dominic to wait in the car, but he was having none of it. His exact words were, “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She didn’t know exactly what to feel about his insistence. Flattered. Afraid. One thing was for certain. She was certainly regretting it when the women in the front office had ogled him like a piece of raw meat presented to carnivores. Biting her tongue, she’d conducted her business and walked out, Dominic right behind her.

“Are you upset with me, Ava?” he asked.

She kept walking. “Why would I be upset? You’re a handsome guy. I’m sure you’re used to women looking at you all the time.”

He grabbed her arm and spun her around just as she reached the door to Maia’s classroom. “I don’t want them. I want you. Don’t forget that.”

Dominic kissed her then, softly, quickly, before he let her go. She stared up at him. He gave her a small smile. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“I don’t know how Maia is going to react, so please just be…”

“Ava. Relax.”

He turned her around and pushed her towards the door. Taking a deep breath, Ava opened it and stepped inside. The children were spread out in the classroom. It was Centers Time, where the kids went to different stations and played. She knew because it was her daughter’s favorite time of the day. Looking around the classroom, she spotted Maia over at one of the computers along the wall.

“Maia.”

Her daughter looked up, a wide smile of surprise on her face.

“Mommy?”

Maia got up and ran over to her. Ava leaned down and hugged her daughter. She stroked Maia’s hair, so happy her daughter was safe.

“Mommy, what are you doing here?” Maia asked.

“Taking you home early. How’s that sound?”

Maia leaned around her mother and looked at Dominic. “Who’s he?”

“Ms. Hill, I could ask the same. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting your friend.”

Ava looked up. Maia’s teacher, Mrs. Kelly stood next to them, her eyes drinking in Dominic. Ava wanted to scratch her eyes out, a completely new reaction for her. Today Ms. Kelly was trying her patience more than usual. The woman was already on her short list for what she’d pulled with Maia. Ava glared at her daughter’s teacher but before she could say anything, Dominic’s hands were on her shoulders.

“I’m Ava’s boyfriend, Dominic.”

Ava turned and looked at him. She fought to keep the surprise off her face. Boyfriend? Boyfriend!

“Mommy, I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” Maia interjected.

“We haven’t been dating long but I can already tell Ava’s the one,” Dominic said smoothly.

“Well isn’t that sweet,” Ms. Kelly said in a sugary, far-from-sincere tone.

Ava decided to play along. She smiled at Maia’s teacher. “Yes it is. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

Ms. Kelly’s smile slipped. Ava turned to her daughter. “Honey, why don’t you go and get your things?”

“Okay,” Maia said. She gave Dominic one last glance before she ran off.

“It was a pleasure seeing you again, Ms. Hill.”

“Uh hmm.”

Ms. Kelly walked away heading over to one of the centers on the far side of the room.

“Bitch,” Ava said under her breath.

“Whoa. Where’s that coming from?” Dominic whispered in her ear.

“You have no idea.”

“I’m ready,” Maia said.

“Why don’t you let me take that backpack for you?” Dominic asked. He held out his hand towards Maia.

Ava waited to see how her daughter would react.

“Okay.” Maia took off her backpack and gave it to Dominic. Then she grabbed his free hand and held it.

Dominic looked down at Maia. A wide smile was on her face. Then he looked at Ava. She shrugged, just as perplexed by her daughter’s behavior as he was.

“Let’s go,” Maia said. She tugged on Dominic’s hand and led him out of the classroom.

Ava followed behind, watching the two of them together. Her mind raced. Was Maia taking to Dominic because she sensed something about him? Felt some closeness? What would Maia say now that Dominic had introduced himself as her boyfriend? She listened as Maia chatted happily to Dominic. Well at least the two of them were getting along. That was something to be grateful about.

They made their way outside and Dominic strapped Maia into her car seat before opening the door for Ava. He closed it and went around to the driver’s side to get in.

“He’s cute,” Maia said.

Ava turned around and looked at her daughter. “What do you know about cute?”

“Who’s cute?” Dominic asked.

Ava looked at her daughter and shook her head. Maia promptly ignored her.

“You are.”

Ava couldn’t even look at Dominic.

“Why thank you, Maia,” Dominic said.

He started the car and Ava turned and faced the window. Her daughter was smitten with her new “boyfriend.” Now what was she supposed to do? Dominic had already been insistent about her giving him a serious chance. Now with her daughter’s blessing he’d managed to further ingratiate himself into her life. But what was so wrong with that? Her daughter liked him. She liked him… She pushed her private thoughts away. Right now, she didn’t have time to be sentimental. Someone was trying to kill her or Dominic and she had no idea why. Finding out the truth was her main priority.

She turned from the window when Dominic grabbed her hand. His gaze was intense as he stared at her.

“You okay?” he mouthed to her.

She nodded her head. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw her daughter watching them. Maia giggled.

“Baby, how would you like an ice cream sundae when we get home?” Ava asked.

“I can have ice cream before dinner?” Maia asked.

“Today you can.”

“Cool. Can Dominic have some too?”

Ava laughed uneasily. “If he wants to.”

“You wanna have ice cream with me, Dominic?” Maia asked.

“I’d love to.”

“Well aren’t you two becoming best buds?” Ava said. She couldn’t keep the snark out of her tone.

“Your daughter has good taste. Just like her mother.”

Ava couldn’t come up with a response as they pulled into the driveway of her home. As soon as the car stopped, Maia was trying to get out of her car seat. Quickly Ava unbuckled her daughter. When she went to grab Maia’s hand, her daughter had already scrambled out of the other side of the vehicle where Dominic was. The little traitor. Ava couldn’t believe how her daughter was acting. She closed the car door and followed her daughter and Dominic up to the house.

With the two of them bonding so quickly she felt like the third wheel. Dominic handed her the keys and she unlocked the house, quickly disabling the security system.

“Come on, Dominic. The kitchen’s this way.”