Dominique's eyes flickered open and stared at the ceiling as she over heard Nik in the kitchen. What was he doing in there, she thought as she raised her heavy head. After everything that happened the night before Dominique had little energy to do much, but lay there. She had never been so thoroughly satisfied and exhausted at the same time. So, that's angry sex. At first she thought it was overrated, but now she definitely sees the upside. After their little tryst in the living room, they went back to the bed for a quick nap, then started making out like they were teenagers on a date before he ordered a pizza for them. They ate in front of the fireplace, naked and Dominique was actually shocked that she had no inhibition about being naked around him. She even turned her phone off.
She had to move around though; she couldn't just stay around here, no matter how much she was enjoying it. She slowly pried her way out of bed and grabbed one of his shirts to put on. She didn't even bother to look into the mirror; she just went directly into the kitchen to find him in front of the stove. She giggled silently as she watched him flipping pancakes in his green lounge pants that fit nicely on his hips. Okay, enough of this watching. She tip toed over to his side and his eyes immediately met hers.
"Good morning you." He said as she sat down on the counter.
"Hey, and here you are again in the kitchen." She smiled.
"You've seen my family, us Italians cook." He shrugged and she laughed.
"Are you telling me those pancakes are homemade?"
"If you count Bisquick as homemade." He laughed and she couldn't help but laugh as well, "Have I told you how sexy you look all rumbled?"
"Plenty of times, yes." She smiled as he leaned closer and kissed her, "Don't start that again." She whispered against his lips.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." He said still kissing her.
"Well, your mother would be very disappointed in you if you burn my breakfast." She laughed and he started laughing too.
"Alright then, what were you going to do today?"
"Finish the plans for Katrina's baby shower and then possibly talk to Jason to see where his head is at."
Nik tensed up immediately when she mentioned his name. She was still harboring over that maniac. Nik blew out hot air narrowing his eyes at the pancake. Dominique immediately noticed the tension in his body and slid off the counter and stood behind him. She wasn't sure what to say and the only thing she could do was wrap her arms around his mid-section. She felt his body slowly loosen up at her gentle touch. She planted little kisses on his back when they heard the door. Who could that be, Nik thought to himself as he slowly moved out of her embrace.
As soon as he opened the door, he felt a sudden soft jab on his shoulder; "You know, little brother, you have to be on alert at all time." he looked into Giovanni's smiling face.
"What are you doing here?" Nik smiled embracing him.
"I came to see you and check out some places to stay since you want me down here." Giovanni said walking in.
As soon as Dominique confirmed that it was really Giovanni, she tried to quietly move to Nik's bedroom to hide. He already caught them in a bad situation once, no point in him catching it again.
"Yea, that's great. I know some places around here you can look at. I was just cooking some breakfast."
"Oh really? Well, I'm sure Dominique is enjoying that breakfast. How are you doing, Dominique?" He said and she turned around to face him.
"Hey, I was just..."
"Save your breath. You both are grown and I already had a feeling that something was going on."
Dominique was going to say something but thought it was best to keep her mouth shut, "Yea, well I will just put on my clothes."
"Don't get dressed on my account." Giovanni said and Dominique just shook her head as she went into the room.
He waited until Dominique shut the door, admiring the sway of her ass, "You sure know how to spoil a nice breakfast." Nik finally said.
"Apparently, I've done it before, so I'm use to it. You are going to show me some houses?"
"You are trying to get right to it, huh?"
"Well I want to establish some sort of ground when I get ready. Right now, I'm just dealing with getting money together and stepping out quietly. That's the main thing that the boss wants is for me to step out quietly and make sure that I don't get anyone coming back for me."
"Wait a minute; you think that's going to be a problem?" Nik said crossing his huge arms.
"Well, I don't think it is, but he seem to think so. I think it's more that he respects that I am getting out and he wants the transition to go smooth."
"The boss sounds real cool about losing an employee after so many years."
"Well, he told me that after so many years of being loyal and me wanting something more, he can't help but let me go." He sighed and Nik just nodded, "Don't worry little brother everything is going to be cool. You just worry about that woman in there."
"Speaking of which, I have something to talk to you about."
"Oh, so you mean you want some advice about women? You haven't asked me for any advice since you became the Italian Stallion."
"Ha ha, very funny. I'm being serious though." Nik was about to open his mouth but that's when Dominique came in wearing what she had on yesterday.
Nik went back to the kitchen as he watched her sit at the table, "So Giovanni, what's your next step when you move here?" Dominique asked.
"Getting a job really, I just don't know what to do. I mean when you spend years doing nothing but security work, you kind of draw a blank on what's next."
"Well, what about working with your brother?"
"Um, no. I don't want to be a police officer, I will leave that to my brother and papa. I want something different, just not sure what."
"You will find out brother. You could always open a business." Nik said fixing a plate and sitting it in front of Gianni.
"I must admit, hanging around the boss made me want to own a club, but I would want something real classy and nice. A place where you can listen to good jazz music, listen to poetry, and enjoy some Italian food." Giovanni smiled.
"That's actually a pretty good idea Giovanni. I mean I would certainly go. You should look into a silent partner though, just a thought." Dominique shrugged.
"Maybe, but everything is still up in the air. I just want to concentrate on getting a job for now and then possibly working on the club thing." Nik sat a plate in front of Dominique and sat next to her.
"Yea, I think you may even get mom and dad to come. You know they love old school jazz, but we will get into that later. Let's eat." Nik said and everyone dived in.
After breakfast, Dominique went back home trying not to disturb the two brothers. She had a pretty busy day, trying to finalize a couple of things for Katrina's shower and the rehearsal dinner. She sighed leaning against the door thinking back to last night. There was something so spontaneous about what they did as well as romantic. She took a deep inhale, trying to get a hold of her rapidly beating heart. Why was it reacting this way thinking about Nik? It was very welcoming but scared the crap out of her at the same time because she didn't understand why she was feeling this way for Nik but nothing came up when she thought of Jason. She sighed to herself; she needed to clear her head.
She threw herself back into work and planning. She didn't even call her friends, just spent most of her day trying to make arrangements. She called Candy to setup for them to go and pick out some food for the rehearsal dinner tomorrow.
Everything was going up so fast and Dominique couldn't figure where her head was at. One moment she was all for going after Jason and the next she would have doubts about them being together. This wasn't suppose to go this way. She ran her nervous fingers through her hair and headed out, "Nicole, I'm about to head out for awhile."
"Yes, ma'am, want me to sit by the phones?"
"No, you have some tests I know you have to study for. Let's go ahead and close up the office. I'm going to take everything else home."
"Okay, I hope everything is okay."
"I'm fine sweetheart; just want to do some work from home if that's possible."
"Well, thank you Dominique. You want me to come in tomorrow?"
"I'm going to be so busy with the wedding and everything that I'm not going to come in."
"Seriously Dominique, are you alright?"
"I'm just a little tired with planning and everything. I'll be alright." Nicole nodded and followed behind her.
Dominique met up with Candy and waited patiently for the food samples. Candy was doing her usual babbling and Dominique half listened and half went into her own world. She should pay attention to Candy and make sure she is not missing important things about the wedding.
"Dominique, are you okay?" Candy asked and Dominique finally looked at her.
"I'm fine, just have a lot on my mind."
"It's not about the wedding is it? I don't want to put too much stress on you." She said it as if she was actually concerned.
Dominique bit down on her lip, "It's not the wedding, just other stuff like work."
"What's been going on with work?"
"Nothing serious, just not enjoying it like I use to. I don't understand why because I'm coming out with a book soon and I have plenty of clients that come to me but I don't get the same enjoyment that I use to get, it's been that way for awhile now."
"You know before I decided to be a doctor, I use to be a secretary for a big Fortune 500 company that my dad owned. I was destined to take over the business, but one day I felt like I was in a rut and it didn't give me that same enjoyment. It was then that I realized that I did that for my father. So one day I left the company and started going to medical school."
"That's fine Candy, but I'm too far into my business to just start over."
"Why not? People do it all the time. I know lawyers that have been doing it for over ten years and then decide to go to culinary school because it makes them happy. What makes you happy?"
Dominique swallowed hard and sat back in her seat, "I'm starting to really love planning again. Every party or special occasion that my friends or aunt have put together, I planned and coordinated. When I was younger I use to plan the weddings for my dolls." They both started laughing, "I went into this career because..." she paused remembering who she was talking to, "I just thought it was convenient and whose to say that years from now that will make me happy too."
"No one, but it's better than how you feel now . Besides, just the experience and the ride is worth it. You never know until you tried."Dominique shrugged, "Dominique, I know that you and Jason are very close and that will make us close as well. Jason cares about your well being and happiness. If this is what makes you happy, I'm sure he will be all for it."
"What if I fail?"
"You made a therapist business very successful and that's a hard business to do as well, especially getting clients." She paused, "Have you talked to Nik about it?"
