Chapter 2 - He Came Back Every Night, and She Started Waiting for HimDominic returned the following night.
And the night after that.
And the night after that.
At first, Sarah told herself it was coincidence.
Then she told herself it was business.
Then she stopped lying to herself.
He came because he wanted to see her.
The first week, he ordered two loaves.
The second week, four.
By the third week, Golden Hour had become the exclusive bread supplier for three Corsetti restaurants.
Sarah was suspicious.
“You don't need this much sourdough.”
Dominic stood across from the worktable while she kneaded dough.
“You're questioning my purchasing decisions?”
“I'm questioning why one man needs forty-eight loaves a night.”
“My restaurants have customers.”
“You're avoiding the question.”
“Yes.”
Sarah sighed.
“You know, normal people buy bread without turning it into an intelligence operation.”
Dominic smiled.
“You're not normal.”
She glared.
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“It was.”
He began appearing closer to two in the morning.
Sometimes he said almost nothing.
Sometimes he sat on a metal stool and watched her work.
Sometimes he brought coffee.
The first time he brought her one, she stared at the cup.
“How did you know what I take?”
“Black. Two sugars.”
“That's creepy.”
“You told me.”
“When?”
“Last Thursday.”
Sarah frowned.
She didn't remember.
Dominic did.
That became the pattern.
He remembered everything.
Her father's medication schedule.
The name of her delivery driver.
The fact that her left wrist hurt when she kneaded too long.
The way she hummed when she was nervous.
The fact that she hated pears.
The fact that her favorite pie was pecan.
The fact that she always checked the oven three times even though the thermometer worked perfectly.
Sarah couldn't decide whether it was romantic or alarming.
Possibly both.
One night, she caught him staring at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You've been looking at me for thirty seconds.”
“Twenty-eight.”
She laughed.
“See? That's exactly what I mean.”
“You're beautiful.”
She nearly dropped the bowl.
Dominic looked completely serious.
Sarah turned away.
“You don't have to say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't mean them.”
“I do.”
“You're a billionaire.”
“I know.”
“I'm a baker.”
“I know.”
“You could have anyone.”
“I don't want anyone.”
He stepped closer.
“I want you.”
She stared at him.
There was no game in his face.
No teasing.
No flirtation designed to flatter her.
Just certainty.
Sarah suddenly remembered the invitation.
The empty guest line.
Her cousin Gemma had called earlier.
“Sarah, are you coming?”
“I don't know.”
“Please come.”
“I'll see.”
“Everyone wants to meet your mysterious bakery friend.”
Sarah smiled bitterly.
“He isn't my friend.”
Gemma laughed.
“Then bring whoever you have.”
Whoever you have.
As if people were accessories.
As if love were something people collected.
Sarah had almost cried after hanging up.
Dominic noticed.
He noticed everything.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Sarah.”
She looked at him.
“Gemma invited me to her engagement party.”
“Good.”
“I told her I might not come.”
“Why?”
“I'd look ridiculous alone.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Then don't go alone.”
Her heart jumped.
“What are you saying?”
He reached into his jacket.
Pulled out an invitation.
Her invitation.
The same one she had shown him weeks ago.
He had written his name on the blank guest line.
Dominic Corsetti.
Sarah stared.
“You can't do that.”
“Why?”
“Because that was a joke.”
“I don't joke about you.”
Her throat tightened.
“Dominic, this is my cousin's engagement party.”
“I know.”
“They'll ask questions.”
“Let them.”
“They know your name.”
“Good.”
“They'll gossip.”
“I don't care.”
“They'll think I'm—”
She stopped.
“Think you're what?”
Sarah looked down.
“Using you.”
Dominic's voice softened.
“No one is using anyone.”
She whispered, “People always think a woman like me couldn't possibly belong beside someone like you.”
He reached toward her hand but didn't touch it.
“Do you?”
She didn't answer.
“Sarah.”
Finally, she looked up.
“No.”
“Then don't let other people's insecurity become your truth.”
The party came Saturday.
Sarah spent two hours changing outfits.
Nothing looked right.
Too plain.
Too tight.
Too formal.
Too casual.
She eventually chose a deep green dress that hugged her curves without making her uncomfortable.
When she walked downstairs, Dominic was waiting outside.
He stepped out of a black sedan.
He wore a black suit.
No tie.
The sight of him stole her breath.
He opened the passenger door.
“You look beautiful.”
She touched her hair.
“I look nervous.”
“That too.”
She laughed.
His eyes softened.
At the party, the room changed when Dominic entered.
People recognized him.
Conversations stopped.
Heads turned.
Gemma's eyes widened.
Tyler nearly dropped his champagne.
And Sarah suddenly understood what Dominic meant about not caring.
He didn't care who was watching.
His hand settled gently at Sarah's back.
He introduced her before anyone could ask.
“This is Sarah.”
Not my baker.
Not Sarah Malone from the bakery.
Not the woman who works for me.
Just Sarah.
Gemma smiled.
“It's wonderful to meet you.”
Dominic shook Tyler's hand.
Then he leaned down toward Sarah.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
The party continued.
For the first time, Sarah wasn't the dependable cousin standing beside the wall.
She was the woman next to Dominic Corsetti.
And Dominic never once let her feel like an accessory.
Until Vanessa arrived.
Vanessa DeLuca was elegant, wealthy, and beautiful.
She was also Dominic's former fiancée.
Sarah learned that from someone whispering behind her.
“She thought she'd marry Dominic.”
“Apparently he ended it.”
“Why?”
“No one knows.”
Sarah looked toward Dominic.
He was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
And Sarah saw something she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear that she would believe the whispers.
He crossed the room.
“You're leaving.”
Sarah blinked.
“What?”
“We're leaving.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't want you hearing things that aren't your business.”
She looked toward Vanessa.
“Is she your business?”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“No.”
“Then why does she look at you like that?”
“Because she doesn't like that I'm happy.”
Sarah's breath caught.
“Are you?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Yes.”
That answer followed her all the way home.
But she didn't know yet that Vanessa wasn't merely an ex-fiancée.
She was connected to the most dangerous rival Dominic had.
May you like
And Sarah had just been seen standing at Dominic Corsetti's side.
Which meant someone else had finally noticed her too.
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