Back then, Domenic was a boy of few words, always trailing silently behind them.


    He would lean against the wall, watching silently, lost in his thoughts.


    Even then, Reece could never quite grasp what went through Domenic’s mind, much less now.


    Seeing Domenic still hadn’t budged, Carole addressed Lindsey directly,Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “Miss Stewart, you wouldn’t mind us joining you, would you?”


    Caught off guard, Lindsey looked up to find Domenic’s eyes fixed on her.


    Their eyes met briefly before both quickly looked away.


    Lindsey responded to Carole with a smile, “I don’t mind at all.


    But I’m not sure if this gentleman would befortable sitting with me.


    ”


    Her words clearly had an underlying meaning, causing both Carole and


    Reece to nce instinctively at Domenic.


    Domenic’s jaw clenched tight.


    Without a word, he swept past Lindsey, his face stormy.


    He stalked to the opposite side of the table and sank into a chair, crossing his long legs and folding his arms in a defensive posture.


    His chin jutted out, radiating a frosty disapproval that seemed to chill the air.


    Lindsey stole a nce at him, then quickly looked away, fiddling nervously with her ss.


    She couldn’t fathom why Domenic had reacted so intensely to her earlierment.


    Perhaps Domenic wanted to keep their rtionship a secret from


    Carole, his cousin, to avoid arousing suspicion.


    In that case,


    A N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y


    Lindsey decided to remain silent.


    Reece’s gaze darted between Lindsey and Carole.


    One woman was


    Domenic’s supposed girlfriend, the other his fiancée.


    This tangled web of rtionships was mind-boggling!


    He felt trapped in a social minefield, unsure of what to say.


    Needing to break the suffocating silence, Reece cleared his throat a little too loudly.


    “Joining Domenic for dinner, Carole?” The question tumbled out, and


    Reece instantly regretted it.


    It was painfully obvious, making him feel like a social oaf.


    Carole met his gaze, a sweet smile gracing her lips.


    “Yes,” she confirmed, her eyes flickering to the handsome, stoic man beside her and his head leaning on his shoulder.


    “Domenic knows I adore this restaurant’s signature dish, so he brought me here for a treat.


    ”


    Lindsey couldn’t help but steal another look, a frown creasing her brow.


    Hadn’t Domenic mentioned they weren’t close, mere distant rtives? The intimacy they disyed now was confusing.


    Even if


    Carole was just his cousin, the sight of her leaning so possessively against Domenic rankled Lindsey.


    Domenic, however, reacted with a frown of his own.


    He gently nudged


    Carole away, retrieving his arm and pushing the menu towards her with a hint of disdain.