Chapter 62: You already have him wrapped around your finger

A mischievous glint flickered across Clara’s eyes.

Her thoughts drifted back to the conversation she’d had with Hannah earlier that afternoon.

"You really think it’s hard to win over my brother’s heart?"

Hannah had looked at her as though the answer were obvious.

"Clara... you already have him wrapped around your finger."

At the time, Clara had only blinked in confusion.

"I do?"

"You seriously don’t know?"

Hannah had laughed, shaking her head.

"Everyone can see it except you."

She had leaned back against the sofa with an amused smile.

"Despite everyone telling him not to marry you, he still did."

"Despite everything that happened between you two, he’s never once stopped standing beside you."

"He trusts you. He protects you. And whenever you’re involved, the Dominic Sterling everyone else knows completely disappears."

Those words had stayed with Clara long after Hannah left. Thinking back now, Hannah wasn’t wrong.

Whenever Clara found herself in trouble, Dominic was always there.

He never demanded an explanation first.

He never asked whether helping her would benefit him.

He simply showed up.

Even after all the hurtful words she’d thrown at him...

Even after the countless times she’d pushed him away...

He had remained beside her.

Her eyes widened slightly as realization settled in.

"So that’s what Hannah meant..."

Then Hannah’s parting words echoed once more.

"All the best, Clara."

"I hope my brother manages to stay calm tonight."

At first, Clara hadn’t understood the hidden meaning behind those words.

Now...

Looking at Dominic standing awkwardly in front of her, refusing to meet her eyes for more than two seconds...

She finally did.

A smile slowly spread across her lips.

Returning to the present, her gaze remained fixed on Dominic.

He cleared his throat.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

Clara innocently tilted her head.

"Like what?"

"...Like you’re planning something."

She smiled sweetly.

"I’m deeply offended."

"You shouldn’t be."

"..."

"Because you are planning something."

She laughed.

"You’re getting good at reading me."

Dominic sighed.

"I’ve had plenty of practice."

Clara took another small step closer.

"So..."

"What?"

"You missed me today?"

Dominic answered without hesitation.

"Yes."

The immediate reply caught even Clara off guard.

"...You didn’t even think before answering."

"I didn’t need to."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Clara’s teasing smile softened.

Then it returned almost immediately.

"How much?"

Dominic looked at her.

"...Quite a bit."

"That’s too vague."

She folded her arms.

"Rate it."

He blinked.

"...Rate it?"

"Out of ten."

Dominic actually considered the question.

Clara watched him expectantly.

"...Eleven."

She couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re terrible at following instructions."

"So I’ve been told."

She smiled, enjoying every second of this rare side of him.

Dominic, meanwhile, was trying very hard to maintain what remained of his composure.

(She’s smiling again.)

(Why is she smiling like that?)

(No... don’t analyze it.)

(She’s definitely plotting something.)

(Retreat while you still can.)

His feet remained exactly where they were.

(Excellent. We’ve ignored our own advice.)

Clara noticed the tiny battle playing out behind his calm expression.

"You look distracted."

"I’m thinking."

"Oh?"

She leaned forward slightly.

"What about?"

Dominic answered honestly.

"You."

Clara blinked.

"That’s dangerous."

"I’ve reached the same conclusion."

She laughed again.

"You know..."

"I always thought you were impossible to fluster."

"I usually am."

"But?"

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You make exceptions happen."

Her heartbeat skipped.

She hadn’t expected that answer.

Dominic took one slow step toward her.

Then another.

The playful smile on Clara’s face gradually faded.

Now there was barely any space between them.

(She’s not moving.)

(Neither am I.)

(Someone should probably say something.)

(No.)

(Words are overrated.)

Clara swallowed.

"So..."

"So?"

"I thought you were trying to be a gentleman."

"I am."

"And?"

"I’m beginning to think my wife enjoys making that difficult."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"Maybe."

"I suspected as much."

He lifted a hand and gently brushed a loose strand of damp hair away from her face.

His fingers lingered for only a moment.

Clara looked up at him.

Her teasing had completely disappeared.

Neither of them noticed how silent the room had become.

Dominic’s gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

(This is either a brilliant idea...)

(...or tomorrow’s biggest source of embarrassment.)

(Too late to retreat now.)

Slowly, he leaned closer. Clara’s breath caught. She didn’t step away. Instead, she found herself unconsciously closing the remaining distance.

Just as their foreheads were almost touching—

Riiing! Riiing!

The sharp sound of a phone shattered the moment, and both of them froze.

They looked toward the bedside table.

Clara blinked.

Dominic closed his eyes.

(Whoever invented phones...I have several complaints.)

The phone continued ringing insistently.

Clara pressed her lips together, trying—and failing—not to laugh.

"Should I just ignore the call?"

Clara muttered, her gaze fixed on the phone that continued to ring relentlessly.

They had been so close to sharing a quiet moment when the persistent ringtone shattered the atmosphere.

The phone rang again. And again.

Not only was Dominic’s patience wearing thin, but Clara’s was as well.

"Oh, for heaven’s sake!"

She threw her hands up in frustration before pulling away.

"I’m going to kill whoever keeps calling me."

With an annoyed huff, she marched toward the bedside table, snatched up the phone, and answered it without even checking the caller ID.

"If this isn’t important, I swear you’re going to—"

The words died in her throat.

The irritation on her face disappeared instantly, replaced by complete shock.

"...What?"

Her expression changed so abruptly that Dominic’s brows knitted together.

Clara’s grip on the phone tightened.

"What did you just say?"

Silence filled the room as she listened to the person on the other end.

The colour slowly drained from her face, leaving Dominic’s heart sinking with unease.

Whatever she had just heard... it was serious. Damn serious.

"Dominic, we need to get to the police station. There’s an emergency."

"..."

’Wifey what is it now’ Dominic could only wonder while mentally praying there wasn’t another adventure waiting for him