Read Online Uncle Dominic's Touch by Jenika Snow - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jenika Snow
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placed on Dominic and his “inadequacy to be a good husband.”
She hadn’t spoken to her uncle in the past eight years. All of her information came from her parents when they felt like calling, although she wasn’t even sure why they cared anymore. After the divorce, it was as if they had never liked him.
Through her parents, she had found he had reenlisted as an active Navy SEAL and had gone overseas. He was now back in the frontline which scared the shit out of Chloe. With the wars waging all over the world, she feared receiving that phone call that said Dominic was dead. Although she had no idea who would even call her. She was just, after all, his niece.
She knew he beat himself up about what they had done and she wished she could take his pain away. If he didn’t feel guilty why else would he have ran away and became an active SEAL again? She thought of him every day—but to actually speak to him again, see him again, after what had been said—was too much.
As the hours past and her tires ate up the pavement, Chloe couldn’t help but think about where her life had taken her. Her fondest memories where the ones at the cottage she was now heading to, and how sad was that? A childhood where you are happiest at a place that isn’t even your home, with a person that isn’t even blood related.
Once she started her internship she wouldn’t have time for anything else. During this break, before she started her residency, she needed to see the lake again, needed to see the little things that made up the memories she thought about the most.
When she had asked about whether the cabin was empty, her aunt hadn’t even questioned her. It was hard speaking to Clara, knowing that she was in love with her aunt's ex-husband but not able to confess it, broke Chloe’s heart over and over again.
****
The sun was starting to set when she finally reached the cottage. The lights were off and the last rays of that giant orange ball illuminated the wraparound porch and pristine landscaping. Chloe pulled the car in front of the porch and turned it off. When she got out, she stretched, her vision landing right on the lake. She couldn’t help but smile at the warmth she felt. Everything looked the same. As far as she was aware, no one had been at the cabin in years, yet everything looked well taken care of, right down to the mowed grass.
She pushed the thoughts away and grabbed her bags, and then headed up the porch. The same rock that sat by the front door sat by her feet and she lifted it. Chloe grinned when she saw the rusted spare key.
When she entered the house she immediately smelled lemon and lavender. She turned the lights on and walked through each room. The feeling of “home” instantly washed through her. It was strange being here all over again, after being away for so long.
She took the stairs quickly and opened the door that led to the room she always stayed. The room she lost her virginity in. Although she couldn’t help the tingle that raced up her spine at the memory, she also felt tears prickle behind her lids. The same bed she shared with Dominic sat before her, a painful reminder of what she missed most.
The cottage was very clean for no one living in it for years, but then again she didn’t doubt a cleaning service had been hired to do the upkeep on it. Her aunt was a stickler for neat and tidy.
After putting her belongs away, she went into the kitchen and empted the bags of food she brought. She thought it odd that there was food in the cupboard and even some in the fridge, but pushed her suspicions aside. After making herself something to eat she headed out onto the porch. It was just like old times and the feeling of never leaving had adrenaline going through her. The night was fairly warm, but even so, she decided to start a fire in the fire pit. Flames blazing in front of her, Chloe enjoyed her meal. Leaning back in the chair, she stared at the stars and started to count them aloud. The time
She hadn’t spoken to her uncle in the past eight years. All of her information came from her parents when they felt like calling, although she wasn’t even sure why they cared anymore. After the divorce, it was as if they had never liked him.
Through her parents, she had found he had reenlisted as an active Navy SEAL and had gone overseas. He was now back in the frontline which scared the shit out of Chloe. With the wars waging all over the world, she feared receiving that phone call that said Dominic was dead. Although she had no idea who would even call her. She was just, after all, his niece.
She knew he beat himself up about what they had done and she wished she could take his pain away. If he didn’t feel guilty why else would he have ran away and became an active SEAL again? She thought of him every day—but to actually speak to him again, see him again, after what had been said—was too much.
As the hours past and her tires ate up the pavement, Chloe couldn’t help but think about where her life had taken her. Her fondest memories where the ones at the cottage she was now heading to, and how sad was that? A childhood where you are happiest at a place that isn’t even your home, with a person that isn’t even blood related.
Once she started her internship she wouldn’t have time for anything else. During this break, before she started her residency, she needed to see the lake again, needed to see the little things that made up the memories she thought about the most.
When she had asked about whether the cabin was empty, her aunt hadn’t even questioned her. It was hard speaking to Clara, knowing that she was in love with her aunt's ex-husband but not able to confess it, broke Chloe’s heart over and over again.
****
The sun was starting to set when she finally reached the cottage. The lights were off and the last rays of that giant orange ball illuminated the wraparound porch and pristine landscaping. Chloe pulled the car in front of the porch and turned it off. When she got out, she stretched, her vision landing right on the lake. She couldn’t help but smile at the warmth she felt. Everything looked the same. As far as she was aware, no one had been at the cabin in years, yet everything looked well taken care of, right down to the mowed grass.
She pushed the thoughts away and grabbed her bags, and then headed up the porch. The same rock that sat by the front door sat by her feet and she lifted it. Chloe grinned when she saw the rusted spare key.
When she entered the house she immediately smelled lemon and lavender. She turned the lights on and walked through each room. The feeling of “home” instantly washed through her. It was strange being here all over again, after being away for so long.
She took the stairs quickly and opened the door that led to the room she always stayed. The room she lost her virginity in. Although she couldn’t help the tingle that raced up her spine at the memory, she also felt tears prickle behind her lids. The same bed she shared with Dominic sat before her, a painful reminder of what she missed most.
The cottage was very clean for no one living in it for years, but then again she didn’t doubt a cleaning service had been hired to do the upkeep on it. Her aunt was a stickler for neat and tidy.
After putting her belongs away, she went into the kitchen and empted the bags of food she brought. She thought it odd that there was food in the cupboard and even some in the fridge, but pushed her suspicions aside. After making herself something to eat she headed out onto the porch. It was just like old times and the feeling of never leaving had adrenaline going through her. The night was fairly warm, but even so, she decided to start a fire in the fire pit. Flames blazing in front of her, Chloe enjoyed her meal. Leaning back in the chair, she stared at the stars and started to count them aloud. The time