afternoon and once Dominick Kingston and his wife Samantha joined them they found themselves in the dining room, a sumptuous Christmas feast awaiting their hungry palates.
"Thanks again, for inviting us, Nicholas ,” Dom said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair and waited for the arrival of dessert. The last eight years of life had been good to him and deservedly so, having survived the sort of marriage only the devil could find emotionally stimulating. It had taken a lot out of him. Evey had taken a lot out of him. She'd remained vindictive through the very end. Taking everything he had, which to be perfectly honest hadn't been much, but she'd made sure to leave him with nothing but the shirt on his back.
Had it not been for Nicholas’s extensive team of lawyers, Dom knew he'd have lost custody of Brandon. Their estranged friendship over the last eighteen years notwithstanding, Nicholas had become more of a friend to Dom than his own brothers. Looking across the table at the dark haired tycoon, Dom still found it hard to believe that this was the same boy who had tempted faith more times than he could count on both his fingers and toes.
The same guy who everyone doubted would live to see his twenty-first birthday with a father like Charles Grayson and a death wish the size of his trust fund. Yet, as incredibly hard as it was to believe, Nicholas was no longer the same guy, in fact, looking at him now, many would doubt that he'd been on a paved path to hell.
Ellie’s laughter pulled Dom’s gaze to Nicholas’s right and the vibrant smile gracing her face pulled the corners of Dom’s lips into a smile of his own. This was Nicholas’s raison d'être, his reason for being, and Dom could not fault him for falling so hard. Ellie Holbrook was one of a kind and for having known her for so brief a time, Dom would bet his last bottom dollar that Ellie was all that was good and genuine in the world. They didn't make too many of her anymore and to know that Nicholas had found someone like her made Dom happy. They deserved each other; complemented each other so perfectly that it was like watching a dance when they interacted.
Taking a hold of Sam's hand beneath the table, Dom squeezed it and grinned when she glanced his way and returned the gesture with a tender smile of her own. All too well Dom understood the love Nicholas and Ellie shared because he experienced it every moment he was with Sam. After five years of marriage, they were finally beginning to understand each other and cherish the little moments that made married life a joy.
That wasn't to say they didn't have the occasional fight, but that was something Dom could easily deal with. A fight over the toilet seat being put down or whose turn it was to take out the trash was infinitively better than not fighting at all with a wife who was out screwing half the city. Sam had healed the emotional scars Evey had left and, though nowhere near perfect, she was everything he could've asked for in a wife, friend and lover. Life couldn't get any better. He had a loving wife, a group of wonderful friends and a family who welcomed him with open arms the moment his sense returned; there wasn't more Dom could ask for. This was happiness at its finest and sharing it with Nicholas and his extensive family made it that much sweeter.
"You're always welcomed here, Dom, you know that ,” Nicholas replied, setting down his wine glass. "Besides, Ellie and I consider you and Samantha a part of our family. Isn't that right, Ellie?" Ellie glanced at Nicholas, eyes conveying something they were both all too familiar with. Then she found Samantha's gaze across the table and rightly so, the bloom in the other woman’s cheeks brought a small smile to Ellie’s lips.
Oh , yes, she considered her family now. Seven years ago, however, she was the woman who desperately panted after her husband like a stereotypical bitch in heat. Thank the heavens Dom had come along when he did,
"Thanks again, for inviting us, Nicholas ,” Dom said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair and waited for the arrival of dessert. The last eight years of life had been good to him and deservedly so, having survived the sort of marriage only the devil could find emotionally stimulating. It had taken a lot out of him. Evey had taken a lot out of him. She'd remained vindictive through the very end. Taking everything he had, which to be perfectly honest hadn't been much, but she'd made sure to leave him with nothing but the shirt on his back.
Had it not been for Nicholas’s extensive team of lawyers, Dom knew he'd have lost custody of Brandon. Their estranged friendship over the last eighteen years notwithstanding, Nicholas had become more of a friend to Dom than his own brothers. Looking across the table at the dark haired tycoon, Dom still found it hard to believe that this was the same boy who had tempted faith more times than he could count on both his fingers and toes.
The same guy who everyone doubted would live to see his twenty-first birthday with a father like Charles Grayson and a death wish the size of his trust fund. Yet, as incredibly hard as it was to believe, Nicholas was no longer the same guy, in fact, looking at him now, many would doubt that he'd been on a paved path to hell.
Ellie’s laughter pulled Dom’s gaze to Nicholas’s right and the vibrant smile gracing her face pulled the corners of Dom’s lips into a smile of his own. This was Nicholas’s raison d'être, his reason for being, and Dom could not fault him for falling so hard. Ellie Holbrook was one of a kind and for having known her for so brief a time, Dom would bet his last bottom dollar that Ellie was all that was good and genuine in the world. They didn't make too many of her anymore and to know that Nicholas had found someone like her made Dom happy. They deserved each other; complemented each other so perfectly that it was like watching a dance when they interacted.
Taking a hold of Sam's hand beneath the table, Dom squeezed it and grinned when she glanced his way and returned the gesture with a tender smile of her own. All too well Dom understood the love Nicholas and Ellie shared because he experienced it every moment he was with Sam. After five years of marriage, they were finally beginning to understand each other and cherish the little moments that made married life a joy.
That wasn't to say they didn't have the occasional fight, but that was something Dom could easily deal with. A fight over the toilet seat being put down or whose turn it was to take out the trash was infinitively better than not fighting at all with a wife who was out screwing half the city. Sam had healed the emotional scars Evey had left and, though nowhere near perfect, she was everything he could've asked for in a wife, friend and lover. Life couldn't get any better. He had a loving wife, a group of wonderful friends and a family who welcomed him with open arms the moment his sense returned; there wasn't more Dom could ask for. This was happiness at its finest and sharing it with Nicholas and his extensive family made it that much sweeter.
"You're always welcomed here, Dom, you know that ,” Nicholas replied, setting down his wine glass. "Besides, Ellie and I consider you and Samantha a part of our family. Isn't that right, Ellie?" Ellie glanced at Nicholas, eyes conveying something they were both all too familiar with. Then she found Samantha's gaze across the table and rightly so, the bloom in the other woman’s cheeks brought a small smile to Ellie’s lips.
Oh , yes, she considered her family now. Seven years ago, however, she was the woman who desperately panted after her husband like a stereotypical bitch in heat. Thank the heavens Dom had come along when he did,
Similar Books
