Catalina's POV
The day crawled by.
Every hour felt like ten. Every minute an eternity.
All I could think about was tonight. Dominic's place. Alone. Finally.
At 6 PM, my phone buzzed.
Unknown: Parents just left for the charity event. They won't be back until midnight. Come over? -D
My hands shook as I typed back.
Me: On my way.
I changed three times. Settled on jeans and a simple top. This wasn't about impressing him.
This was about being real.
I drove to the estate as the sun set. Parked in the back where no one would see my car.
The back entrance was unlocked like he'd promised.
I slipped inside, heart hammering.
"Dominic?" I called softly.
"Up here."
I climbed the stairs to the second floor. Found him in his room.
It was exactly like I'd imagined. Modern furniture. Ocean views. Bookshelves lined with architecture texts. A drafting table in the corner covered in dust.
And Dominic, standing by the window, watching me with those green eyes.
"You came," he said.
"Did you think I wouldn't?"
"Part of me worried you'd come to your senses."
"Stop worrying." I walked to him. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
He pulled me close, kissing me deeply.
"I've been thinking about this all day," he murmured against my lips.
"Me too."
We moved to the couch by the window. Sat facing each other.
"Tell me something," I said. "Something real. Something you've never told anyone."
He was quiet for a moment.
"I blamed myself for Lauren's death for a long time," he said finally. "Everyone said it wasn't my fault. That the other driver ran a red light. That there was nothing I could have done. But I was there, Cat. I survived. She didn't. How is that fair?"
"It's not. But it's not your fault either."
"My head knows that. My heart hasn't caught up."
"What helped?"
"Time. Therapy. And..." He looked at me. "This is going to sound crazy."
"Tell me anyway."
"You. Knowing you were out there. Growing up. Living your life. It gave me something to hold onto when everything else felt dark."
My throat tightened. "You thought about me?"
"More than I should have. You were this bright spot in my memory. This reminder that good things still existed."
"Dominic—"
"I know it sounds like I'm putting you on a pedestal. I'm not. I'm just saying... you helped. Even from far away. Even without knowing it."
I kissed him. Soft and slow.
"Your turn," he said. "Tell me something real."
"I used to write you letters," I admitted. "After you left for Yale. I'd write everything I wanted to say but couldn't. How much I missed you. How proud I was of your achievements. How much I wished you'd come home."
"What did you do with them?"
"Burned them. Every single one. I was terrified Sofia would find them."
"I wish I could have read them."
"Maybe someday I'll write you new ones."
We talked for hours. About everything. His architecture dreams. My bakery plans. Lauren. Marcus. Our families. Our fears.
At some point, we moved from the couch to his bed. Just lying together, talking, his arms around me.
It felt right. Natural. Like we'd been doing this forever.
"Cat?" His voice was soft in the darkness.
"Yeah?"
"I'm falling in love with you."
My heart stopped.
"I know it's too soon," he continued. "I know we just started this. But I need you to know. This isn't casual. This isn't me trying to fill the hole Lauren left. This is real."
I turned to face him.
"I've been in love with you since I was eight years old," I said. "So no, it's not too soon. It's been twelve years coming."
He kissed me. Deep and desperate and full of promise.
When we finally broke apart, both breathless, reality crashed back.
"We have to be so careful," I whispered. "One slip and everyone knows."
"I know."
"Sofia can't find out. Not yet. Not until we figure out how to tell her."
"Agreed."
"And at work—"
"We're professionals. Colleagues. Nothing more."
But the way he was looking at me wasn't professional at all.
At 11:30 PM, my phone buzzed.
Mom: Where are you? Getting worried.
I showed Dominic.
"You should go," he said reluctantly. "Before anyone gets suspicious."
"I don't want to."
"I don't want you to either. But we have to be smart about this."
He was right.
I kissed him one more time. Long and slow.
"Tomorrow?" I asked.
"Tomorrow. I'll text you."
I snuck out the back way. Drove home with my heart full.
This was real. We were real.
And somehow, we'd make it work.
The next morning, I woke to sunshine and happiness.
Until my phone rang.
Sofia.
"Cat! Emergency meeting! Can you come to the estate? Like now?"
My stomach dropped. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong! Everything's perfect! But I need you and Dom here ASAP to discuss wedding stuff. I have SO many ideas!"
Right. The wedding. Sofia's wedding.
Where Dominic and I would have to pretend we were just colleagues.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes."
I threw on clothes and drove over.
Both Sofia and Dominic were already in the conference room when I arrived.
Dominic looked impossibly handsome in a gray sweater and jeans. His hair was messy like he'd run his hands through it.
Our eyes met.
For one second, heat flared between us.
Then we both looked away.
"Finally!" Sofia bounced over. "Okay, so I've been up since five AM planning. I have vendor lists, timeline options, three different venue layouts—"
She spread papers across the table.
Dominic and I sat across from each other.
Under the table, his foot brushed mine.
Deliberate? Accident?
His lips twitched. Definitely deliberate.
I tried to focus on Sofia's words. Something about flowers and lighting and cake tastings.
But all I could think about was last night. Dominic's arms around me. His whispered confession.
"Cat? Cat!" Sofia waved her hand in front of my face. "Are you even listening?"
"Sorry! Yes. Flowers. You want white roses?"
"I want to know if you're okay. You've been spacey all morning."
"Just tired. Didn't sleep well."
Dominic coughed. It sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
Sofia looked between us. "You two are being weird."
"We're fine," Dominic said quickly. Too quickly.
"Mmm." But Sofia didn't look convinced. "Anyway, I need you both at a cake tasting Thursday. Cat, you'll create samples. Dom, you'll give feedback from a business perspective."
"Perfect," I managed.
Across the table, Dominic's eyes were dancing with barely suppressed amusement.
The meeting dragged on for two hours. Planning. Coordinating. Sofia's excitement filling every silence.
And Dominic and I stealing glances when we thought no one was looking.
Finally, Sofia's phone rang.
"It's David! Give me five minutes!" She rushed out, leaving us alone.
The second the door closed, Dominic was out of his chair.
He pulled me up, kissed me hard.
"Missed you," he murmured against my lips.
"It's been twelve hours."
"Twelve hours too long."
I laughed. Kissed him back.
Then we heard footsteps.
We sprang apart just as Sofia walked back in.
"David wants to—" She stopped. Looked at us. "Why do you both look guilty?"
"Guilty?" I squeaked.
"Yeah. Like I just caught you doing something."
"Just arguing about flower arrangements," Dominic said smoothly. "Cat wants peonies. I think they're overpriced."
"They're classic!" I jumped in, grateful for his quick thinking.
Sofia rolled her eyes. "You two. Always bickering. Some things never change."
If only she knew how much had changed.
That night, Dominic texted me.
Unknown: That was close. Too close.
Me: We need to be more careful.
Unknown: I know. But seeing you across that table, knowing I couldn't touch you... torture.
Me: When can I see you again?
Unknown: Tomorrow night? My place? Same time?
Me: Yes.
Unknown: Delete this conversation.
Me: Already doing it.
Unknown: Good girl. Sleep well, my Catalina.
Me: Goodnight, Dominic.
I deleted everything. Lay in bed smiling.
This was dangerous. Reckless. Wrong in so many ways.
But it was also the most right thing I'd ever felt.
I was finally, impossibly, with the man I'd loved my whole life.
And I wasn't letting go.
No matter what it cost.
My phone buzzed one more time.
I almost didn't check it.
But something made me look.
Marcus: Hey Cat. I'm back in town. Would love to catch up. Coffee tomorrow?
My stomach sank.
Marcus. My ex. The "perfect" choice according to everyone.
The man I'd never loved.
Me: I'm really busy with the new job. Rain check?
Marcus: Sure. But I'm not giving up. I made a mistake leaving. I want to fix it.
I stared at the message.
Marcus wanted me back.
Sofia wanted me to plan her wedding with Dominic.
And Dominic and I were falling in love in secret.
This was going to explode.
I just didn't know when.
I deleted Marcus's messages.
Turned off my phone.
And tried not to think about what would happen when all these secrets finally came to light.
Because they would.
Secrets always did.