Bondage Buddies (Masters of Marquis #1) - Golden Angel Page 0,33

the headrest. “It was nice having someone there I could trust to explain everything to me.” Even though she couldn’t see Rae’s expression, she could feel the other woman soften.

“Yeah, I can see that.” Rae glanced. “Weird to see him there, though.”

“Very.”

They drove in silence the rest of the way home, neither she nor Rae able to really gossip about Mitch while Ana was in the car. Not to mention, Domi was completely spent, as though she’d been put through the wringer. She heard Ana yawn. Today might be a nap day, which was not Ana’s usual anymore.

When they pulled onto their street, Marcus was there waiting for them, standing next to his car in front of their house. Domi blinked. It was almost weird to see him without Julia. She felt a little guilty, being relieved Julia wasn’t there, though that was nothing compared to the sick feeling filling her stomach at having to actually face her co-parent after letting their daughter get hurt. She knew it was an accident, and Marcus hadn’t sounded angry on the phone, just worried. He’d told her he was going to try to get out of work and meet them at home, but she hadn’t heard from him after that, so she’d assumed he hadn’t been able to leave work yet.

“Daddy!” In the backseat, Ana perked up when she saw Marcus standing in the driveway. As soon as Rae parked the car, Ana scrambled out of it, wincing when she moved a little too quickly, causing all the adults to wince too. “Daddy!”

“Hey there, who’s my brave girl?” Marcus asked, giving her a huge hug and picking her up in his arms. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to be at the hospital with you.”

“That’s okay.” Ana leaned her head against his shoulder, yawning again. “Mommy was there. And Murse Mitch.”

Rae snickered as Domi winced. Marcus just looked amused. He didn’t realize the significance of Ana’s statement. Ack. She wondered how long it would take for Ana to reveal Murse Mitch was Mommy’s ‘friend.’

Why did that make her feel guilty?

“Let’s get you inside, peanut,” Domi said, reverting to the nickname they’d used for Ana when she was a baby. Revealing just how tired she was, Ana didn’t protest the endearment. She stayed cuddled up against her Daddy, who carried her in.

Turning, she saw Jordan and Karen peering out of their front door.

“I’ll go update them,” Rae said, giving Domi a little push to follow Marcus and Ana. “You go talk to Marcus.”

Sighing, Domi did as she was told. They got a yawning Ana settled into her bed, where she fell asleep almost immediately, then Domi took Marcus to the kitchen to explain exactly how everything had happened and what the doctor had said. She glossed over Mitch’s presence, causing Rae to give her a look since she had joined them by then.

Whatever.

She didn’t feel like explaining Mitch to Marcus. It wasn’t as though he was going to be around, anyway. The encounter with Mitch was probably the only one Ana would ever have.

Too bad, a little voice whispered in her mind. She liked him. He was good with her. You need a guy like that.

Yeah, one who actually wants a relationship.

Which was not what Mitch wanted.

“How’s Julia doing?” Domi asked to change the subject.

“Better.” Marcus perked up. “The anti-nausea meds seem to be working well. She’s eating again and has more energy. If this keeps up and Julia feels up to it, do you think Ana could spend the weekend with us?”

Technically, Ana was supposed to be at Marcus and Julia’s right now, then coming back to Domi’s tomorrow, which was Saturday. The tug to be with her baby all weekend and watch over her and her arm was strong, but she knew Marcus would be feeling that same tug, especially since Ana had gotten hurt on her watch.

“Yes, of course,” she made herself say, her stomach only twisting a little. It’s not like Marcus hadn’t wanted to spend his full week with Ana.

“I don’t blame you, Domi.” Leaning over the table, Marcus put his hand over hers, his expression earnest. “It was an accident. They happen.”

The little twist in her gut relaxed a little, and she managed to smile back at him. He really was a great guy. Steady. Reliable. Kind. The kind of man she should have feelings for… if she was going to have feelings for a guy. Not a commitment-phobe fuck buddy. No matter how great he’d been in