`` yes , precious , '' dominic answered my request softly , my body jerked out of its surprise , i looked to him , saw his eyes warm and understanding on me and realized then that he knew too and this was probably what they 'd been whispering about because i also knew dominic had been in town just under four years and he 'd never said boo to me about ty and unless gossip was shared while ty was doing time and he was just too polite to mention it ( which was n't dominic 's way ) , he did n't know until now .