Page 133 of Charming Deception

I sigh.

She stands back, considering. “So what did you do?”

“I tried to help her out. Offered her a place to stay, a job.”

“So you led with your money.”

Shit. She’s right.

I didn’t think of it that way. I’d just been so focused on helping her. For Cole’s sake.

But also… for mine. Because I want her to like me.

Who am I kidding?

I want her to fucking love me.

Savannah’s eyes narrow. “Is that the kind of thing this girl would go for?”

“Apparently not.”

“And the kind of girl who would… Is that the kind you want to attract? Really?”

“No.”

“Then what are you doing?” She sits down behind her desk. “Lead with your heart, Jamie. It’s a good one.”

I run my hand down my face. The whole idea of leading with my heart, putting it out there… giving it to someone… it’s so damn uncomfortable I almost can’t breathe when I think about it.

“Maybe I don’t know how to do that.”

“You’re scared,” my sister says, with compassion. “Mom and Dad damaged you more than you’ve ever admitted. You’re afraid of giving your heart away and being hurt like they hurt each other.”

I hesitate. “I think I started to, with Geneviève.”

Savannah scoffs. “I warned you about that woman. She’s a player and a status-climber. A user. You knew, deep down, that her heart was unavailable to you. I highly doubt she even has one.”

I didn’t know that. Not at first. But as soon as Savi says it, I’m not sure she’s wrong. “Why would I do that?”

“Fear. You can’t lead with your heart when your first priority is to protect it at all costs.”

Fuck. The brutal honesty of that, the truth in it, is breathtaking.

Maybe this is why I come to Damian with these things. If you want advice on sex, power, seduction, Damian Vance is your man.

Advice from the heart, though? I know Savannah is the only one who can really give me that. And maybe that’s why I’ve avoided talking to her about this for so damn long.

“Okay, so, how do I lead with my heart?”

“Damn, you do need help.”

“Yeah? So then cough it up,” I growl, “or I leave and regret asking. If I wanted my balls stomped on, I’d go talk to Harlan.”

She seems to realize I’m serious and stops the ball busting. “Okay, cave man. Settle down. Yeesh. You get a crush for the first time in your life and you’re untenable.”

I glower at her.

“Step one, Mr. Growly, you put your dick away, which you’ve already done. Then you put your wallet away. And see what that leaves you to work with. What do you really care about? What does she care about? Who are you, underneath all the money? That’s how you connect with her.”

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