Page 76 of The Reluctant Heir

I glance out the window and see that the sun has risen completely now. “Isn’t it kind of late? I figured you’d be in bed already.”

“I’d rather see you than sleep,” he says.

I lick my lips. “All right. Then, please, come over.”

“Give me twenty minutes,” he says, then hangs up the phone.

I glance down at my sweatpants and baggy shirt and run to my closet to get changed. Just as I finish fixing my hair, my phone goes off.

I’m here.

Butterflies tickle my stomach as I make my way downstairs. I’m glad he didn’t ring the doorbell because I’m pretty sure Dad and Eden are already asleep.

When I open the front door, Damek is standing there. He has his hands casually tucked into the front pocket of his jeans. His smile widens when he sees me.

“It’s really good to see you,” Damek says.

“Come on.” I grab his arm and gently tug him inside.

“You said you needed to talk.” He watches me as I close the door behind us.

“Yes. In the living room.”

Damek’s hand slowly slides down my arm and he laces our fingers together. I look at our intertwined hands as I lead him toward the living room.

I like him. And I like the way he makes me feel. He’s fun to talk to and we get along great. It may not be the best reason to get married, but it is a good foundation on which we could build a good marriage.

But I also kissed somebody else today. And while I’m not sure how I feel about Kaine, I do know that I’m not ready to get married right now. Damek deserves to know how I’m feeling.

When we get to the living room, we sit down next to one another. I wonder for a moment where to start the conversation, but Damek speaks before I can.

“Before you say anything, I want to apologize, again, for my mother’s behavior the other night,” Damek rushes to say. “When we got home, I set her straight about you. She feels guilty for the way she acted and she will be apologizing to you the next time we see you. I think she thought she was protecting me. But she knows how I feel about you.”

How he feels about me.

I chew on my bottom lip.

“I like you, Maddie.” Damek’s thumb gently caresses the top of my hand. “And I’m hoping that something will come out of whatever this is between us. I’ve never felt like this before and I’m terrified that something is going to ruin it.”

“My father has given me until the end of the month to pick a husband,” I say, just blurting out what I called him over here for. Maybe it’s just best to be completely honest.

“Wow.” Damek watches me with wide eyes. “What are you going to do?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. But what I do know is that, out of all the candidates, you’re my favorite.”

His grin widens.

“But,” I say before he can speak, “I don’t want to marry somebody without dating them first. I like you, but I want to be in love with you before I marry you.”

He nods. “Let me ask you this—are you opposed to marrying me in the future, after we’ve gotten to know one another better?”

“No, of course not.” I tuck my hair behind my ear.

“Leave it to me, then,” he says. “I think I have a solution for us that will give you the time you need.”

My heart swells. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you, Maddie.” He reaches his hand to my cheek and gently caresses it.

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