Page 31 of Wild Tangled Hearts

Damien’s expression remains unreadable, his tone turning icy as he responds, “Stacey.”

A torrent of questions whirls through my mind. Besides, most likely being the notorious Stacey from Damien’s phone, who is this woman, and what connection does she have to him? The tension between them is palpable, and I can’t tear my gaze away.

“Fuck,” Damien growls out, darkness I haven’t seen before forming in his eyes.

Stacey’s desperation radiates as she fixes an intense glare on him, her words tinged with a slightly whiny tone reminiscent of a child’s plea. “If you’d answer my calls, I wouldn’t have to track you down.” Her gaze briefly flickers in my direction, and I catch a momentary glimpse of embarrassment crossing her pretty features. “I need—”

“Not here,“ Damien interjects sharply, his fingers gripping her elbow as he guides her away, taking their conversation out of earshot.

Anxiety and uncertainty clutch at me as time drags on.

Is Stacey an ex-girlfriend or a more significant figure in his life?

As they talk, Stacey’s anger seems to turn to guilt and humiliation. She looks over at me, then drops her head, dark hair hanging over her face.

Damien says something to her, and she gives a slight nod. Finally, Damien pulls out his wallet and hands her a few bills. She flips through the money and then looks like she’s about to argue again, but the pointed glare he gives her makes her shut her mouth on whatever she is about to say.

When she leaves, Damien returns to my side, his brows drawn down, that brooding look back with a vengeance.

“If you need to go with her, I understand,” I say, my words tumbling from my lips, laden with my insecurities. “I mean, we’ve only been on two dates; it’s not like we’ve made any promises, and—“

“Bella, stop,” he says, his voice laced with frustration. “It’s not what you think.”

“Okay,” I reply, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m not sure what to expect, but I need answers.

He takes a deep breath before continuing. “Stacey is my sister. She’s been going through a difficult time.”

“Oh.” I chew on my bottom lip.

“And Lexi is Stacey’s daughter. My niece. The kid lives with my mom because…” He pauses, his fingers rubbing over his scruff, frustration etched into his features. “It’s a complicated mess. And I didn’t want to bring you into it all.”

“I’m so sorry,” I stammer, my face warm with embarrassment as the weight of misunderstanding lifts from my shoulders.

“How old is Lexi?” I ask, attempting to steer the conversation toward a lighter topic.

"Six," he replies, his demeanor softening. “She’s a handful. Full of energy, curiosity, and the occasional mischief, but she keeps life interesting.”

I smile at the affection I hear in his voice for his niece. “I’d love to meet her sometime.”

“Yeah? I can arrange that.” Something stirs in his eyes before he admits, “Want to know a secret?”

“Always,” I say, grinning up at him when he cups my face with his calloused palms.

“You’ll be the first girl I’ve ever brought home.”

“Honestly?”

He nods, and I can’t help but smile at the revelation, feeling a rush of warmth fill my chest.

The bustling crowd around us fades into the background as Damien leans in closer, his presence becoming the sole focus of my attention.

His breath is a gentle whisper against my skin, sending shivers down my spine, and our lips meet in a soft kiss. Our mouths move in perfect harmony, lips that are warm and inviting, and I feel a rush of emotions coursing through me.

Time stands still as our kiss deepens, our bodies leaning into each other. It’s a moment of pure intimacy, and as we finally pull away, our foreheads resting against each other, I can’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, I’ve found something extraordinary in Damien Blackwood.

“You’re killing me, beautiful,” Damien murmurs, his voice tinged with desire. “But we should probably dial it back before we unintentionally become the headliners of a show they didn’t sign up for.”

I chuckle and take his hand, continuing our stroll through the marketplace.

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