Page 10 of Southie
“So, what’s up?”
“Roland sent me in here to get you.”
I looked toward the ceiling, heaved a heavy sigh, and rubbed my brow, trying to ward off the impending headache trying to creep in.
“Of course, he did. I can’t breathe for one freaking minute.”
Damian displayed a wide grin and sauntered closer to my father’s desk, forcing my irritation to intensify. The lustful gaze showed the direction of this conversation. I welcomed a distraction from my father’s attitude, but this kind of distraction I didn’t want. Especially not from Damian Denning.
He’d been asking me out for more than a month, and my answer was always no. Don’t get me wrong; the man was fine as hell. Panty dropping fine. Very tall, at least six foot three inches, smooth blemish-free ebony skin, whiskey-colored eyes with the cutest dimples.
But not my type.
In the looks department, any woman would be happy to have his attention, including me. Despite his jaw-dropping good looks, Damian was a playboy who wouldn’t say no to female persuasion. If I were the type of woman looking for a sex only type of relationship, Damian would be my first choice. However, I wasn’t that girl. Although, a night fueled by only sex would be freeing.
Like my ex, Damian was an equal opportunity playboy, and with that came problems. Problems I didn’t want to deal with. He had a different girl on his arm often. Size, race, height, none of that mattered, and I refused to add my name to his ever-growing list of females.
I, for one, didn’t need that kind of drama in my life. I had enough to deal with dealing with my father and a crazy ex-boyfriend who was hell-bent on getting revenge. A new toxic relationship added to the mix wasn’t a road I’d go down, no matter how fine and charming he was. Any relationship wasn’t in the cards for me, and if it had been, it wouldn’t be with Damian. That would be a disaster waiting to happen.
Even around campus, though there was nothing romantic between us, the hateful looks women gave me were ridiculous for someone who had no connection with the man other than a casual association. These women had gone so far as to approach me, warning me to stay away from their man. Even though Damian was gorgeous, smart, and funny, all the normal qualities one looked at for a relationship, he was someone I would not get involved with.
“Before you go out there, I wanted to see if you thought about what we talked about the other day?”
I tapped my foot and crossed my arms over my chest. “We’ve talked about this already, Damian. I’m not getting mixed up in your drama. There are already girls approaching me on campus about you, and we don’t even know each other like that.”
“Well, Camilla, I’m trying to change that.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest and licked his plump lips.
For a moment, the way his muscles flexed under his white t-shirt—which fit like perfection across the hard planes of his chest—and his thick tongue moving across those kissable lips as he pulled the bottom one between his teeth, distracted me.
I focused on his face, and the smugness displayed let me know he caught me gawking.
I cleared my throat, a flush creeping across my cheeks. “Damian, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why? I want to be friends and take you out on a friendly date. Get to know the real Camilla Jennings. What’s so wrong with that?”
My mouth tugged into a grin. Regardless of how ridiculous he sounded, Damian was smooth as hell. Nonetheless, I pushed my attraction to him down. I wouldn’t be like every other woman who fell for his sweet words.
“Realfriends don’t date, Damian, and I don’t care to or have the time to navigate your many femalefriends, either.”
He rolled his eyes but the smirk on his face remained no matter how hard he tried to hide it. His many female friends always surrounded him.I didn’t share and wouldn't put myself in the position to do so.
“Those girls are nothing to worry about, baby girl.”
I scoffed at the lies he let roll off his tongue. He was as charming as a snake oil salesman looking for his next victim, I’d give him that. With the model good looks and the impeccable game, it was obvious why so many women fell for him, but I wouldn’t be that woman.
I reminded myself, again, not to get lost in my attraction for him and fall for his bullshit.
“I’m single,” Damien said. “It doesn’t matter what they say. I’m not in a committed relationship with anyone,yet.”
He winked and my cheeks heated. While everything he was saying was all bullshit, I wasn’t immune to his words, his confidence, or his looks.
“Damian…” I huffed, my hands moving to my hips.
“Listen, Camilla, we can go out on one date as friends. Go to a nice restaurant, talk, listen to some live music, and if it leads to something else, then it does.” He shrugged like it didn’t matter either way to him.
I paused for a moment before I asked the question. I was skeptical Damian would just let it gothateasily after hounding me for so long, especially if he didn’t get me in his bed, which was his real priority, not becoming my friend. Damian didn’t have platonic friendships with women.
“And if it doesn’t lead to something?” I asked with my brow lifted.
