Page 18 of California Love Songs
Damien tilted his head slightly, that slow, knowing grin spreading across his face.
Crystal swallowed, the heat between them so palpable that it almost made her forget the steps. She spun again, more out of instinct than memory, and Damien followed, his hand steady at her back, keeping her close even as they moved in time with the music. She could feel every shift of his weight, every slight adjustment in his body. It was impossible to ignore how attuned they were to one another.
Her feet moved in sync with his, each step a precise, practiced motion. He led her through a series of spins and sharp turns, his hand never leaving her waist, keeping her close, guiding her effortlessly through the intricate footwork of the salsa. The music swirled around them, fast-paced and urgent, but it was the feel of him that set her body alight. His hand on her back, firm and steady, anchored her as they moved—his body so close to hers that she could feel the heat radiating off him, feel the strength in his arms as they danced together.
As they twirled across the wooden deck, Damien’s grip tightened, pulling her in for a moment of stillness. Her breath caught as he leaned in closer, their faces mere inches apart.
“You’re getting better.” Her voice sounded husky and breathless even to herself, despite the fact that she enjoyed teasing him.
“I was always this good,” he teased back. He chuckled now, the sound rumbling in his chest, sending a wave of warmth through her. Then, without warning, he spun her again, this time faster, the momentum making her dizzy again. But as she came back into his arms, they locked eyes once more. The world around them faded into the background. The rhythm of the dance, the pulse of the music, the flickering of the sunlight through the trees—all of it seemed to disappear, leaving just themselves.
His fingers brushed the side of her neck, sending an electric jolt through her skin. She shivered, not sure if it was from the touch or from the fire that had sparked between them. Crystal’s breath hitched as he pulled her closer, his chest pressing against hers. They were so in tune with each other, so perfectly aligned in this moment, that she could hardly remember where friendship ended and something deeper began.
But no, she told herself firmly. They were just friends.
And yet, as he spun her into a final, slow dip, holding her suspended for a brief, breathless moment before pulling her back up into his arms, the line between friendship and something more blurred, just enough to make her question everything she’d believed until today.
The dance ended, but the tension remained, crackling between them like static electricity. Neither spoke, the silence heavy with everything that had been left unsaid. But as they stood there, breathless, their hands still lingering on each other, Crystal realized something she hadn’t wanted to admit.
This dance wasn’t just about salsa anymore.
The sudden applause brought her back to reality. She was standing in the middle of the Davenport deck. And she’d just danced with Damien as though his whole family wasn’t watching. At least her cheeks were already red from the exertion.
Damien seemed to remember where he was at the same time. He turned to his dad, who was whistling, impressed. “Crystal is a good teacher. The best, in fact. She taught me years ago.”
Crystal took a mock bow. “It helps when you have a home studio.” During the long two years Damien had been on his worldwide tour, she had scrimped and saved and then installed a dance studio in her house.
“Well,” said Damien, a cheeky smile playing on his dreamy lips, “I’ll soon have plenty of time to get even better. If you’ll agree to teach me, that is.”
Crystal’s heart began to thud. In an almost inaudible whisper she said, “You’re really planning to stay?” She hadn’t allowed herself to believe that he might stick around in Carmel for longer than his usual five minutes.
Damien nodded. And then he announced to the whole family, although he never took his eyes from hers, that he was going to take a break from touring. “I’ve spoken to my manager and he understands. I’m going to spend more time at home.”
Everyone was delighted and speaking all at once. Damien had always been the restless Davenport, traveling the globe. He had missed out on so many important family moments because of it, and Crystal knew that they’d all be thrilled to have the missing Davenport piece back in their unit.
Then she shook off the lingering feeling of Damien’s arms around her. “Who wants a lesson?”
She had fun teaching some beginning moves to the Davenports, all of whom had natural rhythm. Even Hersch surprised everyone by getting right into the dance, and within half an hour he’d mastered the basic step, leading his partner in a left and right turn, and then a double-handed turn.
“I want to get the first dance right at our wedding,” he admitted. Which caused Mila to kiss him in front of everyone.
As they headed back inside to tackle those dishes, Crystal couldn’t help but sneak furtive glances at Damien. So this was the source of his peaceful, thoughtful demeanor. He had actually taken steps to stay in Carmel for longer. She wanted so much to believe that he’d stay. But would he?
Her father used to call her his princess, and tell her he’d always be there. Hadn’t that turned out to be a fairy tale? She no longer believed a man’s easy promises. Damien might intend to stay, but after a career of jetting around the globe, would he really?
When Damien was washing the big cooking pans and she was drying them, she said, “Did you really mean what you said? You’re sticking around?”
Damien’s forehead creased. “This is like the third time you’ve asked me this. Yes. I’ve thought about it long and hard. It just feels like the right time. I’m tired of hotels and hiring private chefs so I can eat clean. I want to spend some time in my own house, do some cooking in my own kitchen. Make music in my own studio.”
Crystal found herself searching for something in his eyes, but she didn’t know what. “I guess I keep asking because you’re the biggest nomad I’ve ever known. I find it hard to believe you’re going to be content staying in one place.”
Damien’s raised eyebrows were a dare. “Well, you’d better believe it. You’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”
“I think I can handle that,” she said, and they locked eyes for what seemed like days before the booming sound of Howie’s happy laughter broke the moment.
Chapter Eight
As he walked Crystal out of the family home, Damien was both full of breakfast and also digesting the news of another of his siblings getting married. Was there something in the water in Carmel-by-the-Sea? Why had everyone suddenly decided to start settling down? Glancing at Crystal’s profile, the outline of her cute nose and the slight shine of her glossy lips, he realized he wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. He still had a lot of catching up to do with his high school best friend.
