Page 7 of California Love Songs
“Dude, your guitar riffs are legendary!”
While he answered questions as best as he could, Damien’s gaze darted around, searching for Crystal. He spotted her across the room, speaking intently with a member of the catering staff. Even from a distance, he could see the quiet authority in her stance, the way she commanded respect without raising her voice. It also didn’t escape his notice that she looked stunning in her evening dress. Professional but beautiful. He didn’t know how she pulled it off, but she did. Crystal always managed to pull off the unimaginable. It was why she was the most in-demand event planner around.
“Mr. Davenport, may I have this dance?” A tipsy redhead in a low-cut dress batted her eyelashes at him.
“I appreciate the offer,” Damien said, forcing a polite smile, “but I’m afraid I don’t really dance.”
He smiled and posed for a selfie instead, not wanting to offend the stranger. As soon as he was alone again, he found Crystal. She was now deftly maneuvering through the crowd, pausing briefly to adjust a centerpiece here, whisper instructions to a waiter there. Her movements were so fluid, it was almost like watching a dance in itself.
A portly gentleman in an ill-fitting tuxedo approached Crystal, his hand extended in invitation. Damien heard him say, “Miss Lopez, surely you can spare a moment for a quick turn around the dance floor?”
Crystal’s laugh was warm and genuine, her voice firm. “I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I have to decline. I’m needed in the kitchen to revive the ice sculptures.”
Damien felt a smile tugging at his lips. That was Crystal—always the consummate professional, but with a charm that made even rejection feel like a compliment.
He turned back to his own admirers, trying to focus on their questions about his songwriting process. But his mind kept drifting to Crystal, marveling at how effortlessly she balanced warmth and authority. It was a skill he’d always admired, one that had made her indispensable to each member of his family over the years.
Crys’s quiet competence was a reminder of why he valued their friendship so deeply—and why, lately, he’d begun to wonder if there might be something more beneath the surface.
As the night wore on, Damien found himself constantly aware of her presence, like a soothing counterpoint to the at times overwhelming adulation of his fans. While no one had said it in so many words, it was understood that part of his fee was to hang around and interact with the party guests.
Damien leaned against the bar, his fingers tapping out a rhythm on the polished wood as he watched Crystal glide through the crowd. Her dress caught the light, accentuating her graceful movements as she directed waitstaff and checked on guests.
A young woman approached, her eyes wide with admiration. “Damien! I can’t believe it’s really you. Your last album got me through my divorce.”
He turned, offering a gentle smile. “I’m glad the music helped. It’s why I write, you know?”
“The way you captured that feeling of loss and hope in ‘Shattered Reflections’… it was like you were singing my story,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Damien nodded, feeling that familiar mix of connection and vulnerability. “Music has a way of bridging experiences, doesn’t it? We’re all just trying to make sense of life’s chaos.”
She thanked him again and then moved away, back into the crowd. Damien again sought out Crystal. She was laughing at something a guest had said, her head tilted back, exposing the elegant line of her neck.
“How are you holding up?” It was his brother Archer, who knew as well as Damien did what a toll being famous took on a person. There was never any downtime unless you were locked away in your own home.
“I’m okay. Just wondering how soon I can leave.”
Arch followed his gaze. “Just as soon as you can drag your eyes away from Crystal Lopez.” His brother’s voice was teasing, but not unkind.
“When did she become so… captivating?” he wondered aloud, surprised by his own intensity.
Arch chuckled. “She always has been. You’ve just been too blind to see it. You’ve had Crys in the friend zone your whole life.”
“Because she’s the best friend of my little sister.”
“Bro, she’s all grown up now,” Arch reminded him.
Just like Erin, who’d fallen for Jay Malone, of all people. Damien still couldn’t believe it.
As Arch headed back to Tessa’s side, the realization hit Damien like a chord progression finally falling into place. This wasn’t just friendship between him and Crystal anymore. There was an attraction there, maybe one he’d long suppressed, and now it was surging to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged.
As Damien pondered this revelation, feeling like the ground had been whipped out from under his feet, a woman with wavy blonde hair and glassy eyes stumbled toward him, cocktail sloshing in her unsteady grip.
“Hey there, rock star,” she purred, her words slurring. “How about a private concert for your biggest fan?”
Damien took a step back, his smile polite but strained. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m just here to enjoy the party like everyone else.”
She pressed closer, her perfume overpowering. “C’mon, don’t be shy. I know all your songs by heart. I’d love to go somewhere more quiet and… talk.”
