Page 18 of Broken Rules
Her heart started to race harder as nerves twisted her stomach.
He had told her to forget him...Maybe he wouldn’t come.
She was giving her curls an extra tousle when Brandi appeared behind her in the mirror. “Hey, I thought you said you weren’t going out tonight?”
Savannah’s gaze darted down to her purse. She quickly put her lipstick back and zipped it up. “I’m not. I’ve just been working since last Monday, and I’m sick of feeling like a piece of smelly shit.”
“That’s a bit harsh, Savvy. Anyway, you could be dipped in shit, and you would still be gorgeous.”
Savannah smiled. “Thanks.” Then she noticed Brandi’s fresh makeup and her body hugging dress. “Where are you off to tonight?”
“William is taking me for a walk on the beach.”
“A second date? Wow!”
Brandi smiled. “And do you know what? He didn’t even make a pass at me last night, even though I got pretty buzzed.”
Savannah’s heart warmed for her friend. “Aww, you found a gentleman.”
“Yup, he’s straight out of a Jane Austin book.”
“You’re right,” Savannah exclaimed. “And his name is William, not Will or Willy, which proves my theory about names. His parents may as well have called him Mr. Darcy.”
“What theory about names?” Brandi asked.
Savannah shook her head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking out loud.” She pulled Brandi into a quick hug. “Have fun and be safe. Remember, Mr. Darcy, wasn’t always a gentleman.”
Savannah watched her friend disappear down the stairs. Suddenly, she felt very alone. She looked at her reflection. “You’re pathetic.” She wiped off her lipstick on the back of her hand and headed into the office to finish her work.
No doubt the masked avenger wouldn’t show again, especially after she called the cops on him.
More than that, she shouldn’t want him to come!
But she did.
Sliding into the office chair, she printed out the money owed and compared that with the staffs’ cash-outs. When the numbers lined up, she stood and stretched. Exhausted, she turned out the office light. After making it part way down the stairs, she realized she’d forgotten her purse.
“Damn it,” she breathed and dragged herself back up the stairs, across the room, passing stacks of napkins and to-go containers, and opened the office door. She flicked on the light the instant before an involuntary scream fled her lips.
He was sitting in her chair, holding her purse.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t take anything,” he said, handing her the bag. She could hear the smile in his voice.
Her heart still pounded in her ears. “How did you...I’ve been up here the whole...” Setting her purse on the desk, she slumped down in the chair across from him, feeling dizzy. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.” His voice was a caress. Then he rolled his chair closer to hers. “I tried to stay away.”
She swallowed. “You did?” She felt completely entranced by the fire she glimpsed in his eyes, still the only part of his face she could see.
“The problem, Savannah—”
She sat straighter. “You know my name.”
“I do, Savannah Honey.”
Swallowing hard so that her next question was barely louder than a whisper, she asked, “What’s your name?”
He hesitated. Moments passed, breaths, and then, finally, he said, “Damien. My name is Damien.”
