Page 34 of Broken Rules
“I know,” Brandi began. “I mean you’ve barely left the restaurant for days. How did you two even meet?”
Damien turned and smiled at Savannah. “Go ahead, honey, tell her how we met?”
She raised a coy brow at him. “Gladly,” she said sweetly. Then she turned to Brandi. “I haven’t had any time to do laundry. So, a few mornings ago, I ran into Victoria’s Secret to pick up a new bra, and Damien came up to me and asked whether I thought he was too hippy for a thong.”
Damien threw his head back with laughter. He caught Brandi’s eye. “You look skeptical. Why? Do you think I can’t pull off a thong?”
“You’re both full of shit,” Brandi said, throwing a handful of peanuts at them. “If you want to keep how you met to yourselves, that’s fine.” Once again, her gaze settled on Damien. “How about you tell me where you’re from?”
“Here and there. I’m former military so I’ve lived in a lot of places.”
Brandi raised her brow at him. “Because I’m grateful for your service, I’ll accept your answer, but don’t think I’m not aware of how vague you’re both being. Let’s try another...what do you do for work?”
Damien took a sip of his drink before answering in his effortlessly smooth voice, “I’m in acquisitions.”
Brandi seemed to consider him. He held her unwavering gaze with gentle ease. At length, Brandi said, “So he’s vague but smart.” She ran her finger over Damien’s watch. “Well-to-do, and gorgeous.” She smiled her approval at Savannah and stood. “Don’t let Joe see him. He’ll get all jealous and turn into an asshole.”
After Brandi left to check on her tables, Savannah turned to Damien. “Acquisitions?”
He shrugged. “She seemed satisfied.”
“You can be very convincing.”
“Can I convince you to leave?”
She shook her head. “No, but I might be persuaded to meet up later. Where are you staying? I can head to yours after work.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll pick you up. There’s a place I discovered today. I want to take you there.” He leaned close. “When will you be home?” He kissed her, slowly, tenderly, before she could answer.
When he pulled away, looking at her expectantly, it took her a moment to remember his question. “Eleven,” she said breathlessly and closed her eyes as he once more leaned close, his lips claiming hers.
Chapter Eleven
Savannah hugged Damien’swaist as they wound through narrow roads on the back of a vintage Harley. Passing clusters of small beach cottages, they drove out onto Route 1A, a winding thoroughfare that hugged the curves of the coastline. The moon hovered low over the ocean. With her cheek resting against his back, she watched the frothy waves race toward shore and savored the feel of his warmth, his closeness, and the thrill of the ride.
She was surprised when he slowed down and turned onto a gravel-walking trail lined with willow trees. They reached a gate with aNo Trespassingsign, but Damien just steered around it. At the bottom of the trail, he parked and turned the bike off. A beautiful expanse of beach stretched out before them. The sand shone silvery in the moonlight, and the softly lapping waves were a deep midnight blue fringed with silver froth.
