Page 9 of Unsure in Love

His response surprised me, and I laughed. For sure, I thought he’d say something condescending, like: I’ll take care of you, little lady. It was surprising how many times I’d heard those exact words, as if a woman couldn’t take care of herself.

Peeking up at Damian through my lashes, I decided I liked him. I really liked him… for more than a one-night stand. Too bad that wasn’t possible. We were from different worlds. Literally. I could tell he was some big shot from the city despite his humbleness, and I was a small-town girl from the other side of the country.

“What’s weighing so heavily on your mind, Cass?”

My eyes flew to Damian.

“And I’m not talking about just now,” he added. “You’ve been sitting at this bar for a while, seemingly miles away.”

My brows furrowed. “Exactly how long have you and your crew been in here?”

“They’re not really my crew but long enough.”

“You’ve been stalking me since the rehearsal dinner,” I said, swerving the conversation away from what was really bothering me. “Not that I mind.”

“Just as you’ve been stalking me.” He grinned. “Not that I mind.”

I almost choked on my next sip because a giggle emerged at the same time. Damian threw back the energy and attitude I gave him. It was refreshing to converse with someone who wasn’t put off by my honesty and ‌gave it right back.

“So, Damian, what are we going to do about this whole will-we-won’t-we game we’ve been playing in silence for days?” Clearing my throat lightly, I swept my hair behind my ear, feeling that sliver of nervousness creep in again. “I’m thinking we should.”

He did it again—threw me off my game with his unreadable stare. Damian studied me in silence, and his expression remained neutral. My skin heated, partly from the embarrassment that he might turn me down, but mostly because being near him left me hot and bothered.

Finally, he replied, “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“What’s your point?”

He stroked his jaw, and I followed the movement of his long fingers, wondering what they’d feel like on my skin. “I’m not interested in more. You probably won’t hear from me again.”

“That’s what’s going to make tonight so much fun.” I lifted my glass and sipped, hoping he didn’t think me too forward. Although, he seemed to appreciate my directness.

He grunted. “So, you’re propositioning me for one night of fun?”

“You’re quick on the uptake, Damian.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Cassandra Bennet, you’re nothing short of amusing.” He gifted me another one of those slow, heated appraisals that had been lighting me on fire since we met. The one that made me feel like I was the most desirable woman to him. I liked it.

“You can relax, Damian. I’m not interested in more either. I don’t do the whole dating thing. I especially don’t do the distance thing, Mr. New York.”

He smirked. “What do you have against dating?”

“Probably the same thing you’ve got against it,” I remarked.

His rumble of laughter actually made me shiver with delight. Who even laughed that sexy? The man was perfect... for my night of distraction.

“I’m a no strings attached kind of girl.”

“I’ve never been propositioned like this.”

I lifted one eyebrow. “That’s shocking. Are the women in New York blind?”

He chuckled.

My teeth sank into my lower lip. “Are you turned off?”

Damian swiveled his chair around and our thighs brushed. The light contact sent my hormones into a frenzy. It was like he was emitting pheromones that had my sex hormones peaking to crazy levels.

“On the contrary, but I’m staying at your sister’s inn. Going back there will be awkward.”

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