He nods. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right out.”
“Don’t dally,” she orders, before spinning on her heel and grabbing Addison’s elbow. They whisper together as they clip-clop up the stairs. As their footsteps fade, Damian releases his hold on me.
I inch away. It’s going to take me a moment to regain my equilibrium.
That kiss!It was one of those kisses that you feel from your toes to the tip-top of your head. Where did all thatheatcome from? That passion? How is it possible that a man as rude and stuffy as Damian knows how to kiss… like that?
I lick my lips and run a hand through my hair.
The more I think about it, the more certain I am: that was, hands-down, the best kiss of my life.
Which maybe doesn’t say a lot about my love life. The other guys I’ve dated just got blown out of the water by a guy who’s only pretending to want me.
And yet…
There has to be more to it. A little part of me whispers in my ear:You’ve caught him looking at you.
And it’s true.
That sneaky, tricky part of my mind that sometimes won't shut up, even when I want it to, is right. She's the devil on my shoulder, always stirring up trouble, and this time, she has avery valid point. Ihavecaught Damian looking at me with desire sparking in those dark eyes.
It’s happened three times so far.
Twice at the Hidden Garden. I didn’t think much of it then because I was so tired and overwhelmed, but it happened—he looked at me withhunger. Like I was candy, and he had himself a sweet tooth.
Then there was this morning, in his closet.
And, what about after that kiss?That troublesome voice whispers.And the way he peered into your soul?
Locking eyes like that—it was almost even more intimate than locking lips.
I shudder at the memory and then glance furtively over at Damian. How’s he handling this strange new twist to our already-complicated relationship?
He scowls down at his shoes and rubs his hand across his forehead. Then he drags his palm over his face and blinks a few times.
Okay… not well. He’s not handling this well.
He looks completely miserable. “I hope she didn’t offend you,” he grumbles.
“When? You mean when she called me working class, or when she insinuated that I must have seduced you with my dance moves at some shady nightclub? I bet she thinks I’m a stripper or something.”
“Shedidoffend you.”
“Or, how about when she insulted my car? That was fun.”
“I apologize, on her behalf.”
“Don’t worry about it. I can take it.” I gaze over at the now-empty stairwell. “So, that was Addison, hm? Your ‘Doc’?”
“I called her that once. She wouldn’t let it go.”
“And she’s really a doctor?”
“A neurosurgeon to be exact. She recently moved back to Silver Springs. She commutes to the Cherry Creek Hospital.” He trudges toward the stairs. “I should go say goodbye. My mother only gets even more testy if she’s left waiting.”
“Moretesty? Is that even possible?”
“Believe me,” he gripes. “It is.”