he told me people who drink make poor decisions. “Heavens no. I don’t think I ever want another drink. I should have listened to you, but you frustrated me, and I made a poor choice.”
“I guess you can say I already drove you to drink. I’m so sorry.” He squeezes my hands and brings them to his lips. “I promise I’ll do my best to open up to you. I’ll consider your feelings before my own, and I’ll try to unlock my heart.”
“I can’t ask for any more than that.” I could, but being here with Damon and him promising to try is more than I imagined possible.
Our food arrives, and we take turns feeding each other bites of both dishes. He has baked ziti, and I have chicken parmigiana. We talk about work and what we’re accomplishing.
He likes that I work for him. My proximity gives him access to me all day long. I need to set boundaries, otherwise, I’ll never leave his office. But tonight isn’t about limitations, it’s about possibilities.
“Tell me about your house?” I lean forward on my elbows and wait for him to respond.
“Rather than tell you, I’ll show you. Are you ready?”
I’m not sure what he’s asking, but I nod because whatever Damon is offering, I’d be a fool to pass up.
He pays the bill, and we’re on our way. We drive up a long, winding road and come to a stop in front of a large iron gate.
“What’s with the security gates?” Both Damon and his mother have elaborate security systems.
“It’s necessary. I have a lot of assets to protect, and there are a lot of not-so-nice people in the world.”
He punches in a code, the gate swings open, and we drive a hundred feet into the garage. Next to where he parks sits a beautiful orange and black Charger.
“You have excellent taste in cars. What made you choose them when you could have anything in the world?”
“I love American muscle cars. When I was a kid, I had pictures of Mustangs all over my room. My brother had pictures of Chargers. I bought one of each. The Charger hasn’t moved since Roman’s death. I’m partial to the Shelby, but I like the Cobra too. I’ve never been a fan of the Saleen. My first car was a 65 Shelby GT 350. She was beautiful but didn’t have the power and amenities of today’s models.” He pats the steering wheel. “I’ve had this one for about two years. I trade it in every two years and go back and forth between a convertible and a hardtop. The next one will be a convertible.”
With my hand in his, we enter his house in the kitchen. State-of-the-art appliances and designer finishes are everywhere. We move toward the living room where warm colors and plush furniture decorate the masculine interior.
“How big is this place?” Looking at the size of the kitchen and living room, I imagine what the rest is like.
“Roughly five thousand square feet. It has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a living room, a recreation room, a theater, and a kitchen. There’s a formal dining room, although I haven’t used it. Perhaps we can break it in together.”
“Are you asking me on a date?” I tease.
“As a matter of fact, I am.” He nods. “How about dinner and a movie next Friday night?”
“I’d love to go on a date with you.”
“I’m looking forward to it myself.” Walking to the refrigerator, he pulls two soda cans out and pops them open.
“Was that hard to do?”
He looks at me quizzically. “Was what hard to do?”
“Ask me on a date?”
“Terrifyingly difficult.”
I can’t tell whether he’s serious or joking, but either way, I believe there’s some truth to his statement.
“You did well.”
“Come out here with me.” He points to the french doors. “The view is the reason I bought this house.”
I step onto a massive deck overlooking a canyon. The sky packed with stars—something I don’t see living in the city, but up here in the hills, the stars twinkle like a million diamonds in the sky.
After setting the sodas down, he stands behind me and pulls my back to his chest. I’m happy to relax and stare into the starry night.
“Thanks for such a wonderful night. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.”
“You’re so sweet and forgiving. I don’t think there’s a mean bone in your body. I definitely don’t deserve you.”
“Emma says the same thing, but she thinks it’s because I had a good life