for Damon.
“It’s so good to see you two together again.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” What I want to say but can’t is we’ve been inseparable since yesterday.
Keeping my thoughts in my head and away from my mouth, I follow Damon to the courtyard, where Rose set out iced tea and snacks.
Damon guides me to the settee and grins when he sees how slow I sit. Next to me, he lifts my hand and places it in his lap.
His mother misses nothing and smiles warmly at the show of affection.
“Damon, be a good son and go to the cellar to grab a bottle of the Italian wine you like so much. I want to send it home with Katarina.”
He eyes his mom but does her bidding. Before he turns the corner, he says, “Behave yourself.”
Rose laughs at his attempt to censure her.
“I knew the day I met you, you’d be good for him. He’s being a gentleman, right? I ask because he can be pushy and demanding.”
“He’s always a gentleman, patient, and accommodating.”
“Really? You must make him happy. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve seen him carefree and content. Those other girls drove me nuts. I know one of them is your roommate, and she’s pleasant enough, but all the other girls were mere distractions.” She looks over her shoulder in the direction Damon disappeared. “He’ll be back soon, but I wanted to let you know how happy I am you two are seeing one another. Don’t let him bully you. He’ll try but push back. The Noble men are strong and stubborn, which means you need to be stronger.”
“What’s this about stubborn, Mother?” Damon arrives carrying a bottle of merlot.
“Your mother said that stubbornness runs in your family, and I told her I hadn’t seen that trait yet, but I’ll be on the lookout for it.”
“In my twenty-nine years, I’ve learned one thing, and that’s you don’t argue with a group of women. It never goes well.”
“Smart man,” I reply.
“Tell me how things are going with the new club?” Rose asks.
He gives his mom the details about the last-minute fixes and extravagant opening night festivities. He proudly tells her what a great job I’ve done with the gift bags, making me feel good about my accomplishment.
“Do you like working at Noble, Katarina? Is it everything you thought it would be?”
I look at him, then back at Rose before I answer.
“It’s turned out to be more than I could have hoped for. I finish my internship there the week of the opening. It’s been a great experience, and I’ve learned so much from Trevor. I’m sure everything I’ve worked on will help me find a permanent job.”
“I’m confident you’ll do well in the job market,” she says. “What else do you have planned for the weekend?”
I look at Damon because I don’t know what we have planned.
“Katarina and I are doing a little shopping, then dinner, and a movie. Tomorrow, we’re having supper with her parents.”
Rose’s eyes grow in surprise, then a smile spreads across her face.
“That sounds wonderful.” She points to my bag. “Put my number in your phone, so you can call me next week, and we can meet for lunch.”
“Katarina has lunch with me,” Damon says in a purely possessive manner.
“Nonsense, you can live without her for a day.” Rose recites her number, and I plug it into my phone before we’re off.
He drives a few blocks down the street, then turns left. Halfway down the block, he pulls into a driveway where a large white colonial house sits in the center of an enormous lot. It’s hard to believe anyone still owns space like this in Los Angeles.
“Where are we?”
“We’re at my childhood home. Follow me. I want to show you something.”
He takes my hand and leads me around the side of the house to the backyard.
In the center is a massive oak tree with the coolest tree house I’ve ever seen. There are several levels, each attached with ladders and ropes. Tattered blue curtains blow in the breeze.
“Come and look. This is where I spent nearly all my childhood.”
I can’t believe we’re sneaking into someone else’s tree house. “If we get caught, I’m placing all the blame on you.”
“Fine.” He takes my hand and, like an excited kid, tugs me toward the tree house.
I want to say no, but I feel his excitement, and he’s sharing an intimate part of his life with me, so I forge on.
He reaches down and removes my heels