lined the dress. The skirt went to just above my knee and had three tiers of fabric, each framed with a satin ribbon which was repeated at the waistline. But what really made the dress stand out was the deep v-neckline in both the front and the back, with a tulle ruffle trimming the edge. One of the few benefits of not having much cleavage was that a low neckline looked more modest because nothing was showing.
Damien rang the doorbell before I was ready, but when I looked at the time, I was amazed to see that he was actually five minutes late. The ceremony started at four o’clock, and we had a twenty-minute drive to get there. I wasn’t eager for this ordeal, but I didn’t want to make him later than we already were, so I tossed my phone and lip gloss into a pretty gold bag and ran downstairs.
I barely glanced at him as I opened the door. “Sorry. I lost track of time. Let me get my coat.” But when I pulled it out of the hallway closet, Damien took it from me.
As he held it out and helped me slip it on, he said, “You should have prepared me.”
“For what?” I asked, focused on buttoning my coat.
“For the way you look.” He paused long enough that I finally looked up at him. There was an intense look in his eyes that made me feel shy. “I didn’t even get to see your dress for long, but you look…stunning.”
I scoffed internally, not believing it. But I couldn’t deny the sincerity in his voice. “Well, I couldn’t embarrass you, could I?”
“You couldn’t. I’ve been looking forward to showing you off because you always look great.”
I smiled, relieved and also flustered. Moving would help. I led the way outside. “Pretty enough to convince that Tori girl that you really like me?”
Damien followed me outside, pausing to shut the door and make sure it was locked. “Easily pretty enough. Unfortunately, it’s still going to take some convincing.”
His truck was already running in the driveway, the warm exhaust clouding in the cold afternoon air. With a carelessly charming gesture, he opened the passenger door and helped me up, checking to make sure my dress was out of the way before he closed it.
As he walked back around to the driver’s side, I took advantage of the chance to study him without him realizing it. His hair was styled more carefully than usual, and I caught a glimpse of the dark collar of his suit peeking over the collar of his overcoat. My eyes lingered on his handsome features until the last second, when I had to turn forward and pretend to be looking down at my phone.
“What….” My voice came out small and tight. I swallowed and tried again. “What will it take to convince her?”
Damien tossed a quick glance at me as he backed out onto the road. “We need to look like a couple that is not only familiar with each other but committed. And in love.”
My breath caught at that last bit.
He must have heard it, because he took his eyes off the road to study me again. “We need to talk about what you’re okay with now so we don’t look awkward later.”
“Such as?”
“Holding hands?”
It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about the fact that we’d have to put on a show for his family. But now, alone in his truck, with the fascinating and elusive scent of his cologne tickling my senses, it all seemed so much more...dangerous. I clenched my teeth for a moment and collected my usual coolness. “That’s fine.”
He chuckled. “Don’t sound too excited about it, sourpuss. Okay, then how about me having my arm around you and my hand on your waist?”
I regretted leaving my coat on now. I leaned forward and felt the air blowing through the vents, wishing it wasn’t quite so hot. “That’s fine too. Can you turn this down?”
He reached over and adjusted the heat. “The most important thing is that you have to dance every dance with me. Well, I mean, except if I need to dance with my mom or grandma or something. But otherwise, don’t leave me alone. I have a really hard time being rude and saying no if a woman asks me to dance.”
“So I’m going to be your bouncer, huh? Okay. I can handle that. But I’m warning you that if you start pushing the boundaries, you will end up with a