I do agree with what Damien says, that you deserve the best. You’re such an amazing person, Catalina. I just imagine you being with the perfect guy.”
I pictured myself with a handsome man my family loved, but I also pictured that staleness, the nonexistent fire, the lack of excitement. “I’m not sure if perfect is what I want, Anna. I’ve been with a lot of guys, and he’s the only I’ve ever loved. That’s got to count for something.”
Her eyes softened, like she really felt my pain. “You’re going to stay with him, then?”
“For now. He said, in time, he would make Damien feel differently. I just need to be patient.”
“Well, you’re going to have to be really patient, because I don’t see that happening for a very long time.”
I sat at my vanity backstage, taking all the pins out of my hair before letting it fall down and relax around my shoulders.
My phone lit up with a text message. Baby. He was short with me over text, like he wasn’t obligated to say much since I was officially his, like a simple word could convey his need to see me.
Just finished a show.
And now what?
Girls want me to go out with them.
Out where?
For drinks.
He went silent, like he expected me to text more.
Want to meet me?
About time you asked.
Are you sure you’re able to do that?
Baby, I’m fine.
We hadn’t spoken since he went back to work the other night, but I assumed he was fine because he continued to go. I’ll let you know where we end up.
What are you wearing?
I smiled when I heard his voice in my head. You’ll just have to see.
I kept looking at the door as we sat at the table together. Most of the girls found other people to talk to, but Tracy was still with me.
“Why do you keep looking at the door?” she asked. “Expecting someone?”
I never told her we’d gotten back together. She was a close friend, but I didn’t confide all the details of my life. I doubted she would believe me if I did. “Heath and I got back together.”
“Really?” she asked. “After that fight you guys had?”
“Yeah, he won me over.”
“I think that’s great news. You aren’t going to find another man like that. He’s Grade A, top choice beef.”
“Oh, I know.” That was why I was still there, why I was going against everything I believed in just to be with him. “But he is more than his looks. He’s sweet, thoughtful, loyal…a lot of things.”
“Sounds like you love him. I’ve never seen you with the same guy for so long.”
Because I never had been. “I do.”
She gave me a surprised look, as if she didn’t expect me to admit it. “And he loves you?”
I nodded.
“I guess that’s obvious just by the way he looks at you.” She spun her olive around in her glass. “Man, why does his brother have to be married…?”
I chuckled. “You’ll find someone, Tracy.”
“Not like that,” she said as she flipped her hair. “He’s one in a million.”
Yeah, he was.
My eyes went to the entryway when I saw a six-foot-three hunk walk inside. All eyes turned his way, cataloguing all the features that were impossible not to notice, his massive build, the way he stretched the fabric of his long-sleeved shirt over his strong pecs, his scorching blue eyes, his hard jawline sprinkled with a shadow of hair.
He headed to the bar first and ordered his drink.
I stared at his ass, liking the snug fit of his jeans.
It didn’t take long for a woman to make a move, to touch him on the arm and make a pass. He didn’t smile playfully, didn’t say more than a few words with an annoyed expression, before he walked across the bar to me, like he already knew where I was without checking.
I felt my stomach tighten with excitement, looking at the sexiest man I’d ever seen. It was hard to believe he was the man who’d assaulted me months ago, took me captive by choking me out. Now, he was everything to me.
I got to my feet because anything less than a deep kiss wasn’t good enough to greet him—according to him.
He looked me up and down subtly, liking the tightness of my red dress, his blue eyes flashing in approval. When he reached the table, he set his drink down without taking his gaze off me. Then his arm hooked around my waist, his hand flattening against the arch in my back.