Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
He’s Lionel, one of the so-called cool kids from high school who got his kicks out of bullying others.
“What are you doing hanging around in a doorway?”
I repress a sigh, hating the dark feeling that flutters in my gut. It’s like it’s sending me back years like I’m a scared high school kid again.
Except I’m not.
I stand up straighter, pushing away all those feelings.
“I’m waiting for my boyfriend. Do you need something?”
He laughs in his cruel way. “So you finally found a….”
“Is there a problem?”
Damien strides over, wearing a suit with the shirt open, showing the top of his muscular chest. He’s about a head and a half taller than Lionel, making the high school bully seem so small as he towers over him.
“Is there,” Damien moves even closer, glaring down at him, “a problem?”
Lionel’s mouth falls open, and he shakes his head. “No, no problem.”
“Okay then.”
“You’re Damien Drake.”
“I am.”
“Can I get an autograph?”
Damien smirks, shaking his head. “No, you can’t.”
“W-Why?” Lionel whines.
“Because I heard the way you were talking to my woman. I heard that nasty tone in your voice. I know that if I’d taken any longer to get here, you would’ve tried to make yourself feel good and tough by talking down to her. So the answer’s no. Now get the fuck away from my restaurant.”
Lionel gawps at me as if I’m going to help him.
But it takes everything I have not to cheer, both at seeing a douchebag put in his place and the very sight of Damien.
Lionel finally leaves, muttering something unintelligible under his breath.
Damien watches him until he’s around the corner, then turns to me swiftly, pulling me into his arms. I collapse against him, squeezing onto his back as I wrap my arms around him, meeting his kiss in a conflagration of love and need.
“Thanks for agreeing to meet me,” he says, breaking the kiss. “I’m sorry I’m late. I was somewhere important.”
“Where?” I ask.
“I was picking something up.” He steps toward the door, patting his jacket pocket. “Come on.”
He places his hand on the small of my back as he guides me inside.
The whole restaurant has been cleared out, leaving a table and two chairs in the middle, spotlighted from above. Rose petals are scattered everywhere, and all along the walls, electric candles glow, giving the room a warm and cozy feel.
“This is….”
As I turn, meaning to tell him amazing, he steps forward and wraps his arms around me.
“I love you, Danielle,” he says passionately, then kisses me with fresh urgency.
I kiss him back harder, clinging tightly to him, knowing I never have to let go, not now that Dad’s given his blessing.
Damien’s words bounce around inside of me, bright and welcome, repeating over and over.
“I love you too,” I moan when the kiss breaks off, and then we’re all over each other again.
“I love you so much,” he goes on. “You’re the only person I ever want, I ever need. I didn’t know I was capable of love. I thought maybe my life would be work, and that’s it. But the second I saw you, Danielle, my Danielle…I knew I had to have you, make love, and put a baby inside you.
“To marry you.”
“Oh, Damien.”
He steps back, lowering himself to one knee as he reaches into his pocket – the one he patted on the way in.
He takes out a ring box, his eyes like blue flames as he stares up at me.
He’s never looked more possessive, more certain.
“Danielle Jones,” he says, opening the ring box.
My hands fly over my mouth as if to stop the cry of joy from escaping. The ring is so perfect, a big and full diamond, set within a beautiful band. My heart soars as I stare down at its glistening surface, then into Damien’s eyes.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I yell, hardly able to let him finish the sentence before I blurt it out. “Yes, yes, yes, Damien. This is all I ever wanted. You’re all I ever wanted.”
“And you’re all I ever want and need forever,” he says, taking the ring and sliding it onto my finger. “I love you so, so much.”
He stands and sweeps me into his arms, guiding his lips to mine as happiness and contentment wrap us in a warm bubble of belonging.
EPILOGUE
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Damien
“Can I get an autograph?” somebody calls as I walk across the restaurant.
It’s opening night and busy as hell, but I’ve got a slight lull, so I’m able to walk over to the table. I make some small talk with the gentleman and then sign his napkin.
Most of the patrons aren’t interested in a signature, just some casual chit chat, which I’m fine with.
But then it’s time to return to the kitchen, where I’m most at home.
As I work, shouting instructions, preparing meals, and generally losing myself in my craft, I can’t help but let my mind return to my fiancé. It’s always like that, impossible to fully let her go, even when we’re not together.