I gripped his knee and gave it a squeeze. “Nice try, sweetheart.” I shook my head and laughed as I stood up from my chair.
Then suddenly all the men around our table along with Trey and Senator Lockhart stood, and I stared at them like they were aliens from mars. I have no idea that going to the rest room should be done in groups.
And as I waited for them to move out of their chairs and into the rest room, Trey tugged my hand. “It’s part of being a gentleman to stand when a lady stands from her chair and can only sit back when she was gone. So you better go now, because they’ll never be able to sit if you remain standing there.” He informed me.
Oh. My eyes widened and I immediately ducked out and into the restroom. This was so embarrassing.
After using the ladies’ room, I got out and was surprised to see Damon in the hallway. He was leaning with his back, foot planted against the wall, his hands was across his chest, and his head bowed down. He looked so handsome.
“Damon.” I said.
At the sound of my voice, he instantly snapped his head up and looked at me. He was still glaring but not that deadly anymore, like when Trey’s hand was on my waist. His blue eyes were darker more like cobalt blue than they were normally were, his face tensed, and a muscle ticked on his jaw. His hair disheveled and not that kept as he wore them earlier, he might have been raking his fingers through it repeatedly.
“Amanda.” I heard longing in his voice.
Oh, how I wanted him to yearn for me as much as I was yearning for him.
“How could you?” He said accusingly.
I stared at him, at his blue eyes that were accusing and wounded. I hated the thought that I made him felt that way, but what could I do?
“I don’t know what you mean.” I said in the steadiest, coldest, clipped voice I could manage. I needed to separate my emotions from my actions, because, my emotions wanted me to run into Damon’s arms and kiss the glare out of his face. And I shouldn’t do that.
“Amanda, I told you over and over and over again how much I love you. How much I want you, need you.” He said the last one as a whisper, a whisper that tugged the edges and the hollow insides of my heart. “And this?” He raked his hand through that soft dark hair of his. “I don’t know what else to anymore. If you don’t love me, just tell me no, and I’ll back off. You don’t have to slap it in my face with some other guy.” Hurt and betrayal overpowered his baritone voice.
This was so mess up.
And before I knew it my back was against the wall, Damon’s arms were around the curve of my waist as we stared at each other and stayed in that position with our rapid heavy breathing filling the hallways. We were alone and no one would come to this part of the museum because the auction seemed to be starting.
I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help running my fingers through his soft hair. He planted a chaste kiss on my lips before pulling back to looked at my reaction.
To hell what they would think about me.
I leaned forward and kissed him. I kissed him like there was no tomorrow. I kissed him with everything I could give. I kissed him making up for the time we were apart. I kissed him with all the love I have for him.
And Damon responded to the kiss by deepening it and making my head go crazy. This man’s kiss was intoxicating me. “I missed you so much Amanda.” He murmured in between kisses.
I couldn’t form anything to say because his lips took away my whole concentration. I responded to every touch and teasing of his lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me up with his hands on my butt.
We continued this thing we were doing for a long time, I have no idea how much time has passed. Then after a moment, we pulled away.
I could feel how swollen my lips were and my cheeks flushed. He continued to lift me as if I weigh nothing.
“Who is he? Did you sleep with him, one of your costumers?” He asked.
“He is a friend not a costumer.” I said a little breathless, I barely had time to recover from the kiss because he took up all of my oxygen. “We slept once.”
He narrowed his eyes on me, looked at me with hardened gaze, that I instantly shifted into defensive mode. “It was just a onetime thing. We just tried, but realized we were not meant to be friends with benefits at all so it will not likely to happen again. Okay?”
Why did I have to defend myself with him, anyway? It was not like he was my boyfriend or something, right?
He continued to look into my eyes with that hard look on his face, but then they softened a bit later on. He leaned and kissed my lips softly one last time before setting me back on my feet. He helped me fix myself, brushed the locks of hair that has fallen out of my bun and tucked it behind my ears. I pulled on my skirt that got hitch up my legs and he wiped the lipstick smudged on the corner of my lips. I smiled up at him as I fixed his tie and he smiled back at me.
“You’re so beautiful tonight.” He murmured as he planted a kiss on both of my cheeks before walking back to the banquet.
I was left staring as he faded out of my view, and there was a stupid grin splitting my face into half.
I was so in love with that man.
Thirteen
“What happened?” Trey asked as we waited for the limousine that would take us home.
I glanced at him and he stared at me with narrowed eyes.
What should I tell him?
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and wandered my eyes around, except at Trey, because I knew the moment he looked into my eyes he would know what happened in an instant. He knew me too well in the short time we became friends.
Then suddenly my eyes landed on him, on Damon. I couldn’t help but keep my eyes locked with his. He was that powerful over me. A smile lifted the corner of his lips and I couldn’t help but return it, it was like we have a little secret between the two of us.
“I get it.” Trey suddenly announced.
“Get what?” I could not help but snapped at him. He interrupted Damon and me, how dare he?
“Damon Rhodes, huh?” He said smugly and I rolled my eyes at him.
Then suddenly I was startled, I jerked when I felt an arm snaking around my waist. I stared at Trey, and nope, it was not his arms, which means…
I looked at the man beside me. Damon pulled me closer to his side then planted a kiss on my temple before smiling down at me.
Swoon!
How could they make a man this sweet?
I couldn’t help but smile back at him as I felt a blush crept into my face. His hold tightened around me and we just stared into each other’s eyes. His blue eyes were lighter this time, they sparkled like diamonds and they were so beautiful.
Trey had chosen this moment to interrupt, and he was annoyingly good at it, he cleared his throat soundly and I hated him right at this moment. I glared at him but he just gave me a smug smile. “The limo is here Amanda.”
I sighed and looked at Damon. “I have to go.” I murmured.
“Wait.” His grip tightened on my waist. “Why don’t you join me in the car? I’ll take you home.”
I shook my head and removed his hand on me gently, careful not to hurt his ego. “I can’t.” I leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek. “Bye.” Then I linked my arm with Trey’s and we walked towards the limousine.
I turned my head a little, as Trey held the door for me, and stared at Damon who was staring back at me.
“Amanda?” Trey asked and I sighed. Trey really knew how to ruin a moment. I bet he mastered it.
I got inside the limo, Trey followed me, and we left.
~***~
“Amanda.” Aiden said as he entered the apartment. “This was on the doorstep.” He handed me a basket of fresh flowers of different variety.
I lifted my head from the classified ads section of the newspaper, I decided to looked for a new work to replace my hooker night job, and looked at my brother. “Who are they from?” I couldn’t help but ask as I eyed the floral arra
ngement.
“Don’t know.” Aiden shrugged as he pulled his uniform over his head.
I took the card tucked in between the stems, opened it and read the handwriting. My stomach couldn’t help but do some weird back flips and somersaults as I read.
My dear, hope this will brighten your day as much as I wish I could brighten it. – Damon
Oh, could he be any sweeter?
I couldn’t help but smile like a loony person. Damon Rhodes really knew how to sweep off a woman’s feet.
“Are those from Damon?” Aiden asked over my shoulder and he kind of startled me.
“Yeah. Do you want me to order pizza for dinner?” I asked as Aiden sauntered to the fridge and pulled out a can of soda. Then he pulled the lid and took a swig.
“Nope, I’ll cook.” He said.
“You’re tired. We could just order.”
“I want to cook. Cooking eases up the stressed guy in me.”
That was true. My twin and I found cooking as an outlet for relieving our stress and emotions, he was more the gourmet chef compared to my pastry one.
“Have it your way twin.” I walked back to the couch and returned to the classified ads.
“What are you reading?” He asked as he roamed around the kitchen in search of the pans and pots he would be using.
“The ads, I’m looking for another job.” I said as I continued scanning every advertisement printed. I could hear the clattering of steel and the time when Aiden turned on the stove in the background.
“What kind of job are you looking for?” He asked as the clattering of steel continued to fill the surrounding.
“Something that involves pastries, perhaps.”
“Cool.” He said. “Tell me if you find one and I will visit you there every single day.”
After Aiden finished cooking, we gathered around the living room and enjoyed what he prepared for the two of us. It was a delish. If Damon said I do mean pastries, well, my twin brother here made really mean dishes―he was the god of cooking. I was in heaven with the pumpkin and chicken chowder Aiden made for dinner.
“I’m so glad to have you on board.” I exclaimed as my taste buds danced with the chowder inside my mouth.
Aiden chuckled. “Glad to be on board sis. By the way when are going to bake those muffins you promised me?”
I cocked my head to the side. “Next week?”
He smiled. “Deal.”
~***~
“Miss Sparks?” An elegant woman probably in her late forties approached me. She looked chic and classy in her floral blouse and white pants. “I am Susan Hart, I own this place. You’re applying for the open position?”
Susan Hart owned the small bakery that recently had opened and needed a staff. I instantly jumped at the prospect of working in the baking industry right away.
“I am.” I replied.
“Experience in any related field?” She lifted an inquisitive brow at me.
“I am a waitress at a diner.” And a hooker, I couldn’t tell her that.
She nodded. “Oh, good, so you already knew what to do and how to serve the costumers.”
You bet I knew how to serve costumers, day and night. “Yeah.”
“Then you are hired.” She said as she smiled at me.
Just like that, I was hired already?
I blinked repeatedly as I processed this before a grin split my face in two. “Really? Oh, thank you ma’am.” I gushed.
“Call me Susan.”
~***~
I have the best job ever.
I worked at the bakery at daytime and in the diner at night. Well, the diner was open twenty-four hours now because of the demand and I volunteered for the late shift.
I love my new job, I love working at the bakery. Every day I was surrounded by cakes with lovely decorations, a counter full of bread and other pastries and a kitchen that smelled all sugary and sweet―just liked how I dreamed it would be.
How I wished that someday I would own something as magnificent as this and my life would be complete―plus Damon in my life, of course, no matter how impossible it was. I could at least dream, couldn’t I?
I was placing a cupcake the costumer had bought inside a box when the next costumer came in, I handed the box over to the costumer and turned my attention to the next one.
I started my routine greeting, “Good morning, I’m Amanda. What’s your―” and without finishing my sentence, I paused.
“Hi.” Damon said with a lovely smile on his face.
Oh, God I love that smile.
“Damon?” I heard the surprise in my voice.
What was Damon doing here, anyway?
“I want a muffin, chocolate chip please.” He said but I just stared at him and he stared back at me, until the next costumer in line soundly cleared his throat.
I snapped back to reality and put a chocolate chip muffin inside a box for Damon. I handed him the box. “Here.”
“Thanks. Congratulations on your new job.” He said, then paid for the muffin and walked out of the bakery.
Just like that.
And it felt so wrong.
I wanted him to stay and talk, but he didn’t. What did just happen?
I wanted to cry but I forbade myself from doing so, not here, I was still at my workplace, and I was not going to cry because Damon brushed me off just like that. But my eyes stung and my chest ached. So I took a few deep breaths, calmed my wounded heart and attended to the next costumer in line with a plastered smile I perfected all these years when facing my costumers.
After store hours, I was done with my work at the bakery today, I put on my coat since it was a cold autumn night and my clothes couldn’t protect me from the low temperature. I called out to Susan to tell her that I was leaving and shut the front door gently behind me.
Then out of nowhere, a silver Lexus stopped in front of me.
“Hey Sparks.” Trey said as the window of his car rolled down.
I smirked at him. “Yes, Lockhart?” He has grown to be a part of my life now, in such a short span of time.
“Can we have dinner at your place?” He loved coming to the apartment and have dinner with me and my brother, he and Aiden were like best friends now, it was so easy to let Trey into our family.
“Sure, but I have my shift at the diner in two hours.” I informed him.
“Okay. Hop in.” He pushed open his passenger side door from the inside. “I’ll cook.” He announced as I was getting inside the car.
“Hell no.” I protested.
Trey was not a great cook. Actually, he was not a cook at all. The kitchen was the only part of the house he was not very suitable seen at. Because cooking and Trey Lockhart was not a perfect match, it was a deadly combination.
He scowled at me as he turned on the engine of his fine car into roar. “Why not?”
“You don’t even know how to open a stove. I’ll cook.”
I couldn’t help but laughed at him when he pouted. No matter how badly he wanted to cook, I would never allow Trey to cook for us. Not even the stray dogs would dare to taste his cooked meals.
Back in the apartment after I finished cooking the spaghetti for the two of us, Aiden was taking a late shift today, we sat on the kitchen counter and chat. It was so easy to be around Trey, so easy to talk and share things with him.
“Hey Sparks.” Trey said as I grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge.
“Yes Lockhart.” I said with my ass up in the air and my face inside the fridge.
“I’ll be gone for quite a long time.” He said.
I straightened and looked at him as if he was being ridiculous. I threw a cold can of soda to him and he caught it with ease. “What are you talking about?” I asked as I closed the fridge.
“Dad is sending me to Europe and I will be doing some filming while I was there.” He opened the lid and the can made a little swishing sound.
“How long?” I said as I returned to my chair.
He shrugged noncha
lantly. “More or less, six months.”
“That’s a long time.” I said sadly before smiling up at him with adoration, for this brother and best friend of mine. “Don’t forget to call me when you feel home sick, okay?”
“Sure. I won’t stand not to hear your voice, sweetheart.” He winked at me then took a swig of his soda.
~***~
“I’m going to miss you, Lockhart.” I said as I hugged Trey as tight as I could. I couldn’t help but cry as I lingered on the moment that I was in my best friend’s arms. I was so gonna miss his strong arms around me, miss this sweet arrogant jerk of mine.
“Me too sweetheart. I am going to miss you, Sparks.” He said in that sweet gentle voice he always used whenever I was crying about Damon. “And your freaking hot body.” He added, which earned a snicker and a good-naturedly smack on his arm from me.
“Take care of yourself, Trey.” I said as I looked at him with affection. He has been so dear to me that seeing him go away made me sad.
I leaned a bit and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I love you my friend.”
“Love you too.” He said as he hugged me one more time and then kissed the top of my head.
“I’ll miss you buddy.” Aiden mockingly punched Trey’s arm. “Find a good European girl and be happy, and don’t forget to get in touch with us.” Aiden said.
“I’ll definitely find a lot of girls to be happy with.” Trey smirked and I could not help but rolled my eyes at him.
Suddenly, they called his flight and that was when my tears really made a show. I was sobbing as he walked away and towards the boarding area, then he was gone.
Aiden wrapped an around my shoulders as I cried for Trey, he just kept me tucked at his side until I found the strength to leave the airport. Aiden understood how important Trey was to me. Oh, goodbyes sucked, I hated it when someone has to leave.
I turned and looked at my twin and he stared back at me as we walked out of the airport, side by side. Aiden was wearing a casual white t-shirt paired with jeans and I pretty much wore the same. My brother was a very good-looking lad. Actually, he was very handsome that I noticed some of the young girls at the airport were giving him second glances. But he was used to it, he has been used to it since fifth grade and others might be wondering why someone as ordinary as me was with someone as good-looking as Aiden.
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