When they finally said good-bye, his mother gave her a warm hug with an invitation to come again and to drag him along with her.
Then his father took her hands affectionately in his and extended his wife’s invitation and told her to send greetings to her sister and Mark. Her head spun at their kindness toward her, but she felt like a fraud.
Damian had created a perception that wasn’t true.
As soon as they got on the road, she took in his relaxed profile. “You used me.”
A smile inched around his mouth. “Only fifty percent of the time.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Fifty for my parents and fifty for me.”
Emma sighed, all her fight gone. She didn’t know what to say or make of him. But she knew one thing for sure: she needed him to answer her one question. “Are you going back to finish the movie?”
His eyes widened. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“Why don’t you answer the question?”
“Because I don’t know.”
Her brow lifted. “Damian, I asked you because….” she let out a breath, “because I was wrong, okay. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I do like you.”
“I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, you do.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “And I like you, too. Does this mean we can date and you won’t worry about the media and everyone else?”
She nodded.
“I’m going to need you to say it,” he teased.
“Yes, Damian Davidson, we’ll date and I won’t care about the media or anyone who has anything to say about us.”
“No need to get mad at me.” He chuckled.
“Well it’s rude to be so smug.”
He threw his head back laughing.
“Watch the road!” Her hands gripped her seatbelt.
He pulled off the road. “I think I need to stop driving before this conversation goes any further.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” He switched the car off.
“You’re being difficult.” She crossed her arms.
“I’m being difficult?” he asked, facing her.
She glared ahead at the road.
Silence reigned for a moment, and then he asked her softly in his baritone, “What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid.” Goodness he’s being annoying.
“You could have fooled me.”
“Then enlighten me. Of what am I supposedly afraid?” She turned to him.
“Of me.”
She laughed.
“You know what I mean.” His posture was too undisturbed for her peace of mind.
“Why am I here then? Why did I say I liked you? Why agree to go out with you if I’m afraid of you?”
“Maybe you feel sorry for me.” He shrugged.
“And what makes you say that?” She crossed her arms.
“You just experienced why I haven’t been home in years. It’s so like you women to have a bleeding heart.” He cocked his head. “But I don’t mind. Bleed away. As long as I get to do this.”
Before she could read his intent, his hand was behind her head, his mouth on hers, and she was kissing him back with a fierceness that belied her grumpiness, devouring him as he greedily took everything she doled out. It felt good to do so without agonizing over how much grief she’d give herself afterward.
Gone were his parents, the afternoon they had spent with them. Gone was her brief anger. And gone were any lingering doubts she still might have had.
They broke apart, his lips still mere inches from hers.
“I’ve wanted to do that the whole afternoon,” he said.
“I wanted to kick you the whole afternoon,” she replied.
He laughed. “You’re going to have to stop being violent toward me.”
“Then you’ll have to start behaving.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He drew her in for another kiss.
Emma couldn’t say how long they were by the side of the road, but it was dusk when they got back on it. The silence in the car as they drove back was a comfortable one.
When he wasn’t shifting gears, he held her hand and she found herself staring at him, asking, How did I get so lucky?
Chapter Twelve
With her choice made, Emma was loath to take it back. She wanted this relationship with Damian like she had never wanted anything in her life. She never considered she would want to be with someone, get to know them as much as she did Damian Davidson.
Even though Emma knew her sister would frown at her choice, her life was hers. Damian wasn’t the man her sister made him out to be; if she couldn’t see it, then too bad for her.
It had been dark when they returned to the beach house. Stephanie hadn’t come back yet, and they took the opportunity to spend the rest of the evening quietly together. Lizle stayed confined in her bedroom, and they didn’t even think of her until her sister returned.
When Stephanie returned, however, the tension had been palpable, seeing as how Damian plastered himself to her side and didn’t make a secret out of what had transpired between on them on the road.
She had to commend her sister, though; she didn’t explode in front of Damian. No, that came much later.
What nonetheless did happen however had been as unpleasant.
Lizle Vlam strode in on the three of them appearing to be completely rested. She took one look at them and sat down in a high chair and proceeded to go on and on about how perfect Damian would be in his role. How much the whole production rested on his shoulders and what a pity it would be if everything came to a standstill or they have to recast someone else in his role.
Emma suppressed the urge to punch the woman in the face. Of course, she knew how seriously Damian took his job, but she didn’t need the woman to rain on her newfound bliss.
Damian had told Lizle the decision was his to make and he respected her opinion but she should give the matter a rest. Stephanie changed the subject with all the finesse of a hostess and the evening had progressed without any further hiccups. Everyone retired to bed early after dinner. Though they hadn’t set it up, both sneaked out of their bedrooms at the same time while everyone slept.
Emma suppressed a giggle as Damian made a dash for her, placed her crutches against the wall, and then swept her up in his arms.
They tried not to laugh out loud as they went down the dark hallway and out the patio doors. She whispered to him to put her down, she would be fine. But he held onto her.
He walked comfortably to a spot where they could sit and take in the ocean. They didn’t talk for a while, just held hands and stared at the lapping shore.
Then, as if by some signal, they turned to each other. This kiss, better than their first or in-between kisses. And she briefly wondered how it could be possible. Her throat closed, she lay her heart on the line, letting the chips fall as they may and not caring for one moment it might not end in her favor.
With her eyes still shut, she breathed him in deeply and knew if it got any better than this, she might start believing in soul mates.
She smiled into his mouth and he pulled back a bit. “What?” he asked, his voice husky.
She grinned. “I had a silly thought.”
“Tell me anyway.” He rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, while the other cupped her face.
“Um…now I feel silly.”
He placed his cheek against hers and she felt him smile. “Now you’re making me curious.”
“Well.” He waited for her to explain herself. “I don’t really believe in… soul mates. And well….” She coughed. “Your kisses might convince me.”
He chuckled. “That’s quite a compliment.”
“So like you to hear the compliment, not the embarrassing revelation.”
He captured her mouth again. When he pulled back this time he said, “The feeling’s mutual.”
She gulped down all her emotions as she stared
into his eyes. The moon was high again, so it was easy enough to see him. She traced the outline of his jaw.
“I wasn’t looking for you, but I’m glad I found you,” she whispered.
“I have almost every woman in the world searching for me and the one who’s not, turns out to be the one I want.”
“How strange,” she replied with amusement.
“Yeah, I would say you are.”
She punched him on the shoulder. “You weren’t the most friendly person when I met you!” she said with a laugh.
“If I haven’t said it already, I am sorry about that. Women weren’t my favorite people at the time. Now they are again.”
“They are again?”
He gave a wolfish grin. “By they, I mean you.”
“Nice save.”
“Where were we before I almost got mauled again?” Damian didn’t wait for her answer, but pulled her in and made her forget her name.
The night was spent with them talking about anything that came to mind with interludes of thoroughly kissing each other senseless.
When they made their way back, Damian stopped her at the patio.
“There’s something I want to ask you.” He paused as if trying to find the right words, “I’ve decided to go back and finish the movie. I want you to come with me.”
“But….” Her voice came out hoarse. His words had surprised her. “I have to go back to school at the end of the week. I can’t go with you.”
He touched her cheek. “I wasn’t talking about the end of the week. I’m talking about now. Tomorrow if we can get a flight so soon. I want you to come with me. Even if you stayed the week. I could fly back when we have breaks in production. Or you could come see me.”
“You want me to leave with you tomorrow, for the States?” Emma didn’t mean for it to come out as a whisper, but it did.
“I don’t want to let the team down. And we only have a month left of shooting if I go now. I wouldn’t have considered it if it took too long.”
“When did you decide this?” She rested her head on his chest.
“I was angry. But at the back of my mind, I think I knew I would. In the end I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk away.”
He drew back. She didn’t know what to say, what to think.
“You still have a week of holiday. Come with me.” He gave her a kiss, as if to convince her.
She took a breath. “And where do I stay exactly?”
He smiled down at her. “With me.”
Her eyes went big. “Um…Damian, I know we haven’t really talked about…but….”
“Don’t worry I won’t attack you!” He gave a short laugh.
“Not funny.” She frowned.
“My apartment in LA is big. There are lots of rooms. You can take your pick.”
She pressed her head against his chest and groaned.
“You’ll be driven around, could go on shopping sprees, see the sights.” He listed like he was tempting her to say yes and she groaned again.
“I’ll take you to all the best restaurants.”
“Ah. Stop it,” she said, laughing, “I’ll go. Stephanie’s going to kill me. But she can do it when I get back.”
He lifted her up and swung her around. “I knew you would!”
“No you didn’t!”
He came to a standstill. “You’ll love LA.”
“I already love some of its attractions.”
His mouth crushed hers, before she could even think of what she had said.
***
“Are you insane?”
Emma packed her carrier bag while sitting on the bed. “Last time I checked, no.”
She and Stephanie’d had this argument since the crack of dawn.
Damian had said he would try to get them an early flight out so she should start on her clothes. She didn’t have to take a lot; he would provide whatever she needed when they got to LA.
She opted not to ask about what “things” she might need.
“You can’t leave the country. You don’t have a passport,” Stephanie said in obvious triumph.
Emma rolled her eyes. “I have. Remember Nomsa and I were going to take that trip to Greece at the beginning of the year? But you had a diva fit about my bridesmaid dress, and we canceled. Luckily, we hadn’t booked anything yet….”
“Your passport is not what this is about. Emma you can’t go off with a man you barely know!”
Emma zipped her bag and then turned to Stephanie. “Didn’t you say you knew Mark was the one for you after the first date?”
“Yes. I said Mark. And men like Mark are marriage material. Damian isn’t. You are going to regret this. Believe me, Emma. I’m trying to help you here.”
If Emma could balance for one minute without her crutch, she would shake her sister.
“Sometimes in life you have to take a chance. I don’t want to have to wonder on what I could have missed out on. Plus, I actually like him.” She blew off some steam. “And there’s nothing you can do to stop me. I am twenty-five years old. A grown woman. You can’t keep me from boarding the plane with him.”
“The hell I can’t!” Stephanie yelled as she grabbed both Emma’s crutches and made a run for it.
Emma wished she could stay mad at Stephanie but at the moment she was so funny running with the crutches stretched out in both hands. Emma fell on her bed laughing.
“Stephanie almost attacked me with your crutches just now,” Damian said from the door.
She opened her eyes as she lay on her side. “She’s trying to keep me in the country.”
“I gathered that. Mark called me and pretty much told me what would happen if you leave with me today.”
He took a step inside her bedroom, his hands in his pockets, his tone too serious.
“And?”
“It’s still up to you.”
“I’m going. I’ve never been to LA before.” She sat up.
He came and hunched down in front of her, and took her feet in his hands. The one was still tightly bandaged while the other had healed nicely.
“Will you be okay moving around? I will help. Nevertheless, it will be uncomfortable at times. I’ve made arrangements, but I don’t want you to break your toe again.”
He was so serious talking about her pinky toe she couldn’t laugh at him. His concern was genuine. She bit the inside of her mouth instead.
“I’ll be fine. And if I’m not I’ll let you carry me around,” she said cheekily, earning herself a smile. “I don’t think Stephanie thought about that,” she mused.
“I could carry you to the airport and back. You weigh nothing.”
Her eyes went big. “Says the macho man.”
“You’re sure? You won’t…back out at the last moment?” A frown creased his forehead.
She smoothed the knot between his eyes. “I’m sure. I wouldn’t be packing if I wasn’t.”
She gave him an amused smile and his face came close and they kissed for a sweet moment.
Then she pulled back.
“Can I have my phone back now?”
“I’ll go fetch it.”
Emma noticed Stephanie and Lizle Vlam standing in the door.
“Ladies,” Damian greeted them as he walked out.
“Where are my crutches?” Emma asked Stephanie.
“Lizle has something she wants to tell you.” Stephanie ignored her question.
“I’m sure she does,” Emma said in a dry tone.
Lizle, dressed in what could only be a runway number, strode into the room and stopped in front of her.
“Damian and I are dating. Not exclusively. But we are seeing each other.”
Lizle’s delivery oozed confidence, and if Emma hadn’t witnessed Damian’s reaction toward her the day she arrived, she wouldn’t have questioned Lizle Vlam’s claims right now.
“Is that true?” She turned to the door.
Damian stood leaning against the frame, arms folded with her phone in one hand. Stephanie a
nd Lizle Vlam hadn’t seen him come back.
“Not one single word. Although we are now seeing each other, I mean, she is standing right in front of me. How can I miss her?” He aimed a sardonic smile at her sister and Lizle Vlam.
Stephanie seemed embarrassed but Lizle Vlam didn’t bat an eyelid.
“What about Rosario’s?” she asked him, her eyebrow lifting.
“What about it?” He cocked his head.
Lizle smiled down at Emma, though she didn’t seem friendly.
“Before the movie started, we had dinner at Rosario’s. Things got a little…heated,” she said, all smug.
“For you maybe, but not for me. I told you then, and I will tell you again. I don’t date actresses I’m doing a movie with.”
She scowled and then stormed out, glaring at him as she went past him.
Emma realized it wasn’t Damian she wanted to get at, but her. She wanted to sow seeds of doubt. But it had backfired. She believed Damian. She couldn’t say when exactly it had happened. But she did trust him; she did believe in him.
“I’m sorry,” Stephanie said, “I….” She rubbed her temple. “I don’t want to know what Mom’s going to say about this.”
“Leave her to me. I’ll take all the blame.” Emma held out her hand for her phone.
“You know that’s not how it’s going to play out,” Stephanie replied.
“Then tell her I’m not your problem. I am a grown woman. You couldn’t stop me even if you tried.”
Damian handed her the phone.
Stephanie turned to him. “Take care of her or so help me God I will knock all your teeth out.”
Then she also stormed out.
“Are all the women in your family such spitfires?”
She gave him a pointed look. “We protect our own.”
He grinned. “So you’ll protect me, too?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you belong to me?” she asked, surprised.
“I’d like to think so.” He sat down next to her. “It has a nice ring to it.”
“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” she asked.
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