Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44998 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Friend of yours?” I ask, not really wanting to know the answer.
“Not really. She was married to one of my investors about ten years ago. Are you okay?”
“Yep. Just thinking about you and all of this.” The fancy restaurant, the fancier hotel suite and the private jet. “It’s nice, but I have to admit that I didn’t see you coming, Damien.”
“Same.” He shakes his head. “I think you’re just fucking wonderful, Francesca.”
“I think you’re pretty fucking wonderful too.” In fact, I think he just might be the man of my dreams, which is alarming as hell since I’m not looking for Mr. Right.
I have a serial killer to catch first.
Our plates are nearly clean, and the martinis have me buzzing just enough to enjoy the fact that I’m not working right now. And I really should be.
“Come on,” Damien says, breaking into my thoughts. “Let’s walk off some of this food and get your mind off work.”
“Are you a mind reader or something?”
“Something like that. Or maybe I just know you better than you realize.”
“Possible,” I concede as he takes my hand in his. “Are we allowed to just walk around these vineyards?”
“Of course. It’s how they entice you to buy even more cases of wine.” His deep laugh wraps around me like a hug and I savor it.
We walk in a comfortable silence for a while, both of us simply enjoying being together as the warm breeze washes over us. The view is spectacular, as if someone put it here just for us. I can’t remember ever being this comfortable around anyone, definitely not my last relationship. Neither Nate nor I could tolerate long silences without feeling the urge to fill them, but here with Damien I don’t feel that urge.
“You said Jay is family?”
I nod, wondering where that question came from. “Yes. He was Uncle Jay long before my father died and after, well he stepped up for me in a big way.”
“It’s not weird, having your uncle as your partner?”
“Kind of,” I laugh. “But there’s nobody I’d rather learn from than him. And Jay doesn’t sugarcoat things which I appreciate.” It’s so refreshing, a man who listens when he asks a question. “Do you have any other family?”
“Just my sister. Olivia.”
“Are you two close?” I would think if they were some kind of close, he’d talk about her or have pictures or something of her at the penthouse.
“We’re as close as we can be considering she’s nonverbal. It’s not a permanent problem but it’s been,” he sighs heavily, as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders, “Persistent.”
I have a lot more questions, but I can sense that Damien doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s the first time since we’ve met that I’ve seen him look anything other than confident. He looks almost vulnerable. “I’m so sorry. Is it a problem with a solution?”
That perks him right up. “Yes. It absolutely is.”
I have a feeling there’s more to those four words than he’s saying, but I’m good at reading a room and I let the statement hang in the air between us for several moments. “Whenever you’re ready, I’d love to hear more.”
Damien stops, turning to me with the sexiest smile any man has ever given a woman on this planet and wraps his arms around my waist. “When there’s more to tell, I can’t wait to share it with you.” One hand slides slowly up my neck to cup one side of my face, an irresistible caress a moment before his mouth descends on mine.
The kiss is soft to start, an exploration as if this is our first kiss. Damien’s mouth is gentle, his tongue sweeps back and forth across my bottom lip until I’m breathless. Then he hits my top lip, a slow and steady sweep until I gasp with want and he slips inside with a soft chuckle.
My body is shivering as each slow stroke of his tongue teases me. It tempts me and leaves me shaking and shivering. There’s something about the way he kisses me, so completely, that makes me feel things I can’t understand or explain. I’ve been with men before, enough to know what a good kiss is, what good sex is, but this is more than that.
It’s not just good, it’s everything.
Tears prick my eyes, but it’s not sadness—it’s the overwhelming flood of emotions rushing through me. I can’t remember ever feeling this consumed by a man, by his kisses. It’s part of what I’m feeling: happy, overwhelmed, and maybe even loved.
We haven’t said the words yet, but Damien holds me like I’m something precious. He looks at me like I’m a rare gem. Every touch, every glance—it makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.
I feel like I’m someone else—someone who could float above the vineyards, drifting on clouds. “Damien,” I whisper, barely able to catch my breath.