Page 96 of Seduce

“How bad is it?” Damon asked.

“Bad.”

“Okay. What did you mean by your last words?”

She’d hoped he wouldn’t ask. “I need some space.” More like time to figure her way out of this mess with the press.

“Tessa.” His voice deepened, and Tessa found herself sitting down before she fell. That deep husky tone of his did it to her every time.

“Damon, please, don’t make this any harder.” Her heart was already shattering. But she needed to do this for her own sake and for their relationship. She had to protect Damon and her friends. To prove to herself she was strong enough to handle anything thrown at her.

“I’m not giving up on us.”

“I’m not either.” She wanted him to understand that.

“I mean it, Tessa. I won’t let you climb into a hole. You’ll be hearing from me.” The line went dead.

Now what did he mean? Tessa looked up when she heard her brother.

“You know Dad won’t be happy about this.”

“I really don’t care.” She was going to remain firm about this and not be guilt tripped into anything.

“Fine.” Allen marched to the front door with his suitcase. “I do love you, sis.”

Damn. Tessa walked over to him. “I love you too, baby brother.” She gave him a hug and a kiss. “Remember to be true to you.”

“I will.” He hugged her back, then broke the embrace. He opened the door, walked out, and closed it behind him.

Tessa could hear the reporters shouting through the window when Allen walked outside. Not their words, not that she cared. Right now, she needed to figure out her life and what she was going to do.

* * * *

“I’m at a loss,” Damon said to Max and Jordan Friday night. He’d left messages for Tessa, texted her. Nothing came back but a couple of emojis. Those emojis gave him hope. Mainly because they were hugs and smiles.

“Why do women retreat like this?” Jordan asked.

“Because they need time to figure things out, and they get scared, just like we do,” Max said.

“But it never takes us much time to figure things out.” Damon paced around the club classroom. They’d met early tonight to discuss the plans on expanding the club with Zeke and how it could be done with minimal disruption.

“Women are wired differently,” Max said.

“They sure are,” Jordan agreed. “Crystal goes into another room whenever Tessa calls.”

Damon blew out a breath. “I want to see Tessa, but at the same time, I’m afraid she’ll shut me out completely if I do.”

“That sounds familiar,” Jordan said.

“Another one bites the dust,” Max commented.

Damon stared at them. “What are you two talking about?”

His friends laughed.

“Buddy,”—Max clapped him on the shoulder—“you’re head over heels in love with Tessa.”

Damon was about to deny it, but realized he couldn’t. “Well, yeah… I guess I am.” When had that happened? Didn’t matter. What if he lost her? No, he wouldn’t allow that to happen. He was done playing it safe.

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