Page 84 of Wild Tangled Hearts

He leans in, his warm breath tickling my ear, and whispers, "You'd better stop looking at me like that, Bella or this dinner is going to be torture."

I can't help but let out a playful chuckle. "Well, as much as I'm looking forward to dinner with your mom, I'm even more excited about dessert." I flash him a mischievous grin so he knows where my priorities lie.

He groans, then gives me a small swat on my ass. “Be good.” He leans closer and growls into my ear. “At least until I get you back to my place.”

The promise of his words makes that ache between my legs throb. “Now, who’s being bad.”

He chuckles, then opens the front door of the tiny house and calls out, “Ma, we’re here.”

The home is cozy but modest, a living testament to the resilience of the people who reside here. It's spotlessly clean, yet the furniture shows signs of wear and tear, hinting at the years of hard work and dedication that have gone into maintaining this place.

“In here,” a woman’s voice calls out.

Damien leads me into the cozy living room, where Kathy, his mother, is seated on the couch. Her eyes light up with warmth and joy when she sees us, but I notice a slight wince as she attempts to stand. It doesn't deter her, though; she greets me with one of the tightest hugs I've ever received.

"Damien didn't lie; you are the prettiest little thing, aren't you?" Her eyes mirror Damien's cool blue gaze and hold a similar depth.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Blackwood."

"Call me Kathy, sweetheart."

Just then, a whirlwind of energy storms into the room, a child who couldn't be anything other than Lexi. Damien scoops her into his arms, and she grins at me, introducing herself, "I'm Lexi."

"Nice to meet you, Lexi," I smile, shaking her tiny hand when Damien gently puts her down.

"Dami says you're an artist. Wanna draw with me?"

"Maybe after dinner," Kathy interjects with a warm smile. "Now, go wash up. We're eating in a few minutes."

Over dinner, Kathy doesn't hesitate to share stories about Damien as a kid, and I relish every word. There's something incredibly endearing about glimpsing the moments that have shaped the man who is currently in the process of stealing my heart.

Kathy grins mischievously, her eyes twinkling with affection as she scoops another helping of homemade macaroni and cheese onto my plate. "Oh, Bella, you wouldn't believe some of the trouble Damien got himself into as a child.”

“I don't think Bella wants to hear about that,” Damien says, frowning.

Chuckling, I give Kathy's hand a reassuring squeeze. “Actually, I do.”

She laughs, her eyes lighting up as she reminisces. “One time, he tried to fix the leaky sink in the bathroom. Damien ended up busting the whole pipe. I came home, and the entire house was flooded."

“I was ten,” he mutters. “I've improved my plumbing skills since then.”

Kathy shakes her head, smiling warmly. “Any trouble he ever got into was always because he was trying to do a good thing.”

Damien's gaze darkens, and they share a somber look before he pushes his chair back and begins collecting the dishes.

“Life wasn't always easy for him,” Kathy says softly, then winces and massages her lower back.

“Are you okay?” I ask

“Just a little back pain,” Kathy responds. “But I make do. Damien's been my rock, supporting me when I couldn't work full-time anymore. I try to take on part-time jobs when my health allows."

I glance over at Damien, who is standing at the think, brows a frown tugging at his lips as he washes dishes.

"He's always been a good son," Kathy adds, looking fondly at Damien. "He had to grow up too fast.” Her eyes momentarily reflect a deep introspection and a flicker of emotion passes across her face. “I wish I could have given him more.”

Damien stands behind his mom and places a hand on her shoulder, slightly squeezing it. “You gave me and Stacey everything you had. Even when it meant you went without.”

“See,” Kathy says with a gentle pat on his hand. As she rises and turns away, I notice tears in her eyes. “Always such a good boy.”

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