Page 27 of Just The Way You Aren't

“Oh?” he replies. “That bad, am I?”

“Damien, you have absolutely no game. None. Not a bit.” I laugh, then realize he’s frowning at me. “But we can fix that.”

“We?” I feel his eyes on me, studying me from his side of the vehicle. I glance his way, and there’s something in his expression I can’t quite read. Curiosity? Gratitude? He exhales a sigh and runs a hand through his hair. “All right, then. What do you suggest we do when the press show up again?”

“You? Smile and wave. Let me handle the rest,” I say emphatically, trying to keep things light and professional despite the butterflies in my stomach.

He grins, then chuckles. “I suppose I can do that.”

“Good.” I look at him again and find him smiling at me. His real smile, the one that reaches his eyes, softening them from sharp emerald to something warmer. It makes me wonder how many people get to see this version of Damien Langley.

“Good,” he says, his deep voice wrapping around my senses and unleashing a fresh swarm of butterflies.

“Good,” I say yet again, so caught up in his smile I nearly rear-end the car in front of us before I slam on the brakes just in the nick of time.Shit.

Now, who’s the one with no game?

CHAPTER 10

DAMIEN

“So, who’s the girl?” Wyatt asks, holding up his phone to show the lead story on Page Six. It has a photo of me with Willow.

In his defense, I’m looking at her with a strange expression on my face. Something between respect, puzzlement, and annoyance. Since I generally just look annoyed in press photos, his question is valid.

Who’s the girl?Hell if I know. I’ve been trying to figure that out for days. Willow has occupied my mind since I first saw her with that kitten in the middle of the street. Who is she? And more importantly, who is she to me?

Finn looks over at Wyatt’s phone and whistles. “She’s hot.”

I growl.

The other five look at me over their cards. Great. Now I’ve done it.

“Oh, I think someone might be a wee bit possessive.” Finn laughs, pushing back his sun-kissed blond hair, mussing it even more than it already was. “Too bad.”

“Yeah. Too bad. I mean, that rack—” Brad teases.

“Do not finish that sentence if you want to live,” I snap.

They all look at me again curiously. “Okay, who had Damien down as ‘first to lose the bet’ on their bingo card?” Finn chuckles.

“He’s not married yet,” Gabe says in a measured tone, examining his cards. “Bet.”

“Fold.” Wyatt sets his cards down. “Sorry, this is too interesting to move past so fast. Damien getting all possessive over a woman?”

“Are we playing cards here or not?” Alec asks in a clipped tone.

“Not,” Finn responds easily. “We’re talking about a bet with much higher stakes now.”

Obviously, they are not going to let this go. “I’d rather play cards, if you don’t mind,” I grump, burying my face in my cards.

Finn laughs. “Check it out. His ears are pink.”

“You know what, fuck this.” I toss my cards onto the table. “I’ve got an appointment to get to anyway. I can be early. She won’t be, but I will.”

“Oh? Does she not have a schedule rammed up her ass?” Finn grins.

I think my ears might be more than just pink now, because there is about to be steam coming out of them. “Sheis a wonderful person, but she’s undisciplined. And she is cheerful all the damn time.” Scowling, I shake my head. “No, I’m in no danger of losing our bet.”

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