Page 10 of Love Me Forever

He smirks at me as he drinks from his cup. “Let me finish this and we’ll get on the road. What time do you open?”

“It’s Friday, so later than usual. The hours are ten o’clock in the morning till five o’clock this evening. We usually get busy in the early afternoon and then get slow around midafternoon, that gives me time to work on arrangements for Saturday. What time are you off today?”

“Eh, just depends how busy and how late my meetings run. I’d like to get off early today and go see mom. It’s been almost three weeks since I’ve seen her. She keeps herself busy on the weekend with reading and her bridge club,” he tells me and it makes my heart melt even more. He’s an amazing son. Not only has he picked up for his dad, but he also sees her and talks to her on a weekly basis.

“I bet she enjoys her time with you.” I’m smiling as I say this.

“Yea, this week more than usual.” I see the mirth in his eyes.

“Why is that?”

“I’ll be telling her about a certain brunette I’m dating.”

He laughs at my look; my mouth is open in an “O” shape and I’m red in the cheeks and maybe into my chest. I can feel the heat slowly trickling downwards.

“Don’t be shy, Baby. She’ll love hearing that I’m seeing someone, for the longest time now I’ve lived and breathed work. Meeting you has made me realize I need to slow down and enjoy every single minute.”

“Damien,” I breathe out and then I’m wrapping my arms around his middle section and hugging him. I’ve been alone so long myself, it feels like we’re two lost souls finding each other in a world full of people.

He holds me for a long time. Just standing here and hugging, it’s the best feeling in the world.

“Gorgeous.” He holds the back of my neck as he brings my face up towards his and says, “As much as I wanna stand here and hold you all day, fuckin’ work calls and the faster we get there, the faster we can get back to each other tonight.”

“Alright, I need to get home and shower too.” I tell him and he groans. “God damn. I’ll have that image in my mind all day.”

“I’m sorry?” I squeak out.

“Nothing to be sorry about. I’ll have you in the shower with me one day where I can see all this gorgeous flesh with water running down your body.” His voice is husky, and he now has me imagining his body with mine, wet and dripping with need.

I grab my purse and head for the door with Damien by my side.

Chapter Eleven

Damien

Having to leave Amelia for the day gave me so much inner turmoil, the only bright side is I’ll see her again tonight and maybe I can convince her to stay with me. Besides, this is the one weekend I don’t have to get on the company jet and meet with our contractors in another fucking country. I used to love traveling and seeing the world. I lived for the next big deal. In the past week though, my life has changed, in the best possible way.

Once I get to the office I start work immediately, making a mental note to shut down at two, so I can stop by and visit with mom and tell her all about Amelia.

I’m pouring over contracts when Justin walks through the door.

“Hey, man,” I say as I walk around the desk, going to shake his hand and pulling him in for a quick hug.

“How the hell are you?” he asks.

“I’m good. Met a great woman, been spending every minute I can with her.”

“I told you once you found one you’d be a goner. We’re gonna need to find someone else to help alleviate some of the traveling you’ve been doing.”

“Might not be a bad idea. I took this weekend off, I needed the down time. Plus, I want to be a steady presence in Amelia’s life, just in case she needs anything. Fuck, her family, they’re all gone and she’s alone. I can’t even think of her being alone at night in her apartment above the flower shop she owns.”

“Sounds like you have some big plans. I’ll start looking for someone to step up and at least take care of the contracts abroad. We both may need to pick up around the U.S. though, but we can always just travel during the day and be back by dinner,” Justin responds, and I know traveling will be hard for him. Gabrielle is now pregnant with their third child and I know she’ll need help from him.

“Yea, we can start the process as soon as we find candidates.” I say and I find that it doesn’t bother me handing over the reins, as much as it would have a year ago. I smile knowing full well who I have to thank for that smile.

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