Slowly, I slide into my car and drive to my former apartment. Seeing the apartment complex in the harsh daylight makes me cringe. I want Damien to continue to be proud of me and not pity me.
Someone’s already parked in my spot, letting me know without words I’ve already been replaced. I find another spot further down as Damien parks his car behind me. His Range Rover sticks out like a sore thumb around all the other beater cars. He’s out of his car and opening my door before I’ve even unbuckled.
“Ready?” I nod.
Damien threads his fingers with mine, and the heat of his hand is soothing. It has been me for so long it’s nice to have someone helping. Not that I would ever admit that to him.
I unlock the door with the key I’ve already removed off my key ring.
“Well that was nice of them.” Damien squeezes my hand as we survey the haphazard pile of garbage bags pushed against the wall. His face is hard, jaw clenched and twitching at the sight.
“There isn’t anything valuable. I told you most of my stuff is already in my car.”
He takes a deep breath, letting go of my hand, hefting up the bags with both hands. I put the key on the counter, locking the door, thankful my roommates aren’t home.
Damien stows my stuff in his car before coming up to me. “Are you ok?” His finger runs over my cheek and I lean into the touch.
“Yeah.”
His lips brush over my forehead, before opening my door. “Follow me. I’ll help you get your stuff moved in, but then I have to get to the club.”
There’s no room for argument as he closes my door and walks to his car. I keep on his bumper, trying not to think about what I’m doing. If I start thinking, I’ll freak out that I’m moving in with my boss, who I technically seduced the first night I met him. Yeah, no reason to freak out at all.
Just like I knew it would be, Damien’s house is perfect. It’s in an older neighborhood than I expected, but all the houses are well maintained and beautiful. I park next to Damien. My door opens, and I squint at him as the blinding sun pours around him. He looks like a God. My mouth waters at the sight of him.
The sides of his eyes crinkle from his smile. I have a feeling he really can read my thoughts. “Come on. Let’s get you moved in.”
It only takes four trips to get all of my stuff moved in. The room smells like Damien and a sinking suspicion hits me. “Is this your room?”
Damien dumps the last of the bags on the floor. “It is.”
“I can’t stay in your room.” I gather my stuff.
Damien reaches over and pulls a bag from my grasp. “Yes, you can, and you will. I figured you’d be more comfortable sleeping in here, and not my brother’s room. Just in case one of them decides to come home, you won’t get a surprise visitor.”
We have a standoff, both of us too stubborn to give in. I know what he’s saying makes sense. He isn’t going to back down now that I have no place to live, but I hate letting him get his way.
“Please.” His face goes soft, the stubbornness breaking to show how much he cares. His smile is sexy showing off his dimples and it shakes my resolve.
“Fine. But only because you said please.”
“Whatever gets you in my bed.”
Heat rushes up my cheeks as the smile on his face gets bigger. I stand there awkwardly until he decides to turn around. “I’ll let you get yourself settled. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
My eyes wander down his muscular back before landing on his toned ass. Shit, he has a sexy ass. I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a bite out of it.
“Oh, and Shayne.” I snap my attention to his face, but the twinkle in his emerald eyes shows he saw what I was staring at. “You’re quitting all your other jobs.”
“What? No, I can’t.”
“You can and you will.”
“Just because I’m moving in with you does not give you the right to dictate my life.”
Damien turns around and crowds into my space, his body heat intensifying the burning lust between us. “Well, I’m giving you a promotion.”
“Don’t you have to talk to your brothers about that?”
“I’ve got it covered.” His finger brushes over my face and I lean into the gesture.
“What if I turn your promotion down? You can’t just buy me. I’m not for sale.”
He cracks a grin. “You’re a fighter, and I really dig that about you. But, please let me help you.”
“Why?”
He still has his finger brushing over my face and tingles erupt down my spine. “Because I kind of like you.” And with those words he leaves the room.
I really kind of like him too. Is that crazy?
10
Damien
“We’re hiring, Shayne.” I say to my brothers as we all stand in our kitchen.
“Umm, she already works for us,” Ben says with a laugh.
Clara and Emma smile at each other like they have some secret between them. These silent conversations between my family members excluding me seem to be happening a lot lately.
“I mean for our website and such. She’s good at what she does.”
“Damien, we agree.” Axel moves to stand next to me.
I don’t know why their approval means so much to me, but having them agree with me feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I exhale and smile at my family, wishing Shayne was awake and with us.
“I agree, she’s very good. I want her to do my website for my yoga studio.” Emma smiles.
“Now, can we go workout, please?” Ben asks, pushing off the kitchen counter.
“Oh, I didn’t know anyone was here.” Shayne pulls her t-shirt down as she tries to cover herself up.
It’s amazing how seconds ago I was happy to be surrounded by family, and now all I want is for them to disappear so I can peel the tiny shorts Shayne’s wearing off, and taste her right on the carpet.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Ben asks, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
“Good Morning Shayne. We didn’t know you were here.” Clara has the biggest smile on her face.
In fact, they all do.
Oops, I guess I should’ve given my family a heads up about my new roomie. Too late now.
“Shayne’s roommates blindsided her and moved another girl in her room without telling her, so I offered her our house until she can find somewhere else.” It’s a lie. Shayne isn’t going anywhere, but I know how much it would hurt her pride if I told my family the truth.
“That’s a great idea. There’s no reason for you to be living in this big house all alone,” Ben says as Axel nods in agreement.
“Hi. I’m your neighbor. You can play in my backyard whenever you want.” Felicity bounces with her crooked ponytail swinging as she skips up to Shayne.
“That sounds fantastic.” Shayne gets down on her knees to fix Felicity’s ponytail.
“Want breakfast?” Felicity asks her.
I can’t help but laugh at my little niece as she charms the woman who’s been on my mind way too much lately. Shayne stalls taking longer than normal to fix Felicity’s hair, making my heart stutter.