A few hours later,Damian searched for Brit in the makeup section of the luxury department store. He recognized a lot of high brand names, and zapped between the counters and racks, making the most out of his tight lunch time. Smiling, he found her glancing down at the computer screen, entering some product information in the system as she looked at the small containers and typed.
His heart beat madly. He’d been right when he told her how much he needed her when they were in the water. Now, he needed her even more—in his bedroom and in his life. He’d put his fear aside and be more open with her. For her. She showed him time again and again she was the woman for him, and that was the least he could do.
“Can I help you?” a woman in her twenties asked, walking up to him.
“No, thanks,” he said, and marched to the counter of the brand Brit represented.
When she raised her gaze from the screen to him, a warm shade of red filled her cheeks. “Damian?”
“Yes. I came to say hi,” he said, berating himself. He had a much better speech planned, but one look into her deep brown eyes and his smoothness abandoned him. A stir with the force of a tornado formed inside him, menacing his organs and making a mess of his heartrate. “No. I came to give you this,” he said, fishing a sheet of paper from his pocket.
He gave it to her, and she unfolded, looking down at the paper. “It’s a confirmation for that makeup artist convention you wanted to attend in New York. I took care of flight, hotel and other costs.”
“What?” She glanced around them to make sure no one heard them. Thankfully, he’d come at a time shoppers were scattered at the big store. “Wait. Why did you do that?”
“Because it’s a small way to thank you. Whatever you told Candi, she and Bill came together and he signed the document. I’m getting the funding no matter what.”
She squealed. “That’s terrific.”
“And it’s time I did something for you too.”
She played with the edges of the paper. “I was saving money for it. I mean, it’s in a month—”
“Now you can focus on whatever you want. You deserve to go, Brit.”
“Thank you. I thought you were mad at me.”
“I’ll never be mad at you for putting me in my place and helping me be a better person,” he said. “I may get frustrated, but mainly at myself. Amanda got sick and I used it an excuse to hide out. But we can make up for lost time and have sex later.”
“As long as you promise not to go on hide-out mode again.”
He touched his heart. “You have my word.”
She leaned over the counter and kissed his cheek. “Then I’m in.”