Harmony suckedin a breath at his words.She couldn’t remember the last time someone cared about her.Probably since her father died.It was sad she hadn’t had anyone who cared about her in more than a decade.No one who worried if she was safe or thought twice about her at all.
Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes.She tore her gaze from his and squeezed her eyes shut.That was not why she went to see him.It wasn’t supposed to make her feel…
“I apologize for upsetting you, Harmony.That was never my intention.I’ll leave you alone going forward.If you need anything…” He trailed off.
Movement next to her said he was getting up, but Harmony didn’t want him to leave.“Please stay,” she whispered.
Damien stilled, and when she opened her eyes, their gazes collided.His eyes dilated, black overtaking the dark brown color.
She gave herself permission to really look at him.His brown skin was smooth over high cheekbones and a narrow nose.Dark stubble lined his jaw and upper lip with longer curls on his head.His cream tee stretched tight over a wide chest, defined shoulders, and thick biceps.
They didn’t match.Nothing about the strong and sexy man in front of her said they should be anything other than strangers.But Harmony had never been one to care what others thought.She fought for everything she had.Defended herself and her right to have whatever the hell she wanted.
What she wanted wasn’t usually a man, but Damien wasn’t like the others she’d known.
“I know you don’t know me,” Damien began, “but I want to change that.”
“What are you saying?”
“Can I take you out to dinner?A real date instead of getting an assist from our favorite barista so I know what you like?”
Harmony’s cheeks warmed.“Yes.”
“Yeah?Really?You’ll let me take you out?”
She nodded.“I mean, you seem like you have a really hard time getting dates, so I’ll do you a favor and agree.”
Damien chuckled.“I’ve had a hard time getting this one.”
Harmony grinned, thankful she went back to Sunrise Brews to see him.“Did you really start deleting my information from online?”
Damien grimaced and nodded.“I know it was an overstep, but you didn’t ask for the attention you’ve gotten and probably didn’t know to be worried.There are companies that specialize in removing your data.”
“Did you have to pay for that?I don’t know?—”
“It’s something our company does for a lot of clients.Even though you haven’t hired us, I talked to my boss.He agreed it was a good idea, and Captain Patrick supported the whole thing.It’s taken care of for a year, and if you decide to continue with the service after that, we can figure something out.”
“That’s… Thank you.It’s been a really long time since someone… cared.”
Damien reached across the table, then hesitated.He turned his hand over, giving Harmony the choice to take his hand.
She smiled and slid her hand into his.
“I do care, Harmony.From the first day we met, I wanted to know more about you.And not just because you saved someone.That tells me who you are, but it’s more than that for me.Tell me I’m not crazy.Tell me you feel a connection, too.”
She nodded, unable to deny it.
“Good.When are you free for our date?”
Harmony couldn’t stop her smile.“Is tonight too soon?”
“I was thinking that’s too long, but I’ll take it.”
She chuckled.“Works for me.Do you want to meet somewhere?”
“I want to do whatever makes you comfortable.I can pick you up, we can meet, you can come to my place and I can cook you dinner.”
“You cook?”
