“Mind if I join you?”Damien asked, moving into Harmony’s field of view.
She looked up at him, her lips pursed.“It really wasn’t a big deal to make that call.”
“Good to hear.Not everyone would have been willing to do it, though.”
“Would you?”
Damien chuckled and gestured to the chair next to her.
Harmony nodded, then leaned to the other side, away from him.
Damien set the muffin in front of her.“I asked for something you might enjoy.I’m guessing it’s right since you look shocked.”
Harmony exhaled.“It is.I feel bad that they keep giving me free stuff, so I don’t ask for it most days.”
“I paid for this.And your latte.”
Her dark eyebrows shot up.“You did?”
Damien nodded.“It’s a great thing they’re doing, but small businesses like this need all the money they can get.If they won’t let you pay, I thought they might let me pay.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Harmony.”Damien set his coffee down and offered his hand.“I’m Damien Joseph, by the way.”
She hesitated for a second, then slid her hand in his.Her gasp had him wondering if she felt the same jolt he did.“Nice to meet you.”
Damien held her hand longer than was necessary or appropriate, but damn, he couldn’t stop himself.There was something about her, something he couldn’t explain.
“You never answered my question,” she said, extracting her hand from his grasp.
“Hmm?”Damien struggled to focus with the lust racing through his veins.No, not lust.More than lust.It was like he knew her, like she was a part of him already.
“Would you have called the police?If you saw something?”
Damien smiled and leaned back in his chair.“Yeah, I would have.Without a doubt.”
“Why do people make it seem like a big deal?”
“Probably because there are too many bad things that happen in the world these days, and a lot of it has become almost background.We don’t have time to pay attention to the people around us, and when we do, we doubt that what we’re seeing is really happening.”
“I guess.I just… I don’t want anything for it.It was the right thing to do.”
“It was.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
Damien nodded.
She nibbled her lip, then took a sip of her coffee.She picked up her muffin.“Would you accept a reward for it?”
Damien leaned back in his seat and considered the woman in front of him.She didn’t know him, but she clearly needed someone to talk to.“I guess it would depend on the reward.”
“The guy who owns that place.He wants to meet me.Give me some kind of reward.”
“And you don’t want it?”
“I don’t know what it is.But I don’t… need the attention.”
