Sure enough, there is a huge blurb about my engagement to a handsome stranger and several pictures taken of Damon proposing to me at the soup kitchen. My knees threaten to buckle under me, so I move to the couch and collapse as I stare at the photos.
“I didn’t…there wasn’t…I didn’t see any paparazzi there,” I whisper, completely confused.
“Victoria! Victoria, are you even listening to me?” he yells.
“Yes, Papa,” I say, stunned.
“How long have you known this man? When did you meet? Who the hell is this…Damon Romero?” He spits out question after question, and I have a hard time keeping up.
Before I can even answer one of them, he stops me by saying, “You know what…why don’t you bring him here for dinner? Then I can ask him myself.”
Worrying my lower lip between my teeth, I think about his offer. I want to say no, but I know my father would find some other way to get Damon in his clutches. So, I reluctantly tell him, “Sure. That would be great.”
“All right. If you don’t have plans Friday night, bring him to the house for dinner.” I hear ice clinking in his glass as he takes a drink of something. It’s probably scotch, his favorite. “I want to get to know the man who stole my daughter’s heart.” He pauses before saying, “And then,your fiancécan ask me for permission for your hand properly…like a real man.”
I grip the phone harder. I knew he wasn’t going to make it easy on Damon. My father can be intimidating, to say the least, so I hope I’m not making a mistake when I say, “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
"Great. I'll have the chef whip up something fancy to celebrate your engagement,” he says.
We end our conversation and hang up. Just as I'm setting the phone down, Damon emerges from the shower. He has a white towel wrapped around his waist, his hair is damp and wild. I watch mesmerized as several droplets of water cascade down over his strong, muscular shoulders, chest and then down over his rock-hard abs.
I've never been so tempted to lick water off of someone's body before, but oh my god, am I tempted now.
"Who was on the phone?" he asks, running a hand through his thick, haphazardly sexy hair.
I shake my head, breaking myself out of my sinful thoughts. "My father. He wants us to have dinner with him Friday night."
Damon looks surprised at first, but quickly schools his features. "That's a great idea."
"Look, Damon," I start, but he doesn't let me finish.
"I know what you're going to say, Victoria, and it's okay. I won't let your father intimidate me." He sits down on the bed next to me and pulls my hands into his. "We're getting married. It's natural for your father to want to meet me…and grill me with questions about my intentions for his daughter."
"He said he wants you to ask him for my hand in marriage," I say with a grimace.
He tilts his head to the side and gives me his signature, sexy smirk. "Honestly, he has a right to be mad for me not asking him for your hand first."
Crisis completely averted, I hook my hands around Damon's neck and pull him in for a passionate kiss. When he pulls away, he asks, "What was that for?"
"For being absolutely, positively perfect," I whisper against his lips.
CHAPTER 27
DAMON
I'VE WAITED YEARS for this moment. But, now that it's finally come, I'm having second thoughts. I know it's because of Victoria and what has developed between us, but I can't let my feelings for her cloud my judgment.
I worked hard for this.
I planned this out to the very letter.
I can't ruin it all now over a piece of ass.
"Is everything okay?" Victoria asks, placing her tiny hand over my thigh. "You've been…distant this week," she whispers into the cab of the SUV.
I grimace at her words, but she's totally right. Ever since she told me we were going to her father's for dinner, I've been spending every single moment planning. Planning what I'm going to say to him. What I'm going to do. How I'm going to kill him.
"I'm sorry. I've just been busy with work," I lie easily, taking her hand in mine and bringing it up to my mouth to place a soft kiss. Glancing over at her, I swallow hard. She looks beautiful tonight. No, not beautiful. She looks like she escaped out of my fucking dreams.
