Page 36 of Abundance of Obsession

Damien seemed excited, as did I. True to form, as soon as I put down the phone, I went to my computer. I had to find out everything about him before our date. What I found out… To put it mildly, it wasn’t what I expected. But it didn’t change my plans.

I’m getting ready for a date with Damien Estrada. Wanting to look sexy and mysterious, I choose a magenta dress with a slanted hem. I pair it with black stilettos, which I don’t like. But what wouldn’t you do to make the right impression?

My new favorite hairstyle, left messy. The new look is perfect for me.

The doorbell interrupts my thoughts. And when I open the door, the sight of Damien takes my breath away.

He looks elegant and irresistible. I’m sure more than one woman will turn to look at him tonight. He’s wearing a charcoal gray suit. The top button of his navy blue shirt is undone, and a bit of a tattoo peeks out from under the collar. His hair’s pulled back again, and those brown eyes are locked on me.

“You look stunning,” he breathes, his voice hoarse.

“Thank you. You look great too.”

I cross the threshold, and he leans down to kiss my cheek.

“I’m a lucky man.”

Closing the door behind me, his hand catches mine, enveloping me in warmth that radiates up my arm.

“I didn’t know what to wear, since you wouldn’t tell me where you were taking me.”

“It’s perfect,” he says, giving me a quick once-over. “You’re perfect.”

It turns out that Damien is the man who opens the door for a woman, supports her elbow as she gets in, and waits to close the door until she has buckled her seatbelt. He seems to be a gentleman through and through.

Soon after, we’re sitting at a table in an Italian restaurant. The candlelight dances between us, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Our conversation is light, as if we’ve known each other for a long time. The waiter brings our order, but I get the impression that we’re more interested in the conversation itself than in what’s on our plates.

Damien tells funny stories from his life. “You have a beautiful laugh,” he tells me.

A modest smile spreads across my lips. “Thank you.”

“I’ll be honest, I can’t take my eyes off you. You’re so cheerful and charming. That’s why I’m rambling on like a madman: so I can hear your laugh again.”

I stare into his brown eyes. “You’re one of the good ones, aren’t you?”

For a moment, he doesn’t understand what I mean, but when he does, he turns serious. “I know nothing about that, Lily.”

I’m about to correct him when I realize that’s the name I gave him. Lily Montgomery. The temptation to tell him the truth is strong. But I can’t. And I don’t want to yet. The time will come when I reveal this secret to him.

“Do you think you’re not a good man?”

Damien takes my hand from the table, lifts it to his lips, and kisses my knuckles. As our hands drift downward, he doesn’t let go.

“I won’t hide the fact that I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life. I’ve done good things too, but—I just don’t feel like anyone special or good.”

Something in his tone of voice nags at me, but I can’t pinpoint it.

“Do you want to tell me what kind of bad things you’ve done in your life?” I press him.

“Maybe another time. I’m here to seduce you, to enchant you, not to push you away.”

I’m a little surprised. “And you’re talking about this so freely? About what your plans are for me?”

His smile widens. Watching me like a hawk, he licks his lips, and my treacherous eyes commit every second to memory.

“Life is too short not to speak openly about what you want. That, and not to pursue what you desire in life.”