Page 56 of Abundance of Obsession

I can’t tell if he’s being serious or joking, but since he’s smiling, I do the same thing. My hand lightly meets his firm chest. “It’s hard to believe a man such as yourself could be crazy about any woman.”

As I close the door behind me, a warm hand finds mine, and we walk side by side.

“I’m a normal man, and you’re the only woman who’s ever turned my head like this.”

If things were different, maybe I would believe such sweet little lies. Or maybe not. Something tells me this is closer to the truth than he realizes.

Damien showers me with compliments, one after another. His driver maneuvers through the streets while he focuses all his attention on me. I can’t say I’m not fond of it. It’s almost to the point where I struggle to remember my reason for being here. But not even for a tick of the clock do I forget who the man sitting next to me is.

This time, he takes me to a small Italian restaurant.

“Would you fancy a glass of wine? You seem tense,” he says once the hostess has led us to our table.

I shift in my chair and drop my gaze. At first, I stay silent for dramatic effect, then I glance up at him from under my lashes. “I’m sorry. I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous.”

“Why?” he asks, genuinely curious, not taking his eyes off me. His face has a gentle expression. One corner of his mouth curves upward.

“I’ve truly been looking forward to this date. There was even a time when I thought you wouldn’t call. It’s how I am. When I like someone... I get a little nervous.”

Damien leans in, and a warm hand lands on my knee. My first instinct is to pull my leg back, but I catch myself and force my body to relax. It’s easy to sense that kind of tension in another person.

Damien’s thumb rubs the spot back and forth. I allow myself to fantasize it’s Eli’s hand warming that spot.

“I’m sorry, Lily. Work sometimes steals my time and doesn’t ask for permission. I didn’t mean to ignore you; it’s just that work turns into a crazy battlefield.”

A waitress in a white uniform interrupts us. “Welcome to Providence. I hope you’re having a lovely evening.” Damien’s hand disappears from my leg, yet the warmth remains there. “Are you ready to order? Perhaps I can recommend something?”

With gratitude, I accept when my date suggests he’ll order for the two of us. And as soon as the waitress walks away from the table, I continue the conversation. “So, what exactly do you do? It seems like work is a big part of your life.”

“Isn’t work important to all of us? I’m in sales. International contracts and distribution, you could say. But it’s a boring topic.”

Slippery bastard. At least he’s not lying.

Though it’s inelegant, I rest my elbow on the table and lean my chin on my hand. I continue the conversation. “On the contrary. It sounds very interesting. And a responsible job. I’m sure you’ve already had some successes.”

He laughs in a manner similar to someone who has heard a good joke. Then he answers, “You could say that. My company’s actually planning to take over a larger share of the American market, but also to expand into Europe. That’s why it’s such a busy time.”

“And what does your company deal in?”

The smile fades from Damien’s face for a little while.

Shit.

Inside, I panic that I’ve already raised the first red flag. I control that urge, though, since he has no idea. He can’t be aware of anything.

To authenticate myself, I created a life story online. A file, just in case he tried to check me out. I even took over one of the social media profiles with insignificant photos.

Finally, the suspicion fades from his face. Leaning back, he answers with such ease as if he were talking about the most boring job in the world. “It’s a pharmaceutical company.”

“You save people’s lives. That’s fascinating. Don’t downplay your contribution because what you do is important to the world,” I say.

“You know what? You’re right. It is important to the world, and besides bringing money to my table, it also gives me satisfaction. What kind of work do you do, Lily?”

Our waitress chooses this moment to bring our order. She also brings two glasses of wine, which I taste right away. I then repeat what he can find out about me online. “I’m a freelance software developer. Mainly I work on game design, but I hope to spread my wings soon and find a more serious project.”

Damien raises his eyebrows high. This news has surprised him. “Computers? I’m impressed. I would never have guessed.”

With pride, I raise my face. “That’s good. I like that I can surprise you.”