Bethany"So, when are we having this wedding?" Bethany's mom asked through the phone.Beth shrugged and turned down the long road that would lead to the mental hospital. The last thing she wanted to do was visit with Krista, but she promised Jake that she would."I think it would be nice to do in the spring next year. Maybe around March?""That sounds great." Her mother paused. "Christmas would be fun too, but it's late October. There is no way in hell we'd have everything done by then.""Exactly. Let's shoot for March." Bethany tugged at her seatbelt as nervousness ran through her. "I really don't want to do this.""Then don't." Her mom let out a sigh. "You don't have to be everything to everyone, baby. Just because Jake feels the burden for the two of you to help Krista through this transition doesn't mean you need to.""I know, but I don't want him out here, and some part of me wants to help her, you know?""I know, but she's not going to be the same girl, Bethany. They have her me
Damon"Damon, your father is on the phone for you." Linda gave him a warm smile as she leaned into his doorway."Great. Thanks, and close the door behind you." He pushed away the financials he was in the process of reviewing and grabbed the phone. "What's going on, Dad?""Hey there. I just wanted to touch base with you on Mitch Roberson. Remember I mentioned him a few times?""Sure do. Did he accept the position in Seattle?""He sure did. He's our new director of advisory. I sent him up there to introduce himself to Erica today. You probably need to touch base with her though. I've been so busy lately, and you know once she gets me on the phone-""There's no getting off." Damon snorted. "I'm well aware. I'll call when we get off the phone in a minute.""I spoke with your brother this morning too. It sounds like he's made his decision to move up to Seattle. You think that's a good thing for him?""Yeah, I do." Damon leaned back in his chair and let relief run through him. Matt had been
Damon"No truer words have been spoken." Damon cleared his throat. "Why are you upset with him? What happened?""You know how I feel about your brother, Damon. Or rather how I felt. I'm getting over it.""Yeah, of course, I do. You guys would be-""Don't. I'm not interested in hearing it. He came up to visit, and we had a good time for the weekend, or at least I did. I haven't heard a fucking word from him in seven days. Not 'thanks for letting me crash at your place' or 'I really appreciate you helping me with my contract with Jonathan' or better yet, how about, 'thanks for the all-night fuck. I needed that in my life'.""Wow. Shit. He didn't say anything after you guys spent the weekend together? That's more something I would do than Matt." Damon stood up and brushed his hand down his face. She was destroyed by his brother's ignorance. The stupid bastard was walking around, trying to decide what to do with himself, and here Erica thought that he didn't care. How could Matt not know
Damon"Damn, woman. How much stuff can one person shove into a two-bedroom college apartment? Don't they have rules about this type of hoarding?" Damon glanced over his shoulder and smirked at the pretty girl behind him.Bethany cocked her head to the side and put a hand on her hip, drawing his eyes down to the lovely curve. "I told you we could get a mover to come over and help clean this place out, but nooooo... you wanted to do it instead. All the money in the world and we're spending our Saturday cleaning this place up.""I kinda like seeing you work it." He shrugged and turned back to the stack of boxes in front of him."Work what, exactly?" Her arms slid around him from behind, and the soft press of her breasts against his back had his heart rate accelerating a little."Work anything," he grunted and gripped her hands, pulling them down until she cupped him. "Maybe we should lock the front door and christen this place for the next horny college kids that rent it."Beth's laugh w
DamonDamon licked at the corner of his mouth and stifled a growl. "Did he talk to you about him and Erica?""A little. Not much. He's gotta finish patching things up with her, but you know Matthew. He'll win her heart back with his humor if nothing else." She moved around the large boxes in front of him and reached for the tape. "It's weird packing up Krista's stuff. Do you think she's okay?"He took the tape from her. "She's in the mentally insane ward of the prison, baby. I think she's okay in that no one is going to hurt her there, but she's around people who are far gone mentally. How much interaction is she getting? That would be my question."Beth let out a soft sigh as her head dropped. "I don't know. I should go see her.""I'll go with you." Damon leaned in and touched the bottom of her chin. "Next subject. I'm going to get emotional pneumonia. I was ready to fuck in the parking lot; now I feel like I need to find some Kleenex and a bucket of ice cream for us to share."She l
Bethany"Why do you keep watching me like that?" Beth glanced over at Damon as they walked through the grocery store later that afternoon. Everything hurt from moving hers and Krista's stuff out of their old college apartment. She and Damon had finally decided to move in together, and where she was excited, she was a little nervous too. They were just getting back on track with their relationship, but being in each other's space all the time had to help facilitate that bonding faster. At least she hoped it would."Like what?" He ran his hand up her back and gripped the back of her neck as she leaned over the shopping cart."Like you're going to consume me? You scare people with that look." She turned down another aisle and glanced down at the buggy, finding it a little humorous that Damon liked Cheetos and ice cream. He was beyond fit, his body tight and muscular, and yet the snacks were all his idea."I am going to consume you." He released her and reached up to grab a packet of beef
Bethany"Yes." She grasped his hand and tucked herself against his side. "That poor guy wasn't eye-fucking me. He was just being friendly."Damon laughed sardonically. "You're so innocent. I almost want to put you across my knee and spank you for being blind to what the moron was up to. You gotta protect yourself from other men trying to get your attention, lest I beat up the whole damn city.""Protect myself?" She stopped beside the truck, a little weary as she took in all of the boxes piled in the back. Their evening didn't look at all like it was going to be a relaxing meal, good wine, hot bath and love making. It looked like they'd be unpacking her shit for hours."Yes, Beth." He reached for her, tugging her close and capturing her against his chest with his strong arms. "Philip tried to get your attention, Ben, hell, I'm sure Matt or Kendal would have tried if they didn't know you were mine. You're beautiful, baby. Sexy and feminine." He tightened his hold."Can't breathe," she s
DamonSeven Months Later"James, come on in." Damon moved back and smiled at Linda, his secretary. "Hold all of my calls for the next thirty minutes.""Not a problem, Mr. Bryant." Linda returned the smile and glanced down at her desk.She was a beautiful older woman and should have been married. Crazy how many people had been handed a shitty situation in life and yet seemed to still get up and smile in the face of all of it. He needed to give Linda a raise or take her out to lunch soon. The poor woman put up with a lot of shit, his in particular."How are you, Damon? You look good. Last time we saw each other, you were having lady problems if I recall." James unbuttoned his coat and sat down, the CEO of Zarpeth looking much better than Damon had seen him look in months."I'll always have problems if a lady is involved. It's just the natural evolution of things. You know this." Damon sat down and pressed his forearms to his desk. "Beth and I are getting married in a couple of weeks. Di