BethanyIt was a stupid decision to make, but after working with Kendal on Thursday, she finally caved and decided that a late lunch with Philip wouldn't hurt. Damon was still being an ass over things that were completely out of her control, and she was learning to leave him to himself when he was in one of his shitty moods. It still stung like a bitch, but she had a ring that said that no matter what happened while they were on their way to the altar, the plan was still to go."Hey." Philip stood and moved around to offer her a friendly hug. His hair was back to being the length it was when they first met before Damon had him cut it off. He looked good, almost too good. Broad shoulders and tanned skin, the man was every bit of California, and yet he was from Down Under. His accent left her heart fluttering, though it was nothing more than a silly infatuation like most women had for foreign accents."Hi. You look great. It seems like your new job is allowing you to work less and play
BethanyAnother night without Damon in her bed made it harder to fight against the nagging sensation that he was battling far more than he should have been where they were concerned. She tried to remain positive and convince herself that everything was fine. Matt had been a good cheerleader during the latter part of the week, but nothing was going to fully set her right but Damon.She needed him to say that he was sorry, that he loved her and they would work through things. The nagging need to be constantly reminded of his feelings was a pain in his ass from what she'd overheard in Jamaica, but it was what it was. He was a dick half the time and therefore could make it up to her by being the kind of guy she deserved the rest of the time, which he was completely capable of.After packing for their flight later that day, she drove over to Kent's house to pick up Matt and have breakfast with her parents. They'd gotten home late the night before, and yet still found the energy to text her
DamonFury burned through him at the fact that she'd ignored his request for her to join him at the house at ten the night before. Not only had he closed down shop early and left a ton of shit for the next day while they were traveling, but he'd skipped out on drinks with some old friends who just happened to be in town.What was she trying to prove? That she was in control? That the promise of a future wasn't worth shit if it couldn't be instantly built before her eyes?He pushed the door open to the tiny hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint on the east side of Dallas that he loved to haunt during his college days. It was quick, cheap and delicious. He pulled out his phone after glancing around and seeing that Charles wasn't there yet.Having been a great mentor to him in college at UT, Damon tried to stay in contact with the old guy as much as he could. The last minute breakfast was the perfect excuse to save him from having to fly to Seattle sandwiched in between Beth and Matt. He love
DamonDamon chuckled. "I'm thirty-one, and I'm right where I want to be.""That so?" Charles lifted his eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. "You ever had grits with milk and butter in them?""I'm happy. I guess I could be a little more content, but happy will work for now. She's a graduate from UT herself. She's studying to be an accountant and just recently started her master’s, and yes, my mother used to make grits just the way you've described. They're shit any other way."Charles slapped the table and sat up. "Finally. I swear! All these northerners with their watery grits and scones. Why in the world would you want to mess up a perfectly good biscuit?""No clue." Damon moved back as the food was delivered."Tell me more about the girl. How long have you been together?""Three weeks, but she's the one. I have no doubt." He said a quick prayer over his food and worked to cut his eggs as the image of Bethany on her knees in the living room washed over him.So beautiful and complia
Bethany"He didn't do it on purpose." Matt wrapped an arm around Bethany's shoulders as they walked down the long terminal to the baggage claim. Somehow Matt couldn't fit everything in a carry-on, so she hadn't even tried. He was being a bit of a diva, which opened the door for her to follow suit."No? He told me to be at his house last night at ten, and I fell asleep like I have for the last few nights, sitting on my couch, completely exhausted. I didn't even mean not to go over there." She huffed and stopped beside the turnstile as bags started to drop from the large opening at the other end."It's going to be fine, Sis. Stop worrying, okay?" He pressed his shoulder to hers and moved up to get their bags when they showed up."You're right." She popped the handle on her bag and followed behind him as a feeling of trepidation tried to pull her back down. "I need a drink.""Well, let's get to the hotel and then we can unpack and grab something to drink while we wait for Damon.""Sounds
BethanyShe glanced up from reading a magazine on the bed in the room as the door opened. Damon walked in, looking like he'd been up for three days straight."Hey." He gave her a tight smile and dropped his bag just inside the door before pulling off his suit jacket."Hi, baby." She got up and moved toward him, pulling him down for a long sweet kiss. There was no fire to it, but it was almost a good thing. They were dancing around each other as if they were both waiting for the other to strike, to pull back and deny the other."Your flight go okay?" He kissed her again and ran his hands over her hips to squeeze the top curve of her ass."Yeah. It would have been better with you being with me, but I was still pretty pissy toward you, so maybe not." She smiled and pulled from him, turning and walking toward the bed. "Come lay down with me until we have to go.""Sounds like a plan to me." He pulled off his tie and undid his shirt before letting it drop to the ground behind him. "Why were
DamonSomehow the sex set him right, cleared his mind and left him feeling far more relaxed than he had when the day started. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her as they walked to the elevator. Matt had texted ten times to see when they were coming. The poor guy was nervous, and Damon couldn't blame him. The tension between his brother and Erica wasn't anything new but had grown significantly over the last two years since Erica came to work for the firm.Between trying to impress a high-class art dealer and Erica, Matt was going to be running circles around himself. Liquor. He needed to get a few drinks into him, and things would be fine."Like my dress?" Bethany wrapped her arm around the back of his waist as they moved into the elevator and turned to face the door."Love it. I'm a little concerned about having to beat the men off of you, but it's worth it." He smiled and licked his lips as his eyes moved over the soft swell of her breasts. She was exquisit
Damon"He's late." Matt turned toward Damon as Bethany walked through the small gallery without them."It's fine. He'll be here shortly. He set this thing up with you and was impressed by your talent. Stop worrying so much." Damon reached out and pulled at the large portfolio pad that rested under his brother's arm. "Let me see this.""Yeah, sure." Matt handed it to him and moved to a large glass table in the middle of the room. "Bring it over here, and you can look through each one, just be careful. Some of the textured ones will chip off if you mess with them too much."Damon nodded and laid the portfolio pad down before moving slowly through the various scenery paintings, each done with incredible precision. His brother was talented, no doubt."You sure you want what this guy is offering?" Damon glanced over his shoulder as Matt began to pace the floor. He looked so much like their mother it was painful. Blond hair and blue eyes, a California tan and a great smile. No one would eve