Bethany"I can make the adjustments now if you just tell me what you want," she offered."No, I've got it. You have a big event coming up." He brushed his fingers by his mouth before pinning her with his stare. "What's going on? You didn't need to come all the way up here for this."She shrugged, not sure what to say. Kendal was her professor and boss for the next year. They weren't friends. Damon held that spot with him, and yet she knew she could talk and he would listen.Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back and let out a long, shaky sigh. "I'm sorry. I should go. I just haven't made many friends over the last few years for fear of someone realizing what a fake I was. My two best friends are lost to me right now, both trying to heal, and the one person I want to talk to can't communicate worth shit. I just needed to get away from everyone.""I get it." Kendal's voice was soft and kind.Bethany opened her eyes and turned to smile at him; her tears tucked away for the moment.
DamonShe was pissed, and he couldn't blame her. Well, maybe not pissed. Hurt was more like it.Damon set the phone down on his desk and slipped his hand into his slacks before walking toward the full-length windows in his office. The sunny day did nothing to permeate the sickening feeling that swelled deep inside of him. He'd have to miss his father's wedding if he couldn't fix the situation with Zarpeth soon. It needed far more than a quick band-aid, and yet a patch-up job was all he had time for.It was time for his father to have a happy ending, to get to enjoy a relationship that was based on truth and love. Karen, Bethany's mother, was going to be great for him."Much better than my own cheating-ass mother," Damon mumbled under his breath and tried hard not to let the images of catching her with another man poison his thoughts. He was already struggling like hell with keeping his mood under control."Damon?" Linda's voice reached him before the soft rapping of her knuckles on th
Damon"Just leave it alone." He flipped the lock on the door and walked toward the small restroom attached to the back of his office. Privacy was the best part of being an executive, but just slightly above getting to control every aspect of the company when his father was away.There was no reason to call her and apologize for not talking to her earlier. They could talk later. Hearing her voice would just distract him more, and he was already on edge from all the bullshit bubbling up on the Zarpeth account.He flipped on the light and closed the door to the bathroom before dropping his slacks and turning to sit down. It had been a long time since he had to take care of himself, but then again, being with one woman made things more complex."And far more stimulating." He wrapped his hand around his cock and lifted his hips, pressing deep into his tight hold as a tremor ran through him. It wouldn't have taken more than a phone call to get her up there, and if he knew her well enough, B
BethanyBethany took the long way to the office, working hard to talk herself into actually stopping by. Damon would be in a horrible mood because of the situation with Zarpeth. Did she really want to set herself up to be his punching bag?Maybe Kendal was right. She should give him the benefit of the doubt and simply stop by with an 'I love you' of sorts.She made a quick turn off the freeway and pulled into the local coffee shop, ordering herself something sweet and picking up Damon's favorite drink. Pulling back out onto the road, she steeled herself, locking her emotions down. She was disappointed about him not being able to come. That's really what it boiled down to. She could sling anger and accusation at him for not speaking to her earlier, or she could give him the coffee, kiss his cheek and go home to pack.Matt would be in Jamaica with her. There was tons of fun to be had with just the two of them together. She smiled at the thought and turned on the radio in the car, findin
BethanyHe paused and ran his fingers through his dark hair. Bethany set his coffee on the table next to her as her eyes moved across him. The swell of his pectoral muscles pushed at his shirt as he twisted a certain way. Just knowing what lay underneath all his clothing left her blood warming. Now wasn't the time for a sexual intervention, but it sure sounded good."I'm coming to Florida in two weeks and when I get there... this shit better be cleared up. You're on your last warning. Tell me you understand clearly the objectives of the tasks I've given you and that you will be getting them done."He moved out from behind his desk and walked toward the window. Reaching up, he pressed his hand to the glass and seemed to be looking out at the city. She couldn't help but stare at the soft curve of his rear, her heart pounding a little harder in her chest as her desire spiked."Good. Don't fuck this up. I'm out of patience with you."Damon pulled the phone from his ear and hit a button be
BethanyBethany walked into Kent's large home as the smell of apple and cinnamon hit her in the face. She breathed in deeply and made a detour to the kitchen. Martha, their chef, was whistling a tune and taking pies out of the oven."It smells divine in here." Bethany moved around the portly woman and closed the oven for her."Apple and peach pies were the first things my momma taught me how to make. I've been baking them from scratch since I was a little girl." Martha smiled and pulled her mittens from her hands. "What’s wrong? The frown on your face is not the normal reaction to the smell of this goodness, you silly girl."Bethany chuckled and moved toward the large counter that ran the length of the kitchen. Several pies baked to perfection sat proudly. She breathed in deeply, trying to decide what her response should be."I'm just sad that Damon is going to have to miss the vacation part of this trip. He'll be there for the wedding, but I was looking forward to spending some time
Bethany"Were you hurt by him not talking to you this morning?" Matt pulled out another shirt, folding it and averting his eyes from her."Yes.""Why?" He glanced up at her quickly, his eyes wide as if he were worried."Because if we're going to be together, I expect him to communicate with me. I was on the fucking phone with him, and he didn't say anything, Matt. Not two words." Heat rushed up her chest and coated her throat. Surely Matt wasn't taking up for Damon when he was a cock earlier that day."And why didn't he say anything to you?""Because he's an ass and doesn't think of other people.""Who's staying behind to take care of the mess at McKenzie and Bryant?" Matt moved off the bed and nodded toward the closet. "Go get more clothes while I drag myself deeper into this hole for the sake of my wayward older brother.""Damon is staying back to take care of things. It's his damn job." She stormed to the closet and yanked out a few more items, not giving two shits about what she w
Damon"Why am I not surprised that you're interested in my suffering?" Matt lifted his eyebrow and stuffed a whole roll into his mouth."Your suffering?" Damon glanced down the table toward his dad, taking note of the warm smile on Karen's pretty face as she leaned in to whisper something to his father. "Dad. You hear this? Matt is suffering because you invited Erica to this wedding.""Don't start." Matt shook his head and reached for his beer. "Seriously. I've already gotten a counseling session by our new sister."Everyone stiffened at Matt's remark."Your new sister." Damon wrapped his arm around Bethany's shoulders and pulled her closer. "My soon-to-be forever."Bethany glanced over at Damon, the expression on her pretty face showing discomfort. It was going to be a couple of bumpy months as their family transitioned, but they would make it through. She wasn't his sister; nor would she ever be. Damon had one sibling, and he was chewing through rolls at breakneck speed down the tab