BethanyThe evening with Matt was just what she needed. The conversation and laugher were innocent and never once turned to her relationship with Damon or his lack of relationship. By the time they'd had their third round of beers, Bethany was feeling the weight of exhaustion. Between the trial, the funeral and traveling to Florida, she was spent. A hot bath and bed sounded far better than anything else she could imagine.She hugged Matt's neck, walked into the room and pressed her back to the door, letting out a long sigh. Having Damon there with her would have had intense benefits, but in the state she was in, she wasn't sure she would have enjoyed any extra attention at all.After her bath, she snuggled down into bed and texted him to let him know that she was thinking about him. She passed out before he responded, slipping into the world of dreams and resting peacefully.The touch of someone's hand on her shoulder caused her to jolt up."It's just me, baby," Damon whispered softly
Bethany"So she told everyone that I was your sister and your fiancée?" Bethany cringed at the news of Delilah getting in one more punch the night before. She reached for her coffee at the small cafe her and Damon were having breakfast at before they got back on the plane to head home. After knocking on Matt's door more times than seemed necessary, Damon made her leave him alone. They'd pick him something up when they were done."Yeah, but it's all right. The bitch probably did us a favor. I needed to get the word out that we were together. She just did it for me." He shrugged. "I should have nipped the situation in the bud when it happened.""Which one?" Bethany reached for her coffee and sat back in her chair, studying her handsome man from across the table. He had to easily be the most beautiful thing she'd ever had the pleasure of seeing, much less holding or making love to. Lucky didn't describe the way she felt sitting there across from him."Both." He picked up his coffee and t
Damon"Wow. Everyone is finally around the table. The apocalypse must be coming." Matt glanced around as he reached for the mashed potatoes."Naw, Bethany and I just decided to forgive each other for any and all offenses. I think I got off lightly." Damon reached over and took Beth's hand into his as he smiled at her. "We're going to move things along now too.""Oh yeah? How so?" Karen asked, giving him a look that he wasn't quite sure how to decipher."We're moving in together," Bethany spoke up. "In the next week or so. I still have my lease through December-""But we'll just pay it out and be done with it," Damon finished for her, unable to take his eyes off of her. Something about knowing that they were moving one step closer to her truly being his left his heart racing. He'd almost lost her over a handful of stupid bullshit. "I want you with me."She smiled and glanced over at her mom. "Now all we need to do is talk Damon into letting us redecorate his bachelor pad."Matt snorted
DamonWhen. There would be no question that the bitch would try, but Damon almost looked forward to slapping her back again for all the shit she put Beth through."I will.""Good. Is Bethany rejoining the firm now that Delilah is no longer there?""I'm not sure. It's fine either way." Damon shrugged. "Where I'd love to have her with us, it might be best while we're rebuilding our relationship if we just see each other outside of work. It's sometimes a hostile environment in the office thanks to our deadlines and the stress to keep up with demands.""Whatever the two of you decide is fine by me. You know that I'd love her up there with us because she's family, but if it's a better situation for your relationship to let her work somewhere else-""Or not at all. She doesn't need to work. I'll pay for everything."He chuckled. "Good luck with that. If she's anything like Karen, she's not going to let you pay for everything. That woman is fiercely independent.""And you love her even more
BethanyShe wasn’t used to feeling peaceful too often, but between Damon being relaxed from talking with his father, Delilah gone from the firm and Bethany starting to pack up her apartment for the next step in her relationship with Damon, peace belonged to her.She walked down the long hall in the accounting building and let her smile grow wide on her face. Life was good, and as long as she and Damon communicated about the parts that weren't so great, everything would work out. It would be time to start planning the wedding soon, and the only two people she really had that could help her were Matt and her mother. Erica might be willing to do some of the decorating and such, but maybe it was better just to hire someone to come in and take care of all of it. That had been Damon's vote the night before when they lay in bed, talking about the future."Bethany," someone called from behind her.She turned to find Jake rolling toward her with a smile on his handsome face. His hair was hangi
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