Chapter 18

Damian

        

If anyone could help me with what I had planned it was Mr. Henry and Ms. Liz. They basically ran the house along with Phil. I knew who to go to for help. I walked to the kitchen and saw Henry and his assistants getting ready to start cooking dinner, "Hey Mr. Henry. Could I ask you a favor?"

"Sure Damian. What do you need?" 

"How hard would it be to get a picnic basket for tonight?" 

He looked at me confused, "What do you need that for?" 

"I'm taking Ophelia out and thought about maybe getting a basket with some wine and some of her favorite treats." 

He lifted his hands and walked over to me and gave me a hug, "It's about time!" 

"Wait what?"

"Nothing. Forget I said that. What time do you want that basket for?" 

"7:30 okay?" 

"Perfect! I'll have it ready for you." 

"Thank you, Mr. Henry." 

"No problem son." 

 I walked out of the kitchen and searched around the house for Ms. Liz. I finally found her in one of the rooms with the other maids ironing some shirts. "Hey Ms. Liz, could I ask you for a favor?"  

"Damian. What can I do for you sweetie?"    

"I need some blankets. Like some fluffy blankets." 

"Okay. How many blankets do you need?" 

"Like five or six." 

"Damian, it doesn't get that cold in that bunkhouse, why do you need so many blankets?"

I couldn’t help but laugh, "It's not for the bunkhouse Ms. Liz, it's for a date tonight."

"Oh. Who's the lucky lady?" 

"Ophelia." 

"Oh my God! It's about time!" 

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" 

"Sweetie we all saw it. We were wondering how long it would take the two of you to see it." 

"Was it really that obvious?”

 “To some of us, yes. We could see the way you looked at her. When do you need the blankets?”                   

 “I’m picking up a basket from Mr. Henry at 7:30, so maybe before that so I can get it ready."

"What are you doing with these blankets?"

"I'm going to take her down to a spot I know and lay in the back of my truck and star gaze." 

"Aww," I heard the other maids say.

"When you’re ready, bring your truck around the side entrance and I'll help you set it up. How are you going to keep them from blowing out the back of your truck?"

"I've got a bed cover. So, I can set the blankets, some pillows, and the basket in the bed, close the cover and she'll never see it." 

"Come back here at 7:00 and we'll get you set up." 

"Okay. Thank you, Ms. Liz." I gave her a kiss on the cheek before I walked out to go back to the bunkhouse. 

One the way to the bunkhouse I texted Ophelia.

    Me: Taking you out tonight. Be ready for 7:45, dress comfy.

    Ophelia: k. Where are we going?

    Me: it's a surprise. 

    Ophelia: ???

    Me: it's a surprise O. be ready for 7:45

    Ophelia: ok. fine. 

I went to my room, took a shower, and got dressed. I put on a pair of jeans with a red t-shirt, grabbed my black leather jacket, and my brown boots. Normally I don’t get nervous about much, but I was nervous as hell. I needed something to help clear my mind. I poured myself a shot of whiskey and pulled out my revolver to give it a quick cleaning.

Around 6:45 I walked to the flower garden and picked a single red rose, went to the garage, and got in my truck. I had just bought a brand-new blue Chevy Silverado Z71, fully loaded out with a lift, tires, and rims. I drove around to the side entrance of the main house and met Ms. Liz. She had some big ass blankets and pillows. She also gave me four little battery powered lanterns. We arranged the blankets and pillows in the bed, placed the lanterns two on each side, then I went to the kitchen. Henry had prepared a basket with chocolate covered strawberries, french macaroons, cheese, and a bottle of wine with two glasses. It was perfect. I placed the basket in the bed of the truck and closed the bed cover. 

I pulled around to the front, got out and went to the door. 

Phil answered the door, but then Mitch appeared behind him. 

"Damian," Mitch said.

I stepped inside and stopped to shake Mitch’s hand, "Sir."

"What the hell do you want?" Oliver came out of the kitchen laughing. 

"I'm here to take Ophelia out." 

"You got the wrong house then. I don't know who that is. So, you must be here for another ass whipping. Might have to kick you on the other side to even up those bruises," he laughed, giving me a slap on the back. 

"Yeah. Thanks for that. First date with a bruise on my face. Real nice," I said, slapping his back. 

I looked toward the staircase and there she was standing at the top. My eyes locked on hers as if she were the only person in the room. It never ceases to amaze me the way she makes me feel, just being around her puts my mind to ease and makes my heart beat a little faster. She does something to me that I still can’t comprehend.

***

Ophelia

When I left the garage, I went up to my room, I had to talk to Sam, this was all too crazy, I picked up my phone and texted Sam. 

   

    Me: You are not going to believe what happened.

    Sam: mmm gossip... tell me. 

    Me: So earlier today Damian came up to my room, he tried to play it off like he was here for his jacket, then he kissed me. And it turned into a whole freaking make out session on my couch. 

    Sam: Oh shit. Isn’t this like the second time he has kissed you? 

    Me: Actually, it would be like our third kiss, but that’s beside the point. 

    Sam: ok, keep going. 

    Me: So, we are in the middle of making out and Oliver walks into my room. 

    Sam: OH MY GOD NO!

    Me: YES! I was mortified. And apparently Noah was in the hall because then he walked into my room also. Like they straight up caught us on the couch. 

    Sam: OH MY GOD. I would have been so fucking pissed. 

    Me: OH, trust me. I WAS. Oliver yells at Damian to go outside and I tried to stop Damian, but he was like, it’ll be ok. So, he walked out with Noah and Oliver. 

    Sam: Seriously? 

    Me: YES seriously. They went to the garage.  

    Sam: What the hell?

    Me: Well by the time I got out there, like Oliver and Damian were fighting. Like Oliver fucking kicked him hard and Damian went down. 

    Sam: Oh damn. Oliver is like no joke, seriously, he looks like he could kill someone by looking at them. 

    Me: Yeah, no shit. So, I ran over to Noah and tried to get him to stop the fight, but Damian got up and stood face to face with Oliver and said, I’m in love with her.

    Sam: HE SAID WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? 

    Me: He walked away from Oliver and grabbed my hand and like pulled me off to the side. He was like, this is not how I wanted to tell you, but I’m in love with you. I was like so fucking speechless, then I told him that I think I’m in love with him to. 

    Sam: OH MY GOD. ARE YOU? 

    Me: I don’t know.

    Sam: I mean, the man is fine as hell. So, what would hurt to explore the feelings? I mean you already know you’re attracted to him and obviously he is attracted to you. So, fuck it. I say go for it. 

    Me: You think? I mean, he is not anyone I have ever dated before. I mean, not like I have a whole dating history, but like he doesn’t come from the same kind of family that I do. 

    Sam: Yeah, well that could be a good thing. Maybe, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to explore something different and be with someone who is nice. 

    Me: Yeah, maybe so. 

    Sam: Well, how does he make you feel?

    Me: Shit I don’t even know how to explain it. Hold on getting a text from Damian.

I pulled up the text and read it. I can’t believe he got my dad’s approval. Was he this serious? I responded to Damian’s text then went back to texting Sam.

    Me: Apparently, Damian got my dad’s approval because he wants to take me out tonight.

    Sam: Aww, he asked your dad? 

    Me: Yeah, after the fight he, Noah and Oliver went to talk to dad. 

    Sam: So, this man went up against Oliver and had the nerve to ask your dad? Yeah, girl give Texas a chance. Get off your phone, get your ass dressed and go out with the man. 

    Me: Okay 

    Sam: And call me tomorrow and tell me all about your date. 

    Me:  you will be the first one I call. 

    Sam: Okay good. Have fun.

    Me: I will.

I put my phone down, then went to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed. Damian said to dress comfy, so I put on a pair of black leggings with a loose fit off-white sweater and put on a pair of black ankle boots. I walked over to my vanity and applied makeup. I made my curls a little extra bouncy and loosely pinned back the top leaving a few pieces to fall around my face. I put on a pair of my diamond stud earrings, my charm bracelet, and my white gold watch. 

I checked over my look in my full-length mirror and heard the doorbell ring. I suddenly had butterflies in my stomach and got super nervous. I felt like my heart was going to jump out my chest.  

I walked out of my room and could hear Damian talking with my dad and Oliver. I got to the top of the staircase and saw Damian standing there, he looked fine as hell. I could feel my face redden as our eyes met and he watched me walk down the stairs. 

“Hey you.” I said, as I got to the end of the stairs and walked over to him.

“Hey yourself.” He said, with his crooked little smile. 

I turned and gave dad a kiss on the cheek, “See you later.” 

“Don’t stay out too late,” dad said, kissing me on the cheek. 

“Have a good night sir,” Damian said to dad. He took me by the hand, and we walked out to his truck.