by Lena Hart
Damian jerked his head around to her in surprise. A teddy bear? From the cheerful smile on her face, he assumed she thought she was paying him a compliment. The last thing he considered himself was a damn teddy bear.
He returned his gaze to the road, but not before he saw the worry pulling at her neatly arched brows.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have cared what she thought of him. He allowed people to see what they wanted and thought nothing of it. But for reasons he couldn’t explain, he wanted her to see the real him. Not just the laid back friend or the loving son, but a man barely holding it together while his father’s memory continued to decline.
Instead, Damian forced a smile on his lips. “I’ve never been called a bear before. Just trying to decide how I should feel about that.”
“You should feel good,” she said with an encouraging smile. “Teddy bears are cute and loveable.”
So are puppies and babies.
But since it was clear she thought he should be flattered, Damian tried not to take offense.
After a short pause, she finally asked him what he assumed had really been on her mind.
“So, how did you and Eric become such good friends?”
“We practically grew up together. My dad used to coach little league and Eric was on the team. We’ve been friends since I can remember.”
“That’s nice that you two stayed close. After I left for school, I drifted apart from a lot of my old friends.”
“It happens. My mom used to say people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, so appreciate them while they’re here.”
“My aunt says the same thing.”
Damian glanced over at her and there was a soft smile on her face. Suddenly, she gasped and her eyes widened as she stared straight ahead. He followed her gaze, wondering what had startled her.
“Is that where Eric lives?”
Damian stared at the large, three-story home in the distance. The Benson mansion was one of the oldest homes in Cedar Bend, having been built for the town’s founder Charles Benson. The mansion had been a part of the town for so long, Damian almost forgot how impressive it really was.
“I thought you’ve been here before?”
“No, I’ve only been to his cabin. I can’t believe Eric had us staying in the woods when we could have spent that weekend right here.”
Damian pulled up to the sprawling driveway. He glanced over at her and there was an excited gleam in her eyes as she stared up at the mansion. He shouldn’t have been surprised that she would prefer the convenience of a seven bedroom, nine bath home over a small cabin in the woods. Nothing about her suggested she would enjoy anything less.
He pulled the truck to a stop then climbed out. As he made his way around the passenger side, a cheerful shout came from the house.
“Savvy!”
They both turned to see Quinn rushing toward them. Damian helped her out of the truck and the minute her heels touched the pavement, she hurried over to her cousin.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here.”
Quinn pulled Savvy into a tight hug and his gaze automatically dropped to her ass. He quickly averted his eyes, but not before he caught Quinn’s knowing smile. Turning away from the pair, Damian began pulling down her bags from the back of the truck.
“Where are my manners?” Quinn pulled away from Savvy and gave him a quick hug. “Hi, Damian. Thanks again for coming to Savvy’s rescue.”
He would have returned the hug, but his hands were crowded with luggage. “It was nothing, Quinn. Really.”
“No, seriously. Thank you. I know today wasn’t a good day to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call. And as usual, Eric’s busy at the campaign office.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Damian said then nodded to the bags in his hands. “Now where should I put these?”
“You can leave them in the foyer,” Quinn said, taking a quick step off to the side. “I’ll have someone move them upstairs.”
As Damian made his way to the front of the house, he couldn’t help overhear the women’s conversation as they followed after him.
“I was going to put you in the guest house, but I didn’t want you to be alone out there.”
“Liar,” Savvy said, a hint of laughter in her voice. “You just wanted me at your beck and call.”
Quinn chuckled. “You know me so well, but you’re going to love your room. It comes with a veranda and a view of the mountains.”
“You had me at veranda.”
When they entered the mansion, Damian heard Savvy suck in her breath. He deposited her bags on the gleaming wood floors of the foyer and turned to the women. Savvy’s gaze wandered around the large room, a smile of pure delight on her face.
“Quinn, this place is amazing.”
He was transfixed by the radiant wonder in Savvy’s dark brown eyes and found it impossible to look away.
“Lovely, isn’t it?”
At Quinn’s comment, Damian glanced in her direction and caught the quick wink she threw at him. He chose to ignore the suggestive gesture.
“I should get going,” he muttered, fishing in his pockets for his phone and keys.
“So soon?” Quinn asked, her smile fading. “Why don’t you stay for dinner? Eric should be back any minute.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I need to drop Savvy’s car off, then check in on Pops. Maybe another time.”
He turned to leave, but was surprised by the hand Savvy rested on his arm. His muscles involuntarily flexed under her light touch, and he resented the layer of material between them.
“When can you update me about my car?”
“Give me your number.”
She drew back in surprise and he realized just how abrupt his request sounded. Damian cleared his throat and ran a hand across the back of his neck. Had it really been that long since he’d asked a woman for her phone number?
“That way I can call you once I know the issue.”
“Oh, right.” She grabbed his phone from his hand then pushed in a series of numbers before handing it back to him. “Here. Now you have my number.”
The sparkle in her eyes made him believe she meant more by that than he had a right to think. And the way she was smiling at him, made him hard all over.
Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last.
Savvy promptly turned back to her cousin. “Okay, I’m ready to see my room,” she said with barely concealed excitement.
Damian quietly let himself out of the mansion, silently berating himself. Even if she was slightly interested in him, he had no business with a woman like her. His life was complicated enough without adding anyone new to it.
Savannah Williams would have to remain exactly what she was—tempting eye-candy.
Anything more would be foolish and a complete waste of time.
“So, what do you think of Damian?”
Savvy frowned, her hands still above her open luggage. “What do you mean?”
Quinn rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Don’t act like you didn’t notice the way he was looking at you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look at a woman like that and there’s plenty of pretty ladies in town.”
“Okay, please don’t try reading into something that’s not there.”
Especially when all Savvy saw was barely contained exasperation when Damian looked at her.
“I’m not. It’s obvious he’s into you. You should give him a chance.”
Savvy sighed and resumed her task of pulling clothes from her suitcase and arranging them on the bed. “Quinn, I love you, but you don’t have to set me up just because—”
“Matt turned out to be an asshat? That bastard can crawl into a cave and die for all I care.”
Savvy was so taken aback by the outburst that she couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter that burst from her. Quinn high cheekbones, however, were flushed red with anger under her pale brown skin.
Her cousin ha
d always been defensive of her, even though Savvy was technically the oldest by eight months. She had just turned ten when her parents had been killed in a boating accident and she’d gone to live with her aunt and uncle. She and Quinn had become as close as sisters since, and there was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. Including dragging her ex’s name through the fiery pits of hell.
“Yes, he can crawl into a deep, dark cave for all I care too,” Savvy said. “But I was actually going to say that you don’t have to help me find love just because you did. My turn will come. Eventually.”
Quinn came up beside her and began helping her unpack. Savvy could feel Quinn’s curious gaze on her, but concentrated on the task before her.
“How are you holding up?”
Savvy offered her cousin a smile she hoped didn’t look as weak as it felt. “I’m over it, actually.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It sucked how things ended, and I’d like to call him every dirty name in the book, but honestly, I can’t blame it all on him. Not really.”
Quinn stared at her incredulously. “Are you kidding me? The asshole finally proposes to you only to string you along while he goes and fall in love with someone else! Who does that?”
Savvy shrugged, still unable to admit to her cousin that she had pushed for the stupid engagement to begin with. If she had never given Matt the ultimatum, then he wouldn’t have felt pressured to propose. Then maybe she wouldn’t have to face her family and friends with the humiliating news that she would not be getting married to her longtime boyfriend—and had in fact drove him into the arms of a less demanding, less opinionated woman.
“Ugh, I really hate that I ever introduced you two. If I had known what a bastard he was…”
“It’s not your fault, Quinn. I should have paid closer attention to all the signs. And trust me, there were plenty.”
“Really? Like what?”
Savvy scoffed, not sure how much to tell her cousin. There had been enough signs to point to the fact that Matt hadn’t been as in love with her as she’d wanted him to be. If she was honest with herself, she would admit that she had been more in love with the idea of their relationship—and how it fit within the timetable of her life plans—then with him.
“None of that’s important now,” Savvy said more to herself than her cousin. “Let’s talk about what really matters. Like you becoming Mrs. Eric Benson.”
Quinn pursed her lips. “Fine, change the subject. But just know that what he did to you will have him on my shit list forever. Oh, and I also made sure Eric pulled his wedding invitation.”
Savvy froze. As far as she knew, Quinn was the only person who knew about the humiliating reason Matt had chosen to end their engagement and she wanted to keep it that way.
“Quinn, you didn’t tell him—”
“Relax. I didn’t give Eric any details. I just told him that if Matt was at our wedding then I wouldn’t be, and I don’t care how long they’ve been friends.”
The tension in her eased, but Savvy’s relief was short-lived. Eric and Matt were good friends. She wouldn’t be surprised if Matt hadn’t already told him everything. In fact, Eric and many of their mutual friends could already know everything, and that was something she would have to come to terms with.
“Thanks, Quinn. But you didn’t have to do that.” Though she was grateful she wouldn’t have to face Matt again. “The last thing I want is for my relationship drama to take away from your special day.”
Quinn gave her a quick hug. “It won’t. He didn’t deserve to be at our wedding, and for what it’s worth, he didn’t deserve you.”
Savvy smiled and returned her cousin’s embrace. “Thanks for saying that.”
Quinn pulled away and studied her. Savvy frowned at her silent scrutiny.
“Savvy, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but there’s one more thing that doesn’t deserve you.”
“What?”
“That hair.”
Her hands flew to the long strands of her weave. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s cute, but…”
“But what?”
“I thought you hated wearing weaves.”
Savvy shrugged. “I was going for a new look. Is that a curly-hair crime?”
“No, but it’s just not you. I love your natural hair. Everyone does. I even transitioned because you and your pretty curls inspired me.”
Savvy scrunched her nose and fingered her strands again. “It’s that bad?”
“It could be better.” Quinn went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of cutting shears. “May I?”
Savvy sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Go for it.”
Three
The next morning, Savvy woke feeling more rested than she had in a while.
She stretched beneath the covers and lingered in bed a little while longer. She wasn’t sure if it was early or late morning and didn’t care. She had no plans to leave the big, comfortable bed.
Suddenly, a loud beep came from her phone and she groaned. Of course, the only person who could get her out of her warm nest was her cousin.
Savvy grabbed her phone and realized she had several missed calls and a few text messages. None from Quinn. She flipped through the notifications and saw she had one voicemail from Damian.
She couldn’t help but think of Quinn’s words yesterday, then instantly scoffed at the thought. She didn’t know what her cousin had seen, but there was no way Damian was interested in her.
“The man couldn’t get rid of me fast enough,” she muttered to herself.
Savvy shook her head, refusing to give Quinn’s ridiculous idea any more thought. Putting the phone on speaker, she played the message.
“Hey Savvy, it’s Damian. I wanted to let you know that I took a look at your car this morning. You might have a bigger problem than I thought. I’d like to take a closer look, test a few things. Give me a call later and I’ll fill you in.”
She wasn’t sure if it was the sultry timbre of his voice combined with the soft, smooth sheets beneath her, but hearing his sexy voice through the phone did something to her senses she didn’t expect—and couldn’t put into words. All she knew was that it rolled over her like a warm caress and sent tiny shivers down her legs.
Before she could stop herself, she replayed the message again. It was easy to picture the dark, handsome face behind that seductive voice. Without thinking, she slowly let her hand move down her body and slip between her thighs. She played the message again and this time, her wicked imagination came up with something completely different.
Savvy, I want to lick and caress you all over until you—
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”
Quinn burst into her room and Savvy snatched her hand from between her legs. She jerked the covers away and sat up in bed.
“Quinn! Can’t you knock?”
Her cousin stood at the foot of the bed, her hands on her hips. “Why? You have a boy in here or something?”
Savvy rolled her eyes then fell back on her plush pillow. “I see you’re becoming more like Aunt Helen every day.”
Quinn shrugged. “Hey, I’m starting to realize my mom was on to something. Look how great we turned out.”
Savvy snorted. “You mean you turned out great. Felicia is…well, Felicia. And me—”
“Oh, no you don’t,” Quinn interjected. “We’re not going there. Now get up. We have a long day ahead.”
Savvy groaned then immediately stifled it. She wasn’t here to just lie around in bed all day, fantasizing about a certain car mechanic. No matter how sexy he was.
Shoving the covers aside, Savvy got out of bed. “Okay, what’s on the agenda today?”
“That’s what I need your help with. I need to come up with a master to-do list and start assigning jobs.”
“You should already have one, but okay. We’ll get that knocked out.”
Savvy started toward the connecting bathroom and Q
uinn followed her, her expression one she recognized too well.
“Okay, Quinn. Spit it out.”
“We might also need to go dress shopping.”
Savvy froze. “What? Why? I thought you were happy with your dress.”
Quinn bit her lip. “No, not for me.”
“Then for who?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew the answer. “For me? Why? What happened to my dress?”
“Before you panic, I just want to add that it’s not at crisis level. Yet.”
Savvy frowned. Her cousin’s attempt at reassuring her was failing horribly. “What do you mean yet? You said you took care of everything. My dress should be here by now, Quinn.”
“I know, I know. I was on the phone with the seller all day yesterday and they managed to track it down. It should be reshipped to us today.”
“You mean the same seller that had those ridiculously long shipping dates? What if it doesn’t get here in time?”
“Don’t worry. I’m on top of it. If we don’t get the dress by this week, we’ll go to the boutique in town and find you something.”
Savvy could only gape at her cousin. “So after all that time looking for the right dress, I’m going to end up wearing boutique rags?”
Quinn’s face twisted with guilt and Savvy immediately regretted her words. This was her cousin’s wedding and she needed to remember that. If Quinn wanted her to wear a checkered tablecloth and bow tie napkin, Savvy just needed to make sure it was wrapped nicely.
“Sorry, Quinn. That was mean. This is your big day so just tell me what you want me to wear.”
“Oh, don’t be like that. I promise you’re going to be beautiful and everything is going to go as planned. You did bring your shoes right?”
Savvy smiled, thinking about the shimmery blue stilettos she and Quinn had custom made specifically for the bride and maid-of-honor.
“Of course, I didn’t forget those.”
Quinn beamed then shooed her into the bathroom. “Good. Then go get ready. We have a lot to get done today.”
Damian wiped his brow as he studied the internal system of Savvy’s car. He’d never worked on a hybrid car before and wasn’t above admitting when he was in over his head. This was going to be a lot more involved than he anticipated.
