Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
He wanted to say something of this to Crystal, but he also didn’t want to freak her out. She already seemed a little skittish, as though she were searching for a graceful way to leave. But he didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to take her back to bed and explore more of that beautiful body, find new ways to make her cry out with pleasure.
When his phone rang, it was almost a relief. “It’s Erin,” he said, and then answered.
Erin told him that she’d be happy to pick Opal up and deliver her to Damien’s house for today’s music session. They agreed on nine o’clock, and he thanked his sister one more time for helping him and Opal out the day before.
Erin said, “We’re having a viewing party of your interview at Arch’s house tonight. You’d better be there.”
He wanted to tell Erin he had to check with Crystal first, but stopped himself just in time. Crystal might not appreciate him blabbing to his sister—her friend—that they’d spent the night together and had plans that evening. He’d leave that to Crystal.
Instead, he ended the call and said, “So Erin’s delivering Opal here at nine this morning, and Arch is having a viewing party of Celebrity Tonight at his place tonight. We’re all supposed to be there. But I don’t think it needs to change our plans for the evening. We can pick up some literature at the college, and after the viewing party, we’ll go to the jazz club.”
She tilted her head. “Can you even imagine the stir it will cause if you show up at the community college? Why don’t you leave it to me to visit there today? I promise I will. And then we can meet at the viewing party and go to the club afterward. It will be fun to see your interview when we’re all together.”
He grinned. “That’s a plan.”
He was happy—happier letting her leave, knowing he’d be seeing her later that day. Still, he couldn’t prevent himself from giving her a long, steamy kiss that went on far longer than it should have. When she pulled away, a tiny sigh escaped her lips and her eyes stayed closed just a second longer than they needed to. He liked to think she was imprinting the taste of his lips on hers, just as he had done. He wanted to carry her with him all day.
By the time Erin and Opal arrived, Damien had managed to shower, clean up the kitchen, and remove any traces that Crystal had been there. He imagined she’d tell Erin what had happened, but it was her story to tell. He’d keep his mouth shut for now, much as he was dying to broadcast to the world that he’d just had the greatest sex of his life—with a woman he’d always loved as a friend, who made him wonder if there was something far more precious than pure friendship growing between them.
Opal said she’d slept like a baby at Erin’s apartment and was excited to get to work. If she was nervous about the interview on national TV later today, she kept her feelings under control.
He was about to head over to the studio with her when Erin said, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
He whipped his head up to stare at his sister. Her words were slightly alarming, but her tone was soft. This wasn’t a You have so screwed up, buddy, and I’m going to tell you about it moment. So he told Opal to get settled in the studio and that he’d be with her in a few minutes.
He invited Erin into the kitchen, where he’d enjoyed breakfast with Crystal only two hours ago.
“I want to talk to you about Crystal’s birthday,” Erin said. “I’ve confirmed that she’s free on the actual day, which is two weeks from Wednesday.”
“I know when her birthday is,” Damien interrupted. “I’ve been singing ‘Happy Birthday’ on that day for the last fifteen years.”
Erin rolled her eyes, as though she wasn’t sure that Damien really was on top of things. “Okay, I’m just making sure. And you’re definitely going to be here?”
With exaggerated patience, he said, “I am definitely going to be here.”
“Good.” She nodded briskly. “I’ve invited Crystal to come to Jay’s house and told her that we’ll have a girls’ night in with Mila and Tessa. But the plan is that I’ll make up some excuse why we have to pop in here first—and that’s where the birthday party will be.”
He’d been mildly pleased to host a birthday party for Crystal when Erin had first suggested it, but now he felt really pumped at the idea. It would be the first party he’d ever had here, apart from gatherings of family and the few close friends he still had from growing up in Carmel. He loved the idea that the first woman who had slept over in his home had been Crystal, and that the first real party he’d give here would be for her birthday. It seemed right somehow. Fitting.