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)
Damien had let her order, but he insisted on paying. He didn’t think he’d ever taken a woman out to dinner with a bill so low, or food smelling so good. There was Guacamole con Totopos to munch on, along with Carne en su Jugo, which Crystal explained was meat cooked in its own juices and mixed with bacon, beans, and green salsa; Tacos de Barbacoa; and a Torta Ahogada. And, of course, plantain tacos. To drink they had Agua Fresca flavored with hibiscus, and sat down with their feast at a free picnic bench.
While they ate, they chatted about the day, about Opal’s surprising launch and how quickly things might start to change for the young singer. He couldn’t get over how easy their conversation was and yet how sexy, how charged each exchange was between them. He wanted to reach over and kiss her, but didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. They hadn’t yet figured out how to be in public together. He held back, conscious of his own need to make sure Crystal always felt good. Even if it meant trying to hold back some seriously strong desire as thoughts of her little black dress slipping to the floor of the hallway returned again and again and again.
By the end of the meal, he could not eat another bite. “This was great,” he said. “I think you’re going to introduce me to a whole new world of things that I don’t know about yet.”
She laughed, but then the beautiful sound abruptly died away. Her face took on a serious expression. “Well, for as long as you’re here. But let’s be absolutely clear. I know that eventually you’ll go back on the road. This is just a fling.”
Damien was so shocked he was speechless. He could only stare at her. How could she think for one second that this was just a fling? It was a thousand times more than a fling. He wanted to argue with her, to tell her she must be crazy if she thought he wasn’t taking this seriously… but then he remembered how badly her dad packing up and leaving the family had affected her. How she expected men to just leave. He was willing to work hard to show her he was different, that this was different. But he also needed to make sure he didn’t scare her off.
So he gathered himself and simply said, “Well, this is the best fling I’ve ever had.”
She looked as though she hadn’t expected such an easy agreement. Maybe she wanted him to argue, to say something to contradict her, but he was determined to do this with actions, not words. So, he stood and decisively put the trash into the garbage can. “Okay,” he said. “Ready for jazz night?”
She jumped up from the bench, smiling again. “You know it.”
“I have one more trick up my sleeve before we go to the club.”
Crystal’s smile turned into a grin. “I hadn’t pegged you for such a planner, Mr. Davenport. Maybe you could join my company if this whole music thing doesn’t work out.”
Damien laughed and grabbed her hand, leading her back to the car.
“So,” he said, as she buckled up and they hit the road, “I’m taking you on a little detour.” Cypress trees lined the route, their silhouettes swaying slightly in the breeze coming off the Pacific. The air smelled faintly of salt and eucalyptus—a crisp, clean scent that clung to the open windows. They passed charming storefronts and quiet neighborhoods, where bougainvillea spilled over fences in bursts of pink and orange. Tourists lingered near Cannery Row, their cameras aimed at the rocky shoreline, but the drive veered inland, away from the crowds. He had spent some time researching local student hangouts and had picked a place where he thought Crystal might feel at home.
He pulled up outside a cute café, popular with students because there were plenty of plugins for laptops and some long tables suitable for working. It was also open late. “Dessert,” he said as he came around to her side to open the door.
She stepped out, looking bemused but game.
Inside, the café’s white stucco walls and string lights gave it a cozy, welcoming feel, and the aroma of baked goods and rich coffee drifted through the air. Damien found a table in the corner, and Crystal asked for an espresso while he ordered a green tea. There was an amazing array of baked goods, but they were so full they decided to share a chocolate brownie.
Damien smiled across the table. “So, this is where you can come and study when you go to college,” he told her. “With the cool kids.”
Crystal raised one eyebrow. “I was never a cool kid.”
“It’s never too late,” he assured her.
They sipped their hot drinks and devoured the brownie, which was gooey and rich and the perfect indulgent end to their meal. Damien enjoyed breaking his clean-eating rules with Crystal. There was something so special about sharing food with her. Maybe it was just that she made everything more fun.