Page 38 of Crossing the Line

This time, when I walked away, he didn’t block my path. I took that as a sign that he got the message and would leave me alone.

I really should have known better.

Chapter Fifteen: Damien

Itold myself not to do it, that following Kelsie to the resort bar was a bad idea. Creepy, even.

But what else could I do? I wasn’t going to go back to my room while she sipped a cocktail and smiled at some stranger. I’d drive myself crazy wondering if her pretty grey eyes softened for him the way they did for me, if she’d lean in close so they could talk intimately in a noisy bar. If she’d kiss him with the same passion that I experienced just this afternoon.

I had to go to the bar. Kelsie didn’t know it yet, but she was mine. It might have taken me too long to realize it, but once the thought crossed my mind, it sank deep. Permanent and possessive and maddening.

If she thought she was moving on with some asshole trying to steal her from me, she was completely wrong.

I wasted time trying to talk myself out of crashing her date—that word turned my stomach—so by the time I showed up at the bar, she was already sitting at a table with the guy. I glanced at him just long enough to get the impression of dark hair and casual clothing, but as I weaved my way through the crowded bar area, my eyes were locked on Kelsie, desperation rising as I tried to read her body language.

She looked relaxed in her chair, legs crossed and a fruity drink in her hand. Her attention was trained on the man sitting across from her at the small table, and there was a smile curving her lips.

That killed me. I wanted her attention. Her smiles. Everything else that I’d had over the last two years and took for granted like an idiot.

The man leaned forward and said something, placing a hand on her arm. Anger rose up sharp and hot inside me, but there was a small comfort in Kelsie’s muted reaction. She didn’t pull away from him, but she didn’t move closer or seem to invite further contact either.

It wasn’t much to ease my burning jealousy, but I’d take anything I could get.

When I reached their table, Kelsie’s eyes shifted to me, and for a split second, I saw it. The warm happiness that used to be there every time she looked at me, long before I realized how significant it was.

It was quickly replaced by surprise and anger, but I could handle that because I saw the truth of her feelings for me first. She still cared about me, no matter how much she tried to shut down her emotions. I knew she was doing that because of my words and actions, and I would have kicked my own ass if I could for having hurt her the way I did.

But that was over now. I just had to find a way to get her back, and my first move was to end this fucking date.

I turned to the man, plastering a smile on my face that felt more like a grimace.

“Hi, there. My name’s Damien.”

I held out my hand, ignoring the way that Kelsie’s eyes burned into the side of my face. Pissing her off was an unfortunate necessity.

“Henry,” the man said, grasping my hand.

Of course, he has a stupid English accent that every woman in the world would find attractive.

I squeezed his hand harder than necessary, but he didn’t flinch. I felt a reluctant flicker of respect for him.

Still didn’t like the guy on principle, though.

I pulled out a chair at their table, plopping down even as Kelsie opened her mouth to protest.

“What are you doing?” she hissed at me with narrowed eyes.

I grinned at her. “Just joining you and your friend.”

“Henry is my date.” Her tone was clipped, and she pointedly reached across the table to take Henry’s hand.

For his part, he looked back and forth between the two of us with a furrowed brow and dawning realization.

“And you two are…”

He trailed off, leaving us to fill in the blank.

“Dating,” I said.