Page 19 of Passion’s Song

Showed how much his brother knew. Not only was Damien not blind to her, but he’d had a helluva time getting the image of her standing in front of the class instructing her students out of his mind. There was something in the joy on her face that called to him. He tried to ignore it, but it wasn’t easy.

“I only want lunch today,” Damien said. “Advice from the Love Doctor is not necessary.”

“In addition to being smart and talented, April is a knockout. I saw this concert she performed on PBS not too long ago—”

“Since when do you watch PBS?”

“Shut up.”

“Comeback of the year.” Damien snorted.

“All I’m saying,” his brother continued, “is that you’re stupid to just leave April out there for another guy to snatch up.”

Damien shoveled another forkful of lo mein into his mouth to give him an excuse not to speak. Because, honestly, he didn’t know how to respond to his brother’s statement.

It’s not as if he needed Kurt to tell him that April was beautiful, especially after seeing her yesterday. He had eyes. And when it came to spotting a beautiful woman, they worked extremely well.

And it wasn’t as if Damien hadn’t allowed that particular scenario to play in his mind in years past, either. Hell, how could he not? He’d known April since their sophomore year of high school. Back in those days his horny teenaged mind had imagined nearly every non-blood-related female he came in contact with in a compromising position. But he’d felt guilty thinking about April in those terms. She was his friend. She’d reached out to him out of the kindness of that big heart to tutor him. She didn’t deserve to be thrust into a starring role in his wet dreams.

So Damien had tamed those wild thoughts when it came to April. Once they graduated from high school it became a bit easier. They talked through phone and email throughout college, with her still helping him with his schoolwork, even though hundreds of miles had separated them. But once they were both done with school and on to their careers, the phone calls had become less frequent.

Damien had made sure he attended her performances whenever she was in Houston, and he’d even caught a few outside Texas, both in LA and in DC a few years back when she’d performed for the president. But those encounters had been far too infrequent over the years.

He was damn lucky April was still single and able to help him out with these social events this summer.

“Damien? Damien!”

“Huh? What?” Damien shot out of his chair and raced over to Kurt. “Is something wrong?”

“Other than the fact that I’ve been calling your name for a solid minute?” His brother shook his head. “I hope you don’t space out on your clients like that.”

Damien sucked in a breath to try to calm his heart’s rapid beating. Running a hand down his face, he blew out a relieved sigh.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I just have a lot on my mind these days.”

“Fending off all the women who want to take away your bachelor status?”

Damien slanted him a look. It would have silenced most people. It only made Kurt laugh out loud.

“Now that you’re done making fun of me, I’ll go back to the office,” Damien said. “I’ve got this thing tonight in the Warehouse District and I need to get some work done before it starts.”

He began cleaning up the food, but Kurt rolled up next to him and pulled his hand away.

“I’ve got this,” Kurt said.

“I’m just putting the leftovers away for you.”

“I can do that myself.”

Damien lifted both hands in surrender. He wasn’t up for this argument today. God knew they’d had it more times than he could count. His brother was nothing if not independent, and he had no problem chewing Damien out if he tried to step in where he wasn’t needed.

“Have at it,” Damien said. “I need to get back anyway.”

He headed for the door, Kurt following behind.

Once out on the porch, Damien turned back to his brother. “Remember, the guy from that mechanical-chair company is coming on Thursday to get you fitted and take measurements of the house.”

“I told you already that I’m not getting that new chair if it means renovating the house,” Kurt said.