Page 31 of Passion’s Song

A slow, sensual smile drew across April’s lips.

“I’ll bet there is,” she said. “Maybe one day I’ll let you.”

* * *

April stared at the cell phone sitting on her coffee table as if the meaning of life would magically appear in a text message. Or as if it would bite her fingers off if she dared touch it.

She threw her hands up in the air. “This is ridiculous. Just call him.”

She picked up the phone then promptly set it right back on the distressed ash oak table. She could not just call him. She needed to think this through, to consider the potential fallout to inviting Damien to her baby niece’s christening party.

On the one hand, it made sense to invite him. Damien had spent his share of Sunday afternoons studying at the Knight kitchen table, so he was technically a friend of the family. Even though he was several years younger than her three brothers, Jason, Nicholas and Savion, Damien would often join them for a pickup game of basketball between study sessions. April doubted anyone would consider it strange that she would invite him to a family gathering.

But what if they did?

Her brothers all knew about her crush on Damien, thanks to Savion sticking his nose where it didn’t belong and reading her journal just before she left for college. And because her brothers were the worst when it came to teasing their baby sister, they continued to joke about April’s crush for years after.

“Oh, stop it,” April said out loud to the empty room.

That was a long time ago. No one would think there was anything going on between her and Damien just because she brought him along for barbecue.

Before she could chicken out yet again, April picked up the phone and called him.

Damien answered on the first ring. “Hey, what’s up?” His rich voice never failed to cause her skin to pebble.

“Hi,” April said. Why did she have to sound so breathless? “I was, uh, just calling to see if you were free this afternoon.”

There was a slight pause. “Did we have something planned?” he asked.

“No, no. I just... Well, Jason and my sister-in-law, Shelby, are hosting a cookout today. Their baby girl is being christened this morning. I wondered if maybe you wanted to come along. If, you know, you’re not busy.”

The brief hesitation on the other end of the line seemed to go on for ages, even though it was only a few seconds.

“Give me just a minute,” Damien finally said. “I’m skimming through what I have left to review on this contract. I should be able to get it done within the next hour or so. Should I meet you at your house?”

April was happy there wasn’t anyone around to see the ridiculously huge smile that spread across her face. As a grown woman, she should not grin like a schoolgirl just because the man had agreed to join her for barbecue.

“Sounds great,” she said. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

By her third wardrobe change April decided that she’d jumped right over ridiculous and was knee-deep in preposterous territory, but it didn’t stop her from trying on yet another outfit. If she were going to Jason’s alone she would have thrown on an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt and would have been done with it.

But she wasn’t going alone. Damien would be with her.

“This is the one,” she said, looking herself over in the mirror. She’d finally settled on a flowing skirt and silk tank top with lace trimming around the bust area. She tied her favorite scarf around her waist to act as a belt, and brushed her hair, leaving it flowing around her shoulders.

She decided that subtlety was the best option when it came to makeup. If she showed up at her sister-in-law’s with a fully made-up face, Shelby would definitely take notice. She hounded April on a regular basis about her tendency to downplay her looks.

A car door slammed closed outside, and moments later came the rap of knuckles on her front door. April’s heartbeat ramped up to twice its usual speed.

“Stop being so thirsty for his attention,” April chastised herself in the mirror.

She gave her hair a final fluff and then rushed over to answer the door. She nearly swallowed her tongue at the sight that greeted her.

Even in plain army-green deck shorts and a yellow polo shirt, Damien was simply divine. His muscular biceps tested the limits of his sleeves, and April just knew the designer sunglasses tucked in the front of his shirt would look sexy as hell covering his eyes.

“Hi,” she greeted, unable to stop the smile that stretched across her lips. She must look like an idiot, but God knew she couldn’t help it. Just the knowledge that he was willing to join her at a gathering that didn’t include a group of wealthy investors made her so ridiculously happy that April figured she’d smile for the rest of the day.

“Ready?” Damien asked.