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“After Aspen and Lyric graduated from college, they returned to Winter Falls. Or, at least, Lyric did. Aspen wasn’t ready to settle down. She wanted to go on an adventure. She went off to Dallas while Lyric stayed here. They were going to try a long-distance relationship, but I made sure they broke up.”
I pause. Big breath before the finale.
“Lyric’s brothers dragged him to the bar the night Aspen left. He got drunk. Totally annihilated. I took advantage of the situation. Aspen saw me kiss him and became convinced Lyric was a cheater. End of story.”
I stare down at my hands in my lap. I refuse to witness the disgust in Damon’s eyes. He pinches my chin and forces me to face him. I slam my eyes shut.
“Open your eyes, Love.”
“Nope. I’m fine here in the dark.”
“Please, Love.”
Ugh! I never could resist a man who pleads. I open my eyes, but when I meet his gaze, his eyes aren’t full of disgust. They’re full of curiosity.
“I know there’s more to the story.”
“More to the story? What do you mean?”
“Love, when it comes to you, there’s always more to the story. You’re complicated and full of layers and layers I need to peel back until I finally discover the real you.”
Wow. No one’s ever realized there’s more to me than meets the eye before. Does Damon see the real me? Does he want to?
Words tumble out before I can stop them.
“I saw the way Lyric looked at Aspen. The way he treated her with love and respect. And I wanted what she had. The men I dated. They…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “They didn’t treat me the same way. Sure, I was jealous. But it was more than jealousy. I wanted a man to handle me with care the way Lyric did Aspen.”
“I understand.” Damon brushes his lips against my forehead. “What happened tonight? Did Aspen say something to you?”
“She said I had everyone fooled about being a changed woman.”
He growls. “She’s wrong.”
“How do you know?”
Maybe I am the same woman. Maybe this whole becoming a better person is all a ruse. How does he know better?
“Because I see how you are with Skye.”
“She’s a little girl. I would never mistreat her.”
“Which is how I know Aspen’s wrong.”
“But…”
Damon doesn’t let me figure out what I was going to say. He palms my neck and draws me close. Close enough for our breath to mingle.
My heart batters against my chest. I should stop him. But I don’t want to. I remember how those lips feel against mine. I remember how he worshipped my mouth. And I want to feel it again. Especially tonight. After the reminder of how things will never change. No matter how much I want them to.
Damon groans and then his lips are on mine.
Chapter 23
Brody Bragg, you are hereby forbidden from buying the Gossip Gals binoculars. ~ Message from Peace on the Winter Falls Facebook page
Damon
Ipress my lips to Love’s. She makes the adorable sound in the back of her throat I’m obsessed with and I dive in. I stroke my tongue against hers and her taste of cherries and the forbidden hits me along with a bit of wine she must have drank tonight.
