uld not sto

one made me look like I was trying too hard, the white one made me look like a b

," Damien said

ame. He was in a navy suit that made his grey eyes look almost bl

vous," I

nts to see me happy. You just have to pretend

odd

he reached out and tucked a loose strand of h

autiful," he

d a stupid

ou," I w

yet. Wait unti

orbell

's him. Remember the story. Bookst

re, love at firs

warm and it swallowed mine completely. I

Mrs. S

. Sterling sent shi

ed out

living room, leaning on a cane. But his eyes were sharp, just like Dami

inally tamed my grandson,"

d tightened

is is Lila. Lila

could manage. "It's so nice

e up and down, but not in the cold way Damien did. His look w

d him I wa

met you in a bookstore. He said you were r

life. I worked at a bookstore but

. "Rilke. Letters to a Yo

s rise slightly. He wa

o wonder he's obsessed. Damien never care

in his voice. A real smile. I had never seen hi

n as a little boy. Damien rolled his eyes but he listened, his t

stracting. It mad

d as dessert was served. "What

fr

known him for 24 hours. He was c

t me even asking. Elena had told me this morning tha

watching me, his eyes war

a deep

s like he's all business, all cold. But he notices everything. He notices when

le went

th slightly open. His thumb

ed. "Exactly like his

odbye. "Take care of him, Lila. H

sed, Damien and I

e finally said, h

ay my mom's hospi

just walked to the wi

mie

the contract.

t in the

d. His eyes wer

, Lila. Don't make

uldn't lo

ing at me like th

e wh

ry at me for tel

were chest to chest. He was so close I

e low and rough. "I'm trying very

s

h

eath

my face, then stopped himself

is room, leaving me standing alone in my blue dr