Sky took a deep breath and tried to relax. She didn’t understand why, but he set her blood pressure off. She wanted to blame it on his reputation and having his mother request him be added as a client, but she didn’t believe he would do that. But part of her didn’t want him to find his mate, and she wasn’t sure if it was because he was truly undeserving or if she wanted him for herself.
“I never asked for Gerri Wilder to find me anything. My mother did and informed me of it after the fact. Gerri, herself, called me and told me to go along with it, and I might find a surprise. So far, she wasn’t wrong.”
Damien’s eyes glowed, and Sky shifted in the chair, clenching her legs together. Lust shot straight to her pussy, and she was not ready to give into whatever he was peddling. As it was, if he wanted her to stop seeing him as evil, he needed to prove himself to her.
“Gerri Wilder called you and told you to go along with the interview?” Sky was confused, Gerri hadn’t mentioned that to her. Why would she do that? She bit her lip and focused on her phone for a moment, trying to reason through the problem in her mind.
Damien’s groan pulled her attention back to him, and the heat in his gaze had her gasping. “Yes, she did.”
Sky tabled that until later when she could question Gerri herself. “Okay, I have a question for you… the staff of the hotel are rather protective of you. Why would that be if you really kicked out companies and brought yours in, if you got rid of the Mayor and Sheriff and brought in your own people. Have you got them all brainwashed, or did you just pay them off?”
Damien stood and walked around the table and leaned over her. “Be ready in one hour, and I will show you the town, and you can talk to the residents and see for yourself.”
“Look, Mr.-”
“Damien. Just Damien.”
“Damien,” she grumbled. “No offense, but so far, what I’ve seen of the people in this town has been unimpressive. I think I can do without seeing more.”
“Come out with me, and I’ll answer all your questions. One hour, Sky.”
Sky could feel her breathing coming faster at his nearness, but she didn’t respond, just stared into his stunning eyes. He smiled and walked out. The shutting of the door snapped her out of fog, and she realized he was expecting her to be ready.
“Ah, shit! Do I contact Gerri, or wait until I have more information?” She looked down at her clothes. “This is too business casual.” She jumped in the shower again and quickly got out to find more casual clothes. She wasn’t sure why she cared what she wore, but something pushed her to be comfortable. Maybe the townspeople would see her as an ally and talk. She quickly changed and threw on some makeup. Part of her wanted to dress to impress and part of her wanted the camouflage makeup provided a woman.
Forty five minutes later, she walked across the lobby, hoping she wasn’t going to have to do the walk of shame again. The attendant would surely have something to say this time if she was stood up again. Sky walked out the doors and came to an abrupt stop.
Waiting outside in front of a very nice sedan was Damien Grimes. “I must admit I’m shocked you came. I thought this might be another opportunity to make me stand around and wait on someone who was never planning to show up.” Sky cocked an eyebrow and walked over to him.
“I apologized for this morning once, it won’t happen again, and I asked you to come with me around town. I would never leave a beautiful woman waiting around.”
Figured. He really was a player. Sky shook her head as he opened the passenger door for her. She stopped just before getting in and looked at him. “So I’ve heard, but I’m not sure that’s something to brag about.”
She sat on the seat and swung her legs inside, Damien bent down until his head was close to hers.
“Don’t believe everything you hear about me, Sky. You might be surprised.” He stood and shut the door. Sky gaped at him through the window, watching him walk around the car to his door. She hadn’t expected him to call her out on her statement.
When he was seated, and the car started, she turned to him. “All right, so where are we going, and why are we doing anything other than the interview?”
Damien smirked. “You’ll get your interview but on my terms. Now, have you eaten breakfast?”
Sky watched him pull out of the hotel parking lot, debating if she wanted to go anywhere with him. Was he for real? This was probably the hottest guy she’d seen in years. She was kidding herself. He might be an asshole, but he was a fine one, and she was in lust with him already. Did she have to like him to sleep with him? God, she really needed to control her hormones. She’d heard lack of sex, the good kind, could do that, but damn.
“Uh no, I didn’t eat yet. I normally eat a late breakfast/early lunch instead of two separate meals.”
Damien smiled. “Good, I know the perfect place to take you. You can also talk to the locals and get a feel for the town.”
“Why do I need to get a feel for the town. This town isn’t very friendly. Besides, I’m only interested in conducting this interview so we can find you the mate you are looking for.” Sky’s stomach twisted, and she was sure it was because the thought of any woman being stuck with a man like him was horrible. Not because she wanted to be with him. No way in hell was that on her mind.
Damien pulled up in front of a little building, the sign only read Diner. Nothing else. “I assume you’re not trying to poison me right now by bringing me to the worst place possible just to send me away?”
“Why would I do that?” Damien actually had a convincing look of confusion on his face. “I’m not ready to let you go, Sky. We still have so much to discuss.”
Sky really wanted those words to come across as ominous but no, they were sensual, and she could feel the goose bumps across her arms. She could imagine what her body would do just to feel his breath on her skin.
She watched as he walked around the car and stood by her door, his cock was at eye level through the window, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. She could hear him talking to someone outside the car, but her eyes were glued to his body. The door opened, and she finally dragged her eyes away. Bad Sky. Bad. Bad. Damien held his hand out, and she gingerly put her hand in his.
“I promise you’ll like this place. They make the best food I’ve ever eaten.” Damien didn’t let go of her hand, but tugged her slightly closer to his body so he could push the door shut.
“Give it a chance, Sky. You might find things are better here than you expected.”
She sighed, he was right. She had to give the town a chance. Whoever Gerri sent to be set up with Damien would need to know what type of reception she was going to get when she arrived. Hell, if she even stayed in town for more than five minutes, she needed to be prepared.
“I guess.”
He smiled and placed his hand on her lower back, ushering her to the front door. Just as they got there, it opened, and three beautiful women walked out. They stepped back, and Damien grabbed the door with a smile. The first woman that came though ran her fingers across his chest and smiled up at him. Damien leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, Jackie, love. How are you today?”
“Doing good so far. See you later.” She sashayed by Sky and smiled at her. Sky smiled but it was a reaction. She didn’t mean it and was shocked by the woman’s boldness.