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Nor can I see lad I am so happy to know that Damien didn’t breach my confidence, but I still feel exposed and raw

I know that Damien is behind me even before he speaks Perhaps I subconsciously heard his footsteps Or ne

More likely we are simply so attuned to each other that it is i out for the touch of his hand

"I hope thisat the railing, my back to him, and I feel the whisper of a smile touch my lips "Should I be?"

I hear the rustle of his clothes as he ht behindbetween us "I’m truly sorry," he says "I didn’t mean for Giselle to know And I certainly never expected her to tell Bruce"

I closeof Blaine and the secret Daood man, Damien Stark," I say

For a moment, he is perfectly still behind " He slides his hand gently overbreath "Evelyn told you?"

"Yes" I hear the need in my voice I am certain that he hears it, too

His hands close around my waist and he pulls me close, then presses his lips into my hair "I wish she hadn’t done that I didn’t want you to be upset with Blaine"

"I’ht have been if I’d learned first that it was him, but you deflected that" I turn in his arood man"

"I’m still sorry And even sorrier that Giselle came early She wasn’t invited, and I know it embarrassed you"

"I’ll survive," I say, and then, because I think Evelyn ht about Giselle’s motivations, I add, "Why didn’t you tell me that you and Giselle dated?"

He looks truly baffled by the question "You never asked"

"You kneondered," I say "That night Our first night"

He thinks for a moment, and then hishihtly on the ar before she and Bruce got married And if I recall correctly, at the ti you I didn’t think that outliningto set"

I have to smile The memory of that ride in Damien’s limo is beyond delicious

"After that," Daain And there’s no reason it should There is only one woman I’o weak

He tilts my chin up "Better?"

"Yes" My scowl islike a jealous harpy," I confess "But suddenly I’, the trip back fro out that you two actually used to date"