Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Damian
I stood on the porch of Geraldine’s little storefront, the late afternoon sun dipping low over the city street, casting long shadows across the pavement.
My truck was parked a block away, and my hands were shoved deep in my pockets, my hat pulled low as I stared at the sign above her door—Glover’s Closet in bold, neat letters.
The drive from Red Rock had taken hours, and I’d spent every mile working up what to say, my stomach knotted tight.
Cosmo and Christian’s teasing had pushed me out the door, their grins and jabs about chasing her still ringing in my ears, but now that I was here, the words felt stuck.
I took a breath, rubbed my jaw, and stepped inside, the bell jingling overhead as the door swung shut behind me.
The shop smelled like lavender and leather, racks of clothes lined the walls, and a soft hum of music played from somewhere in the back.
Geraldine was behind the counter, folding a stack of shirts, her hair loose and spilling over her shoulders, her jeans hugged her legs just right.
She didn’t look up at first, focused on her work, and I stood there a second, my boots scuffed the wood floor, before I cleared my throat.
“Hey,” I said and keeping my voice low, my hands stayed in my pockets.
She glanced up, her eyes widened for a beat, and then she set the shirt down slowly, her lips parted a little. “Damian?” she said and stepped around the counter, her voice soft but surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to see you,” I said and shifted my weight, my hat tipped back a bit so I could meet her eyes. “Got a minute?”
“Yeah,” she said and nodded, her hands brushing her jeans as she walked closer. “Sure. What’s up?”
I took a breath and stepped toward her, my hands slid out of my pockets and hung at my sides. “I messed up,” I said, and looked at her straight. “When you left, I didn’t say what I should’ve. I’m here to fix that.”
She frowned and crossed her arms, her head tilted a little. “Fix what?” she said and kept her voice even. “You told me to go. What’s changed?”
“Me,” I said, and rubbed my neck. my voice stayed steady. “I didn’t get it ‘til you were gone. How much I liked having you around. How much I like you.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she shifted her weight; her arms stayed crossed. “You like me?” she said and raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t say a word when I told you how I felt. Just goodbye and take care.”
“I know,” I said and nodded, my hands flexed at my sides. “I was pissed. Jealous. Cosmo and Christian kept going on about you, and I couldn’t stand it. I thought you were better off without me.”
She laughed short and shook her head, her arms dropped to her hips. “Jealous?” she said and stepped closer. “You kicked me out because you were jealous?”
“Yeah,” I said and met her eyes, my voice firm. “I didn’t want them touching you. Didn’t want anyone touching you but me. I was too dumb to say it then.”
Her lips pressed tight, and she looked away for a second, her hands rubbed her arms. “That’s a lot to drop now,” she said and turned back to me. “You show up here after weeks and expect me to just nod and smile?”
“No,” I said and shook my head quickly. “I don’t expect anything. I just needed you to know. I love you, Geraldine. Been kicking myself since you left for not telling you.”
She froze, her eyes widened again, and her hands stopped moving. “You love me?” she said, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. “Damian, you can’t just say that.”
“I can,” I said and stepped closer, my boots scuffed the floor again. “I mean it. I’ve been a mess without you. Work’s all I’ve got, and it’s not enough. I want you back.”
She stared at me, her breath came quick, and she shook her head slowly. “You’re serious,” she said and looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “You drove all this way to say that?”
“Yeah,” I said and nodded, my hands stayed loose now. “Took me too long to figure it out, but I’m here now. If you’ll have me.”
She laughed softly and rubbed her face with both hands, stepping back a little. “God, Damian,” she said, and dropped her hands to look at me. “You’re such an ass sometimes. Why didn’t you say this before?”
“Didn’t know how,” I said and shrugged, my voice stayed low. “I’m not good with words. But I’m saying it now.”
“Yeah,” she said and crossed her arms again, her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. “You’re saying it now. What am I supposed to do with that?”
“Whatever you want,” I said and took another step, close enough to smell her perfume, light and sweet. “Tell me to leave, and I’ll go. Tell me to stay, and I’m here.”
She looked at me, her eyes flicked over my face, and she sighed loudly. “You’re a pain,” she said and shook her head again. “I’ve been trying to forget you, you know.”
“Did it work?” I said and tilted my head, my grin started small.
“No,” she said and laughed short, her arms dropped to her sides. “Not even close.”
“Good,” I said and stepped closer still, my hand reached out and brushed her arm lightly. “I don’t want you to.”
She looked at my hand, then up at me, her eyes softened a bit. “You’re sure about this?” she said and kept her voice low. “You’re not just here ‘cause you’re lonely?”
“I’m sure,” I said and slid my hand to hers, my fingers laced with hers slowly. “I’m here ‘cause it’s you. Been thinking about you every day.”
She squeezed my hand a little and looked down at our fingers, Her breath came steady now. “Damn it, Damian,” she said and laughed soft again. “You’re making this hard.”
“That’s the idea,” I said and grinned wider, my thumb rubbing over her knuckles. “I’m not letting you go easy.”
She looked up at me, her smile broke through, small but real. “You’re a jerk,” she said and stepped into me, her free hand resting on my chest. “But I love you too.”
“Yeah?” I said and slid my arm around her waist, pulling her close, my grin stayed steady.
“Yeah,” she said and nodded, her hand pressed firmer against me. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“Won’t,” I said and leaned down, my lips brushed hers slightly at first, then harder as she kissed me back, her arms slid around my neck. The shop faded out, the hum of the music and the street noise gone, and it was just her, warm and close, her fingers tangled in my hair.
She pulled back a little, her breath hit my cheek, and she smirked up at me. “You’re staying tonight,” she said, and kept her arms around me. “Not driving back this late.”
“Fine by me,” I said and tightened my grip, my voice low. “Got nowhere else to be.”
“Good,” she said and kissed me quickly again, her smile stayed as she stepped back and tugged my hand. “Help me close up. You’re on duty now.”
“Bossy,” I said and laughed and followed her to the counter, my hand still in hers. “What’s first?”
“Lights,” she said, and pointed to the switch by the door. “Then lock up. I’ll finish these shirts.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said and grinned and flipped the switch, the shop dimmed as I turned the lock. She folded her stack, her hands moved quickly, and I walked back, leaning against the counter beside her.
“You’re good at this,” she said, and glanced at me, her smile turned playful. “Might keep you around.”
“Plan on it,” I said and bumped her hip with mine, my voice stayed easy. “You’re stuck with me now.”
“Lucky me,” she said and laughed and bumped me back, setting the last shirt down. “Let’s get out of here. I’m starving.”
“Lead the way,” I said, and grabbed her hand again, the weight of the drive lifted as we stepped out into the evening, the city buzzed softly around us.