Chapter Four #2
Annie nodded slowly. Amanda began to explain the process but added that if Annie wanted her to stop at any time, she only needed to say so.
Damian stepped out into the hall to give them privacy, though he also needed to get his anger under control.
He didn’t understand why Annie would agree to meet with Lawrence again or why the Night Service would even accept his requests after what had happened to Callie.
After a while, Amanda left the room. She had her case with her and was ready to leave, but she pulled Damian into the kitchen so they wouldn’t be overheard.
“Is Annie a prostitute, too?” Amanda asked forcefully.
“Yes,” Damian admitted, and Amanda let out a loud, disapproving sigh.
“What the hell has Ryan gotten into?” Amanda said angrily.
“Ryan has nothing to do with this,” Damian objected. “You didn’t need to come by. I was only asking for advice.”
“Of course I needed to come by,” Amanda said harshly. “You just told me a girl was choked to an inch of her life during sex. Damian, that’s rape and attempted murder! I don’t care if he was paying; I doubt Annie agreed to be almost killed...”
Suddenly, Amanda stopped talking and stared at Damian in horror. He could see she suspected something, and she wasn’t wrong. Damian tried not to react, but she wouldn’t let him break her stare.
“If I run a DNA test on the samples I just collected,” Amanda said slowly. “Am I going to match to the samples from Callie?”
Damian kept his face expressionless, but his silence gave Amanda her answer.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she said, trying hard to keep her voice under control so they wouldn’t be overheard.
“You have doctor-client confidentiality,” Damian reminded her.
“What is wrong with you people?” Amanda replied. “Have you all lost your minds?”
“Sometimes we people are just trying to survive,” Damian snapped back.
She was getting him angry, and as much as he appreciated her helping Annie, he could do without the judgments.
“You think we just woke up one day and decided being a sex worker was a great idea? Everyone has a reason, and some of them may shock you.”
“Then what’s yours?” she insisted, just as angry. “What could possibly explain why you needed money so badly that you decided to sell yourself?”
“I was found liable in a wrongful death lawsuit,” Damian shot back. “I lost my job as a paramedic because of it. I owe two million dollars, and all my friends and family have disowned me. Since I never went to medical school or have a trust fund, I need to find another way to pay off the debt.”
“Oh,” was all she could say.
She stepped back and stared at him again, but her expression softened, and she looked like she wanted to apologize.
Everything was coming together in her mind.
The questions Ryan was asking about hospital and test procedures, and the favor he was doing for Damian.
She realized Ryan was working on Damian’s appeal.
She also knew Ryan would never have taken the case if he believed Damian was truly to blame for someone’s death.
“I’m sorry I texted you,” Damian said, breaking the silence. “Thank you for coming, but I promise I won’t bother you again.”
“Damian, I’m sorry,” she said quickly.
It was clear he expected her to follow him to the door, so she grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned, waiting for her to say more. But she just stared at him again, silent. Her eyes showed sincere remorse, but also something else. She slowly let go of his arm, yet she continued to hold his gaze.
“I shouldn’t judge,” she said. “I’m really sorry. It’s just been a lot over the past few months. It feels like everything has been turned upside down since Callie entered Ryan’s life.”
“That’s not Callie’s fault,” Damian replied, though his tone was softening. He could see she was truly sorry.
“I know,” she said. “I’m just trying to support Ryan’s mom as much as I can, and everything is so complicated.”
“It’s definitely been complicated,” Damian confirmed. “But they do love each other.”
“I know they do,” Amanda replied, with a small smile. “I saw it in Ryan. He’s a lucky one, I guess, to have found that kind of love twice in his lifetime.”
“And you haven’t found Mr. Dr. Scott?” Damian asked, grinning at her. He liked it when she was humble.
“Not even close,” she blushed. “What about you?”
“I thought I had,” Damian confessed. “Then she died, and I was blamed.”
“Oh god!” Amanda gasped, mortified. “Is there any other way I could offend you tonight? I’m so sorry!”
“It’s OK,” he said, amused by her embarrassment. “Ryan’s trying to clear my name, and I’m finally putting it all behind me.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so humbled in one night,” she said with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry; you must think I’m such a bitch.”
“No,” Damian protested. “I don’t think that.”
This time, she took his hands in hers and drew him closer.
As she looked up, Damian recognized her intentions just before they unfolded.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Initially, he was stunned; then, for half a moment, he was conflicted, but his body reacted instinctively before his mind decided.
He returned the kiss, guiding her gently against the wall as she pressed herself to him.
She rested her hand softly on his chest, feeling warm and delicate; the touch's subtlety stirred something inside him.
He knew he should stop the kiss before it went too far, but she had felt him hardening against her, and she placed her hand on his waist and drew him nearer.
Then, she gently pushed him away with a grin.
“Don’t hesitate to call me,” she said as she left.
Damian turned around and found Annie glaring at him. She was holding an ice pack, which she threw at him. He ducked just in time, and the pack hit the wall just above his head.
“What?” Damian yelled back at her as she started to leave. “She kissed me!”
Annie turned long enough to flip him off and shoot him another disapproving look, then headed back to her room.
Ryan reread Edward’s email. It was an invitation to another party, this time in the city at Edward’s penthouse.
He wanted to go. He was curious whether it would be the same as in Queen’s Isle, but he realized the penthouse was likely much smaller.
The party was in a couple of days, and he hadn’t told Callie.
He wasn’t sure how she would feel about it.
He recognized he had behaved badly before, but he had been jealous and insecure, something he felt he had overcome, at least when it came to Edward.
Edward had added a specific note to Ryan’s invitation.
He said he was inviting Ryan and Callie into a lifestyle few approve of, but he hoped they would be open-minded so they could enjoy themselves.
Ryan was intrigued. He wanted to know more about the lifestyle Edward was referring to.
Ryan also received a message from Amanda.
It was curious and out of the blue. She asked how Damian was and was also fishing for Ryan’s opinion of Damian’s character.
Damian was attractive and charming. It was possible Amanda was interested in him.
Ryan wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but for some reason he wasn’t happy about it.
He tried to tell himself he was just being protective of his cousin and that no one would be good enough to date her.
But he knew that wasn’t true. He was jealous.
Amanda’s sudden interest in Damian triggered Ryan.
It had been weeks since that night, and they had been able to continue their friendship without any further physical contact with Damian, but now Ryan was jealous.
He knew he was being selfish. If Ryan wasn’t brave enough to admit to Damian how he truly felt, then why should he stand in the way of Damian being with anyone else?
The truth was Ryan hadn’t stopped thinking about that night.
It was still consuming him, but he was being careful.
He wasn’t engaging in any increasingly daring behavior with Callie, and he was friendly and professional with Damian.
But it was going against all his natural instincts.
Every time they were at dinner together in the apartment, he just wanted to tell Callie and Damian they should all head to the bedroom.
He knew neither of them would object. They both still looked at each other longingly.
He recognized it because it was the same way they looked at him, though Damian tried to hide it.
Ryan hoped that Edward’s party would be something new and erotic enough to get his mind off Damian.
Callie knocked on the door and let herself in. It was almost six o'clock. He realized he was half hard, thinking about Damian and Edward’s party, and he stayed seated as she approached his desk.
“Do you need to stay late?” Callie asked.
“No,” Ryan replied. “But I do have a question for you.”
“OK?” Callie said, thankfully taking a seat across from him.
“Edward has another party this Friday,” Ryan began. “He’s invited us again. This time, it’s at his penthouse.”
“And you want to go?” Callie asked. “I’m guessing you do, otherwise you wouldn’t bother telling me about it.”
“I promise I’ll behave this time,” Ryan replied, grinning at her, trying to charm her.
“What fun would that be?” Callie laughed. “Just let me know if we are putting on a show to make someone jealous. I want to make sure I bring my A-game.”
“Oh god,” Ryan smirked. “In that case, assume we need to make the whole party jealous.”