Her Big Bad Mistake (4 page)

He wanted to ask her where she was going to be living, but first he wanted to see if they could make this work. “Let’s have dinner. The guys said they were sorry they wouldn’t make it on time. They’ll be here in about twenty, but only to come in and talk. The rest of the night they are doing promo things but they have tomorrow free. So tonight I get to have you all to myself once they leave.”

“Okay. I’m starving. Do you need to see the menu?”

“No. I’ve eaten here before.”

She caught the eye of their waitress and waved her over. “Hi. We’re ready to order. The other two people in our party will only be joining us for dessert.” The waitress nodded and pulled out a pad and pencil. Becky ordered then he did, and when the waitress left Becky turned to him. “I’d like to know if this life doesn’t make you happy. Why don’t you stop, change professions?”

Damon was shocked that she’d ask him that. “Why do you think I’m not happy?”

“All you’ve done since I have met you is brood. At first I just thought you were angry at something, but the more time I spent the more I noticed it’s not so much that you’re angry, it’s that you brood. You don’t seem happy with your lot in life.”

“Why are you still with me if you think I’m depressing?” He was shocked Becky thought this of him and wondered why she’d agree to be with him.

“I never said depressing. And I don’t know what it is about you, Damon, but I’m drawn to you. You may be brooding but it works for you—well, sometimes.” She reached across and brushed his hair over to one side. “What I’m talking about is that sad look you get in your eyes when you think no one is looking, or how I noticed when men and woman throw themselves at the famous Damon Chet, the big ice hockey star, you look sad.”

Ha!
Here he thought he hid everything so well, yet a woman he’d known less than a month
knew
him. “I love hockey. It’s everything that goes with it to get me to where I am that I don’t like. I’ve had enough of promoting and lying. I’m sick of being lied to. Do you know the one thing I love the most about you?”

Becky bit her bottom lip and shook her head. The action had his gaze focusing on her mouth. He reached up and lightly traced her lips. Her teeth stopped and her tongue came out to lick her lips. He grinned when her breath hitched and her tongue touched his finger.

He leaned in closer. “I love that you don’t care who I am. I bet you still haven’t looked me up. I love the feeling I get from just hearing about you. Do you know you never have anything negative to say about anyone? You’re always positive. Always seeing the bright side of everything. You’re sweet, and you put trust in people, believing they are good. All those things left me a long time ago.”

“Oh, Damon, that’s not true. You haven’t lost those things. I choose to believe in the good in people because if I didn’t I’d be scared all the time. Some people just need you to believe in them. I know there is always something good in a bad situation—it may not show itself straight away but eventually it does. Sometimes it is as simple as learning from a mistake.”

“See, positive.” He winked at her. “Do you know you’re the first woman in a long time who hasn’t thrown herself at me?”

Becky snorted, and shit if he didn’t think that was cute. “I think you forget New Orleans.”

“I came on to you, remember? You were dancing and I took you away.”

Becky’s musical laughter had him sitting back in his seat feeling a lot more confident. He hadn’t known he’d been worried about how this would go until he relaxed.

They talked while they waited for their dinner—about the weather, the flight to Vegas, and the differences in the hotels they’d chosen and who’d chosen the better one. Damon’s hand rubbed her thigh and his other brushed any bare skin accessible to him. By the time they were halfway through their meals Jacob and Caleb came and sat down at the table and she groaned because she knew she’d missed her chance of dragging Damon up to her room.

“Sorry. We got held up longer than we thought, but we got all the promo done so we could have fun together tonight.” Jacob frowned. “I’m sorry, but we have to work tomorrow. I think that’s why they let us rush the promo we had to do tonight. Did we miss anything? Did you have to wait long? Has Damon been on his best behavior? What have you been talking about?” Jacob shot question after question at Becky and Damon glared at his friend. He was sick of no one thinking he could act appropriately. He shouldn’t be too surprised, though. Jacob and Caleb did take him on this trip to keep him out of trouble.

Becky held her hand up to stop Jacob from continuing. “Everything is fine. Damon has been the perfect gentleman.” She smiled at him and his chest tightened as that one look alone calmed him and eased his upset.

“Ha, now we know you’re lying, Damon a perfect gentlemen.” Caleb winked at her and she giggled.

He looked at the table and right at that moment he felt happy. Under the table he reached for Becky’s hand and held it tight. So much for their night alone.

Last night had been great. She told Caleb and Jacob that she didn’t mind that they worked today, as she was looking forward to doing some exploring and activities on her own. Jacob had bugged her and didn’t seem convinced at first, but by the end of this afternoon she was sure he was. Damon hadn’t been around today as she went exploring—he’d texted her, though, telling her he was getting everything ready for their date. He was taking her out tonight to dinner and a surprise. Becky was excited.

She’d come back to the hotel in the late
arvo
and had a nap Becky didn’t know how long she’d be up tonight and she didn’t want to be too tired. She got out of a relaxing bath and sat by her suitcase, unsure of what to wear. Reaching for her phone, she messaged Damon.
What type of clothes should I wear? Fancy or casual?

Drying herself, she found her sexy underwear and smiled when her phone beeped.
Comfy casual
. Becky was curious now. What did Damon have in store?

He picked her up at her room half an hour later. She now sat at a table at the Cheesecake Factory. “I haven’t eaten here before.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing. The Cheesecake Factory is one of my favorite places to eat. Best burgers.”

Becky really liked this side of Damon, the carefree happy one who took her to his favorite restaurant. “A cheesecake place has the best burgers? This is something I have to check out.” She ordered a chicken burger and laughed at all the things Damon ordered. “There is no way you can eat that much.”

“I’m sure going to try. I’m sick of eating those small meals at the big fancy restaurants.”

“How can you say they are small? Since I’ve arrived in America I swear I’ve gained a couple of pounds. The amount of food they put on the plates is huge.” Becky felt her cheeks heat as Damon blatantly stared at her.

“I think you look amazing. You’re only tiny. The meals look big to you.”

Rolling her eyes, she huffed. “Ha. You’re good for me. But I’ve seen the stick figures you’ve been going for before me.”

Damon reached across and held her hands. “None of those women have anything on you, angel. Do you know I haven’t dated a woman and not had sex with her on the first date in over ten years? I haven’t spent as much time with a woman as I have with you and not slept with her.”

Oh great
, Becky thought as she tugged her hands out of his hold. He was playing with her. Damon wasn’t really interested in her.

“No. I want you so badly. My God, I could take you back and fuck your brains out, but I want you to know you’re special. I can talk to you. I don’t have to take you to an expensive restaurant. I get to be myself with you.”

Becky relaxed again. “I’m glad you feel that way with me. I want you to be happy. I want to be with you, not the man you think I want you to be.”

Damon smiled and his eyes filled with happiness. Becky had never seen anything so sexy. He looked younger, and she knew then that she had already fallen for the man. Damon deserved to be loved.

****

Becky was amazing. Several fans came up and asked for autographs—one woman had even pushed her breasts up and asked him to sign them. Becky had taken it all in stride, even happily taking the photos. They now sat arguing over him wanting to pay for their dinner. Becky was determined to add something to the meal. The old couple sitting next to them was paying when the older woman started to sob. The man was digging into his pockets and gathering change and counting on the table, and the lady was checking her bag. “Sir, Madam, do you have a credit card or a debit card I could try?” the waitress asked.

The lady looked frantically at her husband. Becky touched Damon’s arm. “You can pay for my meal.” She got up and drew the money she’d been trying to give him and gave it the waitress. “That’s for their meal. That should cover it.”

The lady hugged Becky and thanked her. Becky brushed it off as nothing and told them to have a great night. Becky held Damon’s hand and they left.

That wasn’t the first time she’d done something like that. Becky was always helping other people. He remembered the other day when they grabbed some food in the supermarket. He, Jacob, and Caleb were waiting in line when Becky joined them with her own things. A woman with three kids was buying things at the front of the line. Her kids were clinging off her and she looked exhausted. When the total came the woman tried all her cards and they were all declined. All the items she was getting looked like essentials. The lady started to put items back, but Becky stopped her, smiling, and dropped her own basket next to his and paid for the woman’s groceries. The woman started crying and thanked Becky over and over. Becky just smiled, tickled one of the children, and said, “I hope I helped.”

He loved that she was willing to help people, and that she didn’t expect praise for it. She was perfect. Damon knew he was lucky. He wasn’t going to let her get away. She would be his.

Damon was taking Becky to an ice skating rink. He wanted to show her some of the things he loved. He pulled into the parking lot. Tonight was a disco theme.

“Ice skating? I’ve never been. This should be fun.” Becky’s enthusiastic voice filled him with happiness. He’d tried to take other women skating but none had been interested. He liked that Becky was willing to try anything. She didn’t complain he hadn’t taken her to a show or a movie.

They walked into the ice skating arena, he got the skates, and they both put them on. “Have you done any Rollerblades or skating?”

Becky stood and they walked to the ice. “I did Rollerblades.” She looked behind him and her eyes widened. “I’ll give this a go, but to tell the truth I’m a little scared of falling on my butt and someone skating over my fingers, slicing them off.”

“Oh, now you see a negative to something.”

She smirked up at him. “I see negatives. I just don’t voice them. This place involves sharp skates and hard ice for me to fall on my arse.”

Damon stepped onto the ice, chuckling. “You’ll learn quickly not to fall. I promise I won’t let anyone skate over your fingers.” He winked at her. “I’ll try my best not to let you fall on your cute butt. I can’t guarantee you won’t, though.”

Very slowly she inched on the ice. He grinned at her and tried to get her away from holding onto the side.

“If you help me I’ll leave the side. No laughing, though.”

He chuckled as Becky’s eyes narrowed and her lips pursed in her stern expression. “I’ll help you, but I can’t promise not to laugh.” He held her hands as she carefully moved away. “Now it’s like Rollerblading, but move your feet out. It’s a glide.” He skated backwards, careful to avoid the other skaters.

“How long have you been skating?” Becky asked as she started to get the hang of it.

“My parents were figure skaters. They wanted me to get into that. I started at about four, five. When I was in middle school I realized figure skating wasn’t for me, but ice hockey was.”

“Wow. What do your parents think about you being a big hockey player?”

He let go of one of Becky’s hands. “They’re not fans of hockey. My older brother was the one who helped convince them to let me play hockey. He is their golden boy. He’s been to the Olympics for figure staking. Since I went pro they haven’t really spoken to me.” They’d called for money. It seemed his big brother got into some trouble and all his money was used up. Damon sighed and waited for the response of how wonderful his brother was and how proud his parents must be of him.

“That’s their loss. You can’t always please other people. It’s always better to do a job you love then one you don’t. I’m proud of you. It’s hard to go against people you love.”

Right then he knew he wanted Becky. She was his and he wasn’t going to let her go. He wanted to make her his wife. Damon hadn’t found a woman like her and he wasn’t giving her up for anything in the world. He was falling hard for Becky. “What about your family?” He knew about her sister and parents. He listened to everything she said to Caleb and Jacob, even if it didn’t look like he was.

Becky let go of his hand and he moved to her side. “I have a younger sister and my parents are divorced. My dad remarried and I don’t have much to do with him. I love my mum, but we fight like cats and dogs when we live together. I moved out when I was eighteen and lived in a house with a bunch of people. My little sister I adore. She is twenty-one and one of my closest friends.” She glanced over at him and fell on her arse, laughing at herself. “Ouch. That hurt. I know why you said I’ll learn quickly.”

He leaned down and pulled her up. Becky held him to her and kissed him. In that moment Damon knew he wasn’t falling for Becky, he’d fallen. He loved her.

****

Tonight Becky was going to get laid. She was going to let her hair down and go wild. It was her last night in Vegas and she was going to do everything. Damon had taken her out almost every night. Last night they’d all gone to a burlesque show, and Becky thought it was amazing. She didn’t even mind she went with three men.

Becky was annoyed with Damon. Not only hadn’t he had sex with her, he hadn’t touched her in front of his friends and Becky worried he wasn’t really serious. Was he trying to hide her? Didn’t he think she was good enough to be his girlfriend? Becky was confused. She wasn’t usually one to care about what people thought of her, but she cared what Damon thought and how he felt. She loved him.