abcnovels
Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Chapter 99
As far as life went, I wanted to think that I was actually doing okay. Maui had been exactly what I needed I needed the break and the time to breathe. I had come back with a much clearer head and I knew that I needed to start taking care of myself first. For so long I had placed everyone ahead of me. But now, I wanted to put myself first
Ashton was still a nightmare and I hated that I was bringing this nonsense on my sister. I remember receiving the call that Ashton had basically broken into the house and attacked Adie. I had raced home and broke almost every single traffic law
there was on my way
She was fine but she was shaken up and Damon was raging, which was to be expected. I felt completely responsible. Had it not been for me then Ashton would not have shown up.
Damon had taken her to the emergency room just to be checked over but she was line. Damon on the other hand almost beat his brother to death. Ashton had been in the hospital for two days before he was finally moved
I let out a shaky breath as I stared at my done-up face. My red lips quivered as I tried to swallow down the nerves. I hated that this was what life was for me. I just wanted this man out of my life but he just constantly tormented me like a demon.
I had been getting calls from all kinds of news outlets and blogs that wanted to get a comment from me and I had been declining them all. They had tied in my old drama with this one and that was not serving Adie or me. They wanted to pit us against each other like they had a few years back but this time I was playing the villain.
Working and landing jobs was becoming increasingly diflicult because I would be hounded when I got to set and when I was leaving. The paparazzi all wanted a little taste of me but I wanted nothing to do with any of them. I just wanted to live in peace but I wasn’t even allowed that.
I gave myself one more glance before I decided it was time to pack up.
I had a day and a half on set. This was a commercial for a new perfume by La Divine. A brand that I had dreamt of working with as a little girl but I couldn’t even fully enjoy it because of this entire mess. I had shown up and done the job but I hadn’t taken the time to soak it all in the way I should have. I was too consumed with my own mind.
“Are you okay?” Daniel said from behind me.
I caught his eyes in the mirror and my breath hitched in my throat. Every time I saw this man I was always so enamored by his beauty. But he never seemed to think of himself as this divine specimen that, in my opinion, deserved to be adored. He just saw himself as a normal guy who liked to take pictures.
The man was too humble for his own good.
“I’m okay.” I forced a smile on my face which he didn’t buy. “I should head home, you did great today. I’m so excited to be working with you again.”
I hopped off my chair and turned to face him. I gave him one last smile and then started for the exit.
I didn’t get very far because his hand shot out and grabbed onto my elbow.
“Are you free?”
I looked over my shoulder at him thinking I may have misheard him. “Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you’re free. Maybe we can grab an early dinner?”
My heart hammered in my chest. Was he asking me out on a date?
“Grab an early dinner?”
He nodded.
“Like, with me?”
He nodded again.
“As in… a a…” I didn’t even want to say the word just in case I was wrong and I immediately humiliated myself. But how much more could I humiliate myself? I was a babbling fool already.
He stepped in closer, his scent enveloping me in this cloud of warmth. His eyes bored into mine like he could see into the very depths of my soul.
There was something almost magical about his gaze. The blue in his eyes melded with the specs of gray that floated into and out of his irises.
“A date?”
His voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was the kind of shiver that awakened the parts of you that were best left to lie dormant. He took my hand into his tentatively, bringing the back of it to his lips before placing a gentle kiss on my skin. “Corinna Steyn, would you do me the honor of allowing me to take you to dinner?”
Chapter 99 Swoon
I wondered how I was still standing upright. This man behaved as if he had been written by a woman. The way his smile melted the iciest parts of me and the way his touch ignited a fire in me that I had not
felt for a very, very long time.
The answer was simple Just three letters. One word.
But for some reason, it refused to leave my lips.
The reckless side of me, the side that wanted to throw caution to the wind and plunge in deep, wanted to jump at the chance to be wined and dined by this man, wanted to say yes.
But the more rational and logical side of me wanted to hold back. I didn’t want to propel myself forward into something that could potentially lead to heartbreak yet again
But ever since Maui, I had promised myself that I would live. I would allow myself to do what my heart truly wanted.
“Dinner sounds great”
It was just a date It wasn’t like he was promising marriage to me. How bad could it be?
Dinner was lovely and had gone far better than I thought. The conversation was light and enjoyable.
Daniel was surprisingly funny and he had a way with words 1 held onto every word he told me and he told me a lot. He told me of his adventures in Africa and all the other places he had traveled. He told me of his love for photography and his need. to see the world through a lens.
I loved how passionate he was. But most importantly I loved the fact that he made me forget all the turmoil that was currently taking place in my life
The early dinner had extended far into the night and now we found ourselves outside an ice cream parlor Well, I was outside and he was inside getting us some dessert. I didn’t have much of a sweet tooth but I wanted to extend our time together
The door dinged as he walked out.
“Okay” He handed me my cup. “One mint chocolate chip ice cream with extra chocolate chips on top”
My eyes flicked up to meet his “How did you
“After the first shoot that was the one that you picked when we all went to go and grab some together. You even made a comment about how it’s the only ice cream that you can finish.”
“You remembered that?” It had been a small comment and he had been talking to other people at the time. I hardly remembered it
He tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear, his knuckles brushing up against my cheek. My skin ignited where his hand touched me.
It was crazy how reactive I was to him and if I was being honest, kind of scary.
I don’t know who moved first but suddenly our faces were mere inches from each other. Our hot breaths mingled together in excited anticipation
This all felt like a dream. Like I was living within this moment but at the same time. I wasn’t.
Inch by inch the space between us slowly vanished until we were only a whisker’s hair apart. All I needed to do was lean forward and my lips would be on his. But I needed to remember that if I crossed this line there would be no uncrossing it
I didn’t know if I was ready to risk my heart again just yet.