Chapter 11

Caroline awoke to sunlight streaming through the window. It smacked her in the face, making her squint at the redness behind her eyelids.

Used to hearing an alarm blaring beside her head, she opened her eyes and glanced around when she noticed it was almost deathly quiet in the room. Almost was the operative word because when she turned over, she noticed Damian was sprawled out beside her with an arm under her head.

She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. So much for being gone when she woke up. He must have stayed up most of the night to finish developing the rest of his pictures. There were some he didn't want her to see just yet. He hadn't said it out loud but it was there between them.

As she looked down at him, she marveled at his figure. He had a strong, smooth jaw that was rough with stubble. His sea green eyes were closed in sleep and his lashes formed dark crescents on his cheek. His nostrils flared slightly as he breathed evenly in his sleep.

Her gaze traveled lower and she held back a laugh, her hand flying to her face as she shook her head. Somewhere in between the time she had gone to bed and when he flopped out beside her, he had shucked his shirt and pants. He was now in workout shorts and nothing more. He must have really been tired when he passed out.

Caroline decided she needed to get up before her mind took her places where she didn't need to allow it. She sat up and threw the blankets off her legs. When she was certain they'd hold her up, she stood and walked to the kitchen. Damian's clothes were comfortable as she pulled pots and pans from the cabinets. Something about cooking breakfast early in the morning made her feel as if she was home again.

Rummaging through the refrigerator, she found eggs and bacon. There was bread on the counter she made toast. She wasn't a big coffee drinker so orange juice would have to suffice. She had a change of heart when she thought about what Damian liked and put half a pot on to brew.

By the time she was done, the kitchen smelled wonderful and the hermit came out of his shell.

If Damian looked good when he was asleep, he looked even better when had just woken up. Caroline watched the way he ran a hand through his already sleep mussed hair. It stood up even more, making her shake her head in amusement.

She watched as he moved around the kitchen. He was really toned. Every muscle was well defined. There was a little dip on each hip and his shorts rode low enough for her to see them. His biceps were rounded, his pectorals were sculpted beautifully and he had a six pack. This man was built and he wasn't afraid to show it.

He yawned as he sank down on a barstool in front of his bar. When he opened his eyes, they sparkled at the food displayed before him. His eyes snapped up to hers and he tilted his head in question.

"I was up and I thought you'd like breakfast after your hard workout. You did go to your workout, right?" she asked.

Another yawn rolled out of him as he nodded. "Yeah, I went. At four thirty this morning. I had just finished developing the pictures and couldn't sleep. I went to the gym and came back. I guess I didn't think when I crawled in bed with you. I was just so tired."

Caroline waved it away. "It's fine. I slept like a rock so I didn't even hear you come in." She shoved a plate at him. "Here. You might as well eat before you get ready to work some more."

He didn't argue and started shoveling food in his mouth as fast as he could. He stopped for a moment then looked up at her.

"I thought I'd come with you to the gallery today," he said then resumed consuming food as if he were a garbage disposal.

"I don't think so," she replied between bites.

Damian's gaze lifted and he frowned at her.

"Why not? Tophyr's still in the hospital and Izzy's working on a new manuscript. You're going to need someone helping you set everything up."

"What if I don't want you there?"

He was caught off guard by her question. It was so out of the blue. He thought she was going to banter a little bit before asking that question. The fact that she brought it up so soon meant she was trying to hide something.

He shook his head. "I don't really care. I'm coming with you."

Caroline narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "I don't want you there. I want it a surprise and if you're there it won't be like that. You're not going."

Damian tilted his head in confusion. "Why are you pushing me away all of a sudden? Have I done something wrong?"

She turned away to put her plate in the sink and to give her a little more privacy. She didn't want him seeing her face. "No, you haven't done anything wrong. I just want to show Tophyr I'm able to do this without any help. That means you have to stay away from the gallery for two weeks."

"It's my showing."

"And you have to trust that I'll make it work. Now if you'll excuse me. I have to get

ready for work." She skirted around him and went back to his bedroom to collect her clothing.

Damian watched as she walked back into the living room and gathered her bag. Within two minutes she was walking out his door, slamming it behind her as she went. One name resonated in his head.

"Tophyr," he muttered.

***

Tophyr smiled as she looked up from her book. She was still in the hospital with an IV still stuck in her hand. She was still eating crappy hospital food and listening to the doctors complain that her Braxton Hicks had subsided but that she was still dehydrated.

They were grating on her nerves of steel.

So when visitors came to her room, she wanted to make them feel as if she was okay. But the look on Damian's face told her she was not okay. She had done something to her cousin and he was about to let her have it.

"Hey," she said in a little whiny tone.

Damian deadpanned at her voice. "Don't do that. It makes me feel bad."

"Good. Now what can I do for you?" He stalled for a moment then sat down in the chair that had obviously been vacated by Derek a few hours before. Tophyr's eyebrows shot up. "Wow. It must really be bad if you're sitting down."

"What did you say to Caroline, Tophyr?"

The woman frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"This morning she bustled out of my house telling me she didn't want me at the gallery because she wanted to show you that you could trust her. I want to know what you said to her."

He watched as she took a minute to think back on the conversation the two women had had the night before. Her brow furrowed even more then she shook her head.

"Nothing that I can remember. All I told her was that she was taking over this project because my doctors seem to think I'm a walking health risk." She watched him for a moment. "What's wrong, Damo?"

The oldest Stark looked ragged as he sat back in the chair, tipping his head back

to look at the ceiling. This was one of the things he hated about the Hurst family. They were all exceptionally intuitive. Alain and Britani had been that way when they were school. Emily used to say it was because they were part of a close knit family that they were able to see the emotions of others around them.

"What did Caroline do?" Tophyr's question was so quiet he almost missed it but when it registered he knew she understood.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "She snubbed me when she walked out."

"And it bit into your ego because you care for her." She had hit to the heart of the matter so he might as well be honest.

He lifted his head and looked at her directly in the eyes. "It's more than that." He watched as Tophyr simply canted her head to him, silently asking for more information. He scoffed. "Come on, Toph. You know what I'm trying to say."

"Do you know what I think? I think you're too clouded by your memory of Emily to see what's in front of you."

Damian shoved to his feet and paced to the window. "It's not that!" His eyes followed Tophyr's as they flicked to the door. He lowered his voice. "It's not that."

"Then what is it? If it's what you've about her and Dayton, I can assure you that's all over. If it's about her not having enough money and having to work for me, she's fine with that. If…"

"I love her okay?" he said, interrupting her rant.

Tophyr sat up a little higher in the bed. She waved him away when he went to help her sit up. He hovered anyway just to make sure she didn't need him. She smiled at his nurturing streak.

"Do you love her enough that it overshadows what you had with Emily? Or does the love you had for Emily shape the relationship you want with Caroline?" she asked.

"I've told her I will always love Emily because she was the first but that she will never be the one I come home to at night. I don't want to be alone. I've finally laid Emily to rest."

Absentmindedly he played with the locket about his neck as he spoke. He had been wearing it since the night before.

"Have you ever thought of telling her how you feel? You don't cross me as a man who keeps his thoughts to himself very often."

Damian ran his hand through his hair once again, gripping the ends gently then releasing them. "I don't know how to bring it up. Once I do I'm afraid she's going to walk away from me."

"Damian, she's into you, but she's afraid that you think she's only after your money. That's what got her in trouble in the last few relationships. Most of that was her mother's fault. Alessandra Rochester only wants her daughter to live wealthy because she isn't anymore. It was with her grace that Caroline did what she did. That woman has been living in her mother's shadow for years. I'm just waiting for her to break out of her shell."

"How does she do that?"

"She confronts her mom and the only way she'll be able to do that is if she trusts someone fully. Once that happens she can stand up to anyone. She just needs that little push."

"What she needs is someone to love her." He caught Tophyr's slow smile and shook his head. "I just played right into your hands didn't I?"

"More than you know." She hit him and shoved him towards the door. "Go. Plan the perfect night for your woman. I'll be fine here. Hopefully I'll be out by tomorrow and I can help Caroline."

"You're not helping anyone do anything, Mrs. Stark," Derek said as he strolled into the hospital room with his brother behind him. He smiled at his cousin. "Hey, Damo. I hope my wife hasn't been causing too much trouble for you."

Damian shook his cousin's hands as he shook his head. "No, she hasn't. She's actually been quite helpful."

Dayton stopped him as he tried to go by. "No hard feelings?"

The older Stark nodded. "No hard feelings. But next time you try to tell me what to do, I'm decking you like I used to when we were kids."

"Fair enough."

Damian waved at Tophyr and turned to leave the room. Derek watched him walk away before going to settle on the edge of the bed his wife was unhappily confined. He took her hand and sighed.

"What have you done now, my love?" he asked.

"I just told him what he needed to know," she replied.

"You're meddling again aren't you, sister?" Dayton asked. She shrugged. "I hope you know what you're getting into."

"You're still mad we meddled in your affairs," Derek admonished.

"If you hadn't I wouldn't have gotten Izzy to marry me."

Tophyr made a noise. "That girl would have married you. Just not in the time frame it happened." She watched her brother-in-law slink back from her remark. She settled back against the multitude of pillows. "Just give it time. They're perfect for each other."