Chapter 8

Damian looked towards the door and gasped in surprise. Caroline Rochester was on the arm of his cousin and she looked great.

Dressed in a blue silk gown, Caroline's hair was piled on her head in an intricate up-do. Diamonds dripped from her ears and one fell delicately from her neck. Her hands were encased in white gloves. She looked as if she was dressed to match Tophyr, who was dressed in a similar shade of blue to match her eyes.

Derek smiled at her then let her go wander the room while he went to Elizabeth and Daniel to congratulate them on thirty years of marriage. Caroline turned a circle until a waiter came by with a flute of champagne.

Damian stood between two pillars and watched the woman like a hawk. She was looking for someone but he wasn't sure who.

There were plenty of people around that she had known since she was a kid. They had undoubtedly run in the same circles since their parents had but they had never met before this. It wasn't that uncommon but it was still a little strange.

Being away for so long meant he didn't know all the good gossip like he did when he was running in his old circles. It also meant he had a reprieve from having to take sides like he had had to do when someone got into something interesting. He learned long ago to keep his opinion to himself.

Even though he didn't know anything about what was going on in the city, everyone knew what had gone on in his personal life since he had left. He would be the first to admit that he had enjoyed the perks his job had brought him, such as money, beautiful scenery and equally beautiful women. The latter he had taken to the extremes. Every week he had been photographed with a different woman on his arm.

For years he had had arm candy but now he was looking for someone who could match him. Someone like Emily had been. As he looked out over the crowd gathered for his parents' anniversary, he had a feeling he had found his perfect match. The only insecurity holding him back was the instinct that told him not to get hurt.

By putting himself out there, he was in danger of losing everything and gaining nothing. He knew his mother would kill the woman that hurt him enough to force him to leave again. He could say that because he knew he couldn't handle another heartache. Leaving would ease it but it would also put even more distance between his family and him.

Pushing himself off the wall, he walked through the crowd, acknowledging people as they acknowledged him. He hadn't made it to Caroline yet but he was going to keep it that way until he could figure her out.

He found a good moment and stopped. Pulling out his camera, he snapped a few pictures of the people around. He checked the pictures like he always did then looked up and nearly dropped his camera. Getting his bearings, he lifted his camera and

snapped away. Once he was done, he decided it was time to put Caroline out of her misery.

He stole a flute of champagne and went the rest of the way, tapping her on the shoulder once he got to her. She turned around and smiled up at him when she realized who it was.

"I was wondering where you were," she said. "Derek said you would be here considering it's your parents' anniversary party."

"Yeah, unfortunately. Not about the fact that my parents have been married for thirty years but the fact they like to throw too many parties. I've been to too many of them in my life and I'm about tired of them," he replied. He took a sip of his drink, giving him time to look her up and down. "You look lovely tonight."

Caroline faltered in taking a sip of her already warm champagne. "Thank you. You look nice as well."

He smiled, his eyes lighting up with happiness. "Oh, I finished my gallery. I just have to print the pictures then frame them."

"Really? That didn't take very long."

"When I get inspiration I work until it's fulfilled. It's done and so I'm going to print them off in my dark room. You're more than welcome to come watch."

Caroline was shocked she couldn't answer. When she was ready to, Elizabeth Stark got up and began her little spiel about how her family was the best in the world and how they never ceased to amaze her. Damian rolled his eyes a couple of times when she would say something sweet about him and his sister. It was as if he had never heard his mother say something nice to him before.

Once she was done, everyone clapped. When she looked at him, Damian didn't seem to be too happy. The smile he had been wearing at the beginning of her speech had fallen and now he was staring out over the crowd rather bored like. Very gently, she took his drink from his hand and pulled on his hand.

"What are you doing?" he asked as he followed her.

"Why don't we dance?" she said. Without an answer, he slipped his hand to her waist and nestled her hand in his. She laughed when he started to move around the floor. "You're very light on your feet."

"My mother had me in dance lessons from the time I was four until I left at eighteen. I guess I retained some the information."

Into the rhythm, Caroline allowed herself to relax in his grip. She knew he wasn't going to let her fall when her legs felt like jelly.

She adjusted her head and nearly collided with Damian's chin. He looked down

at her with an amused look in his eyes. She felt her heart rate pick up as he continued to look down at her. Their eyes locked and it felt as if the entire world fell away, like it was just the two of them in the room.

Damian wished like hell that he could just jerk her away and get out. He didn't want to be in the middle of everyone with the sappy look on his face he knew he wore. He was certain his family would annoy the hell out of him.

When the music stopped he looked down at the woman in his arms. She smiled up at him. That was when the dreaded feeling hit him.

He was in love with her.

Shaking his head he stepped away. How could he be in love with her already? He had barely known her a month. She was the only one he had felt this way about since Emily had died.

Caroline knew something was going on as she watched him stare into the blank space. What could he be thinking about so deeply that he had to shy away? She tilted her head in concern.

Damian finally looked down to see her looking up at him with questions in her blue eyes. Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her. He felt her suddenly tense then relax before kind of melting into him. He pulled her close then ran his hands down her back.

He pulled back when her hands gripped his suit jacket. She looked mesmerized and it made him laugh.

"What?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing. I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Come with me to my apartment."

She gave him a dirty look. "I'm not like that, Damian."

"It's not like that. I want you to see the pictures. I'm done with them. Some just have to be framed. One has to be printed though, so you can come watch me do that."

"No funny business?"

"No funny business."

Caroline thought about it for a moment. He didn't seem the type to pester her into doing something she wasn't ready for.

After a moment, she nodded. "All right but won't your parents get mad?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Who cares if they do? I surely don't."

As he took her hand and led her out, Tophyr and Derek stood on the other side of the dance floor watching them. They had taken to watching the drama unfold while the others around them were oblivious.

Once they were out of sight, Tophyr turned her eyes to Derek.

"I think our plan is working quite well, don't you think?" she asked as he folded her hand into the crook of his arm.

Derek nodded. "I think your plan is working. I'm just an innocent bystander."

She punched him gently. "You're the one who sent the invitation."

He smiled cheekily. "Yeah. Now just to see if they do what we want them to do." He held his hands up in front of him and moved his fingers. "Dance, little puppets. Dance."

"Don't do that. It's really creepy."

Derek laughed at his wife's sour face then turned to enjoy the rest of the party.