Faking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane

A week has gone by, and I’m already attached to Damian and this house like a

love-sick puppy.

“Yeah.” Eyes narrowed to slits, Candice tallied all the ingredients like she was at

a budget meeting.

“We forgot the portable burner, Andrea sighed, frowning.

“Damian has a camping cook set somewhere here,” I said, sliding from my seat

and searching the shelves for the camping

stove.

2-On her

“Yeah?” Andrea questioned, amusement dancing in her eyes. “You’re really

playing house well with Damian, huh?” tippy toes, she helpedsearch the top

cabfor the cook set

Sitting silently on the other side of the island, Gian asked. “When did this even

happen? You and Damian?”

Apart from being Candice’s stepbrother, he doesn’t know Damian on a personal

level. Gian and I met in college, he instantly becthe girl’s version of Candice

in my life. I’m sure he doesn’t know about my childhood crush on Damian, but

why does it sound as if he does?

This isn’t part of my plans. If Candice hadn’t bought my lie about Damian, I had

no doubt Gian would also see through my lie. Gian’s assertiveness was on a

different level

Shoulders stiff, I tried my luck and grabbed the camping stove from the top

shelf, set it on the island, plastering a toothpaste-worthy commercial smile.

“I think we’re really meant to be,” I said. Andrea and I settled back in our seats.

“You remember I had a huge crush on him in high school?”

“You did?” Andrea’s eyes were wide as dinner plates. “I didn’t know that!” The

accusation was crystal in her tone as she pulled up her long, red hair in a high

ponytail.

Guilt gripped my throat. I’ve forgotten that Andrea doesn’t know about my

agreement with Damian as well.

“I did,” I said, helping Candice place the meat on the grill pan, the

mouthwatering fiavors of meat permeating the air as it simmered in the pan.

“But it was a long tago. I mean, I was in high school, and I thought I hid it

well.” I nudged Candice’s shoulder.

My best friend rolled her eyes. “You have googly eyes every tDamian is in

the room, Millie.”

Andrea’s eyes sla nted. “I think there’s a backstory here, but go on. Tell us how it

happened,” she said, scooting closer to Gian as though she had found an ally

against Candice and me.

I kept a steady face, looking straight at Gian’s striking blue eyes, ignoring the

chills spiraling down my spine. Gian was the silent type of guy back in college,

and we only got together when we needed to do a project together. He might

have kept to himself, but because of his natural Italian streak, he attracted

attention from the opposite S** without even trying. He stood a towering six

foot three, with dark blue eyes, natural glowing olive skin, sharp jaws, and

messy dark hair. And he had that unapologetic gaze that tells you he’s assessing

you whether you like it or not. Right now, I am the subject of those dark eyes.

“Well, you already know how things ended between Hunter and me, right?” I

busied myself by turning over the sizzling meat on the pan.

Candice and Andrea hummed, but Gian’s jaw fiuttered. I forgot he was out of the

loop.

“I told you that stronzo is good for nothing,” Gian said through gritted teeth,

reaching for the bottle of soju. He ran his gaze down the label, frowning. “Where

is the f ucking wine, Bambina? He asked Candice..

Candice pouted. “Can’t you at least try something other than wine?”\/\

“Did

you

ask something. Bambina? Hm?” Gian stood. As if he’d been here before, he went

straight to the wine caband

09:27 Sat, Feb 10

Chapter 39

took out a bottle of CabeSauvignon. Taking a wine glass from the side of

the island, he took a long sip. Each gulp and bob of his Adam’s apple felt like a

timer to my sentence.

In my tknowing Gian, I learned how overprotective he could be with the

people he cared about.

“Tellhow that stronzo hurt you, and I’ll decide what to do with him.”

“Gian-” I groaned. “It’s all in the past.”

+5]

“Past my as s.” Candice grabbed the soju Gian abandoned and filled two shot

glasses, handing one to Andrea. Since I was still on medication, it’s classic

orange juice for me. My mouth watered for a single taste of their alcohol.

Gian’s eyebrows knitted together, pinningwith a ‘dare to f ucking lie to my

face look.

I sighed and narrated how I found Hunter and Natalie in his apartment. When I

was done. he had almost finished the entire bottle of wine.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, stuffing a bacon strip into a lettuce leaf and

chewing it slowly.

“You don’t want to know,” he murmured, accepting Andrea’s stuffed lettuce

leaves.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I frowned. It’s not his statement that

bothered me; it’s the way he looked and how dark his eyes were. The urge to

physically hurt someone vibrates off of him. It’s both scary and surprising.

Tellabout Damian,” he pressed. “Is he treating you right?”

Oh, he’s treating her like a princess, Andrea answered for me. “Have you seen

those b*dyguards patrolling outside? He turned this place into a fortress in just

over a week.”

Apart from the b*dyguards, Damian had installed alarms and smart locks in the

house.

“And she deserved to be treated like a princess,” Gian murmured. “That goes for

you two as well. If Nick ever treats you like sh it, tell me, and I’ll put him in his

place. And I don’t care if you’re married to Aaron. If he f ucks up, he’s dead.”

Candice made a pff sound. “What the hell happened to you in Thailand? You

sound different.”

“Yeah. You almost sound like Nick and his crazy motorcycle gang members,

Andrea piped in..

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