Second chance at Love

Chapter Three

Damien takes my hand and gives me a tour of his house, showing me his bedroom last.

I stand there awkwardly, looking at the head and then at him.

He chuckles, “Let's see what we should have for dinner. We go to the living room, and I watch as he chooses the food we will eat, and I get comfortable on the sofa.

Once Damien has ordered, he sits beside me, pulling me close. I lean into him, take in his smell and close my eyes. It seems like a million years since I have been held like this. It's so simple, yet something I have yearned for.

I relax into his arms and momentarily forget about the world and the chaos of my life and live in this very moment. I don't know what this is, but I'm willing to give whatever this is a try,

Our food arrives, and we find a movie to watch on Netflix and enjoy our night; we talk about my children and his and the things we want to do with our lives; it is easy talking to him about anything and nothing at all,

The night went so fast, and before I knew it, Damien carried me to bed. I must have fallen asleep at some point, and I felt him place me on his bed and then climb on beside me and hold me close, not once trying to get into my panties and respecting the boundaries we had not even set.

When I wake up, I feel sad that I'm alone. I stare at the ceiling and gather my thoughts, and reality hits me. I am in Damien’s home. We spent the night together, and I felt content and safe in his arms. We didn't need to have s*x to feel connected. Was I living in a dream? Was I really in the man's house who I'd loved as a teen?

Then my thoughts drifted off to my husband, and I felt sad; he left his children for another woman in a country he didn't even know; he gave up our marriage on a whim and discarded me like a piece of trash. I stuck by my husband through thick and thin; he went to prison for fraud, and I was blind to see how bad the relationship was! Never had he treated me like Damien had in the past evening, but why did I feel sad? Shouldn't I be relieved? Maybe I'm pushing myself to move on too soon. I have a right to be happy, tho. Don't I? I sit up in the bed and look around the room, then decide to find Damien; when I leave the room, a beautiful aroma hits my senses, so I figure I will see the source of it.

I am shocked to see Damien setting up a banquet of food on the coffee table; I walk to him and kiss him “Good morning”, whisper, then look at the different selections on the table. Damien Snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me closer. “Good morning, sweetheart; I didn't know what you liked, so I brought one of everything from the menu” I smile and pick up a cup of coffee off the table and smell it. I smile when I smell the hint of cinnamon. I know it's a chai; I take a sip and sigh. The flavour is perfect; I hold the cup with both hands and look up at Damien, “Thank you for everything, last night and now this morning” I lean in and kiss him again; Damien kisses my forehead then guides us to the sofa, “now eat up, I have a plan for today, what time do you have to pick up

Your kids?” I pick up a piece of toast and bite, “Um, I don't know, but I can't be away all day” Damien smiles, we won't be all day, but I want to take you for a drive.”

I smile. “That should be okay” We eat our breakfast, and then I go to the bathroom to shower; Damien follows me and hands me some fresh towels and my bag. “You might need this,” he says with a grin. I take my bag and fresh towels into the bathroom and close the door. “I won't be long” I shout out.”

After my shower, I dress warmly because it's cold outside. I quickly brush my teeth and throw my hair up into a top bun, then pack my things into my bag, making sure I don't leave anything behind. I go to the living room to see Damien sitting on the couch, flicking through the TV channels. I take in what he is wearing and smile because he has simple jeans on with a black hoodie and a baseball cap. I place my bag near the front door and join him; he kisses my cheek. “You all ready to go?” I look at him and nod. Damien sands, holding his hand out for me to take, and we walk out of the house. Damien picks my bag up on the way out, and we go to my car and put my bag inside it before we go and get into Damien's car.

We drive up the mountain to the lookout we used to come to when we were younger,

I get out of the car and lean on the bonnet, looking at the view; I close my eyes and take in the winter breeze. Something about the cool air is calming; Damien nudges me with his hip and drapes his arm around me, pulling me close to him. “Ros, I know you have only separated from your husband, and you may feel this is too soon, but give us a chance. I regretted letting you go all those years ago and always felt bad about how I stuffed up. I want to show you I can be the man you deserve.”

I bite my bottom lip and keep looking at the view, not rushing to give him an answer. I know something is between us, but do I want to get hurt again? How will my kids react to me bringing another man into their lives? I rest my head on his shoulder with a million thoughts rushing through my head “Ros?” I hear Damien ask with worry, and I look over at him and into his hazel eyes. I take in his face and smile. “We have to take it slow. I don't know what this is, but I want to give it a chance.”