Chapter Twenty-Nine
Angela wanted to go and hug Damian tightly but she couldn't. Her dad called her and she sighed and went downstairs.
Steffi called to inform her that she was hosting a small housewarming get together for lunch with only some close friends and Angela agreed.
"What time should I arrive? Do you need help?" She asked Steffi.
"Yes, I would love some help with the food," she admitted.
"Sure, should I be there by 10 o'clock?" Asked Angela. It was a lunch party.
"Come by 9 in the morning, I'll start preparing then since everyone else's arriving at noon," she said and Angela agreed. She was excited to attend the party. She knew Harry would call Damian too. They were close friends.
So the next day, she excitedly drove over to Steffi's apartment. She stopped on her way and bought a custard bowl set and wine glasses set for them. She was carrying the dress that she would wear at the last minute after the cooking was done.
Steffi grinned at her as she opened the door. Angela walked inside and handed her the gift that she bought for them, "Thanks, you can keep your stuff in the spare bedroom," she said to Angela.
Angela nodded and came out of the spare bedroom after keeping her stuff.
"Damian's coming too, " Steffi whispered in her ear. Angela blushed and looked around to see if Harry was present to hear them.
Harry was vacuuming the whole house, "Hey Angela. So everything's okay with you?" He asked.
"Yep, but it seems you've become the perfect husband material," teased Angela.
"I have to else I won't get anything if you know what I mean, " he said with a grin and a wink.
Angela laughed out loud while Steffi glared at Harry. "Don't listen to him. Even if I decline, still he'd jump onto me," said Steffi, rolling her eyes. Angela laughed harder.
"Guys please, I don't want to hear your bedroom tales," she commented with an eye roll. Harry chuckled and continued with his cleaning.
Steffi whisked her away to the kitchen. They discussed what they needed to do. Harry had got a cheesecake for dessert. He also got cupcakes and strawberry tarts. While Steffi sliced the meat for the meat board, Angela chopped the fruits and cheese for the fruit board. Then they were ready to make the store-bought spring rolls. Steffi had already kneaded the dough for the sausage pizza that she had planned. Angela prepared Italian meatballs while Steffi made the pizzas.
The doorbell rang although it was just 10:30 in the morning. "It should be Damian. He's come over to decorate the place with Harry," informed Steffi as she threw her a meaningful look.
Angela avoided her eyes, her heart was beating wildly in her chest. She could hear his laugh in the living room and his deep husky voice.
Did he know that she was here? " Yes, he knows. He wanted to come over at 9 o'clock itself to see you, but Harry had to vacuum the room first," said Steffi with a chuckle.
Angela facepalmed. Did she say that aloud? She kept working in the kitchen till the meatballs were done. Her mind was on what was going on in the living room. She could hear Damian's voice clearly. Her heart longed to go and see him but she didn't give in to that wish. She kept doing her work for which Steffi had called her early.
Steffi placed two pizzas to cook in her oven and then caught her hand and pulled her along to the living room. "Please leave me, Steff. I have work to do in the kitchen. We haven't made any drinks yet," reminded Angela.
"We will, let me first meet Damian and see what they're up to," said Steffi with a grin. She didn't leave Angela and dragged her along to the living room. The moment Angela entered the living room, Damian stopped all his work and stared at her. He was dumbstruck as his hot gaze followed her around. Angela glanced at him discreetly from beneath her lashes. He quirked his eyebrows at her. She immediately looked down to concentrate on the welcome banner that they would hang on the wall opposite the entrance.
"Nice banner, isn't it?" Asked Harry as he climbed on a ladder to fix it on the wall. Angela nodded picking it up and admiring it. Damian walked towards her and she looked up at him, her eyes wide with apprehension. He came up beside her, his eyes not leaving her face, his hand stretched out as he took the banner from her hands. His fingers brushed against hers, touched her sending warm tingles all over her. His dark gaze held hers and then he abruptly walked away with it. Angela released the breath that she had been holding.
This was torture. "Steffi I'm going to make the drinks," she mumbled and walked to the kitchen. She had to calm herself and she couldn't do it under Damian's hot gaze following her around.
"Me too, the pizzas are done," Steffi said, following her into the kitchen. Angela made two big pitchers full of sparkling minty lemonade. "We need one more type of drink, Steff," suggested Angela.
"I have raspberry syrup and soda. See what you can make with it, " said Steffi.
"I need grapefruit juice too to make the raspberry fizz," said Angela, and Steffi called Harry.
"We need grapefruit, please can you get it?" Asked Steffi.
"Anything else?" He asked.
"Icecream, " both Steffi and Angela chorused and Harry grinned.
"Sure," he said, leaving the kitchen and collecting his keys and wallet and leaving.
Angela placed the pitchers in the refrigerator. She went to get another pitcher and water for making her raspberry fizz. She turned around with the pitcher in her hands and froze seeing Damian in the kitchen, standing and staring at her.
"Did you need anything Damian?" Asked Steffi, looking at him with an amused expression on her face.
"I uh, well, I needed some help," said Damian, still staring at Angela. He just couldn't look away. She looked so deliciously hot with her hair up in a bun and lose tendrils playing around her face that he wanted to touch her, to tuck away those stray curls. Her yellow sundress clung to her curves and he felt like holding her close against him. He wanted to feel her body, kiss her breathless.
"I'm busy with the pizzas. Angela here is free at the moment. Angie, go help him, please," said Steffi.
"Okay, " said Angela shyly. Damian excitedly walked away to the living room, his plan to get her to himself had worked. Angela followed him out of the kitchen.
Damian walked out to the living room and suddenly stopped and whirled around to face her. She was too stunned by his sudden actions and almost collided with his chest but stopped herself by placing her hands in front of her. They landed on his chest as he came into her personal space. His blue eyes boring a hole into her face as he stared at her as if hypnotized by her.
"Why did you stop?" she asked in confusion.
"To look at you," he whispered, his face close to hers. She could breathe in his minty breath upon her, his muscles rippling beneath her palms.
"Let's finish the decorations, please," she whispered back, removing her hands from his chest as if stung.
"It's already done," he answered and Angela gaped at him.
"Then I need to help Steffi," she said, trying to go back to the kitchen.
"Don't go," he pleaded and Angela's breath hitched. "I missed you." He said, coming closer, staring at her face, his hand going up and tucking the stray curls away. The slight brush of his fingers against her skin made her tremble.
"Damian, I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. Steffi told me everything that happened that day and afterward, " she said, looking into his eyes to make him see the sincerity of her apology.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through all that," he said softly.
"So, who's your latest crush? Virginia or the other one?" She asked turning away and going back to the kitchen.
"Are you jealous, love?" Asked Damian and Angela shook her head.
"No, just like you aren't jealous of Freddie," she said disappearing into the kitchen. He followed her there. Harry returned with the things that they wanted.
"I'll shower and get ready, baby," said Harry to Steffi and she nodded. Harry left to go to his room.
Angela made the drinks while Damian sat down on a barstool in the kitchen and watched her. She was acutely aware of his piercing gaze but pointedly ignored him and continued with her work.
They decorated the cupcakes with different frostings and toppings. Damian stood up and came to stand beside Angela and helped too. He purposely brushed his arm against hers and stared at her for her reaction. Angela moved away but was there any way to escape Damian? The cupcakes were done and she moved away to make finger sandwiches while Steffi sliced the cheesecakes into individual slices.
Damian followed her to help her with the sandwiches, purposely holding her hand every now and then.
"I'll go and get ready. Angie, the moment you're done with this, go get ready," said Steffi, and she left to go to her bedroom.
Damian caught her hands and took away the stuff she was holding onto and kept them on the counter. He then pulled her into his arms, "There's no one but you, Angel. I love only you," he said, his eyes staring at hers with deep longing.