Page 4 of California Love Songs (The Davenports, #4)
Chapter Three
“ D amien Davenport!” a woman in a sequined gown practically squealed, rushing him. “Your latest album changed my life.”
“I’m so glad you connected with the music,” Damien replied, his fingers unconsciously tapping out a rhythm as he spoke. “That’s always my goal as an artist.” More guests swarmed around him, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of praise and questions.
“That song about heartbreak—were you writing about someone specific?”
“Dude, your guitar riffs are legendary!”
While he answered questions as best as he could, Damien’s gaze darted around, searching for Crystal.
He spotted her across the room, speaking intently with a member of the catering staff.
Even from a distance, he could see the quiet authority in her stance, the way she commanded respect without raising her voice.
It also didn’t escape his notice that she looked stunning in her evening dress.
Professional but beautiful. He didn’t know how she pulled it off, but she did.
Crystal always managed to pull off the unimaginable.
It was why she was the most in-demand event planner around.
“Mr. Davenport, may I have this dance?” A tipsy redhead in a low-cut dress batted her eyelashes at him.
“I appreciate the offer,” Damien said, forcing a polite smile, “but I’m afraid I don’t really dance.”
He smiled and posed for a selfie instead, not wanting to offend the stranger.
As soon as he was alone again, he found Crystal.
She was now deftly maneuvering through the crowd, pausing briefly to adjust a centerpiece here, whisper instructions to a waiter there.
Her movements were so fluid, it was almost like watching a dance in itself.
A portly gentleman in an ill-fitting tuxedo approached Crystal, his hand extended in invitation. Damien heard him say, “Miss Lopez, surely you can spare a moment for a quick turn around the dance floor?”
Crystal’s laugh was warm and genuine, her voice firm. “I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I have to decline. I’m needed in the kitchen to revive the ice sculptures.”
Damien felt a smile tugging at his lips. That was Crystal—always the consummate professional, but with a charm that made even rejection feel like a compliment.
He turned back to his own admirers, trying to focus on their questions about his songwriting process.
But his mind kept drifting to Crystal, marveling at how effortlessly she balanced warmth and authority.
It was a skill he’d always admired, one that had made her indispensable to each member of his family over the years.
Crys’s quiet competence was a reminder of why he valued their friendship so deeply—and why, lately, he’d begun to wonder if there might be something more beneath the surface.
As the night wore on, Damien found himself constantly aware of her presence, like a soothing counterpoint to the at times overwhelming adulation of his fans. While no one had said it in so many words, it was understood that part of his fee was to hang around and interact with the party guests.
Damien leaned against the bar, his fingers tapping out a rhythm on the polished wood as he watched Crystal glide through the crowd. Her dress caught the light, accentuating her graceful movements as she directed waitstaff and checked on guests.
A young woman approached, her eyes wide with admiration. “Damien! I can’t believe it’s really you. Your last album got me through my divorce.”
He turned, offering a gentle smile. “I’m glad the music helped. It’s why I write, you know?”
“The way you captured that feeling of loss and hope in ‘Shattered Reflections’… it was like you were singing my story,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Damien nodded, feeling that familiar mix of connection and vulnerability. “Music has a way of bridging experiences, doesn’t it? We’re all just trying to make sense of life’s chaos.”
She thanked him again and then moved away, back into the crowd. Damien again sought out Crystal. She was laughing at something a guest had said, her head tilted back, exposing the elegant line of her neck.
“How are you holding up?” It was his brother Archer, who knew as well as Damien did what a toll being famous took on a person. There was never any downtime unless you were locked away in your own home.
“I’m okay. Just wondering how soon I can leave.”
Arch followed his gaze. “Just as soon as you can drag your eyes away from Crystal Lopez.” His brother’s voice was teasing, but not unkind.
“When did she become so… captivating?” he wondered aloud, surprised by his own intensity.
Arch chuckled. “She always has been. You’ve just been too blind to see it. You’ve had Crys in the friend zone your whole life.”
“Because she’s the best friend of my little sister.”
“Bro, she’s all grown up now,” Arch reminded him.
Just like Erin, who’d fallen for Jay Malone, of all people. Damien still couldn’t believe it.
As Arch headed back to Tessa’s side, the realization hit Damien like a chord progression finally falling into place.
This wasn’t just friendship between him and Crystal anymore.
There was an attraction there, maybe one he’d long suppressed, and now it was surging to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged.
As Damien pondered this revelation, feeling like the ground had been whipped out from under his feet, a woman with wavy blonde hair and glassy eyes stumbled toward him, cocktail sloshing in her unsteady grip.
“Hey there, rock star,” she purred, her words slurring. “How about a private concert for your biggest fan?”
Damien took a step back, his smile polite but strained. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m just here to enjoy the party like everyone else.”
She pressed closer, her perfume overpowering. “C’mon, don’t be shy. I know all your songs by heart. I’d love to go somewhere more quiet and… talk.”
Damien took a deep breath. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
Everything about this woman was too much and she didn’t look like she was going to take no for an answer graciously.
Her behavior reminded him of why he usually avoided events like this, where so many of the guests were used to getting what they wanted out of life.
“That’s very flattering,” he said aloud, gently trying to create some distance. “But I’m nearly done for the night.”
The woman swayed dangerously close. “My driver’s waiting outside. I could take you wherever you want to go,” she insisted, reaching for his arm. It was pretty obvious where she wanted to go.
Damien tensed, unsure how he could extricate himself without causing a scene. He scanned the room, hoping to catch his sister’s eye or find an escape route.
Suddenly, Crystal materialized beside him, her presence a welcome lifeline.
“There you are, Damien!” she exclaimed, her tone warm but carrying a hint of authority. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You promised me a dance, remember?”
Damien blinked, momentarily confused, before catching on. “Of course,” he replied, relief evident in his voice. “How could I forget?”
Crystal turned to the drunk woman, her smile professional and disarming. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I’m afraid I need to steal him away. Event planner’s prerogative.”
Without waiting for a response, Crystal linked her arm through Damien’s and smoothly guided him away from the awkward encounter.
“I owe you big time,” he said, thankful that his old friend had rescued him from an interaction that could have gone seriously south. The party had moved inside and a famous DJ had taken over the music.
As Crystal led him onto the dance floor, the DJ transitioned to a lively salsa number. The familiar rhythm instantly transported Damien back to high school, and a grin spread across his face.
“You remember this one?” Crystal’s eyes twinkled.
Damien chuckled, positioning his hands. “How could I forget? You spent weeks drilling these steps into my head.”
They began to move, falling into the rhythm with the practiced ease of muscle memory. Damien’s fingers tapped out the beat on Crystal’s back, an unconscious habit from his years on stage.
“I’m surprised you still know the moves,” Crystal teased, executing a perfect spin.
Damien caught her smoothly, pulling her close. “Some things you never forget,” he murmured, suddenly aware of how well they fit together.
As they moved across the floor, Damien found himself marveling at Crystal’s grace. Her jewel-toned dress swirled around her legs, catching the light with each turn.
“You know,” he said, dipping her slightly, “I think you might have missed your calling. You could’ve been a professional dancer.”
Crystal laughed, the sound musical and infectious. “Says the man who can command an entire stadium with just his guitar.”
They fell silent for a moment, letting the music guide them.
As the song reached its crescendo, Damien felt a surge of confidence. Without thinking, he spun Crystal out, then pulled her back in for a dramatic dip.
Crystal’s breath caught as Damien slowly lifted her from the dip. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the bustling party around them faded away. He found himself hyperaware of her body in his arms, the warmth of her skin. His heart raced.
“Crystal, I—” Damien began, his voice low and husky.
But before he could find the right words, she quickly stepped back, breaking the spell.
“That was… quite a finale,” she said, with what sounded like a forced light laugh. “I didn’t realize you’d become such a talented dancer.”
Damien ran a hand through his tousled hair, unsure of what to do with his arms now that she wasn’t in them. “Well, I had a good teacher,” he replied with a half-smile.
Crystal shook out her dress and tucked her hair behind her ears. “I should get back to work,” she said, glancing around the room. “Make sure everything’s running smoothly.”
“Right, of course.” Damien hoped his expression was neutral.