Page 73 of Hard Rock Heat

"That sounds very much like a Damon Drake sort ofthing."

"The both of us are kind of similar," he said thoughtfully, "but at the same time we're opposites. You had to grow up too fast and it made you uptight, always fighting to keep yourcomposure."

"You know calling me uptight is insulting, right?" Iinterjected.

He powered on. "Ian took the pain and turned it inward. I went the other way. I grew up too fast and it just made me wild. I act out." He shrugged. "Guess it's my way of coping. Once I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted, I went fucking crazy with it." He chuckled and shook his head. "At least I'm not as bad as Cam. I don't think that guy's been responsible a moment in hislife."

"He's the crazy party animal one,right?"

"That'shim."

"I think I can do without that kind offun."

Damon turned his eyes back to the road. Something caught his attention. "Hm."

"What is it?" Iasked.

"Speaking of, why don't we do something fun right now?" hesaid.

"Like what?" My stomach fluttered at the odd note in his voice when he said the wordfun.

He put on the signal light and pulled over into a parkinglot.

"I'll be right back," he said, unbuckling hisseatbelt.

I twisted in my seat to see where we wereparked.

The sign on the store readNaughty andNice.

"Are you kidding me," I blurted without meaningto.

I sat impatiently, waiting for Damon to come back. When he slid back into the car with a wicked grin on his face, I put my hand up, stalling anycomments.

"Please tell me you did not just go into a sex store and buy handcuffs or silk scarves orwhatever."

"Nothing so tame," he said, lookingaffronted.

I raised an eyebrow. "Tame?"

"It's a present for you. Well," he clarified, "forus."

"Do I even want toask?"

"Even if you ask, I'm not telling yet," he said. "You'll have to bepatient."

"I'm waiting with bated breath," I said,deadpan.

I actually was insanely curious about what Damon had bought, but I wasn't going to let on. He didn't need any moreencouragement.

"Are you hungry?" he asked. "I know a good French place up the street. It's kind of fancy. Candles, mood music, all that shit youlike."

I laughed. "It's not shit. It's romantic. Don't strain yourself trying to be something you'renot."

"I'mromantic."

"You just bought me a sextoy."

"Who says a person can't be dirty and romantic at the same time?" he asked. "So.Dinner?"