Page 33

"YOU ALRIGHT, LOVE? "

The words had Sarah turning to her with a gasp, and Hyacinth burst into laughter. "I knew that would get your attention... love ."

Aaaargh!

"I heard Damian call you that this morning," Hyacinth said innocently. "Or is he the only one allowed - hey! Where are you going... love?"

Sarah hit the slopes harder to pick up speed... and get away from Hyacinth's incessant ribbing. Note to self: Text Sheikh Rayyan about all the boys who had tried hitting on his fiancée. That should be enough to get the other girl in trouble, and the thought was enough to restore Sarah's good mood.

With weather forecasts ensuring continous snow, plenty of Naomi's guests had come up and were taking it easy on the longer but more scenic route. Not in the mood for chit chat, Sarah changed courses and opted for the more complex one that would have her weaving through trees and boulders.

For the first few minutes, she skied down at full speed, breathless and exhilarated as her skis glided over fresh, powder-soft snow.

It was only when other skiers began to pop up at the second half of the trail that she was forced to slow down, and Sarah's mind began to drift aimlessly.

She found herself thinking about Hardy and reminded herself to give him a call-—

Shit.

She knew right away she hadn't her phone with her and had left it charging in her room.

Dumb move, Sarah Jeanne. But not as dumb as...

She slammed on her mental brakes, but another thought had already fully formed itself in her remind, and this morning's shameful little interlude began playing back before her eyes.

Shit, shit, shit!

She could see it so clearly, like a translucent image superimposed over the wintry scenery. She was flat on her back, body still shaking, while Damian stared down at her, blue eyes turbulent and fierce as he said I love you those words.

Even the memory was too much, and Sarah had to fight back against the temptation to start hyperventilating.

He didn't mean those words, she tried convincing herself. That was just his dog-in-the-manger attitude rearing its ugly horns, and all because he thought she was having an affair with a married guy.

If only Colton hadn't said that stupid lie, she thought waspishly.

But since he had been doing it for Beth, she couldn't really blame him, and in a way, he had also been right when he told her that the lie was even better than being in a fake relationship, especially after Damian overhearing that damning call she had with Hardy.

After reaching the end of the trail, Sarah absently made her way to the chair lifts, mind still busy trying to figure out her next move. Damian loving her was just too good to be true. She had to tell him—-

Sarah could feel herself paling when a breeze came out of nowhere to tickle her cheek. It felt strangely familiar, like a heavensent... no, no, no! She shot a glare towards the skies, which were now more grayish than blue. I'm so over the serendipity B.S.—-whoa!

Damian suddenly appeared out of nowhere, arm around her shoulder and dragging her to the lift chair. The next thing she knew, they were seated together, safety bar locked into place, and then they were off, with no possibility of Sarah escaping for the next fifteen minutes.

Shit, shit, shit!

DAMIAN'S EDGES WERE still raw even though it had already been over a few hours since Sarah had gone running out of his office.

His first thought had been to go after her, but he kept seeing the look of devastation on her face, and the memory arrested his movements.

Every time he told her he loved her, she would look at him as if he was breaking her heart.

And so he decided to give her space, both of them really, even just for a few hours.

He had dragged Tommy out of the kitchen and forced his PA to work alongside him for an hour.

After that, he had joined Josiah in a luncheon meeting, and he had even indulged Naomi's request to join her and her friends for a quick ride that would allow for several interesting wildlife sightings.

He had done all that and yet in the back of his mind thoughts of her refused to go.

He kept seeing her face, kept seeing the way the words refused to leave even as her lips moved, and the way her eyes.

.. God, they had been so dark and bright all at the same time, and every time he thought of those eyes, it was just all too fucking clear, how much he had hurt her all those years.

His gaze strayed back to his laptop, its screen showing the last page of the background report he had ordered from his security chief. Five pages in total, but it all amounted to a single thing: no fucking clue to prove or disprove the identity of any Hardy in Sarah's life.

He would've liked to believe this meant Sarah had simply made the man up, thinking it would keep him away, but his guts told him otherwise.

Even if Damian were to discount Colton's words, Sarah's fear had been genuine when he threatened to tell their parents about her involvement with a married man.

The man existed alright, and if Damian didn't figure out a way to win her back this weekend. ..he would never have her again.

Damian poured himself a shot of whiskey and downed it all with one gulp. The liquid burned down his throat, its fiery sensation parallel the hellish fear that had resided in the pit of his guts, ever since he had found out about Sarah being involved with another man.

Sarah was still an old-fashioned girl at heart, and there were some rules that he knew she would rather die than cross.

That meant she was unlikely to have any physical relationship with the man, not until that Hardy asshole was legally annulled at least, but what if the other man had been able to turn her head around with some sob story?

Sarah deserved more than having her virginity taken by some married loser, dammit.

But that was exactly what was going to happen if he didn't make a move soon. ..

The thought alone had Damian cursing, and he stalked out of his office in search for Sarah.

It took him a while, but he finally found her queuing for the lifts, and the timing was just perfect.

He got into the lift chair with her and smirked at the look of surprise on her face as he pulled the safety bar down.

"Y-you—-"

"Missed me?"

"No!"

He leaned back against the seat, saying solemnly, "I did."

Furious at the way her heart skipped a beat at his words, she retorted, "You missed yourself?"

"As I aim to be the perfect husband," the billionaire drawled, "I would always like to have honesty between us, and with that said...do you truly think that's funny, love?"

No, she didn't, but the pained look on his beautiful face was, and she couldn't help laughing despite everything. "Oh, Damian." And the words were out before she even knew what she was thinking of saying. "Why couldn't you have been like this before?"

The words broke both of their hearts in an instant, and Sarah jerked her gaze away from Damian the moment she felt her eyes start to sting. "I'm s-sorry—-"

"You have nothing to apologize for," the billionaire bit out. "We both know you only spoke the truth." Damian breathed hard. "I wish it wasn't, but I was an idiot, and it took losing you to realize how much I love you...and now, I'm realizing too late just how much I hurt you as well."

Her lips started trembling harder at his words, and she could only tighten her grip on her poles.

"You didn't deserve to be hurt, and while I know I don't deserve another chance, I am asking for it. I want a chance to love you again and make up for all the times I hurt you."

She didn't answer this time, and he didn't force her to.

Instead, he leaned close and when he slowly wiped the tears from her cheeks, she let out another sob, and her tears fell even faster.

"I r-really wish you were like this before," she said brokenly.

"I can't change the past, but I can promise you the future will be even better than this. You just need to give me a chance."

There wasn't a time for Sarah to answer. The lift chair had arrived at the station, and as soon as the safety bar went up, she skied out, as fast as she could, but Damian caught up to her easily.

"We should head back," he suggested, not liking how the skies were looking. "It's getting late anyway—-"

"You can go ahead," she offered right away.

He simply looked at her.

"Suit yourself." She opted for another route this time, thinking its greater number of twists and turns would allow for less talking. And so it did, since no sooner had they skied down a particular slope when something rumbled loudly behind them.