Damion smiled and she saw him relax. “Jerks like that should be taught a lesson.” He sighed. “And yes, how could I not notice your outfit. I’ll be lucky if you don’t douse me with ice water before the night is over.”
Jules felt her knees go weak and was thankful she’d sat down moments before. Damn, Damion had a way about him that no other man had. With a simple look he caused her heartrate to spike and her breathing to double. Her body wanted him. Needed him. Her heart jumped at the chance to be near him. Every fiber of her being wanted to be near him.
She was in deep trouble.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Damion was thankful Mr. Versace had left the patio area finally. He’d yelled at Zoey until Dean Wallis finally walked over there and told the man and his wife to go back to their cabin and sleep it off or he’d call the police.
He knew Zoey would have done it herself, but she was trying to be diplomatic for some reason.
After they left, Dean walked over to his table.
“Thanks for that. I was just about to head over there and help out,” he admitted.
“Zoey hates it when we step in, but I’d had enough of that asshat’s bullshit,” Dean said with a sigh.
Zoey walked over and sat down. “Are we having a party?” She groaned. “Cuz I could use a drink.”
“I’ll get you one, darling,” Dean said. “What’s your poison?”
“Mai tai,” she said, putting her feet up on an empty chair. “Is Jules joining you?”
“She’s getting our dinners,” he told her as Dean disappeared.
“What took so long getting Mr. Versace to leave?” he asked her.
Zoey rolled her eyes. “That guy, Joe Tribberton, owns one of the largest local online travel magazines and used to be a friend of my father’s.”
“Your dad died a few years back, right?” he asked.
Zoey nodded. “Mr. Tribberton and my father were close. I had hoped…” She shook her head. “He’s loaded. I mean… really loaded. If he enjoyed himself here he could not only do a piece in his magazine but…”
“Money talks to money,” he said, and Zoey nodded.
“Now, knowing what kind of creep he is, I should send him packing. I mean, he took a page out of my father’s book and married someone half his age.” Zoey rolled her shoulders.
“Yeah and look at all the problems Bridgette caused you and Scarlett.” He remembered how the woman had kidnapped Aubrey after she and her mother had sunk their claws into Aubrey’s wealthy father.
“I doubt Lisa, Joe’s new wife, would lift a finger to do anything except order another drink,” Zoey added as Dean set a drink down in front of her.
“I’m just finishing up.” He motioned to the last guests on the patio. The yelling had scared all the others away. “Then I’ll join you. Want food?” he asked Zoey.
“Sure, whatever they have left in the kitchen,” she said with a sigh. “I’m exhausted.”
Just then Jules came out with their food. She set it down and sat down next to him.
“I guess the drama was good for something. Everyone has gone, making it possible for me to sit down half an hour early,” Jules said as she picked up a French fry and ate it.
He noticed that she hadn’t ordered a salad for herself and instead got a cheeseburger and fries like he had.
Another thing he appreciated about this job was the instant friendships he’d gained. There were a handful of people that worked at the camp whom he considered close friends. He’d spent the last few years growing even closer to them and, for the most part, his friendships outside had fallen to the sidelines. Not that he’d had a bunch of friends before, but the few casual friends he’d had dropped away after he’d started working here.
The friendships that he’d gained at the camp were some of the best that he’d ever had.
For the next two hours, he laughed and joked with the employees that came and gathered around the table. By the end of the evening, there were almost a dozen sitting around.
At one point, he reached under the table and held onto Jules’s hand. He’d forgotten to have that talk with her about showing affection in front of everyone. He wanted their friends to know he had finally made his move.