After Damon's little sexting session, I used work to distract myself, as always. Event planning was a never-ending job. There was always one more email to answer, one more phone call to make. I was grateful for the distraction.

Unfortunately, today's plans, while a distraction from my family situation, did nothing to help me with the other distraction in my life.

Damon and I were supposed to visit a few places together today. The first was a community center for disadvantaged youth to speak with their program coordinator. I'd shown up early, hoping to get some of the details hashed out before Damon arrived. When it came to Damon, half the time he was a help, and half the time he was hindrance. I didn't know which he would be today.

One of the coordinators, a cheery young woman named Jessie, greeted me as I stepped into the front foyer. She waved off my apologies for popping in early.

"No worries," she said. "I'm just happy to help out. This event you're planning sounds like it's going to be a pretty big deal."

"I hope it is," I said.

Damon had been the one to mention the place called The Impact Youth Center. He knew of a few people who volunteered there and was able to get me a meeting with one phone call. The man was well connected, I had to give him that.

"So what exactly are you hoping we can do for you?" Jessie asked.

I gave her a brief overview of the event. She nodded thoughtfully as I explained.

"I can definitely put you in contact with some like-minded organizations," she said when I was finished explaining. "We aren't a homeless shelter, but we run lots of programming for disadvantaged kids and teens. We have a staffing firm that does workshops for the older ones looking for jobs. They'd probably love to have a booth."

"We were also hoping to get a couple people to speak at the event," I told her. "Maybe someone who used your services when they were younger and can speak to the importance of supporting this cause. And of course, we want to give some of these kids the VIP experience."

"I can put together a list of names," Jessie nodded. "There are some kids out there who could really benefit from the star treatment for one night."

As if summoned by her words, a gaggle of kids run passed us, nearly knocking me down in a flurry of shouts and giggles.

"Watch it, rugrats," Jessie called out. "No running in the halls."

I flailed to catch myself before falling down, but my heels slipped on the floor. Two strong arms caught me before I could hit the ground.

"You're making this too easy for me, sweetheart." Damon had appeared beside me with a grin, having walked through the doors without me noticing. "I just showed up and you're already swooning in my arms?"

"Quit it." I pushed against his chest. Damon squeezed, keeping his arms wrapped around my waist.

"Sorry about that," Jessie said. "These kids are great, but I swear, sometimes I'm a glorified babysitter." She turned to us, taking in the sight of me still in his arms, trying to squirm away. She raised an eyebrow. "You two need a moment?"

I flushed. "No." With a shimmy to the side, I ducked out of Damon's hold. I put a few feet of distance between us and ran my fingers through my hair to smooth it out. "Those kids are pretty rambunctious," was all I said.

"They can be." She gave me a concerned look. "Do you think you'll be able to handle a bunch of them for one night?"

"We're putting a minimum age of sixteen for the sleep out. Teens and up only, not kids." I told her. "We don't want the event to turn into a circus."

"Smart." Jessie nodded to Damon. "Which twin are you pretending to be today?" she asked him.

"Aw, Jess, if I told you, where would be the fun?" he drawled.

"I guess I'll just call you knucklehead for the time being." Jessie shook her head at me with sympathy. "How'd you get roped into working with this one?" She jabbed her thumb at Damon.

I immediately took a liking to this girl.

"My boss insisted," I said. "How do you know the twins?"

"The band likes to get tanked at the dive bar I work at part time." She leaned in to fake-whisper. "The twins are cheapskates when it comes to tips."

The two of us shared a laugh as Damon gave her a sullen look. Now I really liked this girl.

"If you two don't mind waiting here, I can get you a list of other community groups who would probably like to be invited to the event," she said. "I'll speak with the Executive Director for a few minutes and be right back."

After she left, I gave Damon a firm look.

"Did you forget about our agreement?" I asked.

"What agreement?" he said breezily.

"Either you ask me out or you keep your hands to yourself."

He tried to hide a grimace, but I caught it in the slight twist of his lips. "I don't recall agreeing to that."

"Will my fist in your face jog your memory?"

"Threatening to beat me again?" he said slyly. "Didn't you say you weren't into that?"

I clenched my jaw. "Since you won't ask me on a date, I'll guess you'll never find out."

"What about all that hot sexting?" he asked. "Doesn't that count as a date?"

"Such low standards you have."

"So you're the wine-and-dine kind of girl, hm?" He smirked. "Candles, mood music, the whole works?"

"I certainly expect more than a shag in the backseat of a limo."

"So high maintenance." He looked around the youth center foyer as I suppressed an annoyed growl. "You think this place can help us get what we need?"

I took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. I smoothed down my skirt. "Yes. Jessie seems to know what she's doing. Thank you for putting me in contact with her," I said politely.

"She's a cool girl, even when she harps on me," he said.

A screeching kid came running down the hallway at high speed. The both of us winced.

"Jessie!" the boy shrieked. He barreled toward us, nearly running into Damon's legs as he turned the corner.

Damon swooped down and grabbed the kid before he smacked face-first into his kneecaps.

"Hey there, sport." Damon hefted the kid into his arms. The boy seemed to be around six or seven. "What are you screaming about?"

"Kaylee's hogging the drum kit," he whined. "She won't let me play. Jessie said she had to share."

"You liked the drums?" Damon asked. The kid nodded vigorously. "What about guitar?" he asked. "You like that too?"

"Nooo," the kid practically shouted. "I like to hit with the sticks."

Damon laughed, his eyes sparkling. Something in my chest twinged at the sight. I'd never seen Damon interact with a kid before.

"How about this." Damon set the boy down on the floor. He looked around and grabbed four pencils from the front desk. He kept two and gave the kid two. "See these?" Damon held up the pencils. "You can do a lot with these things. Watch."

Damon hit the sticks together in a one-two-three beat, then began tapping them against everything in sight. The floor, the desk, the plastic chairs — anything in the front foyer was a impromptu drum set.

The kid's eyes lit up as he began to follow Damon's pattern. He held the pencils tight in his balled fists and couldn't keep a rhythm to save his life, but the kid seemed to be having the time of his life smacking them against every available surface, giggling and cheering the whole time.

"See, sport?" Damon said with a laugh. "You don't need a drum kit. Everything's an instrument when you're creative enough."

"I'm gonna go show Kaylee!" the kid cheered. "She's gonna be sooo jealous. I can drum on everything!"

The kid ran back down the hallway, shrieking the entire way.

Damon gazed after him with a fond expression.

I'd never particularly liked kids. I didn't dislike them, I'd just never been around them much. I'd never really thought about kids except in an abstract, "maybe one day" sort of way.

But seeing Damon play with that young boy, seeing the soft look on his face, I swear my ovaries jumped into overdrive.

I cleared my throat and looked away, not wanting to be caught staring, starry-eyed.

"You're good with kids," was all I said.

"Must be because I'm so immature myself," he said.

I glanced at him to see a smile on his face. My heart thumped in my chest.

"I can't argue with that," I told him, trying to force down the flush on my cheeks. "You act like a horny teenaged boy half the time."

"Only half?" he grinned.

Jessie came back to find us smiling at each other. She gave the two of us an odd look. I quickly looked away from Damon and gave her my full attention.

Jessie handed me a folder full of papers. "I've put together a list of contact info and some background research on a bunch of organizations you might to speak with. The Executive Director loves your idea. He said he'll help out in any way he can."

"Thank you so much, Jessie," I told her.

"Anything to help the kids." She threw Damon a cheeky grin. "Besides, this way you owe me one and I can hold it over your head forever."

"You've already got half the patrons at Walt's bar by the balls," Damon said. "Don't see why you need to add mine to your collection."

"I thought your balls were already claimed by someone else?" she asked archly.

"No, that's—" Damon cut himself off, chagrinned at having given himself away.

"Ah-ha!" Jessie pointed a finger at him. "I knew you were Damon. Ian could never hold that smug look for longer than a few seconds." Jessie turned to me. "Better keep an eye on this one. His band is full of cocky pains-in-the-ass, and he's the worst of them all."

"Come on," Damon protested.

"Don't even pretend you're not." She gave Damon the stink-eye. "You and those rock star friends of yours are a bunch of no-good lunatics."

"Oh really?" Damon said. "Didn't I hear something about you dating a certain no-good lunatic from one of those indie bands?"

Jessie flushed bright red. "I've got to get back to work," she told me, ignoring Damon. "But if you need anything just give me a shout."

"Will do," I said.

Jessie scurried off quickly.

Damon plucked the folder from my hands, ignoring my protest. "Pretty thorough," he said, flipping through the papers.

"Give it." I tried to snatch it back but he held it out of reach. I growled. "You're such a…"

Damon smirked and sidled up next to me. "Yes? What am I?"

I pressed my lips together and looked away, not answering.

He pressed closer, crowding me. "You're so cute when you're flustered."

I met his eyes, trying to exude fury, but my pink cheeks betrayed me. "I'm not—"

Damon pressed a finger to my lips. I inhaled sharply, a tingle shooting straight from my mouth to my core.

"Let's go get lunch," he said.

I blinked. "What?" My words were muffled by his finger. He removed it.

"We should talk over the details of our event," he said.

"That's what meetings are for," I said, voice tight and thready.

"Boring," he declared. "I'm in the mood for one of those disgusting greasy burgers with a thousand calories. You in? I'm buying."

Damon, offering to buy me lunch.

Could that be considered a date?

My heart raced.

Even if this was a date, that wouldn't mean we were dating. One lunch meant nothing.

Besides, one more afternoon spent in this man's company reminded me of all the million ways he got under my skin. He was annoying and persistent and exasperating.

But with the kind way he'd acted around that young boy, he'd also succeeded in chipping away the smallest piece of my hardened heart. As much as I wanted to smack him, Damon wasn't all bad.

"Unless you think those greasy burger joints are beneath you," he teased. "I suppose we can always go to one of those overpriced hipster cafes with ten dollar sandwiches stuffed with kale and tofu."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why does every word that come out of your mouth sound insulting?"

"Maybe you're just too sensitive."

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

He put his arm around my shoulder, leading me to the front door.

Despite all the warning bells going off in my head, this time I didn't push him away.