18
Damian
Leaving Kelly’s place, all I could think about is how amazing it was to be with her and how lucky I was to have found her. Even though we had only known each other for days, it felt like I had made a connection with her unlike any other before. My thoughts were occupied by her image until I pulled up to the gate at my house and buzzed myself into the driveway.
I crept the truck up alongside the limo, still parked in the same spot it had been since we arrived in town. I stepped out of the truck and stretched for a minute. My muscles were aching a bit after last night and the last few days, but it was an ache I would gladly accept anytime. I made my way into the house through the garage so that I was downstairs. I tried to keep the noise down since it was still early, and James and Shannon were likely still asleep. As I shut the interior door and turned around, I saw James coming out of Shannon’s room with a towel wrapped around his waist, carrying items from Shannon’s room tucked under his arm. He was clearly startled and fumbled with the items he had, nearly dropping them to the floor.
“Sorry, you caught me off guard,” James said, seeming unusually flustered.
“What’s going on?” I asked James as I slowly started to put the situation together in my mind.
James looked straight at me and gave a bit of a grin to me. He shrugged his shoulders as he could see I knew what was going on.
“How long has that been going on?”
“Honestly boss, it just kind of snuck up on us. We’ve been spending all this time together like we never had before, without pressures of work or anything else. I think we just started to click, and then last night, well…” James' voice trailed off.
“You don’t have to give me any of the details, James,” I answered.
“Shannon is quite a woman,” James added. “She’s smart, funny, a great athlete, and someone I like being around.”
“I’m glad you two have hit it off, James. I really am,” I answered, patting him on the shoulder.
“Do you need a hand with that stuff?” I pointed to the pile of items under his arm.
“Oh, that would be great, thanks.” James passed me the bag and other items he had lost his grip on and then used his now-free hand to keep his towel in place.
“Where am I bringing these things?” I asked him.
“Shannon is up by the pool,” James answered. “I’m just going to go back to my room for a second.”
“What do you need? Maybe I can help you.”
“No thanks, boss,” he said with a smile. “I… well I just need to put a bathing suit on.”
“Gotcha,” I answered as I turned towards the stairs to head up to the pool.
When I got to the pool area and opened the door, I could see Shannon sitting in one of the deck chairs. The lights were turned down low but still on, and the lights in the pool were on as well to create a romantic atmosphere.
The pool door swished closed behind me as I walked in.
“Oh good, you’re back,” Shannon spoke without turning around. “I was starting to miss you.”
I walked up quietly behind her and passed her bag around to her.
“I’ve been missing you, too,” I said softly.
Shannon gasped and practically jumped out of her chair, knocking her bag over.
“Damian!” she said loudly. “I didn’t know you were back. I thought you were…”
“Thought I was who?” I stood smiling at her as she blushed.
Shannon was at a loss for words, something that was unusual for her.
“How was your night?” she said to me, trying to change the subject quickly as she picked up her belongings.
“No complaints. What about yours?”
Shannon stood up and looked at me, seeming flustered again.
“It was fine,” she answered quickly. “We had a nice time.”
“So, I heard.”
“What… what did James tell you?”
“He really didn’t have to say too much since I saw him walking out of your room with a towel wrapped around his waist and nothing else on.”
Shannon sat down on the lounge chair, shaking her head.
“Damian,” she began. “I… I didn’t plan anything like this, and you know I would never do anything that would get in the way of my job. Spending time with James, getting to know him and seeing how much we enjoy each other’s company, well it just happened. I’ll understand if you think it’s a bad idea or if you want me to resign…”
“Shannon, hold on,” I interrupted. “You’re the best assistant I have ever had. You are the right person for this job. You’re allowed to have a personal life outside of work you know. In fact, I encourage it. You have always spent way too much time wrapped up in doing your job. Don’t worry about it.”
Shannon breathed a big sigh of relief.
“I have been so worried about how you would react. Even after we…” Shannon stopped herself from talking too much about the previous night. “Well, I told James that maybe it wasn’t a good idea since we work so closely together all the time. He managed to talk me out of it.” Shannon flashed a bit of a smile as she said this.
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” I told her. “I hope this makes you happy.”
“It does, Damian, more than I have been in a long time. Thanks for giving me the chance to be here, and to let me see what I have been missing out on.”
Shannon stepped over and gave me a big hug, pressing her body to mine. I hugged her back and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
I heard the door slam shut and looked up, still holding Shannon in our embrace. There stood Kelly, looking at the two of us standing there hugging, with a shocked and angry look on her face that slowly turned to a pained one.
“Kelly… what are you doing…”
“Don’t Damian,” she said scornfully. “Just don’t say anything. I see how things are.” She held a piece of paper up in her hand, turned on her heels and stormed out.
“Wait!” I shouted and ran after her.