Judged By You (Judge Me Series) Read online

  “What are you doing here?” He said

  “Hello to you too, it’s none of your business why I’m doing here.” I said with a half-smile. I had no idea what to tell him. Do I lie? Do I tell him I’m here for an assignment?

  “You’re very defensive Beautiful. Have you done something illegal?” He said laughing at me. I could imagine the look of shock on my face.

  “I’m leaving, that’s what I’m doing. Have a nice day Damon.” I pulled the keys from my pocket and walked towards my car. It was sitting alone at the back of the lot. She looked hot as hell, and I just wanted to get in and drive away. FAST. I could hear his footsteps behind me as I got to the car. I put the key in the door and unlocked it; I knew he was behind me and of course I had to turn around.

  “What do you want?” I said when I saw him just standing there.

  “Come have coffee with me right now. You can explain what you illegal thing you have done.” He stated with that killer smile and a husky but sexy voice.

  “I haven’t done anything illegal, and no, I have plans. I’m not going to drop everything to suit your demands Damon.” I was proud of my stand up communications today. First my brother, now this starting to become annoying man. Why was he here anyway? He just smiled and started to walk around the other side of the Dodge, “Open the door Savannah. I’m coming with you.”

  “WHAT? Are you crazy?” What was happening here? I could feel my heart beating through my chest.

  “Open the door, please Savannah.” He said these words so slowly. It made me weak in my knees, the way he spoke sometimes. I stopped and thought for a moment. I looked at his handsome features, his eyes so blue, and his lips, the smile splayed across his lips told me he was trouble. That voice was enough to make you lose your mind. I gathered my wits, and my mind. I got in and opened the door. Don’t ask me what I was thinking because obviously I wasn’t. He got in and smiled.

  “I knew you couldn’t resist me.” He was starting to laugh.

  “Get your belt on, and shut up. I don’t talk while I’m driving. Don’t touch my radio either.” If I laid down the rules, he would regret his words. Well one had to hope.

  “You’re the boss.” He was clearly laughing at me. I would make sure that he knew I was in charge.

  I pulled out of the parking lot and headed back towards town. I really wanted to wash this beast. I needed to book it in for a polish to, the fire engine red paint was so shiny, and new looking and I didn’t want it to ever lose it's value.

  “So how did you acquire such a ride?” Damon said.

  “I thought I told you not to speak. And it was my fathers.” I didn’t turn my head to look at him as I answered.

  “It’s one hell of a ride, shame you don’t know how to handle it.” I could see him running his fingers across the dash board. His hands looked manly and rough.

  “You know nothing about my driving, so do as your told and shut up.”

  How dare he tell me, I don’t know how to drive? He made me nervous, so I was driving a little slower than normal, but I also didn’t want to make a fool out of myself and show off. I started to relax; I was not going to let him do this to me. I am in charge, not him and his demands. We cruised along the highway, windows down sun roof popped up. It was heaven. He had listened to my instructions and didn’t say a word. I had one hand on the wheel, and the other on my knee, dad would always drove like this, or cruise whichever you would say. I felt his warmth before I felt his hand. I automatically stiffened.

  “Just relax.” He whispered.

  I kept my eyes on the road and only concentrated on that and my breathing. Maybe this was a bad day to wear a skirt I thought to myself.

  “I told you not to speak.” I squeaked out.

  His hand started to move from my hand to the inside of my knee. I held my breath. I couldn’t bring myself to move. I wanted to pull over, but there was nowhere I safely could. I pulled my thoughts together and reached for his hand and leaned over and placed it back on his knee. I turned and smiled.

  “Hands to yourself, please.” I said in my innocent voice. All I could think about the rest of the way was his hands on my body. Feeling me. I imagined his naked body up against mine, and I wanted to taste his kiss. I shook that thought away as we neared the cafe. “What am I doing?” I thought to myself.

  We pulled up at the cafe down the road from the flower stall. The sooner I got this coffee over with the sooner I could get on with being alone. We pulled up on the curb and walked into the cafe. It wasn’t that busy, which was good.

  “How do you like it?” He asked in a cocky tone.

  “I….umm….excuse me?” Did I say something out loud?

  “Your coffee?” He leaned in and whispered in my ear. I shivered, I wasn’t cold, but I had goose bumps over my skin. If had this effect on me just by speaking in my ear, What hope did I have for anything else?

  “Oh! Umm strong and sweet, with milk please.” I turned and found a table in the middle of the cafe. If I was going to have a conversation with Damon, I wanted it to be in public. I didn’t trust him yet, or myself. He sat opposite me at the small round table. I admired the way he walked, with such power.

  “So what were you doing at the prison Savannah?”

  “Visiting,” Should I tell him?

  “Visiting who?”

  The waitress dropped out order off with a cheerful smile. some would say it was a flirting smile, but I’m going to use the word cheerful……..

  “What were you doing at the prison?” Subject change.

  “I was working; one of my clients is there. Answer my question since I answered yours.” Damon’s look was serious. I was kind of intimidated. I would hate to be against him in a case.

  “My brother, he’s in there.” I said taking a sip from my delicious coffee. Not as good as where I worked, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

  “How long as he been in prison?” His business face was on. He was serious looking.

  “For too long! Please I would prefer we talk about something else. My personal life is exactly that, personal. I don’t share that with strangers.” I had to look away before I started to laugh. We had this conversation on Friday.

  “So the Dodge, is that your everyday car? Or does it sit in the barn until you get sick of feeling sorry for it?”

  “I drive it when I feel like it. It was my dad’s as I said. He left it to me in his will. It has company just so you know. It’s parked next to the Harley.” I couldn’t be serious, and had to laugh a little.

  “Ah…. A girl can never have too many toys right?” Now he was mocking me.

  “So what do you drive Damon? A Honda?” I soon realised I could be mischievous too.

  “I drive an Aston Martin. It will kick the arse off your Dodge any day sweetheart.”

  I burst out laughing. Over competent men. There were a lot of them out there, and Damon was undoubtedly one of them. I smiled and continued drinking my coffee. The smell was heavenly, and the taste was bittersweet. If there was one thing in this world I couldn’t live without, it would be coffee. I didn’t drink alcohol often, well like once every six months maybe. Nicole would often head out to parties or clubs to get her drink on, and I would pick her up and drop her off. She always called me “mum” on occasions like that. I was the responsible one out of both of us. She always used to tell me to “let go, have fun, you only live once Sav.” I wondered if I should text her and let her know about my day so far. But decided against it. Sometimes she made me more nervous than I should be.

  “So what made you decided to be lawyer Savannah.” Damon asked, sitting back on his chair.

  “I’ve always wanted to be one. I was that teenager who watched criminal shows and got pissed off when justice wasn’t served. I can barely watch the news these days without screaming.” I said.

  “As I said the other night, I followed my parents. They are both lawyers, and out of us kids, it was me, I was always interested in what dad did, so my parents had always
encouraged me to become a Lawyer.”

  “My mother was a teacher, and my father was mechanic. He used to own a business with family friends of ours. He got sick a few years ago and sold his share back to his business partner, than spent all his time working on the Dodge Charger and renovating. My brother and I would fight over who was going to help with rebuilding the cars but never with the renovations. I would never be a builder.” I couldn’t help but smile at that thought.

  “And your mother? Is she still alive?” He questioned.

  “No, both her and my father passed away six years ago. It was just Stephen and I. Two years after they died, Stephen went to jail. It was heartbreak all over again. I was alone; all of our other family live elsewhere or are gone. But my friend Derek introduced me to Nicole, she now lives with me in my family’s house, and she is my company.” I think I have said enough about myself for one day. I wanted to know his story.

  “So what about you Damon, what’s your story?”

  “You will find out soon enough. We have a date on Tuesday remember?”

  “Ah yes, how could I forget, where are we going?” I had to ask what his intentions were and maybe plan. I needed to buy something, and I was eager to get my hair done.

  “It’s a surprise. But why talk about Tuesday when you’re here now.” He reached over and held my hand with his.

  I looked down at his long fingers. He had huge hands, and long fingers. It has been too long since I had been in this position. I closed my eyes and thought about his touch. When I opened them again, I looked into his eyes. His lips curved into a smile. In this moment, I wanted to kiss him.

  “Excuse me, can I get you another round?” I cleared my throat and looked at the waitress. Her mouth was open staring at Damon, obviously trapped by his charm.

  “What are you thinking Savannah?” I said to myself embarrassed by what was happening. I pulled my hand away and placed it in my lap. Damon ordered another round of coffee and looked at the table, presumably looking for my hand. We started talking about where we both grew up and about our family heritage. I learned a small amount about him and gave him the same amount of information in return. Our second round of coffees had come, and we drank them in between conversation. I felt so relaxed by the time I had finished my second cup of coffee. I looked at my watch, and it was already three.

  “’I should get to the car wash and head home.” I said, kind of regretful. I don’t know if I wanted today to end.

  “How about we skip the car wash, and go out to dinner tonight?” He said.

  “I thought we were going Tuesday?”

  “Let’s go tonight, I’m thoroughly enjoying your company, and you’re just starting to open up. Why wait two days before you have my company again Savannah.” He had this way with words because I didn’t know if I could say no to him.

  “I need to go home and have a shower and get changed. But I have to be home early as I have my first class at eight.” I explained, hoping that didn’t sound too immature or like I expected a sleepover.

  “That’s fine; I will take you home at a decent hour. I will catch a cab home, and I will pick you up from your house at seven.”

  I agreed and gave him my address. I certainly needed to get home and get ready. I had no idea where we were going or what he had planned, but he told me to wear comfortable shoes. I arrived home and found Nicole lying on the couch watching Grey’s Anatomy. She loved her TV shows.

  “Where have you been Sav? I was starting to worry.” She said getting up and walking to the breakfast bar.

  “I went to visit Stephen this morning; he is in his mood again. I’m really worried about him Nicole.” I remembered his attitude towards me this morning when I told him I had been to the cemetery.

  “He does this every month; I told you men are like women. They have that time of the month were they are arseholes, just like we are bitches.” She said with a smile. She and Stan had this one weekend where all they did was fight. She put it down to “man periods”.

  “Anyway, as I was leaving I ran into Damon. That guy I had a drink with on Friday night, And we had coffee.” I could sense her eyes burning me as I had my back to her unpacking the dishwasher.

  “You didn’t think to text me? Savannah James, you cheeky bitch! Did you kiss?” Nicole basically ran to stand beside me.

  “No, we talked. I am going out to dinner with him tonight though. Don’t ask me what I am thinking, because I don’t know. But I do need to borrow a dress.” I smiled at Nicole like a school girl I think, giving her that all teeth smile.

  “Of course, but you must tell me all about it I will wait up for you. I want details.” Nicole grabbed my hand, and we headed upstairs to find me something to wear.

  I decided on a deep purple one shoulder dress, it was to below my knees and hugged my top and hips but sat out from the hips down. I found a pair of black shoes, which had small heals but were the most comfortable pair of shoes I owned. I consulted Nicole, and she told me to curl the top layer of hair and leave it down. I hated my hair in my face, but I agreed as she had more fashion sense than me. When everything was organised I showered, and my “makeover” as Nicole put it, began. Once again we went for the Smokey look with my eyes, and she curled my hair. I dressed and looked at myself in the mirror.

  “You scrub up nice.” Nicole said as she stood back to admire her handy work.

  “Thank you.” I admired myself in the mirror. I did scrub up alright. I looked at the clock, and it was quarter to six already. The sudden onset of butterflies hit. I was actually going on a date with this man. And to be honest I couldn’t wait. Today was fun. I had relaxed enough to talk about certain things about myself. But I still didn’t want to give too much of my personal life to anyone.

  I jumped when I heard the doorbell. Nicole jumped up and smiled. She was down the stairs before I had the chance to do or say anything. I gathered my purse and took one last look in the mirror and headed down the stairs.

  Damon stood in the doorway talking to Nicole. I took the opportunity to admire his beauty. He was dressed in black dress pants and white button up shirt. He also had a black tie and polished shoes. This man truly was a rare specimen of beauty. I continued my way down the stairs, Nicole turned, and Damon looked up. I don’t know why but I was nervous. I stood next to Nicole and gave her a smile.

  She leaned in and kissed my cheek and whispered “You’ve got yourself a Hottie Sav. Enjoy.” I caught her smile and returned mine.

  “You look beautiful Savannah.” Damon said.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself.” I commented as he offered me his arm. I took it, and we headed down the path.

  “Have fun kids.” Nicole called. She knew how to embarrass me.

  We got to his car, and I remembered it to be the same car that was on the curb on Friday. I should have known. The elegant charcoal Austin Martin was just as hot as him. I had a soft spot for sport cars as well as my Chevrolets. Damon opened the door, and I sat inside. It smelt like a new car. Damon got in the driver’s side and started the car. The engine roared to life, and that alone was enough to make a girl like me come in panties.

  “You ready?” He said, smiling like he could read my thoughts.

  “As I’ll ever be.” Would I ever be?

  We travelled in silence; I was busy admiring the city lights and occasionally staring at his concentration face. He often turned his head and smiled at me when he caught me staring. We pulled up outside amazon. I had heard about this restaurant by customers that came into work. It was famous for the steaks and service. But I had heard that it was an extremely hard place to get reservations, so I wondered how Damon managed to get a reservation in such short notice. Stan was on the waiting list for three months before they called him to say he could have a table. I wondered if I should even ask how he got a table. The valet came and opened my door before walking around to the driver’s side to take possession. Damon was at my side and placed his arm around my waist, and we walked inside.
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  “Welcome Damon, lovely to see you again.” The tall blonde said as we entered.

  She was wearing a floor length Saturn dress, with what seemed to be diamonds around her neck. I was a little nervous to see the menu! I was not allowing for him to pay for my meal, I was the kind of girl that enjoyed my freedom and preferred not to owe anything.

  We were seated by the blonde straight away. The main room was a large open space with red walls, chocolate and black furniture and crystal wear on every table. Not to mention the massive chandeliers’ hanging from the ceiling. Damon pulled out my chair, and I sat.

  He placed his hands on my shoulder and leaned down and whispered, “You truly are beautiful.”

  I didn’t have time to respond before he sat in front of me. I felt my cheeks heat and knew I was blushing. The blonde brought a bottle of Chenin Blanc, and filled our glasses, before leaving the bottle in the ice bucket. The wine tasted sweet, and dry, but left a refreshing feeling on the palate. I picked up the menu and browsed.

  “You haven’t tasted heaven until you’ve tasted their steak.” Damon said.

  “I cook a pretty good steak you know.” I lied. I hate cooking. Nicole is the cook. I am the cleaner.

  “I will hold you to that, you can cook me dinner next time.” He said with the look that he had just read my thoughts.

  Fuck! Now I have to learn to cook. But who said next time? I was only thinking about now. And why was he thinking about next time? I continued to read the menu and decided on the steak with mushroom sauce, grilled potato and eggplant along with cabbage. I could live on vegetables and fruit. Nicole and I often ate vegetables for dinner and nothing else.

  “I hope you bought your comfortable shoes.” Damon remarked.