Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

The car eventually pulled into the driveway of Blackwood Crescent.

Victoria and Tracy were already waiting at the front door to welcome them back.

As soon as Damon stepped out of the car, the two of them hurried over, their faces bright with excitement.

Welcome home from your business trip, big brother!”

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‘Honey, you’re home! You look like you’ve lost weight being away for these two weeks,” Victoria said, her eyes welling with motherly concern.“I’ve spent all day making your favorites. You need a real meal to get your strength back.”

Damon reached out, affectionately ruffling Tracy’s hair before turning to Victoria with a soft expression.“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it.”

On the other side of the car, Aubrey was busy wrestling his heavy suitcase out of the trunk. It hit the pavement with a loud, metallic thud, the jarring sound immediately drawing the attention of the other three.

Damon spun around, his brow furrowing when he saw her struggling. He strode over instantly, his hand closing firmly over the handle to take the weight. “Stop. You don’t need to be doing this.”

Aubrey forced a polite, albeit awkward, smile.“It’s fine. It’s the least I could do.”

Damon let out a soft, weary sigh, his gaze searching hers for a flicker of the woman he knew.

Tracy skipped over and hooked her arm through Aubrey’s, pulling her away from the luggage.“Seriously, Aubrey, don’t even bother. Damon doesn’t let you carry anything heavier than a shopping bag.”

As she spoke, she lifted Aubrey’s hand, spreading her fingers to inspect her palm.“Look at these delicate hands. My brother has never let you do a day of heavy lifting in your life.”

Victoria beamed at them, her voice warm and welcoming.“Aubrey, dear, you must be exhausted too after the drive to pick him up. Come on inside, vash up, and let’s get some food on the table.”

Of course, Mom,” Aubrey replied with a nod. She let Tracy lead her toward the house, her gaze fixed forward, never once glancing back at Damon. It was as if he had become invisible to her.

A hollow ache settled in Damon’s chest. He stood there in the driveway, watching her retreating figure, his mind spinning as he tried to navigate the

old, unfamiliar distance she had placed between them.

Victoria gave his arm a gentle squeeze.“A penny for your thoughts? Come on, let’s head inside and eat.”

Jamon pulled his gaze away.“Mom, did you ask Bree to start calling you that?”

No,” Victoria said, her smile widening.“Ever since she got back from the hospital, that’s just how she’s addressed me. She even tells everyone I’m her real mother and you’re the one who was adopted.”

A faint, genuine smile tugged at the corners of Damon’s lips.

I’m going to take my bags up to the room first. Go ahead and start without me.”

He wheeled his suitcase toward the house.

When he reached the master suite, the king–sized bed was exactly as he’d left it–crisp, impeccably made, and untouched. Not a single wrinkle or indentation suggested she’d been anywhere near it.

He moved into the walk–in closet and slid open Aubrey’s wardrobe

His heart sank when he saw the gaps, most of her current–season clothes were missing A hollow as he settled in his chest as his eyes darkened

He stepped out of the closet and wandered into the study

This room, at least, showed signs of life. It had clearly been used, a towering stack of law textbooks and case ides was piled high in the cornes

Her lightweight throw blanket was still draped over the reading clair, and a pair of Bartlett pears sat on the small side table

Out of the entire suite, the study was the only place that held any trace of her

Damon left the room and pushed open the door to the guest room next door

Just as he’d suspected–she had moved out of their bedroom and was sleeping here

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He understood it, logically. Aubrey had no memory of him. She couldn’t be expected to have feelings for a total stranger, much less maintain an intimate relationship with one.

So, he accepted it. He braced himself to endure the distance, knowing it was the only way forward.

Even with his heart thrashed against his ribs just seeing her, he didn’t dare overstep. Every instinct screamed at him to pull her close, but the fear of >eing a burden kept him paralyzed. He was terrified that even a single step too close would feel like an unwanted weight on her shoulders.

He quietly shut the door to her room and retreated.

He headed down to the living room.

The rest of the family was already waiting for him to join them for lunch.

Throughout the meal, Aubrey gave him nothing. There was zero communication, a wall of silence between them that felt miles thick.

His mother and Tracy filled the void, asking him questions about the research facility and his time away.

He shared what he could without breaking confidentiality, but he noticed Aubrey’s eyes glazing over. She was bored, completely detached from the letails of his life.

he was much more engaged with Tracy, though. The two of them chatted animatedly about the food, finding genuine delight in the simplest

onversation.

f there was one silver lining, it was that Aubrey’s appetite had returned. She was actually eating, which was a relief to see.

he was becoming more talkative, too.

ut her smiles and her stories were reserved strictly for Tracy and his mother. To her, he was just a ghost at the table.

After lunch, Tracy made a pointed excuse to drag Victoria out for a walk to “digest,” purposefully leaving Aubrey behind.

I was a transparent attempt to give the two of them some much–needed alone time.

After all, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Aubrey wasn’t blind; she saw right through Tracy’s little scheme.

but standing there with Damon, the air felt heavy with a suffocating awkwardness. He was a complete stranger to her, and the pressure to feel omething–anything–left her feeling paralyzingly out of place. She didn’t know what to say or where to look.

Letreating was her only option. She ducked back into her room, seeking refuge in the dense, impersonal text of her law books.

he hadn’t been settled for long when a soft knock sounded at the door.

Aubrey Hayes snapped out of her intense focus, her eyes darting toward the bedroom door. Her heart skipped a heavy beat.

There was no avoiding it anymore.

The set her textbook aside, stood up, and walked toward the door. Before reaching for the handle, she stopped and took a deep, steadying breath, trying

o summon some courage. Aubrey, don’t be scared, she told herself silently. He’s your boyfriend, not a stranger.

Between her two months in the hospital and his two–week business trip, they had been apart for nearly three months. He was a man in his prime, it was

nly natural if he wanted to sleep with her tonight.

ust close your eyes, she thought, and it’ll be over before you know it

She forced a bright smile onto her face and pulled the door open “Hey, boyfriend. Did you need something?”

Damon Blackwood stood in the hallway, his handsome features composed and unreadable “Don’t call me boyfriend. It sounds too formal”

Aubrey tilted her head, curious “What did I used to call you, then?”

‘Husband,” he said, his voice steady, his expression completely deadpan.

A soft flush crept up Aubrey’s cheeks, and she gave him a faint, knowing smile “Titles like that are usually mutual. I remember you calling me Iree, so I’m fairly certain I didn’t call you ‘husband.”

Damon let out a small, dry laugh and corrected himself “Damon.”

Now, that sounded more like it.

She tried again.“Damon, did you need something?”

12:35

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Damon lifted his hand, presenting an exquisite box.“I was out near the border for some field tests. There wasn’t much in the way of souvenirs there xcept for jade, so I brought you a stone‘.”

Something stirred deep inside Aubrey. She took the box from him, her voice softening.“Thank you.”

he eased the lid open.

he had expected a simple, rough stone, but what lay inside was a vibrant, faceted gem, nearly the size of an egg-

he wasn’t an expert on rubies, but the depth of the color was breathtaking, radiating an unmistakable aura of luxury. Her eyes widened as she looked p at him in shock.“Damon, this must have cost a fortune, didn’t it?”

Damon didn’t give her a straight answer. Instead, he watched her closely.“Do you like it?”

I love it,” Aubrey whispered, nodding enthusiastically. She looked back down, unable to tear her eyes away as she studied the brilliant stone.

Sems like this were usually already set into rings or necklaces; it was her first time seeing a raw ruby of this caliber.

hen again, what woman could possibly resist such a thing?

While her attention was fixed on the jewel, Damon’s gaze remained scorched onto her. He watched the way her features lit up, and before he could stop imself, his hand began to rise, reaching for the curve of her cheek.

le froze halfway there. His hand hung in the air for several agonizing seconds before his fingers slowly curled into a tight fist. He let out a sharp, silent reath, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he forced himself to drop his hand back to his side.

Damon…” Aubrey looked up suddenly, her gaze colliding with the smoldering intensity in his eyes. It felt like a physical burn, a jolt of high–voltage lectricity that sent her heart thundering against her ribs. She went still, the words dying in her throat as the air between them suddenly turned heavy nd thick with tension.

Hmm?” Damon murmured, his voice dropping into a low, gentle register.“What is it?”

ubrey blinked, snapping out of her momentary trance. “This stone… how much is it worth?”

It’s worth about one point five million dollars,” he replied casually.“If it were cut and set into jewelry, its value would appreciate significantly.”

Lubrey stared at him, her jaw practically dropping. It took her a few seconds to find her voice again. “You… you went on a business trip and came back

ith a one point five million dollar gift?”

Damon’s voice was rich and velvety, laced with a tenderness that made her heart skip. “It’s also a gift to celebrate you coming home from the hospital. I vant your life to be as brilliant and radiant as this stone.”

Thank you for the gift,” Aubrey said, snapping the box shut. She felt a flush of self–consciousness creep up her neck, “But… please give me some time. I eed to get to know you again. I can’t be intimate with you unless I’m sure I still feel that connection.”

I know,” he rasped, his voice rough with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.

Do you mind? Waiting, I mean?”

Not at all.”

Aubrey lifted the box slightly, a shy, tentative smile tugging at her lips.“I really do love it. Thank you, Damon”

With that, she began to pull the door shut.

ust as the door was about to dick into the frame, Damon’s hand shot out, bracing against the wood to stop it.

She startled, looking up at him through the narrow gap “la… is there something else?”