Chapter 189: tomorrow, I will

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: tomorrow, I will

Damian leaned back slightly.

"So I make her aware that I’m attracted to her."

"Yes."

"And how exactly?"

Julian laughed.

"We’ve been explaining that for the last ten minutes."

Damian gave him an unimpressed look.

Julian grinned.

"Fine."

He began counting on his fingers.

"Look at her."

"Stay close."

"Flirt."

"Compliment her."

"Don’t be afraid of touch when there’s a natural opportunity."

"And dress like you know she has eyes."

Damian sighed.

"I always dress well."

"Then dress better."

"How?"

"Tomorrow."

Julian pointed toward him.

"You have the Foundation visit."

"So?"

"So don’t show up looking like you’re going to a committee meeting."

Damian almost smiled.

"I am going to a committee meeting."

"You know what I mean."

Julian laughed.

"Make an effort."

Adrian nodded.

"You don’t need to overdo it. Just look particularly good."

Damian raised an eyebrow.

"Particularly good?"

Julian shrugged.

"She already thinks you’re handsome."

"Let her notice."

Damian was quiet.

He had never considered his appearance something he needed to use.

Women noticed him whether he wanted them to or not.

That had always been the problem.

Girls approached him.

They flirted.

They asked him out.

And he had always politely turned them down.

He had never needed to wonder how to attract someone.

Now, for the first time, he actually wanted a woman to look at him and think—

I want him.

That was entirely different.

Julian studied him.

"You’re used to women noticing you."

Damian nodded.

"You’ve never had to make someone notice you."

"No."

"That’s why this feels strange."

"Probably."

"But you’re not actually inexperienced with women."

Damian looked at him.

"You’ve spoken to them. You’ve danced with them. You’ve had women flirt with you."

"You simply never flirted back."

Damian nodded.

"That’s different."

"Exactly."

Julian smiled.

"You’re not learning how to talk to women."

"You’re learning how to make one woman understand that you want her."

That distinction finally made sense.

Damian looked toward the window.

He could picture Vivienne beside him.

Her smile.

Her easy laughter.

The way she trusted him.

The way she had simply let him take her bag without questioning it.

He had always thought those things meant he needed to be more careful.

Perhaps he had been thinking about it backward.

Her comfort with him wasn’t something he needed to protect from his feelings.

It was something he could build upon.

He didn’t have to become a stranger to her.

He simply had to stop making himself harmless.

Julian leaned back.

"There’s one more thing."

Damian looked at him.

"What?"

"Don’t be afraid of being obvious."

Damian frowned.

"Obvious?"

"Not desperate. Not possessive. Just clear."

Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you compliment her, mean it."

"If you want to sit beside her, sit beside her."

"If you want to walk her somewhere, ask."

"If she looks beautiful, tell her."

"If you want to hold her hand..."

He shrugged.

"When the moment is right, take it."

Damian’s heart gave a hard beat.

"Just like that?"

"Not literally just like that."

Julian laughed.

"Read the situation."

Adrian added,

"And let her respond."

Damian nodded.

That part mattered.

He didn’t want to overwhelm her.

He didn’t want to frighten her.

He wanted her to understand him.

To feel the difference.

To realize that the man she’d always known was suddenly looking at her differently.

Julian smiled.

"You’re making this much more complicated than it is."

"Perhaps because I’ve never done it."

"Then learn."

Damian gave him a dry look.

"Very helpful."

"I’m serious."

Julian leaned forward.

"You don’t need some elaborate strategy. You already have everything you need."

"The friendship."

"The trust."

"Her comfort."

"Your confidence."

"Your ability to make her laugh."

He paused.

"All you’re missing is the part where she realizes you’re not doing these things because you’re simply a nice guy."

Damian’s expression became thoughtful.

"You’re doing them because you want her."

Julian nodded.

"Exactly."

He let the silence sit for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Make her feel wanted."

Damian looked down.

That was it.

Not merely liked.

Not merely appreciated.

Wanted.

He wanted Vivienne.

And perhaps he had been too afraid of that truth to let it show.

He had been so concerned about frightening her away that he had made himself impossible to read.

No wonder she didn’t understand.

He had given her every reason to think he was simply being Damian.

Kind.

Attentive.

Protective.

Safe.

But none of those things told her that he wanted to kiss her, hold her hand, or have her close.

That he wanted to be the man she chose.

Julian watched him carefully.

"So?"

Damian looked up.

"What?"

"What are you going to do tomorrow?"

Damian thought for a moment.

"Stay close."

Julian smiled.

"Good."

"Flirt."

"Better."

"Let her see that I’m interested."

"Better."

"And if there’s an opportunity..."

Damian paused.

He still wasn’t entirely comfortable saying it.

"Touch her."

Julian nodded.

"Naturally."

"Not forcefully."

"Obviously."

"And if she pulls away?"

"Then you stop."

Damian nodded.

Julian grinned.

"Look at you."

"What?"

"You’re learning."

Damian laughed quietly.

"Don’t get carried away."

Julian leaned back.

"I’m just glad you’re finally thinking like a man who’s actually courting someone."

Damian’s smile faded slightly.

Courting.

The word felt heavier than he expected.

Because that was what this was.

He wasn’t playing around.

He wasn’t trying to make Vivienne jealous.

He wasn’t trying to prove something to Christopher.

He genuinely wanted her.

And if he was going to pursue her, then he needed to let her know what he was offering.

Not friendship alone.

Not polite attention.

Him.

As a man.

As someone who wanted her.

Damian nodded slowly.

"All right."

Julian smiled.

"Tomorrow."

Damian looked toward the window.

Tomorrow.

He would still be the same Damian Vivienne knew.

But perhaps, for the first time, she would notice something else.

The way he looked at her.

The way he stood beside her.

The way he allowed himself to stay close.

The way his attention lingered.

He wouldn’t force anything.

He wouldn’t become someone he wasn’t.

He simply wouldn’t hide anymore.

Because if Vivienne was ever going to understand that he wanted her—

he had to give her something to understand.

Julian paused at the door.

"One more thing."

Damian looked at him.

"Don’t be afraid of what she’ll think."

Damian frowned.

"If she likes you, she’ll understand. If she doesn’t, you’ll know. Just pay attention to how she responds and don’t force anything."

He gave Damian a final grin.

"You’re courting her, not conducting a military operation."

Adrian chuckled.

"He’s right."

Damian shook his head, already reaching for the door.

"You two are impossible."

"Maybe," Julian said. "But we’re right."

Damian gave them both an exasperated look before ushering them out.

"Get out."

The door closed behind them.

Silence returned to the room.

Damian stood there for a moment before his eyes drifted toward the mirror.

He looked at his reflection.

Tall.

Dark-haired.

Broad-shouldered.

Well-dressed.

The sort of face that had attracted attention without him ever trying.

He thought about Julian’s words.

Use the face.

For once, perhaps he should.

Damian’s gaze lingered on his reflection.

He had spent years never needing to think about how to make a woman notice him.

Now there was one woman whose attention he actually wanted.

He gave a faint, almost amused smile.

"All right."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Let’s see how this works tomorrow."j