Hallie

I woke up to the sun shining brightly into my room.  I had to blink a few times before looking around the room, wondering how it could be so quiet. I don't here anything from the baby monitor in Ty and Michy's room.

I look over to the clock to see it was just after seven. 

I stretched and figured Damien has the kids. Then suddenly a knock on the door sounded.

I sat up on the bed. "Come in."

Damien popped his head and smiled. "Good morning," he said.

"Morning."

"I hope you don't mind, but I made arrangements with my parents to take the kids for the day," he began to say.

I raised my eyebrows.

"I wanted to take you somewhere. I figured you deserve a day of fun before the circus begin with your dad and Marcus and everything else."

I smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Are you sure your parents won't mind? Ty and Michy can be a handful," I said.

"Trust me, they don't mind at all. They love kids. Ty and Michy seem taken with my parents as well which works out well in they parents favour because they are completely besotted. Those munchkins have them wrapped around their little fingers."

I chuckled. "If you're sure they don't mind."

"I'm sure."

"Okay," I said. I could tell I've completely taken him by surprise by not putting up a fight.

"Great. Half an hour enough time for you to get ready?" He asked.

I chuckled. "Depends. Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. But dress casually and I was thinking, maybe you could bring an overnight bag?"

"Overnight bag?"

"Did I forget to tell you we're staying overnight?"

I rolled my eyes at his antics. "Yes, you did," I said.

"Well, we are, but if by the end of it, you really want to go home then we will. And you don't have to worry because if the kids need us, then we'll head back right away. But I hope that you keep an open mind and that you trust me."

I bit my lip.

"Please," he added.

I nodded. "Okay?"

"Really?"

I chuckled again. "Yes. Besides, looks like you've got everything covered and you've really planned this out."

"I did. Ty and Michy means the world to you and to me too. But you also deserve a break and some time to yourself. It's going to be crazy once Winston acknowledge you as ahis daughter and only heir and I don't even want to think about what we need to do and what might happen after that."

"I know. And thank you."

He dropped a kiss on the top of my head.

"I'll meet you downstairs?"

I nodded. "In half an hour!"

He laughed.

Damien

"Where are we going?" She asked. Again.

"I told you, it's a surprise."

She sighed and pouted making me chuckle.

"Seriously though. Why can't you just tell me where you're taking me?"

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise."

She rolled her eyes at me while chuckling.

I love her like this. Relaxed. Happy.

"Can you give me a hint?" She asked.

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "Baby, seriously."

"Baby?" She echoed. "Really?"

I shrugged.

She shook her head. "Fine. Don't tell me. I'll probably hate your surprise anyways."

I laughed.

"Your surprise probably sucks," she added.

I shook my head.

"It will probably be on the tabloids the next day as the worst surprise in the world."

"Hallie, shush!"

"Yup. Wort surprise. Ever."

I shook my head again.

"You know you can prove me wrong by telling me right?" She said while batting her lashes at me.

"Not happening. I know you'll love my surprise so much that I'd be surprise if you aren't in love with me by the end of the day."

Her eyes widened.

I smirked. Serves her right. Let her milk over that.

Hallie

"Not happening. I know you'll love my surprise so much that I'd be surprise if you aren't in love with me by the end of the day."

My eyes widened.

I swallowed hard.

"I won't love you," I blurted.

"What?"

"I said I won't love you."

"Hallie..." he started this say, but I shook my head.

"No, Damien. My kids are my life and they're my priority. I have no room for anything or anyone else so, if that's what you're expecting then you can just turn this car around and head back because, I won't love you and you can't love me, Damien."

"And why not?" He asked.

"Because."

"That's not an answer and honestly, you should just stop talking right now, because you're just pissing me off."

I could see him clenching his teeth and he was gripping the wheel so tight,'I can see the veins in his hands.

I frowned.

"I can't believe you told me to shut up," I muttered.

He remained quiet.

"Seriously, you just told me to shut up," I shook my head.

He glared at me, which made me burst out laughing, which made him glare at me even more.

"Damn frustrating woman," I heard him grumble.

Damien

"Damn frustrating woman," I grumbled.

What the hell is she saying about not loving me? I call bullshit.

Bull-fucking-shit. Yup. That's what I say. Bull. Fucking. Shit.

If she thinks she can just ward me off like that, then she's got another thing coming. Besides, she loves me. I know it. She can deny it all she wants, but I've seen the way she looks at me. She may not realize or even know it yet, but she's already in love me. The stubborn woman. By the end of this trip, she'll not only realize it, she'll admit it.

After a few hours, we finally made it to our destination.

"We're here," I said.

She looked out her window and said nothing.

"We're in Villa Amore. My father gifted this estate to my mother during their seventh anniversary. We used to come here a lot when my siblings and I where young. This is where we go whenever we want to escape the city," I said. "It's our home away from home."

Again. She said nothing.

Fine.

"Signore Damien," Paolo greeted us.

"Paolo," I greeted back.

"How was your drive here?" He asked.

"Not too bad," I said. "How's everyone?"

"Very well, signore."

"This is Hallie. Hallie Scott. Hallie, this is Paolo. He helps take care of the place."

"Signora Scott, it is my pleasure. I hope you enjoy the palazzo."

"Thank you and please, call me Hallie." Final she says something.

"I will have your things brought to your rooms, sì?"

"Sì. Grazie. I'd like to show Hallie around," I said.

"Sì, signore. Pilar has prepared a meal for you in the veranda when you are ready."

"Grazie, Paolo."

He nodded and gave us privacy.

"Come. I'll show you around," I said.

"We have one of our wineries here. It supplies our family's hotel chains in the city," I said. "We have a few selection which we can try if you're up to it."

She simply nodded.

I frowned. She hasn't said a single word to me since we got here.

"We've got a horse ranch as well, which is just further down," I said and led the way.

"Do you know how to ride?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"Not a problem. I can teach you."

"There's a lake just beyond that line over there. I was thinking we could have a picnic later today."

She nodded.

"Are you really not going to say anything?"

She shrugged.

"Damn frustrating woman!" I grumbled.

"I was just following your orders. You told me to not to say anything."

I ran my hand through my hair.

"Hallie, you drive me crazy, you know that!"

"Damien, I don't know what you want from me," I said. "You told me to stop talking and now, I have you say I'm frustrating and that I drive you crazy, so what do you..."

I didn't let her finish, I covered her mouth with mine in a searing kiss.

I felt her tense at first. Then after a few moments I felt her soften and respond to my kiss.

I pulled her close and deepened the kiss.

We were both panting by the time we pulled apart.

"Damien..." she breathed.

"Hallie..." I whispered back.

"You said you wouldn't kiss me until I was ready."

"I know," I replied. "I said I wouldn't kiss you until you stop thinking about running from me."

"I'm still thinking about it," she responded honestly.

"I know."

"Then you shouldn't have kissed me."

"I'm never letting you go. No matter where you go,
I'll always come after you."

"It's just a kiss, Damien. It doesn't mean anything."

"It means everything."

"Why are you doing this?" She asked.

"Because I want you."

"You can't always have what you want."

"I can. Especially when what I want wants me back."

"I don't want you."

"You want to bet?"

"I don't gamble."

"You're mine, Hallie. remember what I said?"

She frowned.

"When I kiss you, you'll be mine. Mine to keep. Forever."

"No."

"Then you shouldn't have kissed me back."

And before she could say anything, I kissed her.