ARIA'S POV
The Blackwood estate in the Hamptons was exactly what Aria had expected....massive, elegant, intimidating in the way that old money always was. She'd been here once before, briefly, but tonight felt different. Tonight was a formal dinner, a proper introduction to Richard Blackwood as Damien's girlfriend rather than just the woman he'd mentioned in passing.
She smoothed down her dress...a simple but elegant navy blue sheath that Damien had assured her was perfect....and took a deep breath.
"You're nervous," Damien observed, his hand warm on her lower back as they approached the main entrance.
"I'm meeting your grandfather properly for the first time. Of course I'm nervous." Aria looked up at him. "What if he hates me?"
"He won't hate you. He already knows everything Aria, If he was going to have a problem with you, he would have said so months ago."
"That's not as reassuring as you think it is."
