A/N: I'm completely in love with the couple Damon and Elena. They have such good on screen chemistry and you can see the sparks of love flying. I've been rooting for them to get together since day 1. hahah I'm a little obsessive as you can tell. Anyways I would like to give all the credit to Sandra Brown and LJ Smith for the wonderful plot line and the beautifully created characters. I am just borrowing them for this fanfiction. I literally borrowed the plot of a Sandra Brown book and adapted everything Vampire Diaries style. The first 3 chapters or so will be very similar to the original book,but as the story goes on, I have big plans and ideas for some twists and cliff hangers. I hope you enjoy this story. Also, I would like to say, I am sorry in advance for my update speed. It depends on my mood. Somedays I'll be able to write a Chapter in 3 days and sometimes it'll take me more than a week or sorry sorry. I'm one of those people that always urge the author to hurry up the updating so I completely understand the sense of urgency. Anyways Thanks again for reading this completely meaningless silly author's note. Forgive my spelling mistakes/ grammer problems ectect. ENJOY! Thanks again to Sandra Brown and LJ Smith!

Summary: Elena Gilbert is being forced to sell the Gilbert Estates because of her old family's debts. Much to her surprise Damon Salvatore, once high school bad boy is the prospective buyer. Warning: All Human/Some Mature Language mild OCC

A dark mysterious man walked out from behind a large oak tree, where he had been hidden. Elena Gilbert, standing under the dark shade of her front porch, spun around at the rustling sound of the man's footsteps. Her hand clutched her car keys to her chest.

"Are you the realtor," the man asked.

"No, I am not," Elena said breathlessly." Why were you hiding behind the tree," she asked angrily. "It's late at night and you scared me,"

"I was waiting for the realtor," he explained. "I didn't mean to scare you." However the way he sauntered onto the front porch with that arrogant walk made her think otherwise.

She was alone and he looked dangerous. The real estate sign was quite prominent on the main road up front, but how many people went house-hunting on foot.

"Oh damn, well isn't it Elena Gilbert in the flesh," he taunted. Her mouth went dry. How did this man know her name?

"You know me," she asked in a questionable tone. He chuckled. It was quite a beautiful chuckle. It sounded like musical bells yet still low and dangerous. He was much taller than her and seemed to loom over her.

"Everyone knows Miss Elena, prettiest, richest girl in Mystic Falls." His tone was offensive and had a mocking edge to it. "After all, you did win Miss Mystic Falls three years in a row." Without realizing it, he moved into her and had his body pressed up against her, to the front door. She could smell his cologne and feel the heat radiating from his body.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know you," she stated coolly. "You may wait on the porch for Mr. Lockwood, the realtor. She nodded tersely at the porch. "Now if you excuse me," she rudely turned around to unlock the door.

She walked into the house and reached to turn on the porch lights. There were five of them, neatly lined up in a row. They flooded the porch with a glistening glow. She gasped. Partly because of the mysterious man's brilliant blue eyes staring right into her chocolate brown ones, but also because she now recognized the man.

"Damon Salvatore," she whispered as if it were a curse. A smirk slowly crept onto his far too beautiful face. He had looped his fingers though the belt loops on his jeans like one of those catalog models.

"So you remember me," he drawled arrogantly.

Damon was not a character who was easily forgotten. In high school he was often the cause of many misfits. He was the leader of his so called gang and was what many would call a bad boy to the extreme.

"What are you doing here," Elena asked suspiciously.

"Invite me in and you'll find out," he smirked. "Or is it that I'm still not good enough to stand in the house of the famous Elena Gilbert. Elena winced at the implication that she was a snob.

"Come in," she said coolly with no emotion. He swaggered into the house and smiled a toothy grin. His eyes leisurely wandered around the front entrance and appraised the house.

Damon Salvatore, wild and rebellious. He had been in acquaintance with the local police, especially Sheriff Forbes, but because of his good looks and charms he often got let off the hook. Him and his gang were famous for fast driving and wild living. Young and respectable men were advised to stay away from him and nice girls the same. Ironically he had a magnetic personality. Men and women both were attracted to him. All it took was that eye thing he did, a suggestive arch of the eyebrow and victims would flock to him with no restraints. He started wearing tight jeans and shirts long before it became fashionable and was known for his signature black leather jacket. His lusciously silky black hair was never styled, yet still looked perfect. He viewed the world through the most gorgeous brilliant blue eyes that would pierce through your heart with just one look.

"Would you like to wait for Mr. Lockwood in the living room," she asked politely. She had a strong urge to wipe that arrogant smirk off of his face.

"Sure Elena, whatever you say." She led him into the living room, turning on the lights as she went,

"Wow," he said with a low whistle. He did a 360 degree turn in the middle of the room.

Elena couldn't help but notice the hard and lean physique he maintained from his high school years. Belly flat, hips narrow, shoulders broad. A all about perfect man.

"I like the room."

"Thanks."

"It's better than I thought it would be. See, I've always wanted to see what was inside the Gilbert Estates, but I never got the invitation, he said sarcastically.

"I didn't know you back then," she said slowly, glaring holes though the backside of the man.

"Now isn't that funny. I recall that we had homeroom together three years straight," he smiled dangerously. He sat down on the couch and propped up his feet on the coffee table comfortably.

Elena gave him an unwelcoming look. It was as if he wanted her to just say that he wouldn't have been welcome to any of the social events her family hosted.

"We had different friends," Elena replied cautious of his reaction.

"Whatever Miss Elena," Damon laughed with a loud scoff at her lame excuse. "I assume it's still Miss."

"Yes," she said slowly narrowing her eyes.

"And why is that?"

"Are you in any position to ask me that," Elena said angrily.

"How come you're not married," He pressed unashamed.

"I like being single. Men are nothing but a distraction." She tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder and stared him right in the eyes. He let out a low chuckle and crossed his arms.

"So how many lovers do you have," he laughed.

"Excuse me." She cried. Elena's face turned red with fury. "Enough to keep me busy," she retorted.

" Anyone that I would know?"

"My love life is none of your business."

"See, this is what I don't get," he stated. He looked up at the ceiling, giving the impression he was contemplating a problem. "The boys that live in this small town fall into two categories. They either come back home and take over their parents businesses or they never come back and move far far away.

"Where do you fall into?" Elena retorted.

"Oh I get a category of my own." Elena couldn't help but let out an un-ladylike laugh.

"Out of all the ones that have come back, most have gotten married and have a bountiful of kids, so I'm kind of suspicious about where you get all your lovers.

Elena rose to her feet with every bone in her body filling with rage.

"Would you like a drink," she said stiffly and reluctantly.

"No, thank you" he said with a small wry smile aware of her angry rage. His declination forced her to sit back down and continue making small talk.

"Do you really want to buy this house?" she asked.

"It's for sale, isn't it?"

"Yes," she said unwilling. "It's just, that…. I mean." Elena stuttered. She nervously wet her lips.

"You haven't changed one bit," Damon said softly. It was the way he sounded when he spoke to her in the hallways. For some reason, exchanging Hellos with Damon in high school left her breathless and nervous. Maybe it was because of the way he said it was so sexual.

"I've grown up," Elena said nervously.

"You're prettier," Damon said , eyeing her up.

"Thank you." The palms of her hands were so sweaty, they left a damp spot on her skirt.

"Everything is still firm and compact," he acknowledged, undressing her with his eyes. He was certainly accustomed to mentally undressing women with his eyes.

"I try to eat healthy." She was not used to men looking at her with such sexual interest.

He smiled. " You're hair still looks shiny and soft." He stared at her for a long time. "As I said before, you're the prettiest girl in town."

"Prettiest rich girl," Elena reminded him.

"To hell with that," Damon shrugged.

Damon had grown up in a bad family. Yes, he was loaded with money, however his father hated him. Giuseppe Salvatore owned the Salvatore electric company. When Damon was in elementary school Giuseppe gave the company to his older son, Stefan. Damon was left with nothing. Giuseppe made it well known that he believed his youngest son to be a complete failure and a worthless piece of shit. Stefan was viewed as the golden boy and the "real man". After Stefan took over the company Giuseppe became a hardcore alcoholic and was often found gambling late at night on the streets. It was rumored that Mrs. Salvatore was beaten to death by him when he was drunk. Giuseppe Salvatore was one of the least respected men in mystic falls.

"I'm sorry about your dad," Elena said softly. Old Giuseppe had died about a year ago for an unknown reason.

Damon laughed bitterly. "Only you would be sorry for something as fucked up as my dad was."

Damon stood up and examined a painting that her father bought for her mother's birthday. "So why are you selling the house?"

Elena didn't like the feeling that he was a prosecutor cross-examining her, so she stood up too and went to the window with the hope that she would see Tyler's car. "My father died a couple months ago, so I live alone. It's ridiculous to have such a big house all to myself."

"So you only lived here with your mother and father." He stared at her with questioning eyes. Those eyes would be the death of her.

"Yes, but mother died a couple years ago," she said sadly. "Jenna and Bonnie used to live with us too," she said referring to the two lovely ladies that worked as domestics for her family. They were like a second mom to her.

"Why aren't they here anymore?"

"I let them go."

"Why?"

"I didn't need them anymore. I can do the house work myself. It keeps myself busy." Elena didn't like the feeling that she was explaining herself to him.

"Look Damon." Elena said exasperatedly. "Why don't you just call Tyler and schedule another meeting tomorrow,"

"I want to see the house now. I walked here in the dark and I'm busy tomorrow."

"Well Tyler isn't here."

One eyebrow inched its way up his forehead and made an inquisitive arch. "Are you friends with Mr. Lockwood," Damon asked.

"Why does it matter to you," she snapped.

"You seem to be comfortable calling him Tyler instead of Mr. Lockwood, would he happen to be one of your so called lovers,"

"We were friends in college."

"Mhmm," Damon smirked. The nonverbal observation clearly told her that he didn't believe her.

"I really don't need the realtor anyways," Damon said. "You can just show me around,"

"I don't think that's proper."

"Well, I'm the client and the customer is always right. After all, Who could show me the house better than you."

Damon was right about that. Who indeed? Who polished every heirloom in the house and know the story behind every item? Whose heart was breaking because she had to sell the house?

Elena Gilbert.

"I might know more about the house than Tyler, but he is a professional at his job."

"Or is it because you don't want to sell it to me?" She looked at his face quickly. "You don't think I'm good enough to buy your house," he said leaning into her tiny body.

"That's not it," she said hesitantly.

"I have the money."

Feeling trapped Elena moved backwards and pressed up against the wall. "I know you do, I've heard about your success with your law firm. Everyone was very happy for you."

Damon laughed. "Are you kidding me? Everyone thought that I'd be in jail by now."

"Well what did you expect," she muttered under her breath not intending for him to hear.

He laughed again. "You still got quite a temper. Don't you? I still remember back in the days. A bunch of us went to the grill to enjoy the… uh never mind what we were looking at, but I'll never forget how scared Ian was when you yelled at him for knocking your fries to the ground."

"I'm extremely even tempered," Elena argued growing more and more nervous as Damon leaned toward her. He stroked her check and rested his palm on her bare skin.

"Don't," Elena said sharply closing her eyes.

They were suddenly caught in the headlights of a black Mercedes Benz as it pulled up in the driveway. Flustered, Elena quickly smoothed out her clothes before making her way downstairs to open the door.

"Elena," Tyler said breathlessly. He pulled the girl into a hug. "I'm sorry I'm late, but the traffic and I had to go get my boss something before I left work and my coffee spilled on me and today was just not my day…."

"Hello Mr. Lockwood," Damon interrupted. He swaggered into the room and leaned against the wall like some kind of idiotic model.

"Oh hey man. You must be Mr. Salvatore." Tyler extended his hand for a handshake. "I'm so sorry I'm late. Lucky you caught Elena when she was at home. You mentioned that you already knew her though so I'm glad it all worked out."

Elena laughed silently to herself. Tyler always spoke fast and furiously when he was running late. It was one of those little quirks that she loved about him.

"Yes I did," Damon said in a low voice. He reached out and took Elena's hand. "We know each other very well." Tyler took notice of the subtle gesture.

"Elena would you like to accompany us on the tour of the house or catch up on your rest," Tyler asked concerned for his friend. She looked quite uncomfortable and queasy.

Tyler was one of Elena's best friends. Scratch that last phrase. One of Elena's only friends. They went to the same college and even tried the whole romantic dating scene with each other. However they were stronger as friends and broke it off after a few months. Little did she know, he was the son of Mayor Lockwood and actually lived with Mayors first wife in California. Tyler found a job in Mystic Falls and decided to move back home with her. He was quickly welcomed into society with Elena's help and fit in perfectly.

"I think I'd better sleep. I have a long day ahead of me," Elena lied. She actually had absolutely nothing planned for tomorrow and would probably spend it alone on a couch watching reruns of I love Lucy.

"I'll come by tomorrow and bring you some pancakes." Tyler knew Elena well and she was pretty sure tomorrow he was going to use those pancakes to bribe some answers about why she was so out of it tonight.

"Yea sure you guys enjoy you're night. Lock the door when you leave Tyler."

"Thanks Elena," Tyler smiled. The smile was so different from Damon's. Tyler had such an innocent personality. So free and open to possibilities of the world.

"Good Night Elena." Elena looked down at the hand that was extended at her. It was tanned and strong. A well shaped masculine

"Good Night Damon." She clasped his hand lightly and let it go. "Welcome Back to Mystic Falls."