“Sleepy Princess.”
“Yes, thanks for taking my call. See you in two days.”
“I thought you were back tomorrow night?” A little irritated by the news of extra day before I see her.
“Daddy changed it. Talk later, Daniel,” she says, hanging up.
Chapter 26
Anu-Ms K
I haven’t spoken to Daniel since I called him while falling asleep. I was supposed to return on Sunday, but my dad wouldn’t let me leave. I finally took a late flight on Wednesday evening, getting to Chicago at midday.
When I arrived home, the unit was the same way I left it. I didn’t expect it to be this clean. But to my surprise, everything is in order. I know Daniel has been staying here because I called Jacob and he told me he and Mr. W have been getting along, and he lets him play Xbox for two hours before sending him up to his mom.
I’m a bit jet lagged. I drop my suitcase on my bed and go to the fridge and, it’s stocked with food. I smile. I could get used to this. I take out a neatly wrapped sandwich and eat. It’s so good that I take another one and a glass of apple juice then head to my spot on the sofa. Pulling the blanket from the basket, I curl up and soon drift off to sleep.
I awake to gentle hands rubbing my cheek; I’m startled, then I see Daniel. I pull the blanket close.
“Welcome back,” he says.
“Thanks.”
“I was beginning to think I might have to get myself a new roommate.”
“Very funny,” I chuckle. “Daddy didn’t want me to leave. I had to promise to come back home soon, or he would’ve kept changing my ticket.”
“Glad you made it back.”
I nod and really open my eyes to look at him. Was he always this good looking and sexy before or I’m just in a drought? I could jump him right now. We remain in silence just looking at each other. There’s something sizzling in the air between us along with a fight to hold back. I suck my lips in and pull the blanket close to hide my hardened nipples.
“I hear you and Jacob are getting along.”
“Well, since the one person we have in common isn’t available, we had to become friends.”
I smile.
“Good, glad you guys figured things out.” I get up and feel some wetness. “Still tired. Talk in the morning,” I say.
“Goodnight, Anu, and welcome back”.
I wave to him, not looking back. My steps are quick to the bathroom to wash the travel and the arousal I’m experiencing.
Living with him isn’t going to be a walk in the park.Damn it!
Chapter 27
Daniel.
Opening the door, I stop in awe when I see her sleeping on the sofa. My heart bounces with joy. The last few days of expecting her and finally she’s here. I tried so hard not to call her and demand her return.
I move closer to her. I can sit and watch her all night, but I need to wake her so she can sleep in a bed, preferably my bed but I know that won’t happen today, and I also know the sofa isn’t very comfortable. I wanted to change it, but I also wanted her to return before I did that. I move closer and gently run my hands down her cheek. She stirs at first then jumps up, startled, until she sees it’s me.
We talked for a moment before she heads to her room. If it wasn’t before, it’s apparent now that we are both fighting the attraction. But she looks tired. I watch her race to her room and smile inwardly, knowing, I wasn’t wrong to have moved in with her; the insane attraction is there. She needs time to admit it to herself.
The next few days, we have dinner together and I get to learn more about the music program. The air between us continues to build. I soon learn that her mom passed away two years ago, and she feels her parent had her despite knowing the possibility that she could be an SC carrier because they were grieving the loss of a brother she never met, who had died of a head injury after falling off his bike. Her older, brother, Derin is her half-brother—same father, not the same mother. His mom died when he was five before her dad remarried. In her words about her dad:
“He has lost two wives and a son. I know the possibility of losing a daughter scares him, so I indulge him, plus I like being daddy’s little girl,” she’d said with a wide grin.
