“In an hour,” I answer.
“Perfect, I will meet you guys there. The children are with my mom and Anne is out shopping with her friend. I might as well hang out with grown men,” Declan says.
“See you guys soon, then,” I say. We all hang up. I love my brothers for that, no need for small talk.
I get up to shower and get ready for our meet up. Just as I put my shirt on, the doorbell rings. The DHL delivery guy is at our door. I sign for the large box and call Anu but she texts back.
Anu: Busy right now, did the package arrive?
Me: Yes.
Anu: I will call you in fifteen minutes.
I set my phone down and return to finish getting ready. Realizing my outfit isn’t casual. I’ve been an auto pilot to formal dressing when Anu tells me to relax or, as she likes to say it: ‘chillax’.
I change from the dress pants to black cargo pants she’d bought for me and pair it with a white three-quarter sleeve tee. I admire the finished work and accept that’s how I look and feel cool.
Chapter 38
Daniel
When I return, I find Anu on the sofa. She has opened her care package and is eating some of the cookies her dad sent her. He’s probably going to call tomorrow to ask if she got the package, and she will giggle like a little girl with a big smile. She’s in her usual spot on the sofa with her blanket.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she asks, with an arched brow, pulling the blanket close to her, just as I pull it back to me.
“How am I looking at you?” I challenge with a smirk. She returns a side eye.
“Like you are intensely staring into my soul and waiting for it to pop out and sit with you.”
I chuckle.
“Maybe I want to tango with your soul.”
Her mouth drops open as she lays back onto the sofa.
“You want to tango with my soul; you’re too intense. I think my soul just needs to rest and avoid your sexy eyes that are intensely trying to draw it out of my body.”
“Now, why would you avoid my eyes?” I tease, squeezing my body closer to her and keep my eyes trained on her.
“Nice try. I’m totally looking away from you and avoiding you until you dial down those sexy eyes.”
I chuckle at the way she widens her stare back at me, like she’s hoping her wide eyes would intimidate me to back down.
“I like looking at you, and backing down might not be possible.”
“You are incorrigible. I’m just going to cover my face with this blanket, and your intense soul can tango alone while I nap.”
I laugh.
“Or I can just lay next to you and not tease your soul into a tango.”
“Nope, I don’t trust your hands.”
Good! At least we both understand what’s about to happen.
“I’m taking up the entire space, so back off. And keep your hands to yourself,” she jokingly says, which emboldens me.
"When you wear a tank top braless, with a short that barely covers your behind, and without panties, it's funny that you think your body isn’t beckoning to my hands for a tango with all the sexiness displayed,” I mock.
