Wineglasses still in our hands, Daniel leaned over and gave me a quick kiss, lifting my legs onto his lap, which was how the evening sped by. We finished a bottle of Cabernet, the fire glowing in front of us, sparks flickering between us, and much easier conversation flowing. Mostly golf bloopers and stories about my residency.
Until I yawned and stated I was exhausted.
Daniel set our glasses on the end table, turned off the fire and took my hand. “Come on. I will show you the bedrooms.”
Despite it being a bungalow-style house, there were three steps leading to a corridor behind the living area.
“Oh, my suitcase!”
“I’ll get it in a second.”
Despite the wine, my blood twitched and scampered in my veins. Anxiety, for sure.
“I know you’re itchy with nerves, so this is the guest room,” Daniel said, holding open a door to a lavish bedroom in a zillion hues of purple.
“Also decorated?” I asked, barely able to put a sentence together.
“I can’t take credit for a single thing.”
I pinched Daniel’s arm and said, “So LA.” He laughed and my nerves started to dissipate, but I wasn’t ready for whatever was happening between us. “Do you mind if I stay here? I need myself to settle down. After all, this is only our second date in adult-ish life…”
“There’s no need to explain, Birdie. Go, check out the bathroom, draw yourself a bath or turn on the shower. I’ll leave your suitcase over there,” he said, pointing toward the corner.
As he brushed his lips over mine, I felt a ripple of excitement run down my spine.
I liked this guy as an adult more than I’d crushed on him as a college girl.
Daniel
“Morning,” I said, greeting a rumpled Wren, snugly secured in a bathrobe.
“Sorry, between the wine and the time difference, I zonked out.” She strolled into the kitchen as I began making her a French press. “Although I should have been up earlier than you, considering we’re three hours behind home. So yeah, the wine.” She was mumbling and… “What?” She stared at me with an eyebrow raised.
“You’re cute, that’s all.”
“Cute? Not sexy in my morning glory?”
“Sexy, always,” I stated.
She eyed me. “What are you doing over there?”
“Cooking? Kind of,” I joked. This had us both laughing. “I’m going to caffeinate you, then teach you how to play golf, and maybe take you to lunch.”
“Perfect.” She slid onto one of the stools, checking her hair with her hand.
“Still straight,” I confirmed with a wink.
“Ha, ha. This is crazy. I’m not used to lounging around. If it’s not work, it’s Rourke. This may be my first vacation in…I don’t know how long.”
“Good. Banana? Strawberries? Protein shake?” I inquired, letting the French press finish, plunging the glass container.
“Coffee.”
“Coming right up.” We spent a few minutes in the kitchen, enjoying quiet and stillness without it being awkward, until I brought two steaming mugs of coffee to the breakfast bar, sliding one in front of Wren and sitting down next to her. “I’m glad you slept…”
“Ugh, I’m noting you’re dressed and ready to go. Were you waiting?”
“I’m in sweats, hardly my golf whites. I met with my physical therapist from the home gym, on Zoom, while you were catching Z’s.”
