From those interactions, Annika learned that Mitch spoke at home and for his speech therapist, but Annika had yet to hear his voice. Even with the special education department and the school counselor in communication with the parents, they were having a hard time figuring out what was happening. In a moment of frustration, she had spoken to Daniel about it. Mitch was her student, and she was moved to find a way to help him.
“Not yet, and the other kids are picking up on it. They interact with him less and less.” She informed him over her shoulder as she continued back to the kitchen and removed her coat.
“What about the parents?”
Annika hadn’t shared with Daniel what Mitch’s father had said to her, and she didn’t feel the need to do so now.
“The mom tells me what goes on at home. We’re working together on trying to figure out what’s going on.” She dropped her backpack and surveyed the kitchen. New cabinets, a fine stainless-steel countertop below them and gorgeous shelves made up the new and improved kitchen. It looked done. Her heart sank a bit. “Wow!” She forced some excitement into her voice as she called out to the front. “You finished.”
“Well, just about.” His voice was almost in her ear.
She started. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. Despite the heat coming off his body, she was suddenly frozen and at a loss for words.
“I just need to get a few knobs, and we’re all set back here.” Daniel walked past her, a grin playing at his mouth.
His subtle earthy scent did nothing to slow her heartbeat. This was not good. She couldn’t possibly have feelings for him. It was a physical reaction. He was undoubtedly hot, that was all it was. Because there was no way her parents would go for a guy who was a nurse practitioner. Not when Sajan was a surgeon. Not when the last guy she chose on her own had been such an asshole.
“Then I guess you won’t be coming back.” She tried to keep the sadness from her voice as she looked up at him. She failed.
He stepped close enough that his body—that very fine body—blocked out her view of everything else, and his scent surrounded her. She could get lost here. He smiled down at her, his eyes never leaving hers. “Well, I’m addicted to Mrs. P.’s cooking. And I do need somewhere to stare at my bourbon.”
In an instant she had visions of Daniel continuing to come to the bar, of talking to him daily, as she’d quickly gotten used to. Of doing more than talking... She quickly squashed the thrill of excitement that flashed through her body at the idea that Daniel didn’t want to go elsewhere to stare at a drink. That he wanted to come here. To see her. Really, she should not be entertaining fantasies of Daniel—of any kind. It was better if he didn’t return to the bar. He hadcomplicatedwritten all over him and his mysterious bourbon. She did not need that.
Being close enough to be enveloped in his body heat wasn’t helping. “Sure. Whatever.” As if to compensate for her wayward thoughts, her attempt at nonchalance came out as complete indifference.
His eyes darkened below a briefly furrowed brow. He opened his mouth to speak, but Annika interrupted him. “I mean, it’s your bourbon. Go wherever you like.” Now she sounded downright mean.
He frowned as if hurt or disappointed. Time to get away before she did something she would regret further. Like take it all back and fall into his arms.
He shook his head at her. “Annika...” His phone rang out the tune of the Harry Potter theme. Even Annika knew that was his sister.
She stepped back from him. “You should take that.” She grabbed her apron and headed out into the bar so he could talk.
She heard his footsteps as he followed her out.
It wasn’t that Annika was eavesdropping. But Daniel took his calls at the bar and didn’t make any attempt at hiding his conversation. So, she was bound to hear some stuff. Though she hardly liked to admit it, she was curious about the rest of his life. Especially about that bourbon. Now she’d probably never find out.
It was just the beginning of happy hour. She was listening to his end of a conversation with his sister, Emma, when the door jingled, and her heart lightened.
Nilay entered the bar as if he entered bars all the time. He carried a brown paper bag that Annika knew had food from home.
She looked behind him, ready to tense at the sight of her father, but no one was there. “Did you drive here yourself?” She grinned. Her baby brother had a driver’s license.
He leaned over and gave her a hug as he placed a shopping bag on top of the bar. “Yes,Didi, I did.” He beamed. “And I passed Papa’s test, too, which means I can drive anywhere!”
Her father strongly believed that the MVA test was not enough, so he’d given them both an extra “driving test” when they were learning how to drive. Once they passed his test, he let them have the freedom they wanted. As a result, Annika, and now her brother, were both excellent drivers.
“Nice!” Annika high-fived her brother. “Did he do the ‘squirrel’ thing?”
Nilay shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Every chance he got.”
“Something smells amazing!” Daniel tapped his phone off and came and sat in her section, near Nilay.
Nilay just stared at him, before turning to Annika, with aWho is this guy?look on his face.
“Daniel Bliant.” Daniel extended his hand to Nilay. Nilay just stared at it.
“Nilay, Daniel’s a...friend of mine.” She widened her eyes at him to prompt some manners.
