“Hasn’t she?” Naya raised an eyebrow at him.
A vise gripped his heart, and before he could respond, Annika stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but a thigh-length bathrobe, and Daniel lost the ability to speak. Her hair was damp and wavy, her skin glowed and what he could see of her long legs was enough to bring him back to his knees.
Annika’s face and eyes lit up as they landed on him, and he knew he had made the right choice coming here. “Hey, you.”
It was all the invitation he needed. In two steps, he was in front of her, his lips pressed against hers. He put everything he felt into that kiss. How much he needed her. How she was saving him. He kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in ten years, instead of ten hours. In return, he found no doubt in her kiss. She wantedhim.
Any doubt Naya had placed in front of him was gone. There was no way Annika could kiss him like this and still want another man. Handsome surgeon or not.
“Ahem.”
Annika pulled back slowly but stayed in his arms. They turned to face Naya. “Yes?”
“You’re going to make out while I’m standing right here?” Her previous chill had warmed some, though Daniel was sure it wasn’t all gone.
“Well, it saves you having to walk in on us.” Daniel grinned at her.
Though she tried to fight it, Naya smiled at him. “I suppose I should be grateful for that.” Her phone buzzed and she glanced at it. “That would be Ravi.” She grabbed her coat and bag and headed toward the door. Just as she opened it, she turned back to them. “Hey, Chopper Guy. Remember what I said.”
Daniel nodded, and Naya left.
“What is she talking about? What did she say to you?”
“Nothing, really.”
Annika narrowed her eyes at him. “She called you the rebound guy, didn’t she?”
Daniel widened his eyes and shook his head. “No.”
Annika’s mouth formed an O, like she realized she shouldn’t have spoken.
“Am I?” His mouth went dry as he realized right then that there was no way he could stand it if he was just the guy who prepped her for the next guy. For Sajan. He wanted more than that. It scared the crap out of him, but he couldn’t imagine not being with her. “The rebound guy?”
She was silent a moment as she studied his face, then stepped back to look at all of him. “You’re wearing the same clothes as this morning.”
So what? Why wouldn’t she answer the question? “Yeah, well. I haven’t been home yet.”
She smirked at him, and he was reminded of when he met her at the bar that first time, and something inside him loosened. She led him to the sofa. “So you left here, went to work, then came straight here from the hospital?”
He sat down next to her. “Yes.”
She kneeled on the sofa, facing him, a smile spreading across her face. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” She leaned into him and pressed her lips to his, opening her mouth to him. “You are sonotthe rebound guy.”
Daniel lifted her to his lap. “Thank God,” he managed between kissing her. He groaned and pulled her closer. “Damn, I missed you.”
Annika pulled back, mischief in her eyes. She loosened the belt around her bathrobe, letting it fall open. “I have a couple of hours before my shift. Prove it.”
“IHAVETOSAY, I’m loving this.” Emma beamed as Daniel and Annika entered her home. Christmas lights were up outside, and inside, the tree held a place of honor in the corner of the main room. Stockings decorated the mantelpiece, one for each family member, including him. Small ceramic houses with little lights made a small village on an end table, and every other surface was adorned with either a Santa statue or a reindeer or a snowman. In short, Christmas had thrown up all over his sister’s house, as it did every year right after Thanksgiving. In fact, Emma pretty much overdecorated for every holiday. Good thing Annika had missed the Diwali explosion. He smiled to himself. God, he missed hanging out with his sister.
“I just saw you at the kid’s party.” Daniel hugged his sister.
“That was before Thanksgiving! But two times in three weeks is a goddamn record for you, Danny.” She pulled Annika in for a hug. “Great to see you again, too.”
“Em, can we kill the ‘Danny’ shit?”
She simply shrugged and waved him off. Apparently not.
“Something smells amazing.” Annika inhaled deeply.
