His mouth kicked up into a lazy smile. “You’re fucking adorable when you’re drunk.” He turned contemplative, apparently thinking about her question. “Someone I can see myself coming home to.”
She was a little surprised at the comment and obviously looked it.
“That surprises you?”
She shrugged. “For some reason I thought you were going to say beautiful or sexy. Or a redhead.” She smiled on that last adjective.
His eyebrow went up.
“You do tend to stick with the same packaging,” she whispered, feeling tired but more content than she’d ever felt in her life with him sitting on her bed looking down at her.
He nodded, narrowing his eyes. “I do, don’t I?” His hand squeezed in her hair one last time then he removed it and sat back. If she’d had the balls at the moment, she would’ve reminded him of her hair color. She could’ve sworn he was looking at it. Wishful thinking, Janie.
“So, you don’t care about sexy, or…?” She still had issues thinking she wasn’t sexy to a man.
“That goes without saying. I obviously need to be attracted to her. But it would be nice to find someone who makes me feel,” he paused, “like I’m home.”
She nodded, her mind racing. “You’re a romantic,” she sighed before she could stop herself.
“Maybe since you know me so well,” he began while playing with her fingers resting on her stomach, “you can help me with that list.” He looked pointedly at her. “Like I’m helping you with yours.”
She swallowed then smiled. “Well, if that’s the only quality I’m looking for it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone to fit the bill. I guess I’d need to know what ‘home’ is to you, though.”
He looked down at their entwined fingers. “A woman who I trust, who makes me laugh. A woman who lets me take care of her, just as she takes care of me.” His slumberous eyes met hers. “Like I’m her king and she’s my queen.”
For some reason she felt teary at the comment. “Like your parents,” she said, recalling the elder Daniels’ nicknames for each other.
He nodded, “Like my parents.”
She felt giddy and another giggle escaped. “Such flowery terms of endearment you Spaniards have. I don’t know anyone other than them who would call each other those words.”
He settled his eyes on hers, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “The Spanish people are a passionate bunch. What might not work with people of a different culture, works with ours. I’m looking for that woman to be queen in my heart, in my life.” He paused significantly then whispered, “In my bed.”
She tried not to react to his words even though her stomach was doing somersaults. Instead, she rolled her lips in over her teeth and nodded, cocking her head a bit and throwing him a mischievous smile. “As long as you’re not Henry VIII,” she said, referring to the King of England whose six wives weren’t the luckiest women in the realm.
He let out a laugh. She continued staring up at him, always affected by his laugh.
“What?” he chuckled.
“So, how long do I have to find your queen of hearts?”
“Maybe you should have ’til Christmas, too. We could both have some pretty good presents this year.”
“That doesn’t give me much time,” she said, stretching her arms above her and yawning. “Some guy hired me to cater his enormous holiday party which is taking up a great deal of my time.”
“We’re just going to have to see what you’re made of, I guess,” he teased. “I’ve kept you long enough. You’re tired and you’re tipsy. Get some sleep,” he said, standing abruptly and tweaking her nose. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ll be right back.” He left her and she fell back onto the bed, her mind and emotions all over the place. She heard him in the kitchen and a moment later he appeared with a glass of water. “Drink this. You’re going to be dehydrated.” He pulled her to sit up and made her drink it while he watched. “You feel okay? Do you need anything before I go?”
She looked at him. You. She shook her head no. “I’m good.”
He hesitated. “Okay. I’m sure we’ll talk sometime this week with final details.”
“Yup. Thanks for dropping the dress off and stuff. And the jewelry,” she said. “Which I’ll be paying for as soon as I get to the ATM.” She yawned again.
He waved her comment away. “No worries. Talk to you this week sometime.” He smiled one last time, leaned down to kiss her forehead, then turned and left.
She heard him turn off the light in the living room, then the door slid shut followed by the click of the lock. She fell back on the bed. It was amazing how so much could change in a week, a night. As she closed her eyes and began to fall asleep, she thought about finding him his queen of hearts, knowing she wouldn’t have too far to look.
Her last conscious thought before floating into oblivion was how Luke had been able to lock her door from the outside.
Chapter 8
A week later, Janie and Ayanna were hard at work prepping for the party in the venue’s kitchen with all of the food that had been delivered from the day before. Catherine Diaz, the other chef, was with them as they were chopping and preparing food for the next day, listening to the soulful voice of Adele on Janie’s phone hooked up to small portable speakers.
Janie loved Adele, not only for her soulful haunting voice, but because she was an unapologetically voluptuous and beautiful redhead. While Adele’s voice filled the room, Janie filled the girls in on some of the details about her night with Luke at the wine tasting from a week earlier. They had their opinions and Ayanna was sharing hers at the moment.
“I can’t wait for you to strut your stuff tomorrow night. He’s not gonna know what to do with himself,” Yan said. “Once the desserts are plated, you need to get out there with him. You’re gonna want at least an hour to meet folks. I hope you get some pictures taken. That’ll help with some publicity. We can put some up on the blog. Do you think Javier can take care of that?”
“Yeah. Do you think we’ll get his approval?” Janie asked cheekily. They all laughed about the contract that had been signed when they were hired to cater. It was standard that all of the guests and employees at the party needed the publicist’s approval before posting any pictures of Luke if any were taken of him at the party. Because the party wasn’t open to the public, the guests could post their own pictures on social media, but if the CEO was in the photograph, they needed to get Javier’s approval beforehand.
“I’ll be sure to strut my stuff and get a few pics with him,” Janie said with a roll of the eyes. “I’m so glad I won’t have my period. Thank God it finished yesterday, otherwise I would’ve been so tired tomorrow night. There’s nothing worse than being on your feet all day when you have cramps.”
The girls groaned in agreement.
“How are you doing your hair?” Ayanna asked.
“I’ll keep it up while cooking, then take it down when I get changed. I’m keeping all my stuff in that room and bathroom off the kitchen,” she said, nodding in that direction of the room.
“It’s gonna be great, on so many levels. Business and personal,” Ayanna smiled at her.
Janie took a deep sigh. “We’ll see.” She knew Yan was primarily referring to Luke.
“Come on, where’s that Janie optimism? You just need to charm him to death. You got this. You should tell him you’re gonna see that Facebook guy, Chaz. See what his reaction is.”
“He’ll yell at me. Say I have bad taste in men, then tell me I shouldn’t date until he finds the right man for me,” she mumbled.
“Did Chaz ever respond back to your message?” Ayanna asked while pressing out the dough for dessert.
Janie nodded. “He said he’s looking forward to drinks next week. I can’t believe I’m actually thinking about seeing him. He was such an asshole in high school.”
“You don’t need to see him, you know,” Ayanna pointed out.
Janie sighed. “I know. It would be nice to put some closure on it, though. I would never have to see him again. Who knows? Maybe he wants to apologize.”
“Miracles can happen. Look at me,” Ayanna said seriously. “I’m in love with an incredible, normal man who my parents adore, and I haven’t said the F-word in close to three months.”
They all laughed at that. It really was a miracle given her potty mouth. Janie changed the subject. “How are the restaurant renovations going?” she asked Catherine.
“Great. I think the place is going to look even better than before the fire. I’m starting to get anxious though, in a good way. I’ll be glad to get back into my regular routine again.”
“I hear ya,” Ayanna said. “What a night that was,” she said, each of them taking a moment to reminisce about the night they were all caught in the fire.
“Crazy,” Catherine murmured while mixing the marinade for the steak. “Thank God no one was seriously hurt.” She paused, “Well, except –” She stopped. “You know what I mean,” she mumbled.
They did know what she meant. There was only one fatality and it had been the woman who’d set the fire. Other than Ayanna’s mom who had broken her ankle, and some who’d experienced smoke inhalation, no one else had been hurt while fleeing the restaurant.
“We need to remember to put some desserts by the Gastaldi Merlot on the terrace,” Janie said looking at her checklist.
“We will, don’t worry.”
It was fast approaching 7:30pm and they’d been prepping for hours. They were almost done when Ayanna said, “Jon’s coming to pick me up soon. He’s making me his mom’s mac and cheese tonight. I can’t wait,” she groaned in anticipation. “You two wanna ride?”
“I’ll take one,” Catherine said.
“I’m going to finish up some last minute things and take the subway,” Janie said.
“What’s to finish up?” Ayanna asked. “You’re done, girl. Just go home and put your feet up. It’s gonna be a long night tomorrow.” She finished that statement with an eyebrow wiggle and Janie chuckled, rolling her eyes.
They were just wiping the counters and putting away the last minute ingredients when Janie’s phone sounded with an incoming text. She looked to see who it was from and her palms began to sweat. She texted something back.
“Um,” Janie stuttered. “You two go. I’ll finish up. Since I’m leaving you high and dry tomorrow night to clean, it’s the least I can do.”
“It’s okay,” Ayanna insisted, just as her own phone went off. She looked and said, “It’s Jon. He’s outside.” She began texting and Janie interrupted.
“I’m serious, guys. Just go. It’s not a problem. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Are you sure?” Ayanna asked. “We can stay. It’s no biggie.”
“I’m sure. Go,” Janie shooed them out. “Love you big, and I’ll see you both at two o’clock tomorrow.”
“You got it, babe. Thanks,” Ayanna said and they all hugged each other goodbye. “Don’t stay long.”
“I won’t,” Janie said and then waved just as another text came in to her phone. Once she was alone, she looked at the string of texts from the last few moments. Adele had just launched into her own version of I Can’t Make You Love Me.
How appropriate. Janie looked at her phone to read that first text that had come in a few minutes earlier.
LD: Hey. Carolyn said you’d be at the venue tonight. U still there?
Janie had talked to Carolyn a billion times that week with last minute details. Other than a text from Luke last Saturday morning to see if Janie felt okay after her night of drinking, she hadn’t heard from him all week. Twice while talking to Carolyn, Luke had made some funny remarks to her from the background. At one point, he’d grabbed the phone from Carolyn to tell Janie to look at the tweet from a local entertainment news program that had hinted he might be gay. Javier had handled it beautifully, downplaying it and talking about Luke’s many social justice causes in which he was involved, including marriage equality.
Other than Carolyn occasionally relaying messages from him, this was the first she’d heard from him directly.
Before Ayanna and Carolyn had left the kitchen, Janie had responded to his first text with Yeah. Just finishing up. Will be done in about 15 mins.
She looked at the text which had just come in.
LD: U hungry? I’m just pulling up out back. I can give u a ride and we can get some food.
Janie took a deep excited breath.
JC: That would be great. Gimme 5 mins.
She quickly wiped down the countertops, trying to hurry so he didn’t have to wait too long. Adele intoned the sad words of love unreturned.
Janie sighed at the lyrics and was just putting the flour away when she heard footsteps toward the kitchen entrance and looked up.
He asked in his text if she’d been hungry? Hell yeah, she was hungry. Especially when he walked in looking completely edible with his windblown hair, a dusting of snow on his head and bomber jacket, and slim cut jeans. Man, he was gorgeous.
Adele’s song just finished and Janie hurried to shut off the music, disconnecting the speakers. She knew she didn’t appear fresh; not with flour on her face, her hair in disarray in a messy topknot, and appearing completely wiped out.
“Hey,” he said, inspecting her and biting his lip to keep from laughing.
“Don’t say one word about my appearance, Luke,” she demanded, pointed her finger at him then blowing the hair out of her face.
He chuckled. “Never,” he said, coming around the counter to stand in front of her. “I just saw Yan and Catherine getting into Jon’s car. They said you’ve been at it for hours and that I was to take care of you.” He smiled charmingly at her and tipped her chin up with his finger, moving her head left to right, looking at her smudges of flour no doubt. “That was my plan regardless.”
She rolled her eyes, but felt a nervous flutter. “I’m fine. This is what you’re paying me the big bucks for, right? But I definitely wouldn’t turn down some food.” She’d had an energy bar hours ago and was starving.
He took out a handkerchief from his back pocket and began wiping the streaks of flour from her face. She sighed quietly at his touch.
“I know I look a mess,” she said while looking into his eyes.
He shook his head and quietly said a sentence in Spanish.
It didn’t take a brain surgeon to know he’d said something sweet. He always talked too fast for her to translate, though. She only recognized ‘beautiful’ and ‘life’. “What did you just say?”
“Exquisite,” he murmured then smiled sexily.
She pursed her lips. “It seems like you said a lot more than ‘exquisite’.” She blushed, pleased and slightly embarrassed. “I bet you talk this way to all the girls, Luke Daniels, with your bilingual skills. Always keeping them off balance, wondering about what the hell you’re saying. They probably fall all over you,” she said with a smile and a flirty eyelash flutter, her voice breathy.
“Nope,” he said as he continued wiping her face. “Only fiery redheads with sharp tongues. And flour on their faces.” He leaned down and kissed her nose.
Again. This was the second time he’d done it. She couldn’t help herself and licked her lips.
“Only the fiery redheads fall all over you?”
“No, I only talk this way to the fiery redheads. With sharp tongues. And flour on their faces,” he repeated. “I think you need comfort food,” he determined. “Why don’t I take you home and cook you something,” he said with a playful grin, anticipating her reaction.
She snorted and pulled out of the daydream where she’d been basking in his words. “There is no way you’re cooking me anything, Luke. Not if you want me still alive tomorrow.”
“I grew up in Spain with a mother and a sister who are both phenomenal cooks. I can cook,” he said, mildly exasperated and with an adorable pout.
“Luke, there’s no shame in admitting that you t
ake after your father in the cooking department,” she chuckled.
“I burned steaks once and you’ve never let me live it down. Just because I like my animals dead before I eat them –”
“Once? You’re so full of shit,” she laughed. “How about at least three times that I can recall. Not to mention when I was a teenager and you tried to help me make chocolate chip cookies, and if I hadn’t stopped you that one time, you would’ve started scooping the dough onto the cookie sheets when you’d forgotten to add the eggs.” She put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.
“I love your chocolate chip cookies. I was just trying to help.” He shrugged with a smirk.
“I do make awesome chocolate chip cookies. And the best help you can give me in that venture is to eat them,” she smiled and wiped her hands. “Not help make them.”
“I will gladly eat your cookie anytime,” he said wickedly, his voiced laced with innuendo as he stared at her innocently. “I’m really good at eating cookies.”
She looked at him in surprise and her face flushed, both of them knowing full well the euphemism he’d just used with her. She tried to maintain control to prove she could play with the big boys.
“That’s two sexy comments in the last five minutes, Luke. It looks like I really have cured you of seeing me as a ‘baby girl’,” she said smacking her lips.
“Nah, you’ll always be my ‘baby girl’. But now when I call you that, it just won’t mean the same thing it used to mean.”
She stopped at his words and looked up at him waiting for him to explain. She had just been putting the mini speakers in her bag and rolling up her apron, revealing her green fitted long sleeve V-neck t-shirt and jeans. He finally spoke.
“‘Baby’ is a term of endearment, and ‘girl’– well, you’re definitely a girl.” His eyes glittered with an emotion she couldn’t quite figure out. He was so good at making himself expressionless.
She had no idea how to take that comment. It sounded promising, nonetheless, so she smiled. “So, since you’re not going to cook, how about we grab some takeout from Miss Peaches? It’s a great homestyle place that does Southern down home cooking. I have them on speed dial. Yan mentioned mac and cheese before, so now I’m totally jonesin’ for it.”
Remembrance: A Contemporary Erotic Romance (Iris Series Book 4) Page 13