“What brings you by?” Matt asked.
“This is sort of an impulse visit. Is Sarah here?” I asked, compelled to remind Daniel that Matt was happily planting his flag elsewhere.
“She’s at the gym.”
“How come you’re not with her?”
“She says I distract her. It’s understandable. You can’t blame her, right?” he said with a self-satisfied smirk.
Daniel looked at me meaningfully. He didn’t want to chat with Matt. He wanted to hear about how things had gone with Elaine.
“I just need to grab a few things,” I said, tugging on Daniel’s hand.
Matt took the hint and bobbed his head. I walked backward as I opened my door.
“Now, be nice. This is just a residence room.”
“I don’t care about your room, poppet.”
He closed the door and took my hands in his, not even letting me move beyond the doorway before pressing me for the details of the meeting. I explained the whole sordid story, describing his mother’s composure and his father’s quiet rage. His eyes almost popped out of his head when I related the face-slapping incident.
“Your dad said not to worry and that everything was going to be okay. Apparently, he’s planning to see O’Connor tomorrow.”
“I couldn’t care less about O’Connor. I’m worried about you. What if Travis had hit you back?”
I shook my head. “I couldn’t help it. What he said about me and your dad was so crude. I don’t think he would’ve hit me. He doesn’t have the balls.”
Daniel drew me into his arms. “He messed with the wrong lady, huh?”
“You know it.”
“I was right to suspect you’d need cheering up.”
He spun me around slowly and on my desk was a vase with the most breathtaking purple flowers. I freed myself from Daniel’s clasped hands, eager to take a closer look.
“They’re orchids,” he explained. “My mom suggested them. Apparently orchids symbolize rare beauty—something to make up for the ugliness of the morning.”
“Thank you. They’re exquisite. You’re so thoughtful, Daniel.”
“I called Matt. He agreed to be here when they were delivered.” Daniel squeezed my shoulder gently. “There’s something else.”
He pointed to the closet. There was a garment bag hanging inside.
“What’s that?”
“Remember yesterday when I said I was going to the Metro Reference Library to get a book? That wasn’t exactly true. I went to Bayview Village.” He gave me a little push, propelling me toward the closet. “Open it.”
I opened the garment bag, finding a beautiful violet dress inside—one of several dresses I’d tried on at Judith and Charles but resolutely refused to allow him to buy, reasoning that two was plenty. I’d thought about the dress a few times since that day. Daniel had practically salivated when I’d emerged from the dressing room to model it for him.
“You shouldn’t have,” I said, gently rubbing the fabric between my fingers.
“But I did. We’re going out for dinner tonight, and you have to look extra special.” He kissed me tenderly. “After all, it’s our three month anniversary, and I’m taking you to Auberge du Pommier.”
My hand flew to my mouth. The thirteenth. It was May thirteenth.
“I completely forgot. I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you,” I promised.
“I’m counting on it.”
He cradled my face and kissed me. I allowed myself to get swept away in his passionate embrace, grateful for the reprieve from the angst and tension of the last few days. Dropping a soft kiss on my forehead, he brushed my hair out of my eyes, his expression fierce.
“You’ve been incredible this week,” he said. “So strong and brave.”
“Looks like my acting skills are improving.”
“Whatever you say.” He winked and then rubbed his hands together. “How about while we’re here we pack everything up and bring it to the condo?”
“Daniel.” I didn’t need to say more. My tone spoke volumes.
“Hey, it was worth a try.”
“Don’t forget I’m staying here when my mom comes. I have to leave some stuff here.”
“Some,” he emphasized. “You don’t need all this.” He gestured around him.
I shrugged and looked around forlornly. He held up his hands, admitting quick defeat.
“Fine, but at least bring some books. I need to work on my paper before the weekend. I don’t want you to be bored. You should probably pack a different pair of shoes for tonight as well—give your blisters a chance to heal.”
“I feel like I should wear the new ones anyway, or I’ll never break them in.”
“You know, you don’t have to wear them in public to break them in, right?” he said, a devilish glint in his eye.
A few hours later, I stood in Daniel’s shower, trying to wash away Elaine’s horrid accusations and Travis’s snide personal attacks. The situation was in David’s hands now, and I’d never have to deal with Elaine Armstrong in a professional capacity ever again.
Unfortunately, if I’d managed to secure a spot on the dean’s list, she’d be the one handing me the award. Talk about sucking the joy out of the experience. The thought made me shudder. I forced myself to wipe her from my mind. Daniel and I were going out for a lovely dinner, and I had a sexy new dress to wear. I needed to put the week’s nastiness behind me.
Eyes closed, I was vigorously working shampoo into my scalp when a tapping on the shower door interrupted my scrubbing. I rinsed my face as Daniel slid the door open and popped his head inside the stall.
“I don’t think we have time, sailor.”
He smiled as he scanned my body. “I know. It’s devastating. But strange as it sounds, I haven’t come in here to maul you. I thought I’d better give you fair warning. My dad just called from the lobby. He’s on his way up for a quick visit.”
I rubbed my eyes again. “Shit, what should I do?”
“Well,” he said, a look of contemplation on his face. “Whatever you do, don’t come sauntering into the living room in ten minutes wearing a towel.” He winked. “People will talk.”
Chapter 10
Words and Love
…I love you more than words can wield the matter…
…A love that makes breath poor and speech unable…
(King Lear, Act I, Scene i)
BY THE TIME I emerged from Daniel’s room, dressed and almost ready to go, David had left. I found Daniel in the kitchen, recapping his bottle of scotch.
I touched his shoulder lightly. “Sorry I missed your dad. Is he okay?”
He tilted his head as he appraised me. “You expect me to think about my dad with you looking like that?” He swept a stray curl away from my face.
“No, seriously, what happened? Why’d he stop by?”
“He just wanted to reassure us that everything’s going to be all right.”
I gestured to the scotch bottle. “You had a drink together?”
“I took a pass, but he definitely needed something. He looked wrecked. This has been a tough couple of days for him.”
“Of course. For your mother, too. Did he tell you what happened after I left the office?”
“He said he called Elaine out on the way she’d hired Travis—circumventing hiring protocols, skipping the tiered posting system. She claimed she got special dispensation to expedite the hiring process because of your sudden decision to quit.”
“I gave her two weeks’ notice.”
“Elaine was lying. My dad knew that. He also mentioned the nepotism thing. He told her if she posts the job properly and gets rid of Travis, he won’t report her.”
“I can’t believe he gave her a chance to put things right.”
“I think he’s trying to be conciliatory because he knows so much is at stake. He’s worried about my future on campus as well as his own. He doesn’t want to be too heavy-handed.”
“Do you think she playe
d the ‘you report me and I’ll spread rumors about you’ card?”
“I’m not sure, but if she were to do something like that, my dad would sue her for defamation in a heartbeat. He’s sure they won’t go forward with things. There’s no proof. They don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“That’s almost beside the point. Whether they can prove their claims or not, all it takes is a seed of doubt in people’s minds, and it’s out there. Forever.”
Daniel nodded, his eyes drifting over my shoulder. “I know all about that.”
“Of course you do.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Is that how you feel about what happened in England? Like it’ll never go away?”
“I’ve felt that way from time to time. Everyone who reads that letter in my file knows what happened at Oxford. How can I put it behind me? It’s bad enough dealing with admin on campus, but when I wonder if my dad still has doubts?” He rubbed his cheek against my hair and sighed. “I’m not celebrating his discomfort, but I can’t help feeling somewhat vindicated that he’s being forced to walk around the block in my shoes.”
“I suppose you can’t be blamed for that.”
“Look, I don’t want to talk about that stuff anymore tonight. Let’s enjoy our evening—starting with this dress,” he said. “Let me see?”
I spun around slowly. The dress was backless. Daniel approved.
“You’re not wearing a bra, are you?” he said.
“I don’t have one of those fancy halter-dress bras.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. I’d say this is my anniversary gift right here,” he whispered, gently tickling my bare sides.
“I told you I’d make it up to you,” I said.
“Yes, you did.” As he kissed me, he skimmed his fingertips across the thin fabric covering my breasts. I breathed out quietly, holding his shoulders to steady myself. “You might want to bring a sweater to the restaurant,” he said, still caressing me. “You seem a little chilly.”
The morning after our three-month anniversary celebration, I slept until nine thirty. When I opened my eyes, I saw my new dress draped across the chair beside the bed. I smiled, remembering the night before.
We’d had an amazing dinner at Auberge du Pommier, one which I’d capped off with the most delectable serving of crème brûlée. Daniel had urged me to eat quickly, eager to return home to continue the celebration. He’d barely closed the condo door before he was trying to peel me out of the dress, virtually taking scissors to it after grappling with the complicated wraparound design for a couple of frustrating minutes.
Once he had me undressed, he’d carried me to the dining room where he made me recline on the mahogany table and proceeded to have me for dessert, as he put it. I’d suggested whipped cream. He’d scoffed at the suggestion.
“I prefer my pussy the way I take my scotch. Neat.”
Not surprisingly, the events that followed were the highlight of the evening—hell, they might have been the highlight of the month.
I sighed and rolled over, hoping to cuddle up to Daniel’s warm chest, but he wasn’t there. Why he got up at the butt-crack of dawn regardless of whatever ungodly hour we’d gone to bed was a mystery to me. I needed a good seven hours of sleep to function properly. Daniel seemed capable of running on fumes.
I crawled out of bed, threw on a T-shirt and some panties, and stole a pair of his white sweat socks. I collected an armful of laundry and found Daniel sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading the newspaper.
“Hey, there you are. Sleep okay?” he asked.
“Morning, sunshine. I slept great.” I gave him a quick kiss before taking the pile of clothes to the kitchen where I dropped it on the floor to sort it.
When I turned around, Daniel was peeking around the corner of the paper, watching me. “How do you do that?” he asked.
“Do what?”
“How do you make white cotton panties and sweat socks sexy?” He tossed the paper on the coffee table and held out his hands, beckoning me to join him.
“If that’s what I’m doing, it’s purely accidental.” I sat beside him, draping my legs across his lap. “I’m surprised you’re not in the office writing.”
“I wrote for a bit. I had to step away. Hamlet’s not cooperating.”
“In what way?”
“He keeps fenceposting me.” He smiled.
“Secretive characters. They’re the worst.”
“It’s true. Plus I was thinking about my dad’s eight thirty meeting with O’Connor. I can’t help wondering what’s going on.”
“You need a distraction.” I straddled his lap and nipped playfully at his ear.
He chuckled, cupping my breast as I wiggled against him. He traced circles around my nipple with his thumb, smiling as I squirmed.
“This shirt is ridiculous, you know that, right?”
“I think it’s clever,” I protested, looking down at the decal of Shakespeare with the crossbones behind his head.
“‘Bard to the bone’?” he said, reading the words beneath Shakespeare’s face.
“That’s me.”
He grasped my hips, directing my movements. “I’d say you’re rather good to the bone.”
He tangled his hand in my hair, tilting my head and showering my neck with soft, tickly kisses. On the coffee table, Daniel’s phone vibrated. He glanced over my shoulder.
“Go ahead and check,” I said. “It might your dad.”
“Sorry, poppet. I’ll only be a second.” I watched him read the message. “It’s not my dad, but listen to this,” he said, pulling me close. “It’s an email from O’Connor’s secretary: ‘Please be advised that your meeting with Mr. O’Connor has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. You will be contacted as soon as possible to reschedule the meeting. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.’”
“Was that the meeting where you were supposed to talk about plans for the fall?”
“Yes, and look over the class evaluations.”
“What do you think these unforeseen circumstances are?”
“No clue. I wonder if it’s got anything to do with his meeting with my dad.”
“Why don’t you call your father and see?”
Daniel pursed his lips, his eyes sliding down my legs. He got up, tugging me to my feet. “I’ll call him after I shower. Care to join me? Can you be Bard to the bone in the shower?”
“You have to ask? Don’t you remember?” I dropped my eyes to the front of his pajama bottoms and raised a cheeky eyebrow. “Looks like someone remembers.”
When I emerged from the bedroom after blow-drying my hair, I found Daniel on the balcony, sitting on the lounge chair and frowning at his phone. I pushed the patio door open, and he smiled up at me. It was the smile of someone who’s chewing something distasteful at a dinner party while telling the host how delicious the food is.
I gestured to his phone. “You talked to your dad?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Aaron and Elaine have backed off. My dad said they won’t cause any more problems.”
“Does he know anything about the postponed meeting with O’Connor?”
“No, but he said it’s not something I should worry about.”
“That’s reassuring.” I sat beside him and squeezed his thigh. “So, why don’t you seem happy?”
He shook his head, doing his best to smile again and patting my hand.
“I am. I’m very relieved.” He stood and stretched, moving to the railing and gazing southward. “By the way, I just heard from Jeremy,” he said. “He set up a meeting for you with his friend Eli—the one with the magazine. He wants you to go to his place at noon on Wednesday for an interview.”
Daniel had his eyes trained on the lake, but I didn’t need to see his face to know that he still looked as if he were chewing something he’d rather spit out than swallow.
Chapter 11
Welcome and Unwelcome Things
Such welcome
and unwelcome things at once
’Tis hard to reconcile.
(Macbeth, Act IV, Scene iii)
KNOWING I WOULDN’T HAVE someone to run interference during my first meeting with Eli made me feel as if I were embarking on a blind date. Would our meeting be awkward? Had Jeremy exaggerated Eli’s interest in taking on new writers? Was I talented, or were Daniel’s feelings for me coloring his ability to judge my writing objectively? I spent much of the night before our designated meeting imagining the questions he’d ask and planning answers. Sleep was elusive, at best. Beside me, Daniel tossed and turned as well.
I needn’t have worried. Eli was everything Jeremy had described: warm and outgoing, vaguely eccentric-looking—a cardigan and corduroy-wearing Johnny Depp, perhaps—but enthusiastic and eager to share his knowledge and expertise and help me “hone my craft” as he put it. He was generous with both his time and encouragement¸ and at the end of our two-hour meeting, we had a plan in place that would allow me to start my freelance career that weekend.
I returned to the condo brimming with excitement, eager to tell Daniel all about the meeting. I dashed through the door, quickly dropping my bag and keys. Daniel was gazing out the living room window, but he turned to greet me as I skipped across the room.
“You look chipper.”
“I had the best afternoon,” I gushed, slipping my arms around him. “Jeremy was right. Eli’s great. He’s so creative and smart. He’s going to give me a shot at writing for the magazine. He wants me to do reviews of new music, like going to local concerts. He said he wants to try a ‘girl on the street’ approach with me. Isn’t that cool? You know how much I love indie music. I’m so stoked. Anyway, Eli said he’ll take me to The National concert on Saturday and talk me through it, you know, show me what to watch for, how to take notes. Then I can write a review, and he’ll look at it. We talked about my playlists, and he said he thinks I have great taste in music, but he’s not sure about the writing yet…”
I trailed off and stepped back. Daniel was looking at me with a strange glint in his eyes. He crossed his arms and quirked an eyebrow.
The Truest of Words Page 11