He reached over, picked up the other half of her uneaten sandwich and proceeded to eat it.
Danielle laughed.
“This is too good to go to waste,” he said. “How did the checker know what you wanted to order?”
“I ordered it yesterday,” she said. There was no need to tell him that she’d ordered it not only yesterday, but every day for the past two weeks.
“We’ll have to get it again,” he said.
Danielle sat back in her seat and squeezed her hands together under the table. This was dangerous territory. He used the word we. Danielle was nothing if not well-versed in the language of relationships.
She and Joey had been on and off for several years. Danielle always dated in between – during the “off periods.”
This was more than an “off period.” This was more of an exclamation point. The end to their relationship. Catching him cheating on her when she’d just moved all the way out here, alone, to be with him was more than she could take.
Hence, the moratorium on dating.
Chapter 6
Samuel came from a large family with lots of traditions, and one of those traditions was that birthdays never went unnoticed and certainly no one was allowed to spend one alone.
Since Danielle was new to Houston, he was fairly certain that she didn’t have plans for the evening.
“What do people do for fun in California?”
“People?” She grinned at him.
“Okay. You. What kinds of things do you do for fun in California?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time in museums and art galleries. My mom owns an art gallery.”
“Do you go to museums because you like it or because it’s expected?”
She seemed to consider. “I guess because I like it. But I’m not really sure. It’s just what I do. No one’s ever asked me that before.”
“Really?” He sat back, stretched his arm along the back of the booth. “Let me ask a different way. If you could do anything you wanted on your birthday, what would it be?”
“I’d want to be whisked off to Disneyland to have dinner at the Magic Kingdom.”
He mentally calculated the distance between Houston and Anaheim and then Houston and Orlando. “I could actually make that happen.”
Only a pilot’s daughter wouldn’t find that statement odd. “You asked.” She shrugged.
“Disney World is closer.”
She laughed. “I’ve never been to Disney World.” She sipped her soda. “Why do you ask?”
“Since you just moved here, I’m assuming you don’t have plans for your birthday tonight.”
“I do actually have plans.”
“Oh.” Good. He didn’t have to rescue her. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to have pizza delivered and binge watch Hart of Dixie.”
“There are so many things wrong with that answer.”
“You don’t like pizza?”
“Of course I do. What’s Hart of Dixie?”
“It’s a series on Netflix about a New York doctor who moves to the south to practice medicine.”
“I can see where you’d like that.”
“Plus, I’m sure my mom and dad will call.”
Samuel shook his head. “I can’t let you do that.”
Her eyes widened. She hadn’t been shocked that he could fly her to Disney World, but she was shocked that he wouldn’t let her spend her birthday alone. Nonetheless, she took it in stride. “What do you suggest then?”
“I sounds like I can either take you to Disney or a museum.”
She laughed. “It’d be hard for me to go to work tomorrow after a late flight. And, to be honest, I really don’t feel like going to a museum.”
“What else do you like? Bowling? Sky diving? Dancing?”
“Ha. Since I had planned to have pizza delivered and watch TV, you can probably guess that I’m actually rather boring.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
“Well, not very adventurous either.”
“Danielle, you have a tendency to sell yourself short. You picked up and moved to Houston from California without knowing anyone other than the one person you’d probably rather not think about right now.”
“Yeah.” She stared out the window for a minute. “I like movies.” She turned back to smile at him.
Samuel grinned. “Then since you won’t let me fly you to the Magic Castle, can I take you to a movie?”
Chapter 7
“It’s not a date.” Danielle rolled her eyes.
“It’s okay if it is.” Danielle could tell that her mother was smiling, even through the phone.
“I’m on a dating moratorium.”
“Right.”
“Oh and Mom.” Danielle walked to her window and stared at the traffic below. “Since Dad didn’t make it for lunch, I still haven’t told him about breaking up with Joey.”
Her mother was silent for a moment.
“Mom? Did you tell him?”
“It’s not like I talk to him every day. In fact, I haven’t spoken to your father in weeks.”
“Good.” She blew out a breath of relief. “I need to tell him myself.”
“I understand. Enjoy your evening out. It’s been a long time.”
Danielle turned and saw Samuel getting off the elevator. “Mom. He’s here. I have to go.” Her pulse jumped into overtime, and she suddenly wished she’d had him pick her up at her apartment so she could have showered and changed. Fortunately, she kept heels at the office, and she’d slipped into them. It’s not a date.
“Happy Birthday, sweetheart.”
“Love you, Mom.”
Danielle closed her cell phone and slipped it into her pocket.
Samuel stopped at her door and grinned at her. He held a little gift bag in his hand. “I brought you something.”
“Aw. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I promise. It’s nothing.” He handed it to her. “Nothing like the Apple computer I bought you this morning.”
She took the gift bag. Her father had sent Samuel to buy her computer. “Hmm.”
“Do you want to set it up? We have time.” He nodded toward the computer, now unwrapped but still sitting on her floor.
“Okay.” She reached into the gift bag and pulled out a book. Things to do in Houston. She looked up and laughed. She hadn’t seen him take two steps toward her.
He was standing much too close. Close enough for her to gaze into his sky-blue eyes beneath soft lashes. He smelled good; clean and earthy. Sandalwood? Her gaze strayed to his kissable lips curved up at the corners in a smile.
“I… um…” She took a step back. Held the book to her chest.
“It’s a welcome gift.” He didn’t move. “To Houston. In case you’re interested in what there is to do here.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed, her mouth suddenly very dry.
“Do you have scissors?” He nodded toward the computer box.
Spurred into movement, she went behind her desk and opened three drawers before she found a pair of scissors. She handed them to him and watched as he slid it through the seal. She was obviously the only one affected. This was not a good thing.
“Did you decide on a movie?” He pulled the computer from its box.
She shook her head. “I’ve been on the phone.”
After setting the computer on her desk, he pulled his phone out of his front pocket and after a couple of clicks, handed it to her. “I have an app. This theater is the one closest to us.”
As she scrolled through the movies, he said. “I don’t mind romantic movies.” He took the plastic off the computer and plugged the cord into the back.
By the time she could focus enough to choose a movie, he had the computer set up.
“How about this one?” She handed the phone back to him.
“Looks good to me.” He glanced at the screen. “We have time for dinner.”
“Sure.”
“Where do you w
ant your computer?”
She’d already decided how to rearrange her desk, so she quickly pointed out where to put the computer.
“Ready?” He asked.
She grabbed her handbag and jacket. “Yep. All good.”
After she locked her door, they went to the elevator and rode down in silence.
“Are you in the mood for anything in particular?” He held the elevator door while she stepped through.
“I saw a Cheesecake Factory at the Galleria.”
“Cheesecake Factory it is.”
He opened the door on the passenger side of the truck, and she put one foot up on the running board. Her other foot wobbled a little. This was going to be a little difficult in heels.
“Can I help?” Samuel asked, again standing near.
She laughed. “Yes. I think so.” She reached out to put her hand on his arm, but he picked her up by the waist and set her on the seat. “Oh. Thanks.”
He went around to the driver’s side and hopped in.
“I’m not used to trucks.” She wasn’t sure if it was normal to have trouble climbing into the cab or not.
“It’s okay. It’s a Texas thing. What do you drive?”
“I don’t.”
He glanced doubtfully in her direction, then put his eyes back on the road.
“Help me understand.”
She smiled. “I have a car in L.A., but I never drive it. To be honest, I’m not even sure what it is. It’s something my father bought me. I drove him to the airport once.”
“You don’t drive?”
“No.” She laughed.
“I’ve never met anyone who didn’t drive.”
“You have to be kidding.”
“No. Maybe it’s just here, but growing up, getting our driver’s license and something to drive is what we all look forward to.”
“Yeah. I’d rather do something else.”
He pulled into the Galleria parking lot and drove up to the valet. “Like what?”
“What do I do? Make phone calls. Text messages. Read. Anything.”
He got out of the truck, shaking his head. “I’ll come around.”
The valet already had her door open, but Samuel stepped to her, put his hands on her waist, and set her on the ground. She tried to ignore the voice in her head that pointed out just how sexy it was to have a man pick her up like that. “Thank you.”
The entranceway was crowded. He took her hand and led her through inside the restaurant. His hand was firm, yet gentle. She could have easily pulled away, but she enjoyed the feel of her hand in his.
They were seated downstairs in the bar area.
“Would you like a drink?” He offered.
“Just water.”
“You sure? I don’t mind.”
She shook her head. “Water’s fine.”
She ordered four-cheese pasta, and he ordered fettuccini.
“Thanks for getting me out of my apartment.” Danielle said, sipping her water. “But I really would have been okay.”
“I’m sure you would, but I would never have forgiven myself for letting you spend your birthday by yourself. In my family, it’s not allowed.”
“That’s nice. My mother always did something, but my dad was often flying.”
“Pilots do tend to put flying ahead of everything else sometimes. I don’t think it’s on purpose.”
“I don’t either.”
Danielle caught a clear whiff of grilled meat as a server went by, and the nausea slammed through her again. She put her hand over her mouth.
“Are you okay?”
“I need to get to the restroom.”
“It’s over there.” He pointed, then stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
He grabbed her handbag off the seat and escorted her to the restroom. She wasn’t sure she would have made it without his help leading the way. But she did. And she was sick.
Chapter 8
Samuel stood outside the restroom door and waited for her.
An older woman came out. “Is that your girl in there?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no one else in there if you want to go in. I can watch the door.”
“Thank you.” He rushed into the restroom and found her kneeling over a wastebasket. He held her hair. Then, when she was finished, he got her a wet towel.
“Better?”
“Yes. How did you get in here?”
“Someone’s watching the door. If you’re okay, I’m going to step out.”
She nodded as he helped her stand up. “I’m good now.”
A few minutes later, she rejoined Samuel in the hallway.
“Do you feel like eating? We don’t have to stay.”
She looked up at him. “Actually I’m really hungry now.”
They sat at the table, and Samuel quietly studied her. That was twice in one day that she’d thrown up. Twice that he knew of. He wouldn’t be insensitive and ask if there were other times. And now she was fine. Hungry even.
And he had a flashback to his sister’s pregnancy. She’d done the exact same thing.
Danielle pregnant?
She smiled at him.
He didn’t know her well enough to know. But even if she was, he still wanted to spend time with her. To get to know her.
He was enchanted.
Chapter 9
Danielle was humiliated. But she had enough of her mother in her to hide it behind a smile.
When the food came, she ate half of it, then couldn’t eat any more. But that wasn’t unusual. It was actually more than she usually ate.
After dinner, they collected his truck from the valet, and he drove them the short distance to the theater.
He watched her closely, and she didn’t blame him. She’d only met him today, and already she’d thrown up twice.
He was a perfect gentleman on their non-date date. He bought popcorn and one Coke.
“Maybe this will keep your stomach settled.” He handed her the Coke. She sipped and took a small handful of popcorn.
“Do you mind?” He waited for her to shake her head before he took the Coke and sipped. From the straw. The same straw she’d just used.
Now was decision time. She only shared straws with guys she was willing to kiss. When he handed the Coke back, she smiled and put her lips on the straw. She saw him smile out of the corner of her eye.
The movie started shortly. After they put away the soda and popcorn, Danielle tried to focus on the movie. They sat comfortably, like two friends, but Danielle was acutely aware that she was sitting next to him.
She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn’t a date. He was just a guy taking pity on her for being alone on her birthday.
Toward the end of the movie, Danielle relaxed and her eyes grew heavy. On top of everything else, it would not be good to fall asleep.
She managed to stay awake, but as the credits rolled on the screen and they stood up, she swayed.
Right into his arms. “Whoa. What happened?” He steadied her back on her feet.
“I don’t know. My legs were weak. I was so sleepy.”
“You probably wore yourself out being sick all day.”
“Probably.” Though she didn’t feel sick at the moment. Just very, very exhausted. And achy all over.
“I should get you home.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
Danielle was quiet as they walked out to his truck, and he helped her inside. She gave him directions to her apartment, but otherwise, had little energy for conversation. It was nearly eleven o’clock, and sadly, she admitted to herself that she was usually sound asleep long before this time every night.
He walked her to her door and waited as she unlocked the door and opened it. She stopped, with one foot inside her apartment and one still outside, and turned to him. “Thank you.” She smiled into his lovely blue eyes. “Thank you for making this a wonderful birthday.”
As she closed the door and locked it behind her, she thou
ght to herself, I’m not even thinking about kissing him.
Chapter 10
There were some things a guy should never ask... or suggest. Growing up with two sisters and a mother in the house, Samuel had picked up a few pointers.
Asking a girl you’d just met if she was pregnant was specifically on that list. Asking a girl who obviously didn’t know she was pregnant was not specifically on the list, but he was pretty sure it was contraindicated.
As he stood in line at the corner CVS with a box of Premium saltine crackers in one hand and a bottle of lime-green Gatorade in the other, he wondered how she could possibly not know. He’d heard of girls not knowing they were pregnant, but they were usually girls who were significantly overweight. Danielle was maybe one hundred ten pounds. If she didn’t know she was pregnant, it couldn’t possibly be long before her clothes started to get a little tight around the waist.
Maybe he should just wait.
In the three days he’d known her, she hadn’t done anything that would harm a fetus. She didn’t drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes, or do anything else that would be considered harmful behavior.
Nonetheless, he had two nieces and one nephew, and he had heard more details from his two sisters, who had gone through pregnancies, to know that there were things that needed to be done.
He paid for the crackers and went out to his truck. He was doing everything he could to make sure Danielle ate regular small meals and kept her in crackers to help with the nausea. But she needed to go in for a medical evaluation and she needed to start prenatal vitamins.
He steered his truck out into the traffic to head back to Danielle’s office. I’m not a doctor. Having nieces and nephews does not make me an expert. Leave her alone.
Feeling good about his decision, he walked across the parking lot and into the building. Besides, it wasn’t like she was his girlfriend. She’d said she was never getting back with her ex. Once a cheater, always a cheater. But if they were having a baby together, that could very well change things.
Samuel did not want to get in the middle of that. If Jessica had gotten pregnant with their baby and some other guy tried to get involved in it, Samuel would have had to break his jaw. It wouldn’t have mattered if they were broken-up or not. The baby would still be theirs – something they made together. What kind of guy would let the mother of his child just walk away?
Falling Again Page 3