by Mona Shroff
“Yes, but didn’t you go to therapy?”
“Who had time for that? Sheila’s friends and sister all came by regularly to help her cope. She eventually saw a therapist.”
“What about you?”
“I had my sister. She would bring food when I worked double shifts, but she would bring Charlie with her. Seeing him just reminded me of what Sara wasn’t doing. What she would never do. So, she came less and less.” He sighed and looked away. “She made me see a therapist. I went for a few months, but all they talked about was how I was supporting my wife.”
“You drank.”
“Yes.” Most people had not been surprised to find him drunk more than a few times. “I drank. Just a little at first, but as time passed, two drinks became four, four became five or six or the whole bottle—and at some point, I realized that when I drank, I thought that Sara was still—” Tears burned again; he blinked them back. “But then when I sobered up, it was like losing her all over again.”
He would wake up screaming Sara’s name; Sheila would regress and fall apart into tears, inconsolable. For his part, he would be reliving the day she died every time he came to. “It had to stop.” He met her eyes. Annika watched him, steady and sure, small flecks of gold in those healing brown eyes. He relaxed yet further under her loving gaze.
“That’s why you stare at it.”
He nodded. “After a while, I knew I had to either stay sober or stay drunk.” He met her gaze. “It would have been easier to stay drunk, but Sheila wasn’t functioning, so I couldn’t lose my job. One of us had to keep it together. So, I stopped drinking.” He sighed. “Honestly, if I hadn’t felt like she needed me to be sober, I might still be drunk.”
“So, what happened between you two?”
“A couple years later, Sheila wanted to have another baby.” Anger welled up inside him as he remembered what had brought him here tonight. “But I didn’t want to replace Sara.”
Annika placed her hand on his chest. He felt his heart hammer against the palm of her hand.
“She wanted another baby and I didn’t, so she asked for a divorce. I just don’t think it helped that Sara looked a bit like me.” He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I have days I can’t look in the mirror, either.”
“So now she’s married to someone else and having a baby?”
Daniel nodded. He couldn’t trust his voice.
“So?” Annika raised an eyebrow and appeared genuinely confused.
“So...she can’t replace Sara.” Wasn’t this obvious?
Annika raised herself onto one elbow, her voice soft and soothing. “She’s not replacing her. She’s giving her a sibling. She’s moving on.”
“How can she move on?” Daniel snapped.
“How can she not?” Annika challenged him, her tone even and without accusation.
Daniel was silent. He couldn’t even consider moving on; he’d lose Sara all over again. But if Sheila was able to find happiness... His throat was tight, and his vision blurred again. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do with the knowledge that Sara has a sibling in the world.”
“What else did Sheila say?”
“She asked me to be the baby’s godfather.” He mumbled the words as if they were scandalous.
“That’s not a bad thing.”
He snapped his head to her in disbelief. “What do you mean?”
“I mean it gives you a chance to be involved, to be a part of Sara.”
There was no way he could do that. Even the thought of that threatened to drag his heart down. He shook off the thought. He didn’t want to think about that now. Not while he was here in the bed of the most beautiful woman he knew.
“You don’t have to decide now.” Annika forced him to look at her. “But you should talk to somebody. I know some people who can help you process—”
Daniel cut her off with a kiss. The last thing he needed or wanted was to have a standing appointment that required him to talk about Sara. “It’s okay. I really don’t want to talk about my ex-wife right now, do you? Because if you do, that’s really weird.” He ran his hands down her spine and thrilled at her moan as she pressed closer to him. This was what he needed. Just her. He hadn’t had this lightness in his heart in a long time. That feeling that everything would be okay, that hint of a feeling that he could actually be happy. That he was happy.
She melted into his arms and wiggled closer to him. She grinned into his mouth. “Again?”
He kissed her neck, turned her onto her back and slowly, gently worked his way down, his mouth never leaving her skin. “And again. And again.” He stole a sideways glance at her. “We have all night.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
ANNIKA
“YOU’D REALLY UPSET Mrs. P. if she knew you could cook like this.” Annika groaned in pleasure as she enjoyed another mouthful of the best omelet she’d ever had.
“Keep making sounds like that, and you may never get to finish it.” Daniel kissed the back of her neck, sending warm shivers throughout her body.
They had spent the night alternately sleeping and making love, until, exhausted, Annika finally decided they needed to eat. It was early Saturday morning, and Naya was still at Ravi’s.
Annika leaned back into his kiss and was rewarded with his hands on her body and hard muscle supporting her. She moaned again. “You’ll get no argument from me.” She was wearing his shirt, so Daniel was currently shirtless, his hair pleasantly rumpled and jeans slung low. As he came around to sit across from her, she couldn’t complain about the view.
“Ha! You’re the one who wanted to eat in the first place.”
“You have a shift!” Annika said.
“That I do.” He glanced at his phone. “But I still have time.” He grinned wickedly at her. “Eat fast, you’re wasting precious time.”
“Why is your sister so worried about you eating when you can cook for yourself?”
Annika regretted the question immediately as his eyes darkened, and the sexy grin disappeared into sadness. “Because I don’t usually have food in my fridge to cook. It’s easier to grab something on the go. And besides—” his eyes lit up again “—I needed an excuse to show up at the bar to see you.”
Annika relished the last bit of that omelet and gulped her coffee before going to him. He turned toward her in his chair; she brought her legs around him, straddling him. “I’m done.”
“I thought you’d eat forever.” His voice was oh so husky with desire for her, and she was heady with the effect she had on him. He wrapped strong calloused hands under her shirt and around her waist, kissing her like he hadn’t spent the whole evening doing just that. And more. Annika was just surrendering to him when the door opened. Annika flew out of Daniel’s lap and onto the floor, looking up to find Naya standing in the doorway.
Naya’s eyes widened and then quickly scrunched shut. “Oh, God. Oh, God. I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t see anything.”
Annika scrambled to standing. Naya opened one eye slowly.
“It’s fine, Naya.” Annika smiled. “We’re dressed.” She glanced at Daniel, who widened his eyes at her. She shifted so she stood in front of him, partially blocking him from view. “Well, sort of.”
Naya opened her other eye and tilted her head to peek behind Annika. Her eyes widened again before she quickly shifted her gaze to Annika. “Daniel?” she stage-whispered, as if Daniel couldn’t hear them.
Annika flushed and glared at Naya. Daniel chuckled softly behind her as he stood up and waved, grinning. “Hey, Naya. Your timing is impeccable—every time.”
It was Naya’s turn to flush as she waved back. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
Awkward silence floated around for a beat until Naya spoke. “Yeah. So, I’ll just pop into my room and grab a few things. I’ll be gone before you know it.”
“No. It’s fi
ne. Daniel has a shift soon anyway. No need to run off.”
“Yeah, don’t run off on my account.” But he didn’t move.
Naya looked at both of them and raised her eyebrows. “Uh-huh. Okay.” She bolted for her room.
“I should go.” He looked down at her as he placed a hand on either side of her face.
“You’ll need your shirt.”
“That I will.” He smirked at her as he kissed her and started to unbutton the shirt.
“She’ll be out any minute.”
“I doubt that,” Daniel managed between kisses. “We’ve scared her off.”
“True.” She led him back to her room. “But I need clothes, and you really do have to go.”
* * *
AFTER DANIEL LEFT, she showered and changed and grabbed a fresh cup of coffee before peeking into her cousin’s room. Naya was putting away clean laundry.
“Hey.” Annika brought the warm mug of coffee to her lips and sipped.
Naya looked up at her, tight-lipped. “Hey, yourself.”
Okay. Annika flushed. “So... Ravi, huh?”
Naya couldn’t meet her eyes, and Annika swore she saw her cousin swoon. She’d never seen Naya quite so smitten.
Naya looked at her and tried to shrug casually but failed as giggles escaped her mouth. “Are you giggling?”
Naya shook her head as she continued to giggle. “I know it seems weird, we haven’t known each other that long, but we...fit. He’s easy. And I’ve never been so comfortable to just be myself with someone, you know?”
She did know.
“And the thing is...he feels the same way.” She giggled again.
Naya’s laughter was contagious, and Annika found herself giggling along with her cousin. “So...maybe he’s the one?”
Naya shrugged. “What about you? Pretty hot rebound guy you’ve got yourself.”
All the lightness in Annika’s heart fell into her belly with a thud. Rebound guy? Is that what Daniel was?
Naya stared at her. “He is the rebound guy. You know that, right?”
When she didn’t answer, Naya pressed on. “He’s the guy who helps you get the asshole out of your system. He’s not the settle-down guy.”
“I know what a rebound guy is,” she snapped back, not bothering to hide her irritation.
Naya held up her hands in surrender and actually looked at her with pity. “We’ve discussed this. Your parents will never go for it.”
Annika opened her mouth to protest, but Naya cut her off. “Why put them through that? Why put yourself through that? They think you should be with Sajan, and after the Steven fiasco, you’re not going to convince them otherwise.”
“They’ll never trust my judgment.”
Naya nodded, shrugging. “Maybe trying it their way will work. Plus, it’s not like you needed this guy for more than that anyway, right? And it’s not like you can trust him.”
“Sure, right.” Annika forced a smile onto her face, but a deep pit formed in her stomach. Daniel didn’t feel like the rebound guy. Not at all.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
DANIEL
WHAT EXACTLY WAS the protocol after you bared your soul to someone? As Daniel finished his shift, he found himself automatically heading toward Annika’s apartment instead of his own. He had hated having to leave her to go to work, and he couldn’t wait to see her again, so it seemed only logical to go back to her apartment. But she wouldn’t have stayed in her apartment waiting for him—that was ridiculous. She had two jobs and a life.
Truth was, Daniel couldn’t remember the last time he had looked forward to going anywhere. He had been alone in his grief, and when he wasn’t working, his mind would wander to painful corners. Work kept him away from those corners. So, he worked. And worked more, with the goal of coming home so completely exhausted that he simply fell directly into sleep.
But now, there was her. She kept those painful corners far from him, and he couldn’t wait to get back to her. It was more than just not being alone. For the first time in years he felt the desire to be in someone’s company. He didn’t just want to know everything about her—he needed to know. He wanted to take his time learning about her, savoring her. While he couldn’t wait to get back to her, he wished time would stand still when they were together.
Emma’s voice came unbidden into his head. You want a relationship.
He did. No one was more surprised than he was.
He had left her Saturday morning for his shift. It was currently Saturday evening. Date night.
When he pulled up in front of her apartment building and saw that her car was still parked there, his stomach did a little flip. Before he could think too much about it, he found himself knocking on her door. He heard footsteps and a slight pause as she looked through the peephole—he hoped. He really had to talk to her about the lack of security in this building. After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, but instead of the warm brown eyes he craved, he was met with cold gray ones.
“Hey.” Naya pursed her lips as she examined him. “You’re back.”
“Yeah.” He looked past Naya into the apartment to catch of glimpse of Annika, but nothing. “Is she here?”
Naya stepped aside to let him in. “Yep. She has a shift soon, though. She’s in the shower.”
The friendly Naya of his last few encounters seemed to be missing, replaced by this distant version. “Is everything okay?” Daniel ventured as he walked past her into the apartment.
Naya looked him up and down, and Daniel had the distinct impression of being assessed. She frowned. “Listen, she’s been through a lot.”
He turned to face Naya. “I know.” He thought he knew where this was going. “I made a mistake, not telling her how I knew her, and I don’t intend on doing anything else to hurt her.”
This earned him a small smile. “I understand that, but that’s not what I mean.” She paused and took a deep breath. “I mean, she’s been through a lot, and what she needs is stability. Someone she can rely on.” She focused her gaze on him.
Daniel felt his stomach drop. “Yeah?” Not going where he thought it would.
“Well, you’re divorced. You have a questionable relationship with alcohol. It’s not like you’re a successful surgeon who—” Naya stopped abruptly as if she’d revealed too much.
“Wow. Say what you mean, don’t hold back. I may not be Dr. Sajan Shah—” he raised an eyebrow and pointedly paused at the name, causing Naya to flush “—but I care about Annika, and I would never hurt her. And besides, she hasn’t really shown any interest in Sajan, has she?” The last bit came out a bit cockier than he’d intended, but there was a significant part of him that worried that maybe she would be better off with the good surgeon.
“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 wanted him.
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 sta
nding 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 so not the 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.”