Water Goddess

by Crystal Inman

  Maybe.

  Erin pressed her fingers to her aching temples. She protected herself so long and from so many that she didn’t know how to trust. But she had given Daniel her body. And he had treated her so tenderly that she wanted to weep with the beauty of it.

  She stood from the floor slowly and swayed against the doorframe. Erin was weary to the bone. She pulled the ivory dress from her shoulders once again and stumbled to her drawers to find a pajama set to wear. As soon as she dressed, she fell on the bed and into a deep sleep.

  * * * *

  Erin called into work Tuesday with a small sigh of guilt. It wasn’t as though Kendra couldn’t handle it because she could. She simply hated to miss work. But the headache she fell asleep with last night wouldn’t go away. Erin had taken enough pills to choke a small horse, but nothing had worked.

  Guilt pressed down on her with a heavy weight. Daniel had given selflessly of himself. Had made her come to life. And how had she repaid him? She snapped her fingers. Oh, that’s right. She’d run him off. Sweet.

  She dressed in jean shorts and an orange tank top and cleaned every damn inch of her house. Erin finished around two o’clock and collapsed on her couch. The killer headache was now a dull throb behind her right eye.

  “I’m so tired,” she mumbled. Erin closed her eyes and drifted off.

  * * * *

  The pounding on the door woke Erin with a start. She frowned and glanced around. The sun was setting. She could barely see the last rays as they filtered through her kitchen window. She pulled her ponytail tighter and went to answer the door.

  Daniel stood there.

  Erin’s caught her breath, and her heart hammered in her chest.

  “Daniel,” she breathed.

  “Are you all right?” Daniel breezed past her and paced the length of her living room. He raked his fingers through his hair and scowled.

  “Are you?” she asked.

  He stopped for a second and shook his head. “I apologize for my behavior last night.” Daniel clenched his fist. “I had no right to say those things. To hurt you like that.” He stopped in front of her, and his hazel eyes pleaded with her. “I wanted so badly to hear the words back that I did not think. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, Daniel.” Erin shook her head back and forth. “Your words were right. As hard as that is to admit.” She bit her lip. “I never expected anyone like you. Ever.” She smiled at him. “And I’ve had more practice tearing myself down than building myself up.” Erin wrapped her arms around herself.

  “Querida.” Daniel moved forward and pulled her to him. He stroked her hair and gently murmured in her ear.

  “I know what you want from me, Daniel. I do. But I don’t know that I’m capable of that.”

  “You are a wondrous woman, Erin Sanders. I have no doubt that you are capable of a good many things.”

  “Flatterer,” she mumbled.

  He chuckled. “I tried to call you at school, but they said you were not in. I thought the worst.” His voice sobered. “I didn’t want to cause you pain.”

  “Daniel.” Erin stepped away from him. “You do something to me. I’ve never met anyone like you. You are gentle and kind. Honorable.” She snorted. “Do you know how much that scares the hell out of me? I don’t know men like you. I don’t know families like yours. It’s overwhelming.” She smiled. “You are overwhelming.”

  “I am but a man, Erin.” Daniel lifted her hand to kiss the palm of it. “Nothing more. Nothing less. And I will do my best to give you the time you need.” He sighed. “I would give anything to make this better for you.”

  “But you can’t.” Erin sighed and let her head rest on his shoulder. “Logically, I know that. And even now, my heart shies away from that which it doesn’t recognize.” She closed her eyes. “I’m a bit muddled.”

  Laughter rumbled through Daniel’s chest. “I trust in you, Erin. You will come to your own conclusions in your own space and time.” He lifted her chin. “I can be an assertive man at times, but I will give you all the time you need to decide.” He paused. “We will date, yes?”

  “Date?” Erin sputtered.

  Daniel smiled down at her. “Si. We will go out and be together in social situations.”

  It sounded innocuous enough. Erin studied him. He was kind and handsome. Patient. Understanding. Why in the blue hell was she dragging her heels?

  “Dating sounds fine.” Erin blew out a breath.

  “Excellent.” Daniel clapped his hands together and looked at the watch on his arm. “It is nearly seven now. We can go grab a bite to eat. How is that?”

  Erin arched an eyebrow. “Don’t waste any time, do you?”

  “Every moment in your company is precious, Erin.” Daniel lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “Why would I waste it?”

  Her cheeks colored at his words. Lethal, that one. “I don’t really want to go out this evening.” The minute the words left her mouth, Daniel grinned. Erin held up her hand. “That doesn’t mean what you think it means.” She rolled her blue eyes. “I simply meant I don’t want to dress up to eat.” She glanced around her house. “And I really don’t want to stay here.”

  “I have a bit of paperwork to handle this evening.” Daniel nodded. “How would you like to join me at the bar? We can order in and ignore the rest of the world.”

  “Ignore the rest of the world?” Erin smoothed her hands down her orange tank top. “Why didn’t you say so?”

  * * * *

  Daniel waited while Erin changed into jeans and a long-sleeved green Henley. She left her hair down and put a little makeup on. She slid her feet into her brown boots and joined him back in the living room.

  His eyes lit up when they saw her. “You are lovely, Erin. Truly lovely.” Daniel reached out to take her hands, and she shook her head.

  “You’re shameless.” Her lips twitched.

  “I like to touch you,” he stated. His hazel eyes darkened. “I like it very much.”

  Erin felt her stomach tighten at the husky words. Oh yes. She liked it very much, too. But she wasn’t going to let her hormones rule her world. Just wouldn’t happen. And the jury was still out on her heart. Damn it.

  She brushed her hair back and grabbed a light brown jacket from the arm of the couch. “Do you have any idea what we’ll be eating this evening?”

  Daniel shrugged and helped her with her jacket. “We will eat whatever you desire.”

  “Pizza?”

  He closed his eyes and smiled. “Yes. I love you.”

  Erin snickered and slapped his arm. “Quit. You’re wrapped in a hormone-filled haze.” She shook her head and followed him out to the porch. Erin turned and locked her deadbolt. It snapped loudly in the silence. When she turned, Daniel leaned forward.

  “I’m wrapped up in you, querida.” Daniel brushed his lips against hers. “And there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  Erin put her hand against her chest and told herself to breathe. Oxygen in. Oxygen out. That way she wouldn’t hyperventilate and pass out. “I need room, Daniel. We can date, but you have to respect the space I need.” She nudged him out to arm’s length away from her. “Something like this.”

  Daniel raked his hands through his hair and frowned. “This is too far.”

  Erin waited silently.

  “Fine,” he sighed and looked at her forlornly. “But my space is lonely.”

  “Your space will adjust.” Erin walked out to Daniel’s vehicle with him trailing behind her. He opened her door, and she settled inside. Then he walked around to his side and climbed in.

  Daniel started it, and the vehicle purred. Erin smiled and patted the dashboard. “I don’t think my car has ever made a sound like that.”

  “We can have my cousin look at it.” Daniel shot her a glance. “He is a great mechanic. And I’m sure he could make your car purr.”

  Erin warred with herself for a minute. What harm would it do? Good God. If she wouldn’t even let someone look at her car, she rea
lly was in a bad way.

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  Daniel reached for and squeezed her hand. “We will park in the back of the bar so you don’t have to be bombarded with my patrons.”

  “How is Erica?” Erin turned and studied Daniel in the shadows of the streetlights. His profile tightened.

  “She is better.” Daniel tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Max protects her like his own. And Mama is trying to do the best she can.” He turned to study Erin. “Erica didn’t tell you who hurt her?”

  “No.” Kendra’s words echoed in her head. Erin would know when she saw him. And she believed that. It kept her focused.

  “She will not tell us, either.” Daniel paused. “I’ve made an appointment with her to talk to somebody. And if she feels comfortable with the doctor, then I will see that she goes back.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  Silence fell in the car.

  Daniel cleared his throat after a couple of minutes. “Would you like to see someone, querida?”

  “Would I like counseling?” Erin fiddled with the sleeves of her jacket. “I don’t know. I called one of those hotlines once. But I was too ashamed to say anything.” She shrugged. “It may have been different if I had told someone. Anyone.”

  Daniel reached over and stroked her cheek. “If or when you would like to speak with someone, I will take you.”

  She turned her head to the window so he wouldn’t see the tears trembling on her eyelashes. Her blue eyes stung with the effort it took to not let a single tear fall.

  “Thank you,” she managed.

  Erin watched as they turned into the bar parking lot and drove to the back. Quickly Daniel killed the engine and turned to her again. “What would you like on your pizza?”

  The laughter choked her. Her emotions spun from one dizzying place to another. “My pizza?”

  “Yes.” Daniel stepped out of his side of the car and shut the door. Then he walked around to her side and opened the door.

  Erin stepped out and shook her head. “Everything but black olives. Is that okay?”

  “Perfect.” Daniel hooked his arm around her waist and propelled her forward. “And I will have one of my bartenders bring up a bottle of red wine.” He unlocked the back door and steered her inside. “Meet me upstairs in my office, please. I have to go check with my staff to make sure that everyone is here and has their assignments.” His hazel eyes laughed down at her. “I believe you know the way.”

  “By heart,” she said wryly. Erin watched Daniel stride off, whistling. Her heart beat frantically in her chest. Her palms were wet, and she brushed them down the sides of her jeans. Just a little pie and wine, right? She blew out a shaky breath and climbed the stairs to Daniel’s office.

  Erin recalled the previous times she made this journey. Funny how time changed things. If anyone had told her that she would willingly be in Daniel’s company having dinner, she would have called them a liar. But the handsome bar owner touched her. And now she had to decide how far to let him into her life.

  She swung the door open and stopped in her tracks. Erin’s heart lurched in her chest. Daniel’s office was in pieces.

  Chapter 10

  Erin turned and stumbled back downstairs. There was no way that Daniel knew his office had been trashed. He would never have sent her up there. His brother. The thought stopped her at the bottom of the stairs. Hector would keep coming back until he found what he wanted.

  She ran to Daniel at the main bar. “Daniel!”

  He turned, puzzled, and saw the expression on her face. “What is it, Erin?”

  “Your office.” Erin shook her head. “Someone’s been in your office. There are papers everywhere. Everything is demolished.”

  Daniel turned to the tallest bartender. “Call the police.” He looked at Erin. “You stay here.”

  “I think he’s gone.” Erin motioned upstairs. “I didn’t see anyone.”

  “Stay here,” Daniel bit out. “I’m so sorry I had you go up there alone.”

  Erin listened with half an ear as the bartender requested officers to the bar. She watched Daniel take the stairs two at a time and heard his office door open with a slam. Five minutes later, the police arrived, and Erin escorted the two officers upstairs.

  Daniel paced the floor with a scowl etched on his handsome features. He clutched papers in his hand and mumbled under his breath.

  “Mr. Rodriguez?” One of the officers stepped forward. “I’m Officer LaHue, and this is Officer Newhouse. Could you tell us what happened here, please?”

  Daniel stopped and dropped the papers on his desk that was broke in half down the middle. “I came in to open the bar about ten minutes ago. I sent Ms. Sanders up here to settle in for dinner when she rushed down and informed me that someone used my office for target practice.” He raked his hands through his hair and grimaced.

  Both officers’ eyes swiveled to Erin, and she had to stop herself from taking a step back. She avoided police her entire life. There were several times they would evict her from whichever park or alley she kept her life in at the time.

  Daniel moved forward and put his arm around her shoulder.

  “Did you see anyone, Ms. Sanders?” Officer LaHue asked.

  “I’m sorry,” Erin stammered. “No one was here when I came up.” She motioned to the phone torn out of the wall. “I was going to call for pizza.”

  “Do you have any idea who would do this, Mr. Rodriguez?” Officer Newhouse arched an eyebrow.

  “I may have an idea.” Daniel lifted his head. “My brother is on the run from the police. He used to own this club. I’ve had another break-in not too long ago.”

  “Your brother’s name?”

  “Hector Rodriguez.”

  The officers paused at the name.

  Erin watched suspicion cross the officers’ faces. Oh yes. They had heard of him before. And they didn’t seem happy about it.

  She glanced around the room. Daniel’s desk was broken in two. Every one of his filing cabinets was torn up, and papers trashed the floor. Someone had taken a knife and cut large slits in his carpet that looked like claws. The small window behind Daniel’s desk was broken, and glass littered the shredded carpet. Every portrait on the wall in pieces.

  The phone, computer, and fax machine looked as though someone had taken a sledgehammer to them. All the circuits inside the items were strewn across the side of the desk and floor. There wasn’t a single thing in the room that hadn’t been touched. Even the picture of Daniel and his family had been ripped to pieces.

  “And you have no idea where your brother is, Mr. Rodriguez?”

  Irritation crossed Daniel’s features, and they hardened perceptibly. “I assure you, Officers, if I knew, I would tell you.”

  “And you have an alarm system?”

  “Yes.” Daniel plucked his cell phone from his pocket and called downstairs. Erin heard the phone ring. “Who deactivated the alarm this evening?” He paused and nodded his head. Daniel slipped the phone back in his pocket. “Jake, our main bartender.”

  “We’ll be downstairs talking to your staff, Mr. Rodriguez. If you think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to call.” Officer LaHue looked around. “Your report will be ready in forty-eight hours. I suggest you file a claim as quickly as possible.”

  “Thank you, Officers.” Daniel watched the two men walk back downstairs. Then he closed his eyes and struggled for a minute.

  Erin could see the emotions cross his face. When he opened his eyes, he reached for her. Erin moved willingly into his arms and tried to comfort him as best she could. To be violated was horrific. She could only thank God that no one had been hurt this time. If Daniel hadn’t stopped by to see her, he could have been hurt.

  She shuddered, and Daniel held her tighter. “Are you cold, querida?” he whispered against her hair.

  “No.” Erin shook her head. “But I worry about you. What would have happened if you had been here?”

 
“Hector would not have come here if I was. He is a coward.” Daniel’s hazel eyes blazed with fury. “I will hire more guards for the club. I will not let him win.”

  Erin reached up and stroked his jaw softly. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  Daniel’s breath wheezed out of his body, and his arms tightened. “I’m glad you’re okay.” His eyes pleaded with her. “I would never have let you come up here by yourself.”

  “I know that,” Erin reassured him. She snuggled closer and smiled against his chest. “We still ordering pizza?”

  Daniel chuckled. “Yes, love. We will, however, eat downstairs in one of the private rooms instead of my office.” He brought Erin’s lips to his own. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Erin looked up into his eyes. “Now feed me.”

  * * * *

  Daniel finished off the last piece of pizza and looked at Erin. She twirled the wineglass stem in her hand and took a sip of the deep red wine. The room wasn’t soundproof but kept most of the raucous bar action out of the space.

  Erin sat back with a sigh and studied Daniel. He’d rolled his sleeves up so he wouldn’t get sauce on them. His hair swung freely and hung low enough to brush his shoulders. She wanted him. The admission frightened her. What happened to her iron will? Her sense of self-preservation? Every defense crumbled under Daniel’s gentle words. It scared the hell out of her.

  “What’s wrong?” Daniel leaned forward and placed his wineglass beside the empty pizza box.

  “Nothing.” Erin shook her head and tried to smile.

  “You don’t lie very well, querida.” Daniel studied her. “Your eyes darken, and there is a frown on your face.” He smiled gently.

  “Quit reading me.” Erin rolled her eyes. “A woman has to keep some things to herself, you know.” She took another sip of wine.

  “You don’t want to share?” Daniel’s silky voice washed over her.

  Her lips twitched. “Quit seducing me.”

  “You wound me.” Daniel stood and walked over to her. Then he sank into the couch with a small sigh and put his feet up on the table in front of them. “I only ask for your thoughts, querida.”