“Sure, would this afternoon do?”
“That soon? I suppose,” Emma frowned. “I suppose we can wait until Anna comes in so she can babysit Dani.”
“Right. Do you actually own a cane, or would you like me to ask Anna to bring in a couple from our collection?”
Emma paled. “I don’t, but nothing artificial,” she warned.
“Hey, I thought that choice was up to me.” Stevie’s eyes twinkled.
“You are such an evil top. No wonder you are perfect for Anna.”
Stevie laughed. “Why, thank you, Emma Renee.”
Emma growled mockingly at the use of her full name. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Stevie saluted just as mockingly, before she stood and left Emma’s office.
Emma shook her head as her hand absently traveled to her behind. She was going to get no work done today, and worse than that, what was she going to tell Dani?
* * *
Dani’s eyes narrowed as she watched Anna approach the back door. Meeting Stevie, she handed the blonde something long and narrow, but with the grainy black and white picture, Dani couldn’t quite make out what the item was on the small TV screen. Over the past few days, she’d found the new surveillance system rather interesting as she’d watched the comings and goings of the bookstore customers from the safety of Emma’s office.
“Hey, honey?” Emma called from the doorway. “Got a sec?”
“Sure,” Dani replied.
“Are you busy? Have anything pressing going on?”
“Not at the moment, why?” Dani asked, suddenly uneasy with Emma’s tone.
Emma entered, closing the door behind her, and practically flew into Dani’s lap.
“What’s the matter?” Dani asked, surprised by the clinginess of her partner. “You alright?”
Emma pulled back. “Yeah, I just needed a hug.”
“Well, I can help you out there,” Dani teased, putting her arms around Emma and hugging her tight. “Better?”
“Yeah, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything,” Dani agreed instantly.
“Cover my shift for an hour or so?”
“Why?”
Emma wrinkled her nose. “Stevie and I need to have a chat.”
Dani frowned. “What? Why? I thought you agreed on once a month?”
“We did. This is something special. And I’d rather not go into specifics.”
“I don’t understand. Did you do something?”
“Dani, please don’t. Not this time. You just have to trust me, okay?”
“Of course I trust you, but this, I don’t know if I can be okay with it if I don’t know why.”
“I’m not asking for your permission, Dani, but I do expect you to stay in the store with Anna until Stevie or I can relieve you.”
“Sounds like you are the one that doesn’t trust me. I know what you are telling me, but how do I really know what you and Stevie are doing up there?”
“Danielle, you don’t really mean that. There is nothing sexual about this…”
“So you say. So go ahead. You don’t need my permission. I’ll be a good girl and sit with my babysitter and mind the store while you’re having your chat upstairs.”
Emma frowned. “Stevie is waiting for me. We can talk more about this later.” She then tried to kiss Dani on the cheek, but Dani pulled away. “I love you, Dani.”
Dani chewed her lip a moment, resisting the impulse to say it back.
With a final sigh, Emma stood and left her office, leaving the door open in her wake.
Dani sat back in the chair. She couldn’t help the anger that rose inside her. There had been many times with Emma when she had put her on edge. She’d often treat her like a child; spankings, groundings, and controlling when and what she ate and drank. There were even times when a single look from her could turn Dani’s knees to jelly, but Emma had never dismissed her like that. Never told her she didn’t have a choice, and just had to accept that Emma was going to do something very personal with someone other than Dani.
Dani was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts by the appearance of Anna at the door. “You gonna stay in here and pout all day?”
“Maybe,” Dani returned, not being able to stop the smile.
“They’re going to be a while. I say let’s call the bakery down the street and see if they’ll deliver us a couple of cupcakes.”
“You are incorrigible,” Dani scolded, but pushed her seat back and followed Anna back out into the main store. “Think they have red velvet?”
Anna giggled. “And you say I’m incorrigible. You, Danielle, are impossible.”
Dani grinned, glad for the moment that the store was empty, “Anna, do you know what Emma did?”
“Nope, and I don’t want to know. My backside is safer that way.”
Dani frowned. “What did you bring to Stevie?”
“Bring?”
“I saw you hand Stevie something long and narrow through the surveillance system,” Dani prompted.
“Oh, that. Not allowed to say.”
Dani groaned. “I think I’m gonna need two cupcakes.”
“You’re gonna ruin your dinner,” Anna teased.
“Hey, not my fault if my babysitter stuffed me with junk food.”
“Hey!”
Dani laughed before taking a step closer to Anna. “I want to know.”
“If I tell you, neither of us will be able to sit for a week,” Anna protested as she took a step farther away.
“Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you tell me? Then we can close up the store and go get those cupcakes in person. You can get a latte and I’ll get a giant diet soda.” Dani grinned mischievously.
“Now I’m not sure if I should be impressed or scared half to death,” Anna laughed nervously. “I’m supposed to be watching you.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’re the babysitter. Guess you’re kinda responsible for what I do, but then if you don’t want to go…” Dani shrugged. “I guess I could go by myself.”
“You wouldn’t.” Anna swallowed hard. “Besides, there needs to be two of us in the store at all times.”
“Well, then you could either lock up and go interrupt Emma and Stevie, or you could come with me. Or…”
“Or?” Anna asked nervously.
“You could just tell me what’s going on.”
Anna narrowed her eyes. “You are evil, Dani.”
Dani smiled. “So?”
“Fine,” Anna groaned. “Stevie is going to cane Emma.”
“Those are what those long things were?” Dani frowned.
“Yeah, but I don’t know what Emma did. Stevie only gets those out when she’s really pissed.”
Dani’s frowned deepened as she looked up at the ceiling. “Is she gonna be okay?”
“Oh, she’ll be fine. Won’t be able to sit for a week, literally, but I’m sure whatever she did, she won’t do again,” Anna reassured her.
“I don’t get it, why would she volunteer for that?”
“Oh, come on, like you’ve never asked to get your tail lit? It’s the same thing. Emma understands what she needs, and so does Stevie. You have to trust her, trust them both.”
Dani shook her head. “You make it sound so easy. How would you feel if it was the other way around, and it was Stevie on the receiving end?”
“Are you kidding? I’d be pissed they didn’t invite me to watch!” Anna laughed.
Dani shook her head. “Now I really need a cupcake.”
“Seriously?”
“Hell yes, what’s the name of that bakery again?” Dani asked, pulling out her phone.
* * *
“If it’s okay with your mom, you can have one.” Dani invited the little boy who was eyeing her half-eaten cupcake on the counter.
“Can I, Mom?” He looked up at a middle-aged woman with blond hair.
“Sure, Brandon,” she agreed as Dani smiled and showed him the selection she had
in the box.
“Mom can have one too, if she wants,” Dani offered.
“Why, thank you. It’s been ages since I had a cupcake,” the woman smiled. “They are so pretty, where did you get them?”
“Cupcake Haven. It’s right around the corner on 3rd,” Dani answered.
“Wonderful. I didn’t even know they were there. Maybe we can have them do your birthday party next month.”
“Birthday, huh? How old are you going to be?”
The little boy smiled. “Seven.”
“Wow, did you pick out a theme yet?”
The little boy nodded enthusiastically. “Arrrggg, it’ll be a pirate birthday, matey.”
Dani laughed. “Oh, I can see you are all set then. Tell ya what,” Dani paused as she pulled out a piece of scratch paper from under the counter and scribbled a note and a phone number. “I happen to have some pirate friends, I’m sure they would love to come to your party.” Turning to the mother, she said, “Tell them that Brandon here is a personal friend of Danielle Ryan, and needs the best birthday party any seven-year-old ever wanted.”
“Thank you,” the woman smiled, taking the paper, the bag with her purchase, and her cupcake. With a final wave, she and Brandon left.
“That was nice,” Anna started, only to be stopped when Dani held up a finger as she dialed her cell.
“Morgan. Yes. I want you to contact Riley Entertainment. Yes. Tell them that if a woman from Fort Strymon calls inquiring about a pirate-themed birthday party for her son, Brandon, to make sure it happens. The works, right. Yes, right. And make sure it gets charged to my personal account. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. Right. Good. Thanks, Morgan.” Hanging up her cell, Dani smiled at her gaping employee.
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
Dani shrugged. “Every seven-year-old deserves a kick-ass birthday party.”
“Oh, maybe I’ll have you plan my next birthday,” Anna smirked. “A few pirate wenches, beer… I could so do that.”
Dani laughed. “We’ll see…” Dani’s voice trailed off as Stevie appeared from the back entrance, followed a moment later by Emma. Quickly coming around from the back of the counter, she passed by Stevie, unable to resist flashing her a dirty look before stopping short in front of Emma. “You okay?”
Emma winced, but nodded. “I’ll be fine, Dani.” Emma then squinted. “Why are your teeth blue?”
Dani flashed her a smile. “Frosting. Want a cupcake?”
“Cupcake?” Emma raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Yeah, bakery around the corner. They only deliver if you order a dozen. So I ordered six.”
Both eyebrows shot up. “You had six dozen cupcakes delivered to the store?”
“Yeah,” Anna spoke up. “Most of them are gone though, only have about six left.”
“Please tell me you didn’t eat them all?” Emma looked at Dani, concerned.
“No, she didn’t, I helped,” Anna volunteered.
Emma and Stevie exchanged glances, as Anna laughed. “We had a dozen delivered to the dry cleaner’s next door, one to the law office across the street, another to the post office, and two to the daycare. Gave a few away here, too. They went pretty quick.”
“I bet,” Stevie answered. “How many did you have?”
Anna put her hands up defensively. “Only one, I swear.”
“And you?” Emma asked Dani.
“One and a half. Couldn’t resist trying the blue frosting.”
“Un-huh,” Emma smiled. “Okay, you’re free. You can head back to the office and your laptop.”
Dani frowned. “Maybe we should close up. Or I can finish the day with Anna. Wouldn’t you rather lie down for a while?”
“I’ll be fine, Dani,” Emma chastised. Turning Dani toward the office, she patted her bottom gently. “Go, before I change my mind and put you to work.”
“Hey Dani,” Stevie called as Dani paused. “See you at six tomorrow morning?”
Dani narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll feel up to running in the morning.” Without another comment, Dani disappeared into the office.
“What was that about?” Stevie asked, looking at Emma.
Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to her later.”
“Right, see you tomorrow. And I’ll see you at home, Anna,” Stevie smiled, giving her wife a quick kiss.
“Thanks, Stevie. For everything,” Emma said.
“Anytime, Emma.”
* * *
“How come we are eating in here tonight?” Dani asked, as Emma gingerly sat down on the sofa before curling up her feet under her.
“Thought it might be a nice change of pace. Watch a movie, curl up on the sofa together,” Emma answered, handing Dani a plate from the TV tray she’d set up.
Dani looked down at the plate. Emma had put the grilled chicken on a bun, added a scoop of potato salad and some fresh strawberries. At least she could identify everything tonight. “It’s because you are too sore to sit in the kitchen, isn’t it?” Dani accused.
“Eat,” Emma encouraged, ignoring the question.
Dani frowned. “I still don’t understand why you won’t let me see. You did last time.”
“Danielle, I already told you I wasn’t going to discuss it with you. Now, eat,” Emma pressed as she flipped through the movie channels before settling on something that was just starting.
Dani sat back, putting the plate on her lap. She managed two bites of her sandwich and a strawberry before she put the plate back on the tray. “I’m not very hungry, and I’ve already seen this movie,” Dani commented as she stood and headed down the hall.
“Dani. Danielle,” Emma tried, but Dani ignored her.
Dani headed directly to Uncle Sean’s study and sought comfort in his leather chair. Looking out the window, she curled up into a ball. At times like these, she could almost feel his presence, and being where he loved to spend time was soothing.
“Dani, I’m sorry. Please come back to the living room with me,” Emma’s voice pulled Dani away from the past.
“I told you I wasn’t hungry,” Dani replied crisply.
“How about a compromise? If you come back and sit with me, you can have a soda with dinner.”
“I’m fine right here,” Dani replied, never taking her eyes from the window.
“Fine,” Emma relented. “If you change your mind, I’ll be in the living room.” Emma waited a long moment, before finally turning and leaving.
Dani continued to stare out the window, her thoughts turning, when suddenly she noticed movement in a car parked across the street. Narrowing her eyes, she turned off the light, so she could get a better look. There was definitely someone sitting in the car, and it looked like he was watching the apartment with binoculars.
Pulling her cell out of her pocket, she dialed. “Zio Frankie?”
“Danielle, my bambina, so good to hear from you. Is everything alright?”
“I hope so. I was wondering if you still had people watching my store? There is someone in a car watching the apartment through binoculars. I don’t want to call the police if it’s your boys, but whoever it is giving me the creeps.”
Dani winced as her godfather let out a string of curses in Italian. “Go ahead and call the police, bambina. If it is my boys, they deserve to be slapped around a bit. If not, I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll call my boys and have them check it out regardless.”
“Thanks, Zio Frankie.”
“No problem, and you call me back and let me know what’s going on, capisce?”
“Capisce, I understand,” Dani returned with a smile.
“Good girl. Now hang up and call the police.”
“Yes, Zio Frankie. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Releasing the call, Dani dialed the police to report.
“Dani? Who are you talking to, and why do you have the lights out?”
“Don’t turn them on, Emma,” Dani hissed, before returning to the operator on the phone. “Plea
se hurry,” Dani encouraged, “if it’s him, he has a habit of slipping away just in time. Right, goodbye.”
“What’s going on?” Emma asked.
“There is someone watching the apartment from across the street. Zio Frankie doesn’t think it’s one of his boys…” Even in the darkened room, Dani could see Emma pale. “Hey, come here,” she encouraged.
Emma quickly crossed the room and allowed Dani to pull her into her lap. Curling up, Emma looked where Dani pointed out the car. “I can’t tell if that’s him,” she frowned.
“Neither can I, but don’t worry, we’re safe in here. Between Zio Frankie and the police, one of them will get him.”
“But what if they don’t? I’m so tired of being scared, Dani.”
“Me too,” Dani pulled Emma closer, laying a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Emma nuzzled up again Dani, closing her eyes and enjoying the closeness. After a long moment, she heard Dani curse. “What?” Emma’s eyes flew back open.
“He’s leaving. Damn it.”
“Maybe it was Frankie’s boy?” Emma said hopefully.
“Maybe. Regardless, it doesn’t matter now, he’s gone.”
Emma frowned. “Well, I guess I should clean up the kitchen.”
“I’ll do that,” Dani offered. “I think you’re too tired.”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “Don’t even think about trying to send me to bed,” she scolded. “I’m not going to sleep this early.”
Dani grinned. “Who said anything about sleep?” she taunted, bending and kissing Emma’s neck.
“God, Dani,” Emma moaned. “You are so evil.”
“So I’ve been told,” Dani replied with a smirk.
Emma then let out a yelp of surprise as Dani stood, picking her up as she did. “Put me down,” she protested.
“Nope. You’re mine. I found you fair and square.”
“Dani,” Emma scolded, as she effortlessly carried her into the bedroom, then laid her gently on the bed.
Crawling up next to her, Dani lifted Emma’s shirt so that her stomach was exposed, and began to caress it with gentle kisses. “I think you have way too much clothing on,” Dani whispered.
The Art of Discipline: Running Toward Trouble (The Mockingbird Chronicles) Page 11
