Davis (Thoroughly Educated Book 3)

by Lara Norman

  His mouth opened and closed several times, but no sound came out. Davis waited. Finally, Tony stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

  “Yeah, that felt damn good,” Davis said out loud. He sat and went back to work.

  He discovered his days flowed more smoothly once he stood up for himself. Tony gave him a wide berth, only communicating via the interoffice email. Davis no longer stayed so late or arrived at sunrise. He remained productive, bringing in sale after sale and knowing he was finally making a difference.

  The bonus was, he had more time to bang Luna every weekend and some nights in between.

  Luther Dixon was officially fired, not that he’d shown his face at the school after their altercation. Davis knew Luna worried that there would be police involved, maybe even assault charges filed. The thing she didn’t seem to realize was that Luther was about to do something to hurt her, and Davis had every right to defend her. That, and he could post bail within ten minutes if he was arrested, and nothing would ever come of it. He thought it was sweet she worried though.

  They were closing in on Thanksgiving, and everyone was coming to dinner at his place for a change. He wasn’t cooking—hardly knew how—but the six of them were going to potluck it. He looked forward to it that year because he finally had everything he’d ever wanted. He had plenty for which to be thankful. He spent the time after work picking up food and more dishes, finding things he thought Luna would appreciate having in the apartment. He was going to ask her to move in, to forget about their relationship being a secret. It wasn’t really a secret, anyway. Their friends knew, the school knew. Basically, everyone except for the general public, who wouldn’t care, and his parents.

  It occurred to him in a sort of slow mental clearing that his parents were about the only people that didn’t know they were dating. He suddenly didn’t think that was so much a coincidence as it was intentional.

  He tried to put it out of his mind, but it stuck in his craw until it festered. He didn’t enjoy arguments, didn’t want to start one with her. But what was her hangup with his parents? Would she continue making excuses for the rest of their lives? Why she couldn’t go home with him, or meet them for dinner, or whatever? He’d have to say something, even if he didn’t relish the idea of fighting with her. He needed to know what the problem was.

  Of course, five other people showing up at his house hindered that idea. He wouldn’t do that to her or them. He pushed it to the back of his mind while he set the table. He’d had his maid service come in the day before since he wasn’t a masochist, but he wanted to add a few touches to the dining room. He had a crap ton of bread in the oven, as well as a store bought pie on the counter. He was looking forward to Alex bringing her Italian favorites, and Reagan had made a few sides. Luna insisted on making a ham, since no one cared if there was turkey, and she would be there soon.

  He had a few more minutes to himself before the doorman buzzed him from downstairs. It wasn’t Luna, but Grant and Alex. He had them ushered upstairs and went to open the door and wait for them.

  “Hi, you two,” he said as they stepped off the elevator.

  Since Grant had his hands full of whatever food Alex brought, Davis took advantage. He pulled Alex in for a tight hug and kissed her square on the mouth.

  “Get your hands off my woman, Healy.”

  Davis chuckled as he let her go, and she laughed in return. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Set these dishes down and toss you off the balcony.”

  Davis took one off the top and tucked it next to the stove. “That’s not any way to treat a friend.”

  “I’ll knock you out first so you won’t feel the impact.”

  “Now that’s a real pal.” Davis embraced Grant in a one-armed hug as soon as he put down his load.

  “How have you been, Davis?” Alex asked.

  “Fantastic. I hear the two of you are getting married in about four months.”

  Alex was looking around the space with her mouth hanging open. “Um, yeah. Can we get married here?”

  Grant snorted. “Here?”

  Alex glanced at him and blushed. “It’s pretty much the nicest place I’ve ever seen.”

  “Baby, really. The church you picked is perfect and free. Don’t stress over it,” Grant told her as he put an arm around her.

  The buzzer went off again, and Davis went to answer it. He propped the front door open and went back to the kitchen where Alex and Grant were ogling his appliances.

  “Double ovens? Do you even cook?”

  He shrugged at Alex’s question. “Sometimes. I’m nowhere near as good as you.”

  “My initial impression of you was spot on,” Grant said.

  “Narcissistic and spoiled?” Hudson said from the foyer.

  “No, Clark. He’s smart, charming, and too nice. Since I’m not as nice, I would have decked you for a comment like that.”

  Hudson only smirked as he set several bags down on the counter.

  Grant braced as Reagan launched herself at him. He caught her, hugged her as her feet dangled a few inches off the ground. “Baby girl. How are you?”

  “I’m great. I never realize how much I miss your face until I see it again.” She kissed his cheek and he let her down. She crossed to Alex, gave her a hug.

  “Hi, sweetie.” Alex and Reagan got along just fine once Alex relaxed around her. She was worried she had to work hard to impress Grant’s little sister, but it hadn’t been that hard.

  “So where’s Luna?” Reagan asked.

  Davis shrugged. “According to the text she sent before she left her place, she should have been here first. She insisted she didn’t need Sorensen to pick her up, so she’s driving herself.”

  “Are we letting the staff have the holiday off?” Hudson asked.

  “Yes, we are,” Davis replied. He saw Reagan nudge Hudson in the side.

  Finally, he heard the buzzer one more time. He pushed the button on the intercom to have the doorman let her up, then went down the hall to wait for the elevator. He heard the ding and felt his face split in happiness.

  The doors slid open and revealed a flushed Luna. She’d pulled her hair up and wore a green sweater and jeans. He took the massive pan she balanced on her forearms.

  “Hey, you.” He could just barely reach her cheek over the pan and the bag she carried.

  “Hey, yourself. That thing was heavier than I thought.”

  “Everyone’s here.”

  “Ugh. I didn’t mean to be late.”

  “It’s not a problem.” He stopped by his front door to let her go first, then followed her to the kitchen. She said hello to everyone as he set the ham down with a thud.

  “Do we want to eat, or do we want to watch football?” Alex asked.

  “Football,” Grant answered, as she knew he would.

  “I have to reheat my potatoes and the stuffing,” Reagan said. “So go ahead and turn on the TV while that’s going.”

  “If only I knew how to work this damn thing.”

  Grant took the remote from Alex and looked it over. “So many buttons. What the hell?”

  Davis chuckled. “There’s a power button, a channel up and down.”

  “I see them.” Grant got the TV on, switched through channels until he found the Turkey Day Classic.

  Davis stood in front of the wall of windows with Luna, taking her hand and kissing it. “This is what I wanted.”

  She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. “Good.”

  “Do you know what I want for Christmas?”

  “I can probably guess.”

  He laughed and bumped her shoulder with his. “That too. I want you to move in with me.”

  Luna’s jaw popped open. “What?”

  “By Christmas. For my gift.”

  “I don’t know what to say to that.”

  He cradled her face, kissed her softly. “Yes would do just fine.”

  “You muddle my thoughts when you’re so calm and straightforwa
rd.” Still, she clung to him. “I want to, but maybe it’s too soon.”

  “Nothing can possibly be too soon. We’ve circled around this thing for years.”

  Her eyelids slipped closed. “For good reason.”

  “No excuses, Luna. If you have a valid reason, let’s hear it.” He tapped her chin, and she opened her eyes.

  “I don’t guess I have one, except that it’ll be interesting to be out in the open with this.”

  “Stop worrying so much. I’ll take care of whatever it is that you’re stressed over.”

  She sighed. “You think it’ll be so easy.”

  “Easy as breathing. I love you.”

  She blushed. “I love you, too.”

  “Then let that be enough.”

  Chapter 19

  The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas were the busiest Luna could remember being. Between class projects, testing and end-of-semester grades, shopping for gifts, and packing to go to her parents’, Luna barely had time to think.

  All in all, it was good. She didn’t want time to think. She needed, desperately, to resolve her issues with Davis and his parents. But she was a coward and she knew it. Everything was exactly as it should be between them, and she was absolutely terrified it would all come crumbling down.

  Since she couldn’t stop the thoughts and ideas from tumbling around in her head, she made the decision to tell Davis the day she moved in. She’d agreed to that rather quickly, as he undoubtedly knew she would. She wanted the chance to tell her parents first, in person, and then she would officially reside in the apartment that looked out over the city.

  Or at least that was the plan.

  If Sophia Healy demanded Davis either break it off with Luna or be disinherited, she had no idea what they would do. Her ego didn’t want to consider the idea that he might not choose her, so she let that option stay off to the side for the time being. If he was fired, if he lost what he’d worked for, struggled for, and ultimately had fought for, then what? Hopefully, any of the major corporations in the area would be delighted to hire a Healy. She hoped that was as bad as it could get.

  If he chose his family over her, she couldn’t exactly blame him. That possibility was too much for her tender heart to entertain.

  On the day Davis managed to talk her into moving in, she had fun talking to Alex about wedding plans. Alex had a cousin and an aunt that were helping her at home, but it was fun to discuss it. Alex had pictures on her phone of nearly every idea she was considering, enough to consume hours of their time. Reagan, Luna, and Alex had no trouble bonding. It was the guys that remained a little too aloof. Hudson was the odd man out, each time. Older, uptight, and not overly friendly, Luna often wondered if he would ever mellow and befriend the men that were inevitable in his life. Because they were in his life whether he liked it or not, by blood and circumstance.

  As she pondered all of this, Luna walked down the street with her hands full of shopping bags. She happened to glance up when she spotted Luther. Gasping, she ducked into the next store; candles and engraved silver. He hadn’t been looking at her, so she didn’t have the vibe that he was there intentionally. Still, it was easier to just hide for a few minutes until he passed.

  She wandered around, looking at the engraved items. She kind of wanted to buy something for herself, but she never bought frivolous things just before Christmas. The smell of several burning candles was overwhelming, but she went ahead and wandered for several minutes. She spotted a display consisting of a silver frame with names engraved on it and candles scattered in front of it. She realized it was the perfect gift for Alexandra, but couldn’t decide if she should buy it right then or wait for her wedding shower.

  Luna looked at the stock picture of the couple, imagining herself and Davis. It was clearly meant for a wedding, with dates inscribed along the bottom and names along the top. Her fingers itched to buy it for herself, but she resisted. One day, maybe even in the not-too-distant future.

  She could picture it, actually. It would be extra because that was how the Healys rolled. She frowned. It occurred to her that the bride’s family was supposed to pay for the wedding and suddenly her vision changed, becoming her parents’ backyard in Vermont. She realized she preferred that; small and personal. A simple affair with friends and family, the smell of fresh-cut grass tangling with the wildflowers gathered into her bouquet. Her dress would be vintage, possibly even her mother’s. Her father would set up some chairs and tables, call his buddies that played string instruments to perform. It was a dream, a fantasy, but there was nothing stopping her from letting it become a reality. Well, almost nothing.

  Realizing how much time she’d wasted, she headed out of the shop and into the brisk slap of cold air. She looked in both directions, but it appeared Luther had moved on. She made her way back to her car and stowed her bags before heading to the restaurant where she and Davis were meeting.

  When she walked in, Luna spotted him waiting for her up by the hostess stand. He never sat without her, though he certainly could. He turned toward her as she approached and simply took her breath away. His suit fit him impeccably, the blue causing his eyes to pop. He grinned, and it was easy and pleased. He was so hot she had to check for drool.

  “Davis.” Her voice was damn near giddy, and she didn’t even mind.

  He kissed her in greeting, going from soft to hard in a flash. It clearly stated to anyone bothering to watch that she was his. It didn’t even annoy her in the slightest that they were making a spectacle of themselves, not like it used to. She felt the surprise at that revelation almost as strongly as she felt the punch of that kiss.

  “Damn, a girl could get used to that type of greeting.”

  “Perfect. I’ll do it more often, then.”

  He took her hand as they were led to a table near the back with glowing candles and white linens. “You know, there’s a diner a block east. We don’t always have to go to the five-star places.”

  “Duly noted. Tomorrow night it’s chili and baked potatoes.”

  She laughed and spread her napkin in her lap. “Tell me about your day.”

  “Oh, it was pretty damn good. Tony is so scared of me now that all I have to do is walk down the hallway and he clenches his butt cheeks.”

  “As long as clenched cheeks is what makes you happy, then I’m happy for you.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows and leaned in close. “If they’re yours, then always.”

  Luna waved him off just as the waiter came over. Once they’d ordered, she rested her hand on his.

  “I guess I should tell you. I saw Luther today, but he didn’t see me.”

  She watched his eyes go dark. “You’re sure?”

  “I don’t think he meant to be where I was. He was walking on the other side of the street so I ducked into a store until I was sure he’d passed.” She’d debated not telling him, but in the end felt that he needed to know.

  “If you see him again, it’s less likely to be a coincidence. I can’t stress enough that you need to tell me if that happens.”

  “I know, Davis.” She met his gaze, held it steady. “I know, and I agree. That’s why I told you this time, even though it was a bunch of nothing.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  Luna sat back when the waiter brought their drinks and then took a deep sip of hers. She wanted to tell Davis something, and she needed all the extra courage she could get. After several deep breaths, she noticed Davis staring at her.

  “Sorry. It’s just that I had this thought that’s so unlike me, and I’m kind of afraid of your reaction.”

  “You don’t think I’ll be pleased with whatever you’ve come up with?” He relaxed against the back of the chair, looking every bit like the king of his domain.

  “Oh, you’ll be immensely pleased. That’s the problem,” she muttered.

  His grin spread. “Do tell.”

  “It’s not about that—so get your mind out of whatever gutter it just fell in before it drowns in was
tewater.” She took another gulp of wine. “I saw this pretty picture frame in the store I stopped in. It had names and dates engraved on it,” she explained at his frown.

  “Okay?”

  She could tell he didn’t understand. “Wedding dates. Bride and groom’s names.”

  Davis opened his mouth, but before he could respond the waiter came back around. They met each other’s gaze while the waiter set their food down and asked if they needed anything else.