The cold felt good. Danny’s hands felt better.
“I want to change into sweats. Are you okay if I leave Rachel in charge for a few minutes? I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I smiled weakly, and with a kiss to my cheek, Danny left.
I had never been hung over before. It felt completely gross.
Slowly, I rose to my feet. Unexpected wetness between my thighs made me blush. Danny! I grinned and stumbled to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Despite Danny’s reassurance, I was embarrassed. This would either become one of those stories you share a good laugh over or it would mark the end for us.
It wasn’t long before Danny returned. My headache was subsiding and Rachel was by my side. Now that she knew I’d enjoyed the evening, she felt free to discuss the formal.
“Rach, how’s my girl?” Danny asked as he entered.
“I think she’s on the mend.”
“Hello! I can speak,” I teased them.
“Right. How are you doing, princess?”
“Better. The Tylenol kicked in.” Danny smiled. Rachel thoughtfully rose to leave.
“Great necklace. Danny, you certainly know how to treat your girlfriend.” Rachel glared at him and left the room.
I lifted an eyebrow, confused. Had Danny and Rachel been fighting while I slept?
Danny locked the door, turned off the light and slid into bed. Wrapping his arms around me, Danny kissed my hair and whispered, “You smell nice. Let’s get some sleep.”
My earlier vulnerabilities vanished. I loved how secure he made me feel.
“They’re gone,” Danny whispered the next morning, waking me.
I blinked hard. The cold sun filtered through the border of the window shade was glaring in contrast to the warmth of Danny’s limbs tangled around mine.
“What?” Huh?
“Chloe and Rachel. We’re alone.”
It took my sleepy brain a moment to digest this news. Then I understood exactly what Danny meant. My heart started thumping wildly and I grinned.
“How are you feeling?”
“Good as new,” I assured Danny.
“How about if I make you feel better than new?”
“Oh, yes!” I giggled and Danny’s lips devoured me as he climbed on top.
This was even better than last night. I knew what to expect and I wasn’t frightened or in a champagne-induced fog.
After, we lay in each other’s arms silently reveling in the pleasure of being together, enjoying gentle kisses and caresses.
“I want everyone to know you’re mine,” Danny said as he fingered the gold heart.
“Last night changes everything, doesn’t it?”
“That it does,” Danny replied.
Our fingers entwined and we made love again. Yesterday I had been alone and cranky. Today I was with the man I loved.
CHAPTER 35 - ELIZABETH
The first substantial snow storm came during study week. There had previously been a few dustings but this time nearly a foot was predicted!
Overnight the snow began falling. When I woke, I peeked under the window shade. My eyes danced in delight, thrilled to see the clean white blanket below and more thick flakes coming down. My first real snow storm!
I threw my old ski bib on over long underwear and a turtleneck. Then I shoved my feet into snow boots, grabbed my parka and flew down the stairs to Danny. I had seen snow before, but only in Aspen. This was different.
A sleepy-eyed Shane responded to my urgent knocking.
“Where’s Danny?” I asked breathlessly.
“Asleep. Like me,” he snarled.
“Sorry.” In my excitement I had ignored the fact that it was only just past seven. I dashed into Danny’s bedroom, letting my jacket drop to the floor and approached his sleeping body. I shook his arm.
“Danny, wake up!” I urged, and I sat down on the bed. One eye slowly opened and attempted to focus.
“Eli? Are you going skiing?” Danny asked in a sleepy haze.
“No! It’s snowing! A lot. Danny, we need to make a snowman!”
“Thanks for the weather report. By the way, I finished my history paper.”
Oops! Awkward. In my excitement over the snow, I forgot the reason I had slept alone was Danny’s need to complete this paper.
“When did you get to bed?” I asked with new concern.
“I don’t know. About four.”
“Oh.” I was disappointed. “I wanted to play,” I pouted.
“Is it still snowing?”
“Yes. A lot,” I brimmed with excitement.
“The snow will still be here later.” Danny closed his eyes again. “Take off that snow bunny costume and get into bed,” he ordered while moving over to make room.
I should have known Danny wouldn’t find the snowstorm as exciting as I did. He had gone to prep school in New Hampshire. Snow wasn’t new to him.
I sighed and pulled off my boots followed by the bib, the turtleneck and the long underwear. Then I unhooked my bra, flung it onto the pile of clothes, and climbed into bed. Danny swiftly removed my bikini and folded his arms around me. Comforted by my closeness, he fell back to sleep. I merely dozed.
By ten o’clock I was restless. Listening to Danny’s steady breathing against my neck as he continued in a deep sleep was not all that interesting.
I gazed at his perfect face. Danny’s disheveled hair was completely sexy. I gently moved a lock away from his eye. Danny needed to get it cut, but I did like its longer, shaggy length. I smiled. Danny was so beautiful.
I spotted a dribble of drool on his chin and carefully blotted it with the top sheet. What was he dreaming about? Danny was smiling. Me, I hoped.
Contentment filled me as I watched him. I thought of the girls I always saw starring at Danny and how I was the only one he wanted beside him as he slept. I felt at peace in the security of our love.
My resistance finally wore down. Danny’s allure was too powerful. I pressed my lips to his sleeping ones and kissed him. He immediately responded by devouring mine.
“Elizabeth, this better be you,” Danny murmured. He hadn’t even opened his eyes. Did Danny think some other girl was naked in his bed kissing him?
“If it isn’t me, you’re in big trouble with both me and whoever it is that you just called Elizabeth.”
“It’s you all right. If it wasn’t, I’d have been slapped in my face by now.”
“I could do that if you’d like,” I teased.
“And ruin my wake-up?”
Danny opened his eyes and cradled my face in his hand. “I knew it was you all along. Nobody tastes as sweet.”
“Right answer,” I murmured. “Can we play in the snow now?”
“No.”
“No? Don’t you want to fulfill my childhood fantasy?”
“I thought I already had,” Danny grinned, sapphires twinkling full strength.
I blushed. “My other childhood fantasy.”
“Oh, that.” Danny pulled me even closer than we already were and kissed me hard. “Let’s fulfill my fantasy now and we’ll fulfill yours this afternoon.”
By the time we rose and made ourselves decent, it was mid-afternoon and we were hungry. After a bowl of soup, I was ready to tackle my books. Playing in the snow would wait. I spent the remainder of the day drafting my political science take-home final.
Danny and I made a date to go traying that evening. Traying was a tradition at New England schools where snow was plentiful, hills were commonplace and nobody had enough room for sleds, but everyone had access to old dining hall trays.
At ten o’clock Chloe, Rachel and I bundled up and met the guys at their suite. Giddy, we walked across the quiet campus to the hill. The steepest hill at Donnelly led to a crystal-clear lake on the distant end of the campus.
What a magnificent setting! The clean, virgin snow blanketed the smooth, tree-less expanse. The remaining sides of the lake were surrounded by majestic pines and firs stretched t
all against the horizon. Scattered among them were leafless maples and oaks that would have shared incredible displays in October. The natural beauty made me tingle. I squeezed Danny’s hand. His smile told me he understood and felt similarly.
Already other students were careening down the hill. I carefully studied their technique, noting how they did a planned fall off their trays just in time to avoid landing in the icy lake. I made a mental note to bail even earlier; sunbelt risk management.
“Ready to give it a try?” Danny asked.
“Definitely,” I answered, and I flashed a big grin.
The walking path had left us off at the top of the hill. We dropped our trays to the snow, seated ourselves with bent knees, and pushed off. My cheeks stung from the cold breeze. Soft powder flew up around me and I barreled down the hill. I glanced at Danny. He was grinning like a kid. What fun!
The lake was rapidly approaching, and I bailed to my right. Danny bailed to his left at the identical moment and our trays went flying, landing nearby with soft thuds. Danny and I fell into each other, a playful collision of lovers on the soft snow. Our arms and legs splayed out in all directions and we burst into laughter.
I lay back on the snow, swishing my out-stretched arms and legs, making an impromptu snow angel. Danny reached over and grabbed me in a bear hug.
“Daniel,” I squealed in delight and he laughed. Then Danny’s gloved hand reached for my face and we kissed.
“I love you snow angel,” he whispered, and we kissed again.
Danny stood first and extended his hand to me. I took it, but as I went to stand Danny let go and I landed back on my rear.
“Danny!” I exclaimed, and he chuckled.
“I couldn’t resist. I’ll be a good boy this time.” But Danny was laughing as he extended his hand. Did I trust him?
Reluctantly I gave Danny my hand. This time he helped me to my feet and dusted me off as we righted ourselves for the trek back to the top of the hill.
At the peak, a party atmosphere prevailed. Cam and Shane were passing around a thermos bottle filled with rum and coke. I passed. Danny didn’t take the thermos either.
I was proud. During the last two weeks, when studying and paper writing had become intense, Danny had barely consumed more than a couple of beers and had stayed away from getting wasted. Maybe he was changing.
The wind picked up, making it colder.
“I can’t stay much longer,” Rachel complained. Her arms were tightly folded across her chest in an attempt to stave off the shivers.
“It’s not that bad,” I replied. Danny’s arms were securely wrapped around me.
“You have Danny keeping you warm.”
Danny was the best blanket. Soon Rachel and Chloe left for the warmth of Berkeley Hall.
Traying was the release we needed from the pressures of studying. Laughter filled the hillside. Impromptu snowball fights broke out.
Danny held me between runs and I gazed into his molten eyes, full of love. I smiled, at peace.
Later, when everyone else had gone, it was magical standing on the snow under the moon light, wrapped in each other’s arms.
“I love you, Elizabeth,” Danny whispered.
I reached my hands around his neck. “I love you, Daniel.”
Against a backdrop of a cloudless, starlit evening we kissed.
CHAPTER 36 - ELIZABETH
Two weeks later, after a long limo drive to Kennedy Airport, Danny and I settled into First Class seats to prepare for takeoff. In five hours we would land, having completed our first semester of college.
I yawned and Danny reached for my hand, kissing it.
“Get some sleep, babe,” he said.
Before drifting off, I thought of what a remarkable few months it had been. When I left home last August, a boyfriend was not on my to-do list. But here I was, on a cross-country flight with Danny. Who would have thought it?
Assuming Lincoln Boulevard is clear, it takes no more than 25 minutes to get home from LAX. For the first time, I found myself wishing I lived in the valley instead of Santa Monica. The advantages of the neighborhood paled in comparison to extending my time with Danny.
All too soon the driver entered the gates to the Jacobs’ San Vicente compound.
Surprisingly my mother opened the door. Miranda Jordan never answered the door. “They’re here!” she screamed and Mom embraced us both warmly.
“Elizabeth!” Dad exclaimed. He hugged me, excited that his little girl was home.
“Daniel,” Dad embraced Danny. “It’s always good to see you, son.”
“Good to see you too, Mike,” Danny replied. “I’ll take Eli’s bags upstairs.” Then he went to retrieve my suitcases from the chauffeur.
On his second trip, I followed Danny up the long curving staircase and down the lengthy hallway to the end. My bedroom seemed as though it belonged to someone else. I felt so removed from the girl who only a few years earlier had worked with the decorator to create a dream teen sanctuary.
“Elizabeth, you look lost,” Danny interrupted my thoughts.
“I feel lost,” I answered.
Danny took my hands. “It’ll pass.” He’d been through this while attending prep school.
“This is different. Danny, you won’t be at breakfast with me.”
Danny took me in his arms, brushed my hair off my face, and kissed me.
“The car is waiting. I’ll call you in the morning, but I’m seeing Chad and Eliot tomorrow night before they leave for Hawaii,” Danny said apologetically.
Danny’s Brentwood posse. I shuddered thinking what he might do out with them.
“When will I see you?” I hated having to ask.
“Saturday. And I know the perfect place to spend the afternoon before we go to Ali’s.”
“I was hoping you’d forget. Ali never invited me.”
“I’m sure it was just an oversight. Besides, you’re my girl, so who cares.”
Danny kissed me, holding me as tightly as he could. Every insecurity vanished.
Mom knocked on the open door. I turned crimson.
“Daniel, the driver is waiting.” Mom scowled.
“I’ll be right down, Randi,” Danny answered calmly. Then Mom left.
Danny turned back to me. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow. I love you, baby,” he smiled and kissed my forehead.
CHAPTER 37 - ELIZABETH
Flora responded to the rich tones of the doorbell. Through the intercom Danny’s voice was unmistakable. I ran downstairs to greet him. What was he doing here at barely past eight?
A few steps from the bottom of the staircase and we were face-to-face. Danny had cleaned up nicely, wearing freshly pressed chino shorts and a polo shirt. His shaggy hair was brushed perfectly into place. My hair was wet from having just stepped out of the shower and I was wearing nothing but my short terry robe.
Joyously I threw my arms around Danny’s neck and kissed him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly.
“You said you’d miss not having breakfast with me,” he answered with a twinkle in his eyes and an impish grin on his lips.
“You’re here for breakfast?” I laughed.
“Why not?” Danny shrugged. “I missed you.”
“So you said to Ellen ‘bye Mom, I’m eating at Eli’s?’ What? Do we have better eggs?”
Danny laughed. “More or less. Mom wants you happy and so do I. View’s better here too.” He fingered the neckline of my robe to sneak a peek.
“Daniel!” I playfully scolded as I swatted his fingers away.
“What’s for breakfast, anyway?” Danny asked.
“I don’t know.” I hadn’t even thought about it.
“Maybe you are.” Danny drew me into his arms for a kiss.
“Good morning, Daniel.” Dad interrupted, surprised to find an unexpected guest.
“Hey, Mike,” Danny answered as though it were normal for him to be here, holding me in a clinch.
“Da
nny’s here for breakfast,” I chirped.
“Elizabeth, put some clothing on,” Dad sternly ordered.
I blushed as I noticed my robe had slipped and was half-opened. I yanked it closed while Danny’s eyes and beaming smile never left me.
Dad shook his head. “I hope you’re being smart,” he called as he passed. “I’m too young to be a grandfather.”
Once upstairs, I quickly threw on sweats, a v-necked tee, and flip-flops, finger-fluffed my hair and hurried down to the patio.
Flora had already served my parents and Danny. She offered me fluffy scrambled eggs while Danny rose and pulled out a chair for me to sit between him and Dad.
I helped myself to a croissant from the basket while Danny poured me fresh-squeezed orange juice from the crystal pitcher. It was a beautiful day; warmer than one would expect this late in December.
I smiled at my parents, hoping that would diffuse the tension threatening to envelope us like the June fog. It didn’t.
Danny reached for a second croissant. Otherwise the silence was deafening. If breakfast at the Jacobs’ home was like this, I would seriously consider dining at the Newman’s tomorrow.
“Daniel, are you moving in?” Mom finally broke the silence. I stared, first at her and then at Danny. Dad nearly choked on his coffee.
“No,” Danny stammered. Even he was flustered.
“It’s my fault, Mom,” I started, “We always have breakfast together and…” Too late I realized how that must sound. “… and I told Danny I would miss him,” I hurried to complete before I stuck my foot further into my mouth.
“Yeah, Randi,” Danny added, “I thought I would surprise Eli since I can’t see her today. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous.”
Mom sighed, exasperated. “Daniel, you know you’re always welcome here.”
Danny didn’t stay much longer. He had golf with Steve and the Newmans take their golf very seriously. Disappointed, I walked Danny to his car.
“Be good,” Danny teased while standing by the side of his shiny, black Porsche convertible. Our arms wrapped around each other and we kissed before Danny climbed in and sped away.
I spent the remainder of the day with Dad at his office on the Sony Pictures lot. Later Mom joined us to attend Dad’s annual corporate Christmas party.
Hollywood Princess Page 15
