by Tobin, Val
His date no longer looked shaken, but rather appeared to be having the time of her life. To Dani, the woman’s gestures of affection toward Cope and bursts of giggles seemed contrived. A knot of jealousy formed in Dani’s stomach at the sight. She remembered, in painful detail, the wonderful times she’d spent with Cope, both here and at their respective apartments. She tried not to recall the picnic on the beach. Her heart hurting, Dani gazed into her salad, picked up a single leaf with her fork, and nibbled on it.
“Dani?” Eric’s said gently. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
“You’ve barely touched your salad.”
Dani stared at her plate. “It’s delicious.” She took another forkful and chewed it slowly.
“Why don’t we leave?” Eric suggested. “We can go to my place where it’s not so distracting.”
Not sure how to respond to that, Dani glanced again at Cope’s table. The two had finished their meal and were enjoying coffee and dessert. One plate. Two forks.
Dani’s breath caught in her throat, and her stomach threatened to reject the arugula she’d just swallowed. “I’d love to get out of here, Eric. Okay. Let’s go to your place. Finish your dinner, and we’ll leave.”
“I’m done. Sorry, but I should have insisted on leaving when I saw your reaction to Copeland’s presence. I’ve lost my appetite too.” For the first time since they’d arrived, Eric showed irritation at the situation.
Dani flushed and lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
“I’m not mad at you, Dani. I don’t know what happened between you and Copeland, other than what I’ve read or heard in the press, but he was crazy to let you go. Now you’re not with him, he had no right to intrude on our date.” Eric signaled the waiter and asked for the bill.
Tempted to check on Cope again, Dani forced herself to focus on Eric. They chatted while they waited for the server to return, and Dani concentrated on comprehending everything Eric said. At one point, Eric took Dani’s hand, which rested on the table, and held it. Her gaze jumped to Cope, who caught her glance and frowned at her.
Eric released her hand when he noticed where Dani was looking. “Maybe it’s too soon for you to be going out with someone else.” The irritation was back in his voice.
“I’m so sorry, Eric. His presence makes me self-conscious. I’ll be all right away from here. I promise.” At least, she hoped she’d be all right once they left the restaurant. Obligation made her want to stay with Eric and salvage the evening though her heart ached. What she wanted was to go home, curl up in bed, and cry.
By the time Eric paid the bill, Dani’s nerves had frayed to a ragged edge, and it took concerted effort not to bolt out of the restaurant. Finally, Eric stood and offered her his arm. Dani rose and, grasping the proffered arm lightly with one hand, she let him lead her to the door. With every step she fought the urge to see what Cope was doing, what his date was doing.
None of my business. But how could he have moved on when he’d never even allowed her to explain her side of what had happened? She’d asked herself that at least a hundred times since Cope had walked out on her and pondering it escalated the hurt.
A crowd on the street greeted them as they stepped onto the sidewalk. Dani cringed and huddled against Eric while the mob pressed in around them. He put an arm around her, protected her, while they waited for the valet to get the car.
Camera flashes exploded around them, and Dani wondered how Cope would react to seeing her nestled against Eric. Afraid it would make Cope abandon her forever, she wanted to step away from Eric, but the press of people around them froze her to the spot. Relieved to see the car at last, Dani allowed Eric to help her into the passenger seat.
Eric’s apartment turned out to be near Dani’s, and, though followed by paparazzi, they arrived in less than twenty minutes. Silent through the ride up in the elevator, Dani wondered how long she’d have to stay before she could go home. The doors slid open on the fourth floor, and the two stepped into the hallway, Eric reaching for Dani’s hand. She let him take it, and they walked to his unit still in silence.
The door opened onto a large, one-bedroom apartment, sparsely furnished. “I haven’t decorated much since I moved in. I guess I’m waiting for the right woman’s touch.”
At those words, Dani’s head snapped around, and she stared, wide-eyed, at Eric.
“Relax, Dani. I’m not implying anything. Have a seat, and I’ll make coffee or tea. Which do you prefer?”
“Tea please. I’ll help you.” That would give her something to do, and at least he wasn’t trying to get her to drink alcohol now they were in his apartment. Was Cope taking Katherine back to his place now? Were they going to sleep together? Oh, God, I can’t do this. I have to get out of here.
She couldn’t leave yet. They hadn’t even sat down. Dani asked Eric where the teapot was while he filled the kettle. This would be a long night.
Chapter 27
Dani and her date walked out the door, and Cope fought the urge to run after them. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he caught up to them. It was a tossup between grabbing Dani and kissing her until her knees buckled or slugging the date in the face until his knees buckled. What if the bastard was taking Dani back to his place? The thought of Dani, vulnerable and hurting, going to another guy’s apartment made Cope’s insides churn.
He finished a last sip of coffee and signaled the waiter for the check. “Sorry, Kate. I can’t stay here.”
Katherine brushed Cope’s cheek with her fingers. “You have it bad, my friend. You won’t try to follow them, will you? They’re long gone by this point.”
“No, but I might just sit in Dani’s apartment building until she gets home.”
“Oh, Cope. Stalking?” Katherine sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. “That’s not needy.”
“I can live without the sarcasm, Katie.” She was right though. But the days without Dani had been hell, and the more time passed, the more miserable he became.
“Why continue to punish her? And don’t launch into all that blah, blah, blah about your pride and respect. I’m not discounting your feelings, but why haven’t you at least heard her out?”
Why indeed? He’d wanted to call Dani a hundred times since he’d left her. Part of it was, he felt like a heel for abandoning her. “Shame. I’m ashamed I left her when she’d been traumatized. But I was so angry. I thought she was manipulating me to get what she wanted.”
Katherine sighed. “Since then, you wallow every time we get together. You must face her sometime. Didn’t you see how badly she’s hurting?”
“Yeah. She’s hurting so badly she’s on a date with another man.”
Katherine laughed. “You’re on a date with another woman.”
“No, I’m not.”
“For God’s sake, Robert, Dani doesn’t know that. Did you notice her face when she spotted us together? She could’ve killed me with that look. Did you ever tell her I’m gay?”
Cope’s head snapped around to face Katherine. “No. It’s not my place to out you to anyone.”
“That’s considerate of you, darling, but what do you suppose Dani thinks when she sees our picture splashed all over the papers? Now she’s seen us here together, it’s even worse for her.”
“Jesus Christ. Dani knows you and I are just friends. I told her that.” Cope’s hands went cold, and his stomach knotted. The thought of Dani believing he’d moved on sickened him. What if it compelled her to find someone else?
“She’s an insecure young woman, struggling to overcome childhood trauma, rape, and an assault. Her assumption will be that you’re over her and going back to your first love. God, Rob, you can be such a fucking man.”
The waiter appeared, and they stopped talking while Cope paid the bill. When they were alone again, Cope stood and pulled Katherine to her feet. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you at your apartment. I just hope it’s not too late.”
***
Dani stuck it out at Eric’s until twelve-thirty. She’d relaxed as the evening wore on, and by the time she left, she no longer felt as if she’d hung around just to be polite. While Eric didn’t make her heart sing, the two had spent a pleasant few hours chatting and watching a movie. What she appreciated the most was, he didn’t pressure her to get more intimate than she was comfortable with.
While the movie played, he’d put his arm around her, and she’d rested her head on his shoulder. They’d kissed, but it was friendly rather than passionate. After the movie, Dani called for a cab, and Eric walked her down to the lobby.
“Thank you. I had a nice time. Sorry dinner didn’t go well. I’ll make it up to you.” Dani smiled.
Eric returned the smile, eyes showing affection. “No worries. Can we do it again? I promise I’ll pick a different restaurant.”
“Okay. I’d enjoy that.” He was nice—good company. It wouldn’t be terrible to spend time with him sometimes though he couldn’t fill the void Cope had left in her life. That might never be filled, but eventually, she’d get used to living with it.
Lighter than she had felt in a long time, Dani climbed into the cab and headed home.
***
Dani paid the cab driver and stepped out of the vehicle, careful to keep her short skirt from rising up and her high heels from tripping her. The warm, humid air hugged her as she walked to the building’s entrance.
Silence, except for the sound of the odd car driving by on the street, blanketed everything. Street grime mixed with the floral perfume of landscaped gardens scented the air. No reporters or fans hung around outside the building. It was after one in the morning.
A man stepped from the lobby onto the sidewalk, the familiar form making the breath catch in her throat.
“Cope.” Dani stopped walking though he held the door open.
“We need to talk. Can we go up to your apartment?”
Dani studied him. His expression was wary.
“Why didn’t you call or text me? I’d have come home earlier.”
“Not here, Dani, please. Let’s go inside.”
“How’d you get in? I should move. Security here is terrible,” she said and brushed past him.
That made him smile. “I begged them not to throw me out. Wave when you pass the cameras to let the guys know you’re okay, or they’ll come running.”
Dani realized she was trembling and stepped carefully, mindful of the spike heels. Instinct and familiarity made her want to reach out and take his arm, but she fought the urge. Cope didn’t look as though he wanted to return to the familiar or intimate.
The distance between them brought tears to her eyes. All she wanted to do was put her arms around him, fall into his embrace, and kiss him with every ounce of passion she could muster.
While they waited for the elevator, her palm twitched with the need to take his hand. Dani clasped her hands together and stared at the doors in front of her.
“Where’s the bodyguard, Daniella?”
She whipped her head around to face him. “Tell me that’s not why you’re here.”
“No, it isn’t,” Cope admitted. “But you came home in a cab. Where’s your driver? Where were you?”
“Robert—” The elevator’s arrival interrupted, and Dani stepped inside, Cope following close behind her. If they had this discussion now, she’d say something she’d regret, and it would drive the wedge between them deeper. Dani clamped her lips together and pressed the button for the penthouse. The doors slid shut. The numbers flashed at each floor, and she stared at the sequence as if it were the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen.
“It’s not safe for you to be out without the bodyguard. Why didn’t you take the limo?”
“Eric picked me up, and we went out for dinner.”
“You left the restaurant. Obviously, you didn’t come home right away.”
The elevator stopped, and Dani led Cope to her unit, anger rising the closer they got to her home. Cope had left her, refused to speak to her, and now he showed up in the middle of the night after he’d seen her with another guy.
If there was a God, seeing her with Eric had ripped Cope’s heart out as much as it had killed her to see him with Katherine. Yes, it was immature. The hell with maturity. She wanted karma to bite him in the ass since it had taken such a big chunk out of her own butt. Dani unlocked the apartment door and stepped inside. Behind her, Cope shut and locked the door.
When she turned to face him, his gaze traveled up and down her body. “You look nice.”
“Thank you. What do you want—other than to inform me I should use a bodyguard when I leave my apartment? Consider the suggestion under advisement. Now, tell me why you’re here instead of with your date.” The trembling in her body and ache in her heart grew fiercer.
Was Cope here because he wanted to reconcile? Dani kicked off the spike heels and walked to the couch to sit before her legs gave out. A yearning to have Cope’s arms around her, his body on top of her, brought her close to tears. Dani bit her lip to stem the tide while he stared in silence. “Cope?” Her voice was gentle, and she couldn’t keep the longing out of it.
“I had to see you. Since I left you, I’ve been in agony.” Cope sat next to her, making her heart pound.
Dani licked her lips. “Why didn’t you let me explain? You may not have agreed with my justifications, but you could at least have heard me out. I loved you, Robert.” Past tense. Too afraid to say it in the present tense. It might be too late for that.
Cope smiled when she said his name and then shook his head in such a sorrowful way it tore at her. “You rarely call me by my proper name—only when you’re emotional over something. Or … ” He trailed off, probably not wanting to say, “when we make love.”
Dani lowered her eyes, afraid he’d notice the hovering tears. “Robert.” It slipped out again, on its own, ache, need, hurt, and despair coating it.
Cope’s arms went around her, crushing her. When his mouth covered hers, Dani threw her arms around him and gripped him tight, pressing against him with her whole body. The tears coursed down her face and a sob escaped. When he removed his lips from hers, she gasped in fear, but he kissed away the tears and the loneliness.
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry. I should have let you explain. Whatever you intended, I should have trusted you. When I saw you with that guy tonight, it felt like someone had shoved a hot poker into my heart.”
Head against his chest, Dani squeezed him tighter. Cope’s body shook and, disbelieving, she looked up to confirm that he was crying.
“The woman you were with—Katherine.” Dani couldn’t continue.
“I’m sorry. It must have crushed you. I was so confused, so angry, and hurt. I tried to wipe you out of my mind, but don’t get the wrong idea about Katherine.”
They clung to one another on the couch. Both had stopped crying, and Cope stroked Dani’s hair in that way he’d always done.
“Did you sleep with her?” She gasped as soon as the words left her mouth. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s okay. The answer’s no. Dani, we’re just friends. I never wanted to hurt you, and I don’t want to be without you. When the media referred to me as ‘sugar baby’ and ‘kept man,’ I felt emasculated and humiliated. I blamed you for what they’d done when I should have shrugged it off and ignored it.”
Dani kept her hands on him—running fingers through his hair, stroking his cheek, or pressing on his chest. It assured her he was here, he was real, and he wouldn’t disappear forever.
“Oh, God.” It choked out of her. The thought of Cope disappearing called to mind her father, and she gagged on the horror of what had happened to him.
“What is it?” Cope’s face had gone white, and his expression registered concern.
Dani shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s just … what happened to my father … I still have the dreams. You left me, and I was afraid you were gone forever, and would see me only i
n the magazines or on the news.” Cope had seen her in the media, and it had pushed him away from her.
“Daniella, I’m so sorry. I didn’t intend to cause you pain, just protect myself and my pride. My family hounded me to use their money, wanting to control everything. I assumed you were doing the same thing, which was unfair. I’m ready to listen to your side of it now. Tell me what happened.”
So she explained that, to make it up to him for getting him fired, she’d asked William to keep an eye out for Cope’s proposal. “You submitted it without my interference, and Star Power informed me when it arrived. William said he’d have granted you an interview based on the proposal’s merits even if I hadn’t asked him to watch for it.”
Dani paused and took one of Cope’s hands in hers, turned it over, and traced a finger along the life line. When she raised her eyes to check if he was angry with her again, he hugged her tighter and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m not mad anymore, Dani. Keep going. Tell me the truth now, so I can set up a defense against the press. They’ll continue with this ‘sugar baby’ bullshit when they know we’re back together. I can live with it as long as I know that’s false.”
When they know we’re back together. Music to her ears though a devil on her shoulder made her want to tell him not to decide for her. Dani released the toxic thought and carried on with her story. “You presented your case to the execs. I observed, which isn’t unusual, though I don’t watch every prospect present.”
Chin jutting out, Dani said, “It’s my right as the owner of the company to view whatever presentations catch my interest, and you were special. Of course, I had to see it.”
“I understand. The problem was you did it behind my back without telling me you were involved. That’s what hurt. But one thing at a time. Go on.”
“The feedback was positive. They all wanted to back you, except Nate, and apparently, he has a history with your father. I told them I wanted to fund you, but that if they didn’t consider it viable, I’d defer to their decision. They were in favor of it. You landed this on your own. The result would have been the same even if I’d stayed out of it.”
