Out on the boardwalk, she hit the wooden planks hard, needing to burn off this unexplained emotion. She didn’t like it. Not one little bit.
* * *
Her reaction caught Daniel by surprise as he watched her march off down the boardwalk. Without a glance or word to the others, he leaped out of his seat and went after her.
“Sonya.” Daniel caught up and grabbed her arm. “Wait up.”
She turned on him in anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He frowned. “What are you so upset about?”
“November? Or sooner?” Her angry green eyes flared at him.
Startled, he looked down into them. He never expected this, if anything the complete opposite. Thought she’d be dancing with joy the day she rid of her pathetic neighbor and his wet blanket attitude.
“Are you angry?” Well that was stupid a question, he berated himself, of course she was.
But she didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she pivoted on her heel and began to stomp back up the boardwalk once again. “How can you keep something like that a secret? I’ve told you everything there is to know about me and I just realized I know absolutely nothing about you. You are like some closed book that is off bounds from the meager folk. I bet only those in your snot-nosed circle of friends—”
“Whoa!” he declared and held up his hands, coming to an abrupt halt. “I would have gladly told you anything you wanted to know, but you have shown what I would refer to as the remotest flicker of interest in me or my life. In the past year since I’ve lived across the hall from you, your world revolves completely around yourself.”
Insulted, she stopped to glare at him, mindless of the fact they were blocking the way for others. “That is not true. Just because I am an open and friendly person does not imply I think the world of myself.”
“Oh yeah?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You didn’t even bother to get your facts straight about Jamie. You jumped to conclusions and allowed that dirty little mind of yours to rule your thinking.”
“That was an honest mistake.” She ground out between clenched teeth.
He released a heavy breath and dropped his arms. “Why the hell are we fighting again?”
Taken aback, she shook her head and dropped it into her hands. “I don’t know. We’ve been doing a lot of that lately and I don’t know why. You’re the nicest guy I know, Daniel, and it bothers me when we get into a fight. I don’t like it.”
He didn’t offer an immediate reply at first but simply stared at her downcast head. Then, “Neither do I. So let’s try and put a curve on it by starting with this one. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that my job involves transfers. My excuse is I sincerely didn’t think you cared.”
Sonya lifted her chin and studied his eyes. He was right. She shouldn’t care. What Daniel did with his life was his business. Yet she needed to know. “Where will you go?”
His brows raised at the question. “I don’t know. I haven’t got the next assignment lined up. Is that what bothers you? I’ll leave and some other bozo will move in and maybe not be so understanding with your late parties?”
She glanced at his face to see if he was teasing. That now familiar silver glimmer from his grey depths appeared and the one corner of his mouth tilted upward. Relieved, she nodded then reached out to play with the button on his polo shirt. “What if they aren’t as helpful when it comes to choosing the right dress for an important job interview, or rid me of disgusting critters flying through my window at night?”
He grinned. “Or liberating a pair of panties snagged in the death grip of a zipper that just doesn’t want to relinquish its hold?”
Her eyes held his and a warm feeling swept over her. An uncanny urge to touch more than just his button had her dropping her hand immediately. “Something like that.”
“I’ll make sure to leave my new address with you.”
He was still teasing but this last comment knocked the humor out of Sonya’s eyes. “Will you really have to move?”
He was slow to answer, watching her expression as he did. “It might. However, the next firm may also be located right in town.”
That brought some relief to her wound up nerves, and she nodded vaguely then glanced back down the boardwalk to where they had abandoned her friends. “I suppose we should rejoin them.”
“I suppose.” He nodded.
She gave a soft chuck then took his arm and propelled them in the diner’s direction. “If I don’t improve my mood soon, Maura will have me packing and returning home before I ruin everyone’s weekend.”
He leaned closer and said, “Tell you what. Let’s make a pack. No more fighting for the rest of the weekend. Let’s simply enjoy it.”
She grinned up at him and replied, “Deal.”
Still, as they strolled back to the restaurant she couldn’t shake the disturbing feeling that nagged her insides. He didn’t give her a clear answer about his next relocation. A tiny fear plagued the back of her mind for the rest of the day. The possibility of losing Daniel was impending, and that realization left a sore spot in her chest.
She buried the disturbing thought and, as promised to Daniel, concentrated instead on having fun. That was the reason for this weekend after all. It had been a tradition with Maura and herself since they were old enough to drive and spend a weekend away from home. She loved coming down here to their favorite weekend getaway. The hopping and lively atmosphere was what she loved best.
They had progressed unto the beach when Sonya spotted a game of beach volleyball in progress. Excitement sparkled from within as she turned to the group. “Who’s interested in a game?”
Tristan shaded his eyes with his hand and eyed the game already in progress. “Count me out. I think I’ll just enjoy watching the waves.”
Audrey tilted her chin and looked upon their boss with adoring eyes. “Me too.”
Disappointed, she turned to Maura with expectancy but was only rewarded with a shake of her head. “Patrick doesn’t enjoy the game. I think we’ll stroll further along the beach.”
“I’ll play.” Daniel’s quiet voice surprised her.
Stunned, she looked at him in wonder. Daniel plays sports? That was something she would never have guessed. She would have thought his interests lay more in board games. “Really?”
He offered her a grin. “Don’t look surprised. I’m quite physically fit.”
“I know that,” she rebutted. “We jog every Saturday morning. I just thought you would be more interested in a game of chess.”
Shrugging, he started toward the volleyball net. “I enjoy that as well. Sometime we should have a match.”
Amazed, she watched as he walked away. Ironically, the thought of playing chess with Daniel had an unusual appeal.
She shook this sudden thought aside and chased after him, catching up just as he greeted the two teams and inquired if there was room for two more players. They were invited to join and discovered the group was a bunch of college undergraduates. Sonya was pleased to observe how the young and boisterous group took to Daniel immediately. He got along with them well and appeared to be having a good time. Sonya supposed it had to do with their educational affinity. They were able to sniff out their own kind.
That wasn’t to say she wasn’t having a good time herself. She got along well with the group and knew she had attracted the eye of more than one boy, to the disapproval of their female friends. However, Sonya didn’t pay much attention to any of this. Instead, she relished in the joy she and Daniel shared. They laughed and played and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. For the first time in a long time, Sonya felt as natural as she did when she was a little girl.
With a prolonged glance at Daniel as he stood with legs apart and his hands resting on his bent knees waiting expectantly for the receiving ball, she thought the same of him. She couldn’t recall a time she had ever seen him like this. His face was aglow of the physical exertion.
All at once he stood up and spun around to look stra
ight at her. She smiled instantly. He had no smile in return. Rather, he looked somewhat panicked, then suddenly lunged for her, throwing himself against her chest and knocking her to the sandy ground. The wind was whacked out of her and all she could do was stare up at the blue sky.
Then slowly realization crept through and she registered the feel of his hot body lying across her own. A warm and wonderful sensation coursed along her nerves.
He raised his head and looked down at her. “You all right?”
She gave a vague nod and stared up into his eyes. Under the peak of the mid-afternoon sun, they were that spectacular shade of grey almost silver.
He produced a sudden grin and reached up to dust some sand from her hair. “You weren’t paying attention. The ball was headed straight for your pretty face.”
Sonya blinked. Then again. She had received many compliments from hundreds of men over the years. They had become so common, they eventually began to have little to no effect on her. Yet Daniel’s small insignificant little remark had her insides glowing as if she were an adolescent teen receiving her first compliment.
It wasn’t even that big of a compliment. Pretty. Not beautiful or gorgeous or even breathtaking. Yet it left its stamp of approval on her heart.
With disappointment, she felt him push away and get to his feet before he reached for her hands and helped her up. “Ready?”
She nodded, unable to drag her eyes off him.
He frowned. “You sure you’re all right?”
Somehow she managed a smile along with another simple nod, then watched as he looked satisfied and returned to his corner of the court.
Sonya couldn’t figure it out. Something was happening and she didn’t know what it was. Daniel, without warning, now stood beneath a whole new light. She could only fathom it arose from seeing him in a new environment. But this thought only made her frown. The only other environment she saw Daniel was at their apartment, and that was for a reason, she reminded herself.
She and Daniel were two entirely different people whose worlds should never collide. As she had once said, they were like mud and oil. So in complete opposites it was surprising they could carry on a conversation in the least. As she dragged her eyes away from him and attempted to concentrate on the game, she couldn’t ignore the tiny voice that begged to differ otherwise.
As the remainder of the day wore on, Sonya found herself enjoying herself with such sincerity that it frankly startled her. Since most of that fun she attributed to Daniel. He seemed to be in agreement with everything she did and they enjoyed each other’s company until gradually they began to drift away from the other two couples.
She laughed when he bought her a huge pink cotton candy on a paper cone, and even harder when they strolled along the promenade eating the sticky treat together. She hadn’t had the sweet gooey stuff since she was a kid.
That feeling of being ten returned. So much so that when she saw a go-cart track at the end of one boulevard, she jumped with excitement and pleaded with him to join her. It didn’t take much persuasion. He agreed easily and together they chased each other around the man-made tracks lined with tires until the attendant scooted them off.
She discovered that Daniel’s taste in deep fried food was as addictive as her own. They had supper in a kid’s amusement center and romped around in the jungle gym with a group of six-year-olds. The peeling giggles of children as they used Daniel as a climbing apparatus blended with his own natural laughter and had Sonya sitting back in wonder. She was discovering more about Daniel in one day than she had in the year he lived across the hall from her.
When the sun began to set, they headed back in reluctance toward the bungalow. Silently, they both hated to see the day come to an end. Moreover, Sonya wasn’t ready to join their weekend group and share Daniel once more. It happened sooner than she wanted. The other two couple were lounging on the padded iron patio furniture along Tristan’s porch as they approached.
“You’re just in time,” Maura said as she gestured toward two empty chairs. “We’re watching the sunset.”
Sonya turned to look out at the lake and felt a sense of sadness. It really had been a beautiful day. Just not weather wise. She glanced at Daniel and sighed with sorrow. It was a shame it all had to come to an end.
Daniel turned and looked out toward the water. The sky was a mix of purple, orange and blue with the glowing ball of the sinking sun as it made its leisure way beneath the lake’s surface. He inhaled the fresh crisp air of the evening and closed his eyes. The day had been wonderful and he didn’t want it to end. He and Sonya had gotten along splendidly. When he made that pack with her at lunch he didn’t think it would really hold. She always had an agenda and it never included him.
He opened his eyes and looked her way, thinking she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The soft rays of the setting sun made her face glow with such loveliness, it took his breath away. An evening breeze blew her long tendrils of hair along her temples and down her back. He had an overwhelming urge to touch her. As he had done for so long, he stilled the urge and turned away, oppressing the impulse.
Then he remembered the reason he was there that weekend. Using his audience as an excuse, he boldly reached over and cupped the back of her head with one hand. Before she could decipher his move, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the nape of her neck. She smelled of freshness and blossoms and a cool sea breeze. Her skin was as soft as cotton and her long silky hair felt like clouds caressing his cheek as it blew in the breeze.
When he felt a tiny shiver ripple across her skin he pulled away. “Are you cold?”
She shook her head then turned to look at him. “What was that for?”
His eyes studied her face before he whispered, “To thank you for a nice day. I enjoyed myself.”
Sonya smiled and curiously looked a bit relieved. “Me too.”
Did she think he was trying to make a pass at her? Was her look of relief because she lacked interest in pursuing that type of relationship with him? It was true that they had discovered a part of each other that neither had known before. Maybe it was Daniel’s own wishful thinking, but he had hoped it was the beginning of a new relationship between them. One of lasting and meaningful profoundness.
The amicable friendship continued all night long and even later in the bedroom where they sat and talked into the wee hours of the morning. They discovered things about each other they hadn’t known and a surprising compatible sense of humor. Sonya laughed out right at things Daniel said and was amazed at stories he recounted from his childhood. Whereas he too listened with glued ears to stories she shared from her own past.
Behind all this lay an undercurrent of sexuality, but it represented a line he knew Sonya wasn’t ready to cross. He was forced to keep his distance even burying his hunger and desire for this woman in order to make her happy. He sensed that somewhere along her life, someone had come in and stolen her beliefs in love and happily-ever-afters. He wanted to reassure her that they did exist and deeply within him, but for now he was experiencing a Sonya he had never seen before. Not believing it possible, he loved her even more.
* * *
The weekend was winding down and like every other year, Sonya groaned at the prospect. This one had, however, an even more bittersweet closure.
As they strolled through an outdoor flea market, Sonya looked across at Daniel and smiled. She would never have imagined the weekend could have turned out so wonderful. Within a few hours it would be all over and things would be back to the way they were.
He stopped to browse a display table lined with used compact discs, and Sonya halted beside him. Maura and Patrick strolled beside them arm-in-arm with Maura’s head resting against Patrick’s shoulder. The sight caused a warm stirring inside Sonya and had her slipping her own arm through Daniel’s. He glanced at her and smiled. Sonya smiled in return.
She dragged her attention away from his face and focused on the CD in his hand, not wanting to put to
o much thought into their exchanged smiles.
“Tchaikovsky?” She was startled at his choice of music.
He made a grimace and said, “I know, pretty boring, but I enjoy listening to classical music.”
She leaned over and flipped the CD over. “This is actually a very good rendition. The scores performed on this one are in D major.”
Daniel glanced at her, brows high, not bothering to disguise his surprise
“I have it at home.” She shrugged.
“You listen to Tchaikovsky?”
“All the classics,” she confirmed with a grin. “But I think he’s my favorite.”
He shook his head slowly and eyed her for the longest time. “You’re beginning to scare me.”
She laughed out right. “Why is that?”
Still shaking his head he told her, “This isn’t the Sonya I know.”
Unable to resist, she cocked her head to one side and said, “I thought I laid my life out like an open book? You know, self-centered and all that.”
His smirk was swift. “You are, you conceited wench!” Then holding up the CD, he asked, “I take it you have a copy?”
She nodded and tightened her hold on his arm. “I’ll be happy to loan it to you.”
They continued weaving their way through the vendors under the hot rays of the afternoon’s sun. The market was crowded and the aisles between tables were jammed. Once they even had to go in a single line to pass people. However, even if none of her friends were within view, she never once released her hold on his arm.
Chapter 10
The week was progressing slowly. Far too slow for Sonya’s satisfaction. There was still three more days before she was able to play the part of Daniel’s girlfriend once more. Fact was, it was the closest she would ever get. Women like her, didn’t end up with men like Daniel. And men like Daniel were never stuck with women like her.
A part of her cringed at the prospect of going. No longer in fear of being bored, but in fear of embarrassing Daniel. What if people discovered who she was? Here Daniel was a great genius with a university education and his own engineering company. Then there was Sonya. A waitress at a pickup bar.
Misunderstood: In Love with the Nerd (The Miss Series Book 2) Page 15
