“Nothing.”
Annie tilted her head, her lips pursed, and going into the washroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. As far as she could tell there was nothing wrong, and so she took a step back and studied herself carefully. “All right, I must be completely blind because I don’t see anything.”
“Made you look.”
Annie straightened, and poking her head out the washroom door, she stared at him. “Did you just say, what I thought you said?”
But Derrick just shrugged.
“What are you? Ten?” Shaking her head vigorously, she crossed the room and waved her hand. “Out of my way, you child.”
“Okay, Granny.”
“Oh, you did not just say that.”
“Say what?”
She gave him a shove, and he fell back up against the doorframe, but he just started laughing, so she smacked him on the arm.
“What was that? A love tap?” he asked.
Her temper fired, and she reached out to smack him again, only this time he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.
“You wouldn’t be trying to hurt me, by any chance, Miss Maddock?”
“Don’t tempt me.”
He smiled down at her as she looked up at him, her eyes staring deeply into his. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I just did that. You make me nervous, and I get stupid.”
“So, that’s your excuse is it?”
“It’s the one I am using for now. If I come up with a better one, I’ll let you know.”
She nodded as he explained. “But we best get eating or all that effort it took me to heat up the food will have gone to waste.”
She followed him downstairs, and there on the dining table were salads already dished into their bowls. In the middle of the table was a platter of what looked like lasagna, hot and steaming, fresh from the oven.
“Wow, it smells and looks so good.”
“Don’t say that with too much surprise in your voice.”
“Well, you love to give surprises, this is my contribution to the whole surprise thing.”
“Fair enough.”
He held out her chair for her before dishing out the lasagna onto their plates. Next to her chair was a wine bucket with sparkling apple juice cooling on ice.
“You’ve thought of everything.”
“I try to.”
“Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Sloane?”
“Is it working?”
Annie smiled. “Yes, it is.”
Derrick beamed at her as they ate. The lasagna was perfect, the sparkling juice cold. Derrick sipped his wine, and she was conscious of him watching her across the table.
“You do realize you are staring, don’t you?”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Can you blame me?”
“Yes.”
“All right, I am completely to blame. I admit it. I can’t help but stare at you. Is that really so bad?”
“It is when you’re the one being stared at.”
“How about, I try to keep the staring to a minimum?”
“I think I can live with that.” She sat back in her chair. “So, what have you planned for us?”
“Well, I thought we could go for a walk along the lake. And then watch a DVD while warming up by the fire. How does that sound?”
“The part by the warm fire sounds great.”
“If you bundle up you’ll be fine, I promise.”
Reluctantly, Annie got up from her chair and retrieved her boots before she slipped on her scarf and coat. “Oh, wait.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out mitts and put them on. “Okay, you can open the door now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Am I sure I want to go out into the freezing cold?”
Derrick opened the door and stepped outside, Annie following closely behind. “There’s a kind of trail along the edge of the lake.”
“Kind of?”
“Where the snowmobiles ride.”
“Where the snowmobiles ride? Isn’t that like a really bad idea or something? I mean aren’t you worried about being run over?”
“They’re pretty noisy, and we can just move out of the way.”
“Oh, so this isn’t as secluded as you were hoping after all.”
“There aren’t that many, and you never come across them unless you go where they run.”
“So, you’re going where they run?”
“Well, we could walk on the ice, or into the trees, but I thought you’d prefer this. At least this way there’s a path.”
“I see.”
“So, what do you say?”
“All right, let’s do this.”
“You sound like you’re psyching yourself up for a game.”
“Do I?”
“Come on, you’ll love it. I promise.”
They walked down to the edge of the ice, and finding a path that looked like it had been recently used, they walked along the lakeside.
“I can see the attraction,” Annie finally said, as she stared out across the snow-covered lake. The trees that edged it trimmed in white, the odd cabin lining its edge. “It’s so quiet, I can actually hear myself think.” The snow made everything look perfect and clean, everything lit up as if still daytime, long after the sun had set. All around her was a hushed quiet, as they walked in silence. “I’m glad you brought me here.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She was so bundled up, her scarf covered everything but her eyes. “You want to head back?”
“Yes, I don’t want to push my luck. I can only stay out so long, and then my fingers and toes start to hurt.”
“Okay.”
He tried to take her hand, his glove grasping her mitt in his as they walked back to the house and inside.
“Where’s the fire? Where’s the fire?” She peeled off her mitts and boots, and sitting on the carpet she held her hands and feet before the fire. She glanced over at Derrick as he unzipped his coat. “What’s that look?”
“What look?”
“Oh, the one that says, ‘Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad.’”
“I don’t have any look.”
Shrugging, she sighed. “Sorry I am such a complete wimp.”
“Don’t feel you have to do anything for me. Honestly, Annie, just having the opportunity to spend time with you is enough for me.”
She smiled at his words, and then removed her coat, letting it fall to the floor. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll pick all this stuff up. I just need to get warmed up first.”
Derrick came up behind her, and slipping his arms around her, leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Annie, you can leave them there for all I care. You are what matters.”
“Oh, you’re getting into dangerous territory there. Once it starts, then the next thing you know there’ll be stuff all over the place.”
“You always say the most…” He stopped and sighed. “What would you like to watch?”
“What do you have?”
“Well, the selection is pretty wide open. There are classics, action, thriller, horror, comedy, sci-fi.”
“Is there anything you don’t have?”
“Well.”
“Let me ask you this, have you seen everything in your collection?”
“No.”
“So, there are some you haven’t had a chance to watch yet?”
“A few, yes.”
“Okay, then how about you choose one of those. I’m pretty much open to just about anything. I love everything you just mentioned, so you pick.”
“This is the pizza thing all over again, isn’t it?”
“Pizza thing?” But then she remembered that night he came to her apartment and they ordered take out. She sighed. “In a way, but I am honestly open to just about everything.”
“All right, but next time, you choose.”
“Agreed.”
Opening a cabinet filled with DVDs, Derrick ran his finger over the covers. “Ah, here’s one. I think you’ll like it.”
Closing the cabinet, he removed the DVD from its case and slipped it into the machine. He sat down next to Annie as the movie started.
“What is it?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Annie turned to face him. “That’s it, where’s a felt pen? I am going to write surprise across your forehead!”
Grabbing her before she had a chance to jump up, Derrick pulled her down on top of him on the sofa.
“Felt pen! Give me a felt pen.”
“I tell you what, I’ll make you some popcorn if you promise not to write surprise on my forehead in my sleep.” Annie stopped struggling and became thoughtful.
“All right, it’s a trade, popcorn, in exchange for not writing surprise on your forehead.”
Derrick paused the movie. “It’ll only take a minute.”
Annie waited while Derrick popped a bag of microwave popcorn, and returning in record time, he set the bowl on her lap. Sitting next to her, he put his arm around her.
“There, how’s that?”
“Pretty good. The fire, the movie, popcorn. What, no wine?”
Holding up a finger, he reached over the back of the sofa, and picked up two empty glasses, handing one to her. Going back over the sofa, he came back up with the wine and her sparkling apple juice.
“I was joking, you do realize. These are cold. What, did you have them in ice buckets?”
“Yep.”
“When did you do this?”
“When you went to get your boots from your room.”
“You literally thought of everything.”
Derrick filled their glasses, and settling back, he put his arm around her once more.
He was close to her, his arm reaching up and around her shoulder as he sat next to her, and in that moment, it just felt right. The two of them close on the sofa as they watched a movie. She smiled, and as she helped herself to the bowl of popcorn in her lap, she relaxed against him.
It didn’t take long before Annie was fast asleep, her head resting against his chest as she slept soundly upon him. Derrick put his feet up on the coffee table and watched television, until he too drifted off.
Chapter Nine
Annie opened her eyes.
“Ah, you’re awake.”
Jumping up from the sofa, she let out a noise that sounded like some small animal with its tail caught in a door. “What the…you…we…?”
“I think you’re trying to say good morning?”
“Did you, did I, did we?”
“I know you can do it. You just put more than two words together, and you can make a sentence.”
“What’s going on here?”
“There you go. I knew you could do it.” He grinned up at her, leaning back on the sofa, both hands stretched out over the back. “You fell asleep watching the movie last night. I didn’t wish to disturb you, and before you know it I too had fallen asleep. And there you have it.”
“Oh. Right. Yes.”
“See, now you’re only speaking one word sentences.”
Reaching up she pressed her fingers to her mouth. “I hope I didn’t slobber all over you?”
He looked to his shirt. “You don’t seem to have. But that snoring, you’ll really have to do something about that. I thought a freight train was coming through my living room.”
“You are kidding.” But he just stared up at her. “Tell me you are kidding!”
Derrick couldn’t hold a straight face any longer. “Yes, I am kidding. But you should have seen the look on your face just now. It was priceless.”
“Yes, I’ll just bet it was. And how does it compare to the expression I have on my face now?”
“Well, I must say I preferred the other one.”
She turned away from him, walking to the stairs. “I’m sure you do.”
“Where are you going?”
“To wash up, run a comb through my hair, change my clothes, you know, normal morning stuff.”
“Oh, yes, right.” He laughed. “I guess I was a little distracted.”
“Well what with all that snoring you were subjected to, I’m amazed you got any sleep at all. You must be positively exhausted.”
“I’ll manage.”
Annie cast him a look of annoyance over her shoulder. “I’m sure you will.”
She climbed the stairs, disappearing into the bedroom at the top. He had always wondered what she would look like first thing in the morning, and he had to admit that what he had imagined all those times he thought of her was nothing compared to what he just witnessed right here before him. He had never met anyone like her, and he knew he would never meet anyone like her again.
He called up to her, “So, what do you want for breakfast?”
“After that lasagna last night, I think a fruit salad would be in order.”
“Now that, I can actually do.”
Reappearing from her room, she skipped down the stairs. “Me too.”
Her hair was drawn up in pigtails, and the sweater she was wearing was a size too big as it hung down around her like a cozy blanket. Derrick smiled at her.
“What?” she asked.
He quickly looked away. “Oh, nothing.”
Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, she put both hands on her hips. “Go ahead. You know whatever it is you are dying to say it. So, just get it off of your chest, even though I know I am going to regret saying that.”
Turning, he took her all in, and clearing his throat, he took a step forward.
“Oh, my God, just say it already.”
“The way you look. I was half expecting to see you slide down the banister.”
“Oh, you don’t think I would?” Running back up the stairs, she swung her leg over the polished, oak banister, and grasping it with both hands, she leaned over it as she started to slide down its sweeping length.
“Annie, I was joking.” But she was already sliding down it. “Annie, that’s dangerous. If you lose your balance you could fall and be killed.” He ran toward her as she came swooshing down its length, and trying to grab her, he felt the full impact of her body weight as it hit him full force, knocking him back. Holding her tightly, they both fell back onto the floor at the foot of the stairs in a heap.
Lying perfectly still, Annie then turned her head toward Derrick, who was under her. “Are you okay?” He made an odd wheezing noise, and she sat up quickly, her elbow digging into his ribs.
“Oh!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She jumped to her feet, and staring down at him as he lay moaning on the floor, she brought her hand to her mouth.
“Are you laughing?” he asked looking up at her.
“What? No.”
“You are. You’re laughing!”
She burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. Really I am. It’s just that I was perfectly fine until you decided you were going to save me.”
“So, I’m not your knight in shining armor then?”
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” Leaning down, she offered him her hand. “That you would risk life and limb for me, in my book that makes you my hero.” She leaned over him and looked around.
Derrick climbed to his feet. “What are you looking for?”
“Oh, I was just wondering where you kept your white steed.”
“Oh, that. Well, he’s out back. I only use him for special occasions. This I thought I could handle all on my own. I just had no idea you were so heavy.” Annie’s eyes grew round, and for a second he stopped breathing. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What I should have said is I’m not as strong as I thought I was.”
“That’s just another way of calling me fat, you do realize?”
“No. Okay, is there any way I can make this up to you?”
“Well, you can start by making me breakfast.”
“Done!” He grinned and hurried into the kitchen. “You just take a seat at the kitchen table, and I will do everything.” He took out several different fruits, washing some
, and then pulling out a cutting board he proceeded to cut each one into bite size pieces.
“Here, let me help you with that.”
“I’ve got it.”
“Well, I was hoping to eat sometime today.”
Derrick turned to watch Annie peeling a banana. “This is for the comment I made earlier isn’t it?”
Annie shrugged. “What comment?”
“Ah, it’s going to be like that is it?”
“Like what?”
Derrick laughed. They had started to become comfortable with each other, enough to tease and barb each other.
“You got any vanilla yogurt or cottage cheese to go with this?”
“There might be some in the fridge, have a look.”
“You’re not sure?”
“I leave some of the decision making up to them. I tell them I’m pretty open to most things. And there have been times when they put stuff in there I would never thought to have, and I was glad they did.”
“Like what?”
“Oh, one time they put in some exotic fruits. I didn’t know what half of them were. But I gave them a try, and I really enjoyed them. Another time they put in some unusual fruit juices. One time there was what looked like homemade beef stew.” He smiled at the memory. “We treat each other really well. I pay them generously for what they do, and they repay the favor by giving me homemade stew, probably a family recipe.”
Annie had stopped what she was doing, watching him as he worked.
He caught her gaze. “What?”
She sighed contentedly. “I love hearing stories like that. It gives me faith in the world again.”
“You’ve lost faith in the world?”
“I try not to. But sometimes, when I see the news…I try not to watch it, I find it so very depressing, seeing all the pain, the suffering, strife and hatred. I honestly don’t know how people can watch two or three hours of it every night and then sleep peacefully when they go to bed. I watch and it has me in tears.”
“You know why that is?”
“Because I’m weak and pathetic?”
Derrick took a step back. “Now, why would you say that?”
“I’m sorry. It’s that self-defense mechanism again, putting myself down before anyone else has a chance to.”
“Did you think I was going to put you down?”
“No, I don’t know why I did that. It’s become this automatic thing with me.” She smiled up at him. “I would never expect that from you.” But then her eyes turned to the sink, her lips puckering in concentration. “Then again, there was the comment about me being heavy, if I recall.”
The Coffee Shop Page 9
