by Anne Martin
Apparently Daniel wasn’t entirely up and up on the chivalry ranks, not if he was sober with a drunk girl. I almost interfered, but Christina wouldn’t appreciate it. She had eyes for him whether drunk or sober. That was drama right there. I didn’t need that.
My Kitten, Sunny, didn’t seem the kind who did much drama either.
Chapter 5
Sunshine Wilson
I woke up on the most comfortable couch in the world. The sun shone across the bare wood floor, but I didn’t know this place. Oh yes, I did. I sat bolt upright and turned to see my neighbor crouched on his heels across from me, whittling with a high quality pocket knife.
“What time is it?”
“Eleven-fifteen. You’ve been sleeping on my couch for a good sixteen hours. Who sleeps that much?”
I pulled the blanket up like that would make me look less weird. “Sorry. I’ve always slept a lot.” I stared at the floor where my shoes were neatly set beside the door. “You took off my shoes?”
“And you slept through it. Hungry?” He stood up and went to the kitchen while I checked beneath the blanket. All my clothes were still on. I’d notice if he did anything, wouldn’t I?
“You should have woken me up,” I said, following him into the kitchen.
He started making me eggs in spite of the time. “You were just checking the couch for me. It was mighty kind of you.”
“Seriously, you shouldn’t have let me sleep like this. And here, let me do that.” I reached out to try and take the egg, but he blocked my arm and pulled me around so my back was against his chest. He somehow pinned me against him while he cracked eggs into a bowl and whipped them up.
“I’m making omelets. Do you like too much cheese or way too much cheese?”
I tried to pull away, but he wasn’t letting me go anywhere. I was forced to stay against him, watching his forearms flex until the eggs were frothy.
“I like cheese, but not too much, only a little bit,” I added.
He nodded and let me go then handed me a grater and a cube of cheese. It was the good stuff. I sniffed it appreciatively.
“You’re keeping me hostage while you feed me. I’m not a stray. I have a perfectly good dozen eggs in the refrigerator two houses down.”
“I’ll remember that if I run out. Isn’t it nice that we’re neighbors?”
He gave me a smoldering look that made me remember the courtyard and his feather light hands and lips.
I opened my mouth and closed it before I smiled brightly. “That’s so nice. Tell me, honey, what brings you to our little backwater? Don’t tell me a big city boy like yourself wouldn’t be happier going to a bigger school where there are more options.”
He laughed. He had such a sexy laugh. The man was sin. When was sin not attractive? “If I went to a big city, you’d miss me.”
“Excuse me?”
“You wouldn’t have anyone to stare at when they weren’t looking.”
Was I blushing? Shame on me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe I said something about liking the way you look, but only objectively.”
“That explains why you have a painting of me in the back seat of your car.”
I stared at him. Oh. The moving guy was him. And he’d seen it. All these connections went together with a flare of anger that had me throwing the block of cheese in his face. He caught it smoothly and tossed it back.
“I didn’t know that was you!”
He grinned knowingly. “I think you did. Subconsciously, of course, like your body knew exactly what it wanted when I touched you.”
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t need to apologize, honey. You’re in desperate need of adoration and I’m more than moderately capable at pleasing any woman.”
“Any woman? Well that’s good to know. Do you really talk to women like that and not immediately get shut down?”
“There’s not much talking, to be perfectly honest.” He winked at me and flipped the omelet onto my plate. He added a garnish of parsley like he knew that I’d appreciate that kind of thing. Cooking for company made it much more worth the effort.
I stood there, debating whether to throw the whole thing at his head, but I was starving and it smelled incredible. I sat down at the bar and bowed my head, said a quick prayer, and then ate the incredibly delicious thing up. It wasn’t too cheesy or gooey, just perfect with a subtle mixture of seasonings that said he knew what to do with his hands other than the obvious. Cars. I was definitely thinking about cars.
I snorted and then tried to breathe evenly before eating the omelet in small bites. He hadn’t taken advantage of me while I’d stupidly slept on his couch. He was teasing me. He liked to get a rise out of me but he probably didn’t mean any harm, not when he did things like rescue girls in the rain and fix people’s cars without asking for any kind of payment.
I felt almost charitable towards him by the time I’d finished eating.
“Thank you,” I said politely.
“You’re welcome.” He was just as polite until he winked at me.
I got up and took my plate to the sink. He didn’t stop me from washing it up and putting it in the rack.
“Here. You can do mine too,” he said, handing it over.
I rolled my eyes and washed. I did all the dishes and after a minute he started drying and putting them away. There weren’t a lot of dishes and his cupboards, when he opened them, were mostly empty.
“Do you need me to walk you home now, or can you find it on your own?”
I blinked at him. That was a very clear dismissal. “I’ll follow the couch tracks if I get lost. Thanks for the omelet.”
“Any time Kitten Princess, any time. Don’t forget your phone.”
I grabbed it and saw a few texts from my aunt. I gave him a harried smile while I pulled on my sneakers and started out the door. He followed and I turned to frown at him before I saw that he was carrying my sewing machine and box. I didn’t say anything, just tried to pretend that the gorgeous and ridiculously sculpted neighbor wasn’t following me around with my sewing machine. What had I been thinking? I hadn’t been. I’d been so panicked when I realized that he’d fixed my car and seen that devil face around the twenty that I’d done the first nice thing I could think of. I couldn’t owe him anything, not when he’d won the bet so effortlessly.
I’d really, really, really enjoyed forgetting myself during those ten minutes hidden away behind the air conditioner. Good. I’d kissed my hot neighbor and didn’t have to think about what it’d be like. I forcefully pushed him out of my head.
Later that evening, my aunt was tired and dinner at Old Holler was quiet. I was eating my steamed vegetables without sauce when I looked up and the waiter was seating my neighbor at the next table.
He caught my eye and winked before he proceeded to ignore me. He ignored me all evening, but I couldn’t help watch him. Darn it! I was watching him when he wasn’t looking, just like he said. He must be used to it. Should I try to pretend I wasn’t attracted to him? Not after I’d paid him. That was already a confession that I’d enjoyed kissing him. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t my type. Daniel was everything I’d ever want and admire in a man. If I wanted a man, I had one. I didn’t want one, but maybe I sometimes felt a little bit like life was too short.
“How have you been sleeping?” my Aunt Willie said with concern in her eyes.
“Great! The first week is always exhausting, but I’m all rested up after my peaceful weekend. I’m thinking about going to a party tonight.”
She raised her eyebrows. Why would I say something like that? It was my neighbor. The second I saw Daniel I would realize how far short Brutish came compared to him. It would get my head straight.
“A party? Is that wise?” She folded her napkin across her lap.
“Daniel’s hosting it. He sent me an email inviting me. I never go, but he always invites me. It would be polite to make an appearance, for once.”
She nodded slightly. Danie
l was beyond even her ability to doubt. He was perfect in absolutely every way. Far too perfect. That was part of the problem. I shook my head and made small talk for the rest of the meal.
On the way home, I thought about what I was going to wear. What would Daniel like? I shook my head. I shouldn’t wear what he liked. It wasn’t fair. What would my unlikely angel like? I snickered to myself because I didn’t own clothes like that. Stina did.
After I got dressed in a short denim skirt, white t-shirt and some stacked boots that made me look a little bit taller and sophisticated, I was ready to go. I didn’t look sexy. I specifically looked like the good girl next door. That’s what I was and what I’d stay. There wasn’t any point in anything else.
I went over to my car when my neighbor came by. He leaned over the door and gazed down at me with his twinkling brown eyes.
“Can I help you?”
“Yeah. I’m going to the party. I saw your friend last night and she invited me. If we carpool, I can get smashed without worrying about a cab or irresponsible drunk driving. Do you mind? You owe me a ride.”
I smiled without teeth. “Sure. Hop in. This’ll be fun.”
He climbed in and then glanced over to the back seat where my watercolor was. “As fun as you want it to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you want me and I’m not disgusted by you.”
“It’s going to be such a fun night. What were you doing at the restaurant? Are you stalking me? Maybe you’re more than not disgusted by me.”
He gave me a once-over and I felt like maybe my skirt was sexy after all. “Maybe so. You’re not my usual type. That’s probably what it is. I can’t help but feel like we’ve got unfinished business.”
“It’s going to stay that way,” I said sternly, but my heart started pounding.
“That’s what makes it so fun. I don’t want a relationship. You say that you don’t want one either. That’s exactly the kind of thing a nice girl says to make a guy think he’s safe with her. Still, it makes amiable encounters a little bit appealing, yeah?”
“No. This is the last ride, okay? I did the couch thing to pay you back for the car thing. I’m not going to owe you anything. I know that you’re the kind of person that thinks love can be bought and betted, but I’m not like that.”
He whistled low and soft. “Maybe you are jealous because I kissed your friend. Are you her ex-girlfriend?”
“No! We’re ex-best friends. She went crazy her Sophomore year and started drinking and sleeping around and messing up her grades. She even got involved in drugs.”
“Which bothers you way more than it should.”
“Why? I love her more than myself. If I wouldn’t do that to me, why would I be okay with her doing it to her?”
“Maybe because you respect that she’s her own person and gets to live her own life?”
I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “That’s exactly the point. She gets to live her own life. It’s a privilege that she’s just throwing away.”
“Maybe it’s not. Maybe this is the life she wants. It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of gig. People don’t want the same things, Kitten.”
“Don’t call me Kitten.”
“Sorry, Kitten-Princess.”
I glared at him. “Why am I driving you to this party?”
“Maybe you want to get drunk. In that case, I’ll be a gentleman and stay sober.”
“I’m just stopping in for a second. I’ve already had a long day.”
“And you sleep so much. Don’t worry. If I’m not ready to leave, I’m capable of finding my own way home.”
I glared at him.
He smiled back sweetly. “I was talking about calling a cab. There are cabs in your town.”
I didn’t talk any more. I shouldn’t show up at Daniel’s party. It would send the wrong message. He’d be so happy to see me. He was always so happy to see me. Maybe Stina was right and I shouldn’t be friends with him when I knew how he felt about me. Maybe I was just selfish.
By the time I pulled into the drive in front of the big frat house, I wasn’t breathing so steady. I took deep breaths and tried to think happy thoughts. I pulled down the visor and pressed my finger kiss to my dad’s face before I flipped it closed and realized I probably shouldn’t do weird things like that in front of my obnoxious neighbor.
“Coming?” I asked as I slid out and slammed the door behind me. I didn’t wait for him to answer as I walked purposefully towards the door.
“Just to be clear, we’re not here together and you won’t throw a block of cheese at me if I hook up with a girl?” he asked with that irascible smile.
“Unless it’s Stina.”
“Of course. If I wanted to hook up with your friend, not even a block of cheese hurled at great forces could stop me.”
I shot him a quick glare. “Honestly, you’re not as bad as most of the guys she hooks up with. You didn’t touch me while I was stupid enough to sleep on the couch.”
“How do you know?” He winked at me while I rolled my eyes.
“You’re not as bad as you’re trying to look. It’s irritating. You could just be as bad as you are so you didn’t take energy to figure out.”
“But being mysterious is very appealing.”
“No, it isn’t. That’s not what I want in a man.”
“No? I didn’t think that you wanted a man. If you do…”
I shook my head and didn’t talk. When I got to the front door, I opened it and walked inside like I lived there. I’d spent a lot of time there the year before. Daniel was my best friend, my closest friend since Stina went crazy.
“This is nice,” he said nodding at the large stairway that ascended up to the floor above.
“Yeah, you should be a frat boy instead of living in your own house. That’s kind of weird actually.”
“It’s all part of my mysterious persona. To be perfectly honest, you don’t seem very curious about me. I have such an interesting troubled past, you’re really missing out.”
“Sunny!” Lisa Tromhill came over to me holding a red cup and wearing a dress that didn’t leave anything to the imagination. “Who’s your hot friend?”
“Um…” I stared at him. How did I not know his name?
He shot me a very amused smile before he stepped forward and took Lisa’s hand. “Nix. It’s a pleasure.”
“Right. Nix, meet Lisa. We’ve been friends since third grade. We’re not together. Where’s Daniel?” Nix? What kind of name was that?
Lisa took my neighbor’s hand and tugged him deeper into the party. She waved her other hand and sloshed some beer over the edge. “He’s somewhere. He’ll be so glad you came.”
My unlikely angel raised a dark eyebrow at me and gave me a sultry look before he shook his head and let Lisa drag him away. I’d just demonstrated that I did not, indeed, mind him going off with some random girl. Lisa wasn’t that bad, though. She liked boyfriends so he wouldn’t spend much time with her, not when he understood that she was looking for her forever.
I wandered through the first floor, greeting old friends with hugs and waves, but no Daniel. I should have texted him. I pulled out my phone.
What are you up to?
He’d answer me right away unless he was busy cleaning up vomit or beating someone up who wasn’t being respectful. He didn’t fight as much as he used to. It was his one flaw, that temper of his, but it only came out when he saw injustice. He would be the most incredible lawyer, defending the innocent and helpless. For a second I let myself think of a life with Daniel, marrying him and having his babies, growing old together.
I blinked tears out of my eyes and headed to the stairs. The party was suddenly too loud, and I needed to talk to Daniel alone. I was wavering in my determination to live my life without letting myself become a burden on someone else. Maybe my neighbor was right. Maybe life was too short to hold back. Maybe I should be living in the moment and taking advantage of every experience
I could have regardless of the consequences.
I got to Daniel’s closed door and walked in without thinking about it. No one would dare use Daniel’s room for any funny business. I turned on the light and went to the chair that had a week’s worth of dirty laundry piled on top of it. I picked up the leather bag and stared at it. That was not Daniel’s bag.
Slowly, I turned around and faced the bed. Daniel was braced up on one arm, muscular chest bare, one leg half out of the bed with only a sheet over the essentials. A pair of arms was wrapped around his chest. I knew those hands, particularly the mood ring on the right middle finger. Stina. I’d given her that ring in seventh grade.
I licked my lips. “Hey. You guys are together?”
Daniel and Christina. I couldn’t process it, but I kept my smile on.
“Sorry about breaking in here like this. Next time, lock the door, or put a sock on the handle, you know, something like that.”
I turned around and walked steadily outside. I closed the door firmly behind me and leaned against the wood while my heart pounded so hard I couldn’t breathe. I was standing there trying to breathe when Daniel yanked the door open, and I almost fell into him.
“It’s not how it looked,” he said as he finished snapping his pants. I stared at his bare stomach and ached so much, I was sure I was dying. No, that was silly. I was already dying.
I smiled brightly. “Of course it is. I’m so glad you and Stina got together. Maybe she’ll stop having random flings with shady characters. You’ll be the perfect boyfriend for her.”
He grabbed my arms, his hands too strong, too rough. His blue eyes were so sincere as he gazed at me. “What are you doing here, Sunny? You look tired.”
I was thinking about loving him as much as I could before I died. “What am I doing here? You invited me.”
“You didn’t respond.” He looked so guilty and angry and confused. He hadn’t wanted me to see him with Christina.
“Daniel, how long have you been with her?”
He shook his head. “I’m not with her. It’s just nothing.”
“Nothing? If I were naked with you in your bed, I don’t think it would be ‘nothing’.” I did air quotes.
