Dani

 

 

 

Paperwork. It should be outlawed. But, of course, it's necessary. I should have done it this morning, but we had a huge callout to another factory fire. This time over at Spring Hill. Spring Hill is a small town six miles over. Not many people live there, it's more an industry town.

But fuck, that fire was huge! Took us all morning to put it out. The factory was a car engine production warehouse. Luckily, this time, there were no casualties as no one was working at the time of the fire.

I managed to grab a break as soon as I'd filled out my report and filed it. I took a quick shower in the changing rooms and then took off for a walk. I spotted Greg at the park with his little niece. I shouldn't have intruded, but I couldn't stop my feet from making their way over to him.

He looked shellshocked that I was there, shocked that I spoke to his niece, shocked that I was so forward with him. I wasn't really all that forward with him, but I like him, I like him a lot. I've been alone for so long that I have nothing to lose by letting him know that I like him.

Funny thing is, he seemed so embarrassed when I asked if he'd been thinking about me. I could tell in his eyes that he had. He'd been thinking about me, but I'm not sure as much as I'd been thinking about him.

God, I have thought about him nonstop since meeting him. I think Enzo is getting a little annoyed with me constantly asking questions about Greg. I don't even mean to do it, but I find myself dropping him into our conversations all the time.

Even at dinner the other night, I dropped him into the conversation. Much to my horror because Della and Freddy were there also. Yeah, I'm always the gooseberry when it comes to having dinner with Enzo and Paige. I'm always alone.

Anyway, Della and Paige started laughing and making comments about me and Greg. Which was crazy when there is no me and Greg. Even if Della did tell me how he's free and single and how we'd make a great couple.

I don't think I'd even know how to be a couple with anyone. It's been years since I really dated anyone. Joel completely put me off the whole process. That and I haven't had sex in four long years. Sounds crazy, but I have my reasons.

Don't get me wrong, each place I've lived since divorcing my husband, I've tried to settle down, to have a life. But I've never really dated, maybe one or two. But they never went anywhere. I never felt any kind of spark with anyone. I guess, I never really let myself. All I ever thought about was when the next time Joel would turn up and ruin things would be.

This is the first town I've lived in since running away that I have actually settled down and thought maybe I could stay here.

Meeting Greg, I don't know, something inside of me tells me that I should try and be normal around him. You know, have fun, be friends.

Like that's all you want, Dani.

Okay, fine. That's not all I want from Greg Harper. I'd like to end this dry spell. Or rather, I'd like him to end this dry spell for me. God, what I wouldn't give to feel his hands and mouth all over me.

I groan and squeeze my thighs together to ease the ache there. I've been like this since that first day. Every time I think about his bright blue eyes, his sexy smirk, that blonde hair of his – which Enzo told me isn't his natural color, but whatever – all tussled and...

“Did you not hear me knocking?” I screech and drop my pen. Fuck! I didn't hear him knock because I was in a world of my own. “I thought you weren't here after all.”

“What are you doing here?” Okay, that came out a little snappy. “I'm sorry,” I lean back in my chair – the lieutenant's chair – and take a deep breath. My stomach muscles untighten as I breathe. “I didn't mean to snap, you just startled me.”

He walks through the door, closing it behind him, and comes closer to the desk. He's tall, it's intimidating when I'm not tall and sitting down. So I get to my feet and walk around the desk, stopping in front of him. “Did you need something?”

“For you to have coffee with me.” He's so cocky I can't help but smile. “If you want to, I mean.”

God, he's cute.

“Coffee, huh?” I don't drink coffee. I've never liked the taste. Not very American, I know. But I'm not technically American. I wasn't born here, but my father was. “So it's not a date?” There's that face again. The one he gave me at the park earlier, he's confused as to why I'm talking this way.

Surely he's used to women being forward with him? From what I've heard, he's had more women that I've had hot dinners. Or is it just me that has him flustered? The thought makes me smile.

He suddenly smirks and it makes my heart beat faster. God, I really like this man. I am so attracted to him, I've never been so attracted to anyone in my life.

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

“Look, I'll be honest with you, Dani,” I swallow as he folds his arms across his chest. I wonder what he looks like out of his clothes. I can already see the outline of his pecs. He's not massively built, but I can tell he has some muscle under those clothes.

What I wouldn't give right now to strip him of those clothes and lick every inch of his gorgeous body.

“You caught me off guard earlier. But you were right, I have been thinking about you.” I can't help feeling smug. I've never been a smug person, but I can't help it right now. “I'd really like to take you on a date, anywhere you'd like to go. I'd just like to get to know you.”

“I bet you would.” What the fuck was that?! Oh, my god, how could I say it so sluttily? What the hell must he think of me?

He laughs and tells me, “This is what I like about you, Dani, you're not afraid to say what you're thinking. You're smart and funny, and I think we could be...” He looks me up and down shamelessly. God knows what he thinks he can see, I'm in my uniform and it's really not attractive.

But you know what they say: If you look like shit and a man still finds you attractive, he's a keeper. At least that's what my mother used to say. God rest her soul.

“I'm not interested in dinner dates, or coffee, mainly because I can't stand it.”

“So, what do you like doing?”

“I like walking, hiking, picnics. Stuff like that.”

He scratches his jaw with his thumbnail and smiles. “I know a place we could walk and have a picnic.”

“I'd like that.” I smile at him. God, he's so handsome.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I parrot back with a laugh. “I'm free Saturday.”

“Saturday it is. I'll pick you up.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. My eyes close to the softness of his lips against my cheek. My heart is beating so fast inside my chest. The visions in my head of him kissing every inch of my body are so powerful that I can hardly breathe.

He pulls away from me with a smirk on his face. He knows what he's just done to me, and I'm not ashamed to say that I don't even care. I want him to know. I want him to know that I'm ready for this.

“See you soon, beautiful.”

He's gone before I can even reply with a whispered, “See you soon.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

It's taken me two damn days to pick out an outfit for my date with Greg today, and I'm still not decided. Paige is over helping me find something that won't make me look like a fat whale. The curse of having curves, I suppose.

“Dani, you look fine.” She might say that, but I don't feel comfortable in the black pencil skirt and sleeveless blouse she's got me in. I'm going on a date, not an interview.

“Why can't I just wear jeans?”

“They're too informal for a date.”

“We're going walking, Paige, not to a fancy restaurant.” I don't do restaurants for dates, too clichéd for my taste. I think jeans are appropriate for walking. Or maybe cutoffs, it's hot out and jeans might chafe in this heat.

I pull on a pair of jean shorts that sit above my knees, a pair of torn jeans, fashionable. I like them. Paige hands me a white shirt that actually goes really well with my shorts. I then pull on a pair of black sandals sporting a big flower and then pull my hair into a ponytail before adding a little makeup to my face. I don't need much, I never have.

Although, I bet the shoes are the worst idea I've ever had. But I doubt he'll be walking me up mountains, so I should be okay.

“You look sexy as hell in that.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously? I'm not dressed sexy, Paige. I'm not going for sexy.”

“Then, what are you going for?”

I roll my eyes, she's hopeless!

I'm about to give her a smart ass comeback but the sound of a car horn stops me. He's here! “I have to go.”

She chuckles and follows me out of the house. She waves to Greg, who smiles while holding his hand up to her. She then turns to me, hugging me tightly. “Have fun. Go with the flow, and remember, he's a good man.”

“Thanks.”

She winks at me before climbing into her car. I wave to her as she pulls away before making my way over to Greg's car. It's expensive looking. I know absolutely zip about cars, but I can see it's a brand new Tesla.

The man must be loaded. But then I suppose he would be being a lawyer. Aren't most lawyer's loaded? Kory certainly is, and Greg is Kory's business partner, so I imagine he is too.

Not that money impresses me any, I've been with a man who had plenty of that. Trust me, it doesn't make them nice people. The money goes to their heads, they turn into someone they're not.

I know I shouldn't tarnish everyone with the same brush, but it's hard when I've seen it time and time again.

So, how do I really know Greg isn't any different?

I live in a small town filled with millionaires and billionaires. Kory is a multi-millionaire, he's a nice man. Hudson, who I don't really know because we never seem to be in the same place at the same time, and Enzo, my dear friend, Hudson's brother are billionaires. They're nice men. Especially Enzo.

Keller and Sidney Harper are millionaires, they're wonderful people, always welcoming. Greg is their son, maybe he really is the nice man he comes across as.

I have a lot of reservations about starting any kind of relationship with any man, but I can't deny the spark between us. It's powerful, I've never felt anything like it. And that alone is crazy when I know nothing about the man.

What do I really have to lose by giving him a chance?

It's not like I'm going to fall for the guy, it's one date. I have lived in the shadows for far too long. I have lost so much in my life that I'll never allow myself to love in that way again.

I make my way over to Greg, who's now standing against his car smiling at me. “You look beautiful.”

I bite my lower lip while tucking a loose piece of hair that's fallen from my ponytail behind my ear. Since when did I get all girly and shy?

“Thank you. You look handsome.” He does, even if he is only wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt. I imagine he could wear anything, or nothing and look good. Especially in nothing. My god, what I would give to see him in nothing.

“You all right there?” He might be laughing, but I bet my face is on fire.

I nod.

“All right, let's go.”

He opens the door to his beautiful white car, I slide into the leather seat with a smile on my face and watch as he rounds the car and climbs in beside me.

We drive with the windows down, the sun blazing against my skin. I slip my sunglasses on and press my hands between my knees while breathing in deeply. This is the first time in very long time that I actually feel truly happy.

The Lord knows I haven't had much to feel happy about over the years. But just being in Greg's car with him driving us to – I don't actually know – is a happy feeling. This date isn't going to lead to anything other than a kiss if he's lucky. But I sure am looking forward to feeling his lips on mine.