The rhythm of her feet hitting the treadmill was normally a soothing slap-slap-slap, but today all she heard was run-run-run. Anna never ran outside, and she never wore earphones. She kept her senses alert and clear always, even when working out in the private gym she’d built in the garage at POSH. The window overlooking the long driveway was covered in protective coating that allowed her to see out, but no one could see in. She kept the door to the gym open wide enough to see the rest of the yard between the Victorian and the cottage in the back.
She sensed the movement before she saw the sleek black and white body slip in the open door.
“Sneakers! What are you doing?”
He walked over to the treadmill and looked longingly at her feet.
“Don’t do it. There’s not enough room on here for both us. Besides, you should be at St. Paws. How did you get here?” Instead of answering, he curled up at the front of the treadmill and watched her run. With Sneakers settled, she pushed on with her work out. She tried to stay alert, but her thoughts kept drifting. First to Vlad and what his death might mean for her. Then, she started thinking about Danny and how he read her thoughts so easily last night. She used to think she had a good poker face. Was she slipping or was he that good?
Sneakers let out one loud, sharp bark, then charged through the door.
Damn, she was slipping. “Sneakers, come back here.”
She raced after the dog and collided with a hard body. Her first thought was for Sneakers. She didn’t hear him barking. Did that mean he was hurt, or worse? Her second thought was of the man who was steadying her. His touch was soothing, not harsh.
“Slow down. I got you.”
“Danny?” She looked up. She tried to step back from his embrace, but he tightened his hold.
“Good morning to you, too.” He smiled as if he hadn’t taken 10 years off her life. Damn man. And, damn that smile. Too cheerful, too attractive, too - ugh! Just too much, too early.
“What are you doing here?” Even she could hear the bitchy tone, but her heart was still racing from the scare, so she didn’t really care how she sounded. Yeah, that was it. Her heart rate was racing from the jolt he gave her by appearing suddenly, not from the way he still held her. “Can you let me go?”
“Not sure about that yet. Can I get back to you later?”
“What?” She shook her head. She didn’t know if it was the sleepless night or the man that had caused it, who was also currently holding her, to blame for her confusion. “Sneakers!”
She pushed out of Danny’s arms and found the traitor happily wagging his tail and grinning from Danny’s side.
“I was hoping to join you for your morning run. Looks like I’m too late.” She felt the heat from his gaze as he looked her over from ball cap to track shoes and back up again. And, damn him, there went that grin again. “Can’t say I’m disappointed though. I’m enjoying your running attire.”
“Eyes up here, buddy.” She pointed to her own eyes and glared at him. “I run alone. You want a partner? Take Sneakers. He needs a good run. Then, you can drop him off at St. Paws on your way home.”
Sneakers whined in protest, then sat on his haunches and held up both paws. Was the little escape artist begging?
“Hey boy, let’s go for a run, then come back with breakfast. Sound good?” Sneakers woofed his approval of Danny’s plan, then headed towards the yard. Danny stepped closer to Anna and put his lips to her ear. She braced herself for his touch, but he only whispered, “We’ll be back in 30 minutes.”
She stood on the treadmill and watched them jog down the long driveway. Their strides well matched as if they’d been running partners for years, not seconds. At the end of the drive, Danny turned and ran backwards for a few feet before waving and turning onto the sidewalk.
“Damn man.” Anna muttered as she reset the remaining time on her workout from 30 minutes to 25 and resumed running.
She walked into her kitchen 45 minutes later to find the same damn man at her stove cooking bacon and eggs, while Sneakers lay curled up on a beach towel gnawing on a bone. Her two traitorous roommates were sitting at the table grinning like kids on Christmas morning. Samantha had her chin in her hand, while she stared at Danny. Anna paused in the doorway to admire the view. Okay, so his track pants nicely hugged the toned backside and the t-shirt wrapped his broad shoulders like a second skin. A girl could look, right?
“Enjoying the view?”
Argh! That damn man! Did he have eyes on the back of his head?
“I can feel the heat of your stare from across the room.” He turned and smiled at her. “Also, I could see your reflection in the window.”
Anna was glad to be back in her usual armor of running shoes, jeans, and sweatshirt, with her backpack slung over one shoulder. It didn’t stop him from staring at her like Sneakers eyed a raw steak. She found it oddly pleasing that the intensity and pleasure in his eyes hadn’t diminished as the clothes she wore increased.
* * *
Progress, Danny thought. She was checking him out and, judging by the look in her eyes, she liked what she saw. He’d almost had a heart attack when he found her running in little more than a bikini. Who knew she hid all those delicious curves under that baggy sweatshirt? Something told him not many had the pleasure to see her in her running gear. And, wasn’t that just fine with him. He grinned as he turned back to the stove. Yeah, it made him a caveman to wish no one else could see her like he had. Me caveman, you Anna, you mine. He felt like beating his chest.
It wasn’t until he’d seen her this morning that he realized how hard she worked to camouflage her true beauty. It wasn’t the running shorts and bra that revealed who she was, it was the shine in her eyes when she saw him, the way she worried about the dog, the way she held her breath when he’d leaned in to whisper in her ear. It was her wanting to run away in a misguided attempt to protect those she cared about. It was the way she watched over everyone in her life, expecting and asking for nothing in return.
Anna could wear a green lawn bag or designer ball gown and she’d still outshine any woman in the world. And, that’s when it hit him. This black-haired, blue-eyed gypsy had stolen his heart.
“Hey, G-man. You going to feed us or just stand there scrambling your eggs?”
“Just waiting for you to finish making yourself beautiful for me. Grab a seat while I fill up the plates.” Danny was getting good at reading her non-verbal sounds. That little huff she just made would have been an outright laugh from anyone else.
After breakfast Anna suggested they go over the wedding to-do list downstairs in her office. When Samantha choked on her coffee, he realized Anna didn’t invite many people to her space.
Danny followed Anna downstairs and Sneakers followed him, dragging the beach towel in his mouth.
At the heavily fortified and locked door, Anna looked at them both and said, “The first rule is don’t touch anything in here.”
She turned to unlock the door, which included a key, thumbprint pad, and optical scanner.
“What’s the second rule?” The door buzzed open and he heard an alarm beeping from inside.
“There are no second chances.”
Sneakers dragged his towel into the corner and made his bed before curling up in it. Danny stood in the doorway while Anna punched in a code on the alarm panel. “That’s quite the security system. Expecting the North Koreans to attack?”
He barely caught her whisper, “I’d prefer them to the Russians.”
Jenna had emailed them a list of everything that needed to be done before the wedding. She’d also sent a text letting them know Mike was in surgery and she’d send updates when she had them. He assumed these were normal tasks that needed to be done before a wedding, but it seemed like a lot of trouble for one day. Final cake tasting and approval. Deliver custom-made ribbon to florist and verify the hothouse tulips arrive on time. Confirm tuxedos are cleaned and pressed.
“So, who should try on the dress for the final fitting? I’m thinking you because that much white against my skin would wash me out.” He was rewarded with a small laugh and smile. “You should do that more often.”
“Really? That’s one of the oldest - and rudest - pick-up lines. Can’t you think of something more original?”
Oh well, one step forward, two steps back. Jenna had warned him to be patient and not push.
“Fine, you can check on the dress when we pick up your dress.” He leaned back in the chair and wondered what type of dress the Maid of Honor was going to wear. Maybe she’d wear a short dress and show off those long, lean legs of hers. “Let’s get to the bakery. By the time we’re done there, Mike should be out of surgery and we can stop by the hospital to see him.”
Anna stood and grabbed her backpack, then looked in the corner. Sneakers was playing possum, hoping to be forgotten in the rush to leave. “Sorry, Sneakers. I can’t leave you in the office.”
“He can ride with us and wait in the car while we’re at the bakery. It’s cold enough that he won’t overheat in the car.” Danny patted his leg and Sneakers jumped up and ran to his side. “We should stop at St. Paws to pick up some supplies for him. I already called them and let them know he was here. They were worried about you, boy.”
Danny ruffled Sneakers ears and admonished him again for running away from St. Paws. Sneakers rolled to his back and submitted his apology. That earned him a tummy rub.
“Why would he need supplies?” Anna asked absently as she set the alarm and shooed them out of her office.
Poor Anna, Danny thought. She still didn't realize she had a dog. He’d let her figure it out on her own.
“The groom’s cake will be a chocolate cake with a Cabernet-infused chocolate ganache. And the wedding cake will be lemon lavender. Jenna wanted a taste of summer for her winter wedding. The lightness will offset the richness of the groom’s cake.” The baker announced as she set down two plates on the table between them. She hadn’t skimped on the sample sizes, either. Danny was still full from the big breakfast he’d cooked, but Anna didn’t seem to have the same problem. He watched as she dove fork first into the lemon lavender cake and moaned with the first bite. He almost moaned at the look of pure bliss on her face. So, his little gypsy had a sweet tooth. He started to think of various ways he wanted to put that look on her face -
“Hey, you going to eat that?” Anna started to reach across the table with her fork, but he held up his fork in challenge.
“Tell me again why they need two cakes.” He took a bite and then he did moan. The lemon and lavender exploded on his tongue. He didn’t know why he was eating a flower, but if it tasted this good, he didn’t care. “Oh, yeah. That’s fantastic.”
He set the fork down to let the flavor settle on his taste buds. Anna’s fork was poised over his cake, waiting for permission to plunder. He wasn’t sure what was holding her back, until he looked up and saw her staring at him, hungrily. He picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth. “What? Did I get frosting on my face?”
“No. I, uh, never mind.” She hurried on, “Can I have the rest?”
He waved his fork, granting his permission. He took a chance and asked, “Tell me about yourself. Did you grow up here in St. Helena with Jenna?”
The motion of the fork slowed, but didn’t stop and he followed its progress from the plate, across the table and over the lips tinted with white butter cream frosting. She chewed longer than necessary for a light cake that practically melted in your mouth, but he’d give her all the time she needed. She swallowed, and he saw the longing for the last bite of cake on his plate, so he pushed it towards her.
“I grew up in New York.” The last morsel of lemon lavender cake disappeared, as she licked the fork clean. He forcibly swallowed back the moan building in his throat.
Give and take, he thought. Don’t push, have patience with her, and let her talk to him in her own time. Jenna’s words echoed through his head.
“City or state? I’m considering a move to New York City. It’s a good career move for me, but after 10 years on the west coast in LA, I’m not sure I’m ready for those New York winters.”
“Brighton Beach. I thought you were transferring to San Francisco, not New York.” She eyed his slab of groom’s cake.
“I thought so too, but I received a message that I might be up for a transfer to New York instead. It’s a promotion over the San Francisco position. I’m keeping my options open.” He took a very small bite of the groom’s cake and almost wept at the intensity and richness of the ganache. He hadn’t realized he’d closed his eyes to experience the flavor more deeply until he heard a strangled sigh from the other side of the table. Anna was mesmerized by the look on his face, and this time he knew it wasn’t from any crumbs on his face.
He slid the plate to her side of the table. She didn’t look away or make any move to devour the offering. He held her gaze, willing her to let him in. He’d take anything he could get from her.