The pilot’s voice over the sound system wakes me from the most delicious dream. Stretching the sleep out of my system and pouting at the loss of the dream, I look at the clock realizing my nap was more like a coma.
“Miss Michels, we’ll be landing soon. I’ll need you take your seat.” Charlie says after knocking on the door.
“I’ll be right out.”
I curl my toes deep in the carpet, luxuriating in the feel. It must be amazing to live in this kind of splendor. It hurts knowing that Daniel and I could never be. He would be crazy to give this up. We could never be more than a fling. On the way to the bathroom, I decide to live this adventure to its fullest, not worrying about the consequences of falling for such a guy until the adventure ends. I’ll be left with bittersweet memories. The problem, if I’m honest with myself, is that my heart is already involved. I’m not sure how it will fare in the end.
The windows are wet. The sky no longer holds the darkness of night but the hints of morning. Another quick glance at the clock says it is five thirty in the morning. The last time I was up at this hour was when we were in high school. The cold-water splashing on my face helps to wake me further. The ornate mirror reflects a woman looking rested and happy, not the woman who woke yesterday morning. Dressed to kill, make-up perfectly applied and feeling well rested, I venture back to the main cabin with a confident stride.
Daniel.
I’ll be seeing him in a matter time. Or at least I hope I’ll be seeing him soon.
Charlie approaches me with a croissant gesturing to a chair next to Dante. The smell and taste are divine. Dante looks at me smiling and hands a cup of coffee in one hand and hot chocolate in the other. Hot chocolate- my favorite.
“Someone is dressed to kill this morning.”
I smile at his appraisal of me. My taste buds explode with the gooey chocolate after biting into the croissant.
“I’ve decided to have fun during this adventure despite what has happened. Who knows where this will lead. I want to have great memories of this time together.” I say between bites. “Because when we go home, it’s back to our boring, dull life.”
“I guess you had a good sleep?”
“It was amazing. Why didn’t you come and sleep next to me?”
“I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
“Appropriate? Since when have we ever been appropriate?”
He doesn’t say anything.
“Your loss. You know eventually this will end.”
He squeezes my knee. I look around our surroundings yearning for some of it to remain at the end. Surprisingly, I am calm throughout the descent and landing. Customs agents announce themselves after the plane’s door is opened. They board asking for our documents and declarations. Dante and I look at each other questioningly because neither of us has a passport, never thinking we would need it. One of Daniel’s men hands him four passports, surprising us. Again, Dante and I look at each other perplexed.
Once the custom agents leave, we disembark. The bigger of the two guys exits the plane instructing us to stay put until he returns. While he is gone, Dante and I thank Charlie for a pleasurable trip. It seems the same pre-flight routine will hold true again, me sandwiched between MO and Curly.
This airfield is as private and remote as the one we took off from. A Mercedes SUV and a high-end sports car with blackened windows are the only vehicles present. There is no sign of the custom agents, their cars or anyone to help with the plane. The tower looks dark and abandoned.
The nicer of the two men escorts me to the sports car, darting his head around. Dante is escorted to the other car. We’re being separated?
“No, wait this is out of the question.” I try to disengage myself from his grip, but it tightens.
“In the car, Miss Michels.”
I try in vain yanking my arm away, but his grip tightens painfully.
“Ouch, you’re hurting me.” I yell at him as he drags me along.
My anger is rising again. So much for having fun and enjoying this adventure.
“Daphne, stop. Don’t worry about me. There is a reason why Daniel is doing this. Just be patient.” Dante yells across the widening chasm between us.
“I won’t go anywhere without you.” I yell back, nearly tripping as I get dragged forcibly to the waiting sports car.
The car door opens revealing a dark interior.
“Get in the car now, Daphne.” A voice quietly demands from inside the car. “It’s too exposed out there.”
Startled by the voice, I trip nearly falling, but am yanked up by the arm. I would know that voice anywhere. It is the same voice that yelled at me two days ago then hung up on me. Once inside the car, the door closes locks and without a word uttered, it speeds off the runway and out of the airport without a backward glance.
“Daniel.” His name is reverent sigh from my lips.
I stare at him, heart pounding in my chest. He’s like a mirage. Forgetting all about the adventure, my anger and his driving, I lean across the stick shift, kissing him desperately. He matches my desperation along with something else I can’t name. My anger dissipates.
I feel the car swerve as he abruptly ends the kiss, swings the car off the dirt road and places it in park. His hands gently grasp my face deepening the kiss. A sigh escapes me, bringing Daniel back to his senses. Me, I’m still floating somewhere over the Atlantic. Again, without words, he places the car in drive and brings us back onto the dirt road.
I look behind us and am surprised to see we are alone. The nighttime sky is now grey, releasing a freezing rain over the landscape. The trees speed by as the car races down the road. The land is barren.
Daniel has not spoken a word since I was unceremoniously dropped in his car, probably to the utter relief, I’m sure, of my captors. The muscles in his jaw and shoulders are tense. My tapping foot is the only sound in the car. Daniel inclines his head towards me.
“Something you want to say?”
“I’m not sure where to start.” I respond sardonically.
“A lot has happened since we last spoke.”
“You mean when you last yelled at me?”
My eyes although angry are clear, holding his gaze stare for stare, expecting answers or an apology.
“No. My trip home has been extremely informative. There is much to tell you and honestly, I don’t know where to begin. I’m sure you have questions. “
I harrumph.
“Why don’t you ask and I’ll answer as best as I can?”
“Finally, some answers.” I mutter to myself as I stare ahead, but out of the corner of my eye I see him smile.
Where do I start?
“Where is Dante going?”
“He is taking a different route than us back to my estate.”
“Why?”
“It’s difficult, ask me another one.” He evades.
“Why all the cloak and dagger stuff?”
I look at his side profile. He is a handsome man, perfectly straight nose and defined brow line making him appear more masculine, but when he turns to me his normally shuttered eyes are filled with sadness.
“That requires more of an explanation than I can give you right now. Try another.” He replies.
“Daniel, this is ridiculous. Why don’t you tell me what you can tell me?”
“I’m sorry Daphne. I’m not trying to upset or anger you.” He hits the steering wheel. “Just trust me when I tell you it needs to be this way. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
“Safe? Safe from who? There you go again with the vague remark.” I yell, throwing my hands up.
“Daphne…” He pauses. “Daphne…”
“Come on Daniel. You have to tell me something.”
“There are things that I recently uncovered in my father’s effects.”
“I don’t understand?”
“I promise you, you will. Most of it I can’t explain in the car. We’ll be stopping by a friend of mine’s flat in Paris. I’ll be able to explain more there. Please be patient.”
He places his hand on my knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
I nod.
“Thank you. Tell me what you have been up to since I last saw you?” He asks, changing the topic to me.
“Besides being dragged all over the place and spoken to harshly by my boyfriend?” I say defiantly.
He chuckles.
“Oh baby, I haven’t begun to drag you all over.” The smoldering look he tosses insides. “Is that what I am to you, your boyfriend?”
Flustered by his question, I mutter, “I don’t know what we are, but it seemed the best way to describe our relationship. What would you call it?”
“I think that phrase appropriately describes us. But it will be different.” He mutters not intending me to hear.
What does that mean? What does he have to tell me? How is it going to change? With every statement he makes, twenty new questions arise.
“Why don’t you find something on the radio?” He suggests. “How was the flight?”
Frustrated, I search the radio, finding a pop music station and settle back in my seat. He speeds up and switches gears as we enter the highway. His hand finds its way to my thigh.
“I’ve never been on a plane before. So, that was interesting.”
“Never?”
“No. There was never enough money for Dante and me to go away.”
He looks at me thoughtfully. I stare at my cuticles not wanting to meet his eyes. His wealth suddenly feels uncomfortable.
“Your plane is beautiful by the way. I loved the bedroom and all the clothing. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m wearing one of the outfits?”
“They’re yours. Consider it a gift for all you’ve been through.”
I snap my head up.
“You deserve so much more.” He whispers.
I get the feeling there is some underlining meaning with his comment, but I decide not to pester him. Bitching gets me nowhere, I’ve come to realize.
“Anyway, the flight was good. I slept most of the way after I settled down. I didn’t like the way you spoke to me.”
“I know and I’m sorry, but time was of the essence and you were being stubborn.”
“Well, don’t do it again.”
He chuckles. I don’t like him thinking I’m stubborn. Most of the time I’m easy going, but something about Daniel brings out the stubbornness.
“Yes, your Highness.” He replies without a trace of humor. “I can’t promise you that I won’t do it again though, especially if it affects your safety.”
The determined set of his face assures me he means business. And if I have learned anything about this man, it is that he is a man of his word.
“I will never speak to you like that if we are not alone.” His deep voice drops an octave.
Between the reassuring squeeze to my thigh and his last statement, the butterflies in my stomach took flight.
“Okay.” I smile. “How long are we staying in France?”
“Not long, unfortunately. I promise to bring you back here someday. How’s that?”
I pout. Inwardly, I’m happier than a pig in mud because that means we have a future. Or maybe I’m getting head of myself.
“If you follow through on your promise.”
His sexy smirk is my final undoing. I wish we were alone somewhere to finish where we left off back in the States.
“We should be to my friend’s place in about twenty minutes.”
The remainder of the drive is uneventful. Our conversation is a twenty questions game. I finally feel like I know him better. It has been enlightening car ride. At the speed Daniel is driving, we arrive at his friend’s flat less than fifteen minutes later. I would not have known what good time we made if he wasn’t so proud of himself.
The flat is in the heart of Paris. Daniel opens the car door, assisting me out. He looks down at me, something sparking in his eyes. Slowly, his head lowers and just when I think he’ll kiss me, he turns his head at something crashing nearby, crushing me with his body. Suddenly on guard, looking around our surroundings, Daniel tugs on our clasped hands and precedes me into the flat.
After settling his keys on the breakfast bar, Daniel provides me with a grand tour of the beautiful flat. The space is large, boasting three oversized bedrooms each with their own in-suite bathroom. A full-sized kitchen and dining room opens to a living space that is furnished with top of the line electronics and is modestly decorated neoclassic styles.
Each bedroom is outfitted with a king-sized, four-poster bed overlaid with lavish silk quilts. The master suite is equipped with its own balcony separate from the one in the living room. These rooms are fit for a royal family, as richly decorated as they are. He finishes the tour out on the terrace that overlooks Eiffel Tower Park.
“This is beautiful.” I say, absorbing my surroundings. “Oh, my God, is that the Eiffel Tower?”
I point, as if he didn’t see it. He smiles down at me.
“Yes. I would love to take you there sometime. There’s a four-star restaurant at the top I think you would love.” His hand rests comfortably at my waist. “Speaking of food. Are you hungry?” He asks, giving my waist a familiar squeeze before walking to the kitchen.
“A little.” I yell back.
My face flushes at the warm feel of his hand still on my waist although it is gone now. I shake my head to clear it of thoughts too dangerous to voice out loud.
“Can we go to one of the café’s down the street for croissants and pastries? I have a weakness for pastries and would love to try some. I’ve heard people say how there is nothing like a French pastry.”
“If you like butter, then yeah. How about we go tomorrow before we leave?” He says, leaning into the doorway to look at me.
I close the terrace doors after catching a chill and walk to the kitchen, watching him move about the room with ease, collecting items as he goes. Daniel keeps surprising me at every turn. How it is a man like him, born into such wealth, would know how to cook and command such a space as the kitchen? His presence alone commands everyone’s attention when he enters a room, but to see him do such a menial task as cooking, boggles the mind.
“We’re leaving so soon? Can’t we stay longer?” I say, accepting the water bottle he offers.
The coolness of it slides down my parched throat.
“No, we can’t. I’m sorry, but I need to get back to my estate as soon as possible.” He says as he removes a pan and an electric food press. “Do you like bacon?”
“What American doesn’t?” I smile.
“I figured the American classic with a French twist, BLTs on French bread, Panini style?”
“Hmm, sounds delicious.”
I lick my lips in anticipation and his eyes darken as he follows my tongue sliding across them. I bit on my lower lip, trying to stifle my moan but fail. He groans.
Breaking the mood, I say breathlessly, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on yet?”
Swallowing loudly, he replies. “Let’s eat first, and then we’ll talk.”