Layers (32 page)

“I love you too.” I kiss him and snort, giggling.

“Hales,” he strokes my cheek and briefly flutters his lips on mine. “I’ll take the risk of sounding impulsive and irrational but …”

Like that is something that ever stopped you before!
“What is it, Daniel?” I ask, smiling at him in the weak light of the room, my eyes level with his.

“I think you should move in with me.”

I guess Miss Taylor is a bonafide prophet.

For a long beat I let his words sink in.
Is he serious
?
This must be just another one of those ‘I am totally messing with you Hales, relax’, things. He cannot be serious. Psycho and impulsive as he is, this is over the top nuts even for him.

“Hales, look at me. I’m right here.” Concern erupts from his voice. I lift my troubled eyes to meet his and am taken aback by the seriousness his hazel depths transmit.

“You’re kidding?” I say tentatively. “This is the part where you say just messing with you, right?” I question, swallowing hard, feeling my mouth gradually turning to cotton.

“No, Hales. I’m serious,” he annunciates each word firmly, in a low voice. “I’m trying to tell you that I hate every minute you’re not with me.”

I feel the same way, but this is so soon, so wrong. This screams disaster waiting to happen, in capital letters.

“Daniel,” I start and halt to reassess how I am going to deliver what I’m about to say. “I do feel the same way. Actually, I have never felt as right about someone as I feel about you. This is the first time I’ve actually fallen in love. I have never, in my entire life, felt anything remotely close to what I feel for you.” I pause to take in a much-needed breath.

“This sounds like the beginning of a requiem of the idea to me,” he mutters flatly.

“Daniel.” I touch his face, grazing his mouth with my thumb. “Please listen to me.”

“Go on,” he says, not looking as keen as he seemed moments ago.

“But as confident as I am about you, I’m still not so confident about all of this relationship stuff. I feel that it’s too soon for us to try to live together. This is all so new to me and I feel like it’s completely taking over my life.” I watch him, trying to evaluate whether what I am saying is getting through to him.
There is no fucking way I’ll do anything to jeopardize what we have.

“I’m not dismissing your idea, I’m just saying let’s take it one step at a time, let’s not jump into this. It’s just too new to both of us, D. Let’s try and not be impulsive, though it might feel like the right thing. Believe me, I had to fight myself to not stand in your way when you left my apartment earlier today.”

He smiles though the smile doesn’t appear in his stare. “Hales, what I’ve learned throughout life—and believe me I did experience a few things to get to where I am—is that being impulsive isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Impulsiveness and strong gut feelings are what brought me to where I am in life and I consider it quite a good place to be.”

“That it is,” I reply.
Who can argue with that
.

“So, to summarize, my gut feeling tells me I have found
the one
.” He pauses to look at me with a penetrating glare, emphasizing the gravity of his argument. Hearing these two words I need to fight my urge to jump up and down and yell, “yes, I’ll move in this minute and never ever leave.”

“I don’t think that acting passive rather than impulsive is the right way to go. But, my sweet Hayley, for once I’ll let you have it your way,” he chuckles.

Thank you
.

“I don’t want you running out the door,” he adds, scornfully in what sounds like a non-negotiable concession.
D, the last thing I would do is run away from you willingly
.

I try to process everything he laid on me. He just doesn’t stop dazzling me.
How fast did we get from ‘I don’t kiss if I don’t mean it, I don’t do relationships’ to, well, this. ‘Move in with me’ …

“Don’t get me wrong, Daniel, in my heart I feel like I would do anything you want but when reason sets in and I take control of my Danielized brain, I know this isn’t right.”

He rests his hand on my cheek and brushes my lips with a tender touch of his. I kiss him back and think for a second.

“Tell you what,” I say. “Let’s start with a drawer and a key and see how it evolves.”

“As long as you use it on a daily basis,” he mutters deadpan, but that mischievous amused expression of his slowly sprouts on his lips.

How overbearing of you to summarize it that way. My long speech, and here we are back at square one.

A moment later a low, throaty chuckle rolls out of his mouth. I look at him trying to understand the source of this outburst.
Are we being bipolar all the way today
?

“Come here.” He enfolds me deep into an embrace. “You’ve been Danielized?” he asks, highly amused. “I adore the hell out of you,” he breathes into my hair.

“You are so beautiful,” he says, his head rested on his propped arm as he observes me lying by my side on his bed. “I love these freckles.” He gently runs his finger from one side of my face across the bridge of my nose to the other.

“And these eyes of yours.” He bends to kiss my eyes softly, lingering there like a ritual. “They have the most fascinating color and I love the spark in them when you laugh.”

He moves to briefly kiss my lips. “This mouth,” he says, “drives me crazy.” He holds my face with two hands and repeats, “Crazy!”

I tilt my head slightly back, giggling, enjoying every bit of his tour of my face. “It’s so sexy. The obscene thoughts it brings to my mind each time I think of it. And yet it also produces these gorgeous smiles of yours that have me agreeing to whatever you want.”

“God, I’m so whipped. It’s pathetic,” he snorts and I burst into fits of giggles.

Daniel then trails his index finger around the border of my mouth, taking his time, ending the journey by pressing gently on my lower lip with his thumb, allowing it entrance to my mouth. His stare is now a shade graver. Pulling softly at my teeth, he parts my mouth, bringing his face closer to mine and slowly but firmly brings his tongue to trace mine, causing a short circuit from my keen mouth to my center.

As our lips part I take the chance to take my own trip over his handsome planes. “Daniel,” I touch the deep scar on his upper lip, this scar that could make my heart accelerate just by looking at it, “how did you get this scar?” I run my finger over the mark, stretching my neck so I can reach it and melt my lips on it. I move to deepen the kiss, savoring more of his drugging taste.

As I draw back he answers, “Nothing too exciting, just a dumb beginner’s surfing accident.”

So this sexy contribution to his total rebellious look is thanks to surfing
.

“I thought it wasn’t possible, but I love surfing even more now,” I grin at him.

“You love surfing more now because it defiled my face?” He raises his eyebrows in animated curiosity. “You are weird, Hales.”

I kiss him chastely, and then turn to kiss the scar on his eyebrow.

“And this one?” I inquire. His demeanor quickly changes. He tries to stay composed, though the sudden stiffness and the unreadable expression that take over his face tell me otherwise.

“I’m in too good of a mood right now,” he growls, and adds more casually, “I’d rather just continue this thorough tour of you.” I hear the message loud and clear. The subject has been closed to further discussion. Saying that, he starts yet another journey across me, although this one is much more profound and scarce with words. Once again avoiding what seems like something he would much rather not discuss, he buries himself in me.

Chapter 32: Catching Up

Did hell just freeze over? Did our impudent, young, disturbingly-pierced receptionist grant me with a healthy, sweeter than honey, smile?
I take a step back.

“Good morning,” I smile back at her, somewhat dubious.

“Good morning, Hayley. How are you today?”

I nod and smile, this time warmer. This is like the earth sending me a hidden message.
Should I go buy a lottery ticket
? Amused, I head toward my cubicle.

“Good morning.” Josh meets me at the foyer of our open space.

“Good morning. How was your weekend?”

“Pretty good, though I didn’t get to tan as much as you.” He broadcasts his white, toothy grin at me.

“Where have you been?” he asks, looking actually interested.

“Baja.” I think dreamily about our wonderful weekend.

“Lucky you.”

Most definitely lucky me.
“Staff meeting at eleven?” I ask, making small-talk.

“Yes, eleven,” he says, contributing his trivial part.

“Would you need me before then?” I know he doesn’t but ask just for the sake of continuing the conversation till I reach my desk.

“No, just be prepared to present the outline for the ‘teen moms’ piece.”

As I settle in, powering up my computer, Josh appears back in my cubicle. I raise my head to face him, waiting for some sort of reaction.

“I’m calling your friend Ian now. Hope he’ll be able to come by today.”

“I’m pretty positive he’ll find the time.” I nod at Josh.

He pats the outer wall of my cubicle. “So, see you later.” And I hear his steps distance, letting me start my week.

During our staff meeting, as Aaron from finance briefs us about the available budget for each project, I get a text message from Tasha asking me to come for lunch for the simple reason that she’s missing some quality alone time with me. I immediately agree.
How can I say no?

After the meeting I’m left with quite a task list for the week. I’ll have to put all of my energy into completing my assignments before I leave for the weekend.
A weekend at home.
An iota of gloom follows the exciting thought.
A weekend with no Daniel …

~~~

“You are so sweet for coming. I knew you would.” Tasha sends me a friendly stare as we wait for our dishes to arrive.

“Well, gushing about quality time always does the job and we both know that,” I say, and with a silent unified smile we agree.

“I had
the talk
with Rob earlier,” she utters without further ado, closely examining her hair as though looking for split ends.

“My eyes are here,” I comment as I wait for her to go on. She shakes her head and the start of a smile forms on her lips as she lifts her stare to meet mine.

“I told him that I think we should take a step back, like you suggested.” She halts for a moment, looking to see if there is a familiar face around, given the fact that the restaurant is right beneath the Stark Software building.

“How did he take it?”

“He tried to convince me we shouldn’t, but I was more than assertive,” she explains. “I just hope it won’t cause any unnecessary drama.” Tasha forces a weary sigh.

“Yes, this could really suck. I hope he’ll take it like a man and not put you through hell at work.”

“Here you go, ladies, two goat cheese salads and two sparkling waters.”

“Thank you,” we both say to the cheerful waitress.

“So Hales, how was it?” Tasha asks, and she doesn’t need to elaborate that she’s asking about my weekend. We don’t need too many words between us to communicate.

“Sorry to disturb, ladies. Is this seat taken? Can I have your extra chair?” asks a sassy-looking redhead, interrupting us.

“No, you can take it,” I reply to her oversized sunglasses.

“Thank you.” We both nod curtly and continue with our conversation, now in lower voices.

“It was amazing, Tash, we had such a good time. We’ve connected on so many levels.” I tell her about our surfing experience and what came right after.

“Wow, he actually sang to you?”

“Well he kind of murmured the words. If it had been anybody else I would have thought it was lame or that he was trying too hard. I probably would have needed a sick bag, but it wasn’t like that with him. On the contrary. He just has this something about him.” A smirk blossoms on my lips thinking about that evening and my heart makes half a somersault.

“Frankly Hales, it’s still kind of hard to believe that out of the three of us you’re the one in a serious relationship. And, with no less than
the
Daniel Stark, ah?” She presses her lips into a foolish smile, and I nod in joyful confirmation.

“Yep.” I say, popping the p.

“So, what is it about him besides being a total babe that made my best friend fall so deep and so fast?” Tasha takes another forkful of her salad.

“There are so many different layers to him; he never ceases to amaze me.” I say, sighing with content. I take a sip of my water.

She pats a napkin to her lips, “and?”

“Well for one, we both know how domineering and impulsive he can be.”

We trade knowing stares and snicker in stereo.

“Intimidating Mr. Stark,” Tasha rolls her eyes and I counter with a side smile.

“But on the other hand, he has all those sensitive sides to him and the combination of them all just blows me away.” I muse for a short second, fixated on my bubbling water.

“You know, Tash, he had quite a traumatic childhood,” I say and add, “Can you imagine, his father walking out on him when he was just seven, leaving him and his mom with no more than a penny to live off.” A shiver runs through me and makes me hurt all over deep inside, thinking about him that way again.

“Not to mention dealing with his mother’s almost fatal disease when he should have been enjoying life and playing with other kids his age.”

“That is so awful, but look what he eventually became despite all of it,” Tasha says with an air of respect.

I take another sip of my water and a bite of the salad. “I’m not sure, but I think that one of his scars has something to do with his dad.”

“Are you implying he was violent?” she asks, tentatively.

“His reaction when I asked him how he got it was very similar to how he acted the first time I asked about his father.”
I hope I’m not right but somehow I have a pretty good hunch where that story might lead
.