29. Daniel
29
DANIEL
I t was a lovely drive back to London, both of us chatting about what we could do to the Kent property. I held her hand the entire way, my fingers entwined with hers. Every once in a while, I would bring her hand to my lips and kiss it, it felt natural, as if I have always done it, as if I’ve always been allowed to do it. We park in my garage, and I take our bags from the back of the car while still holding her hand, I’m afraid if I let go, she will run.
“I’m hungry, how about you?” I ask, placing our bags down in my foyer before walking toward my kitchen and rummaging through the junk drawer where I keep the takeout menus. “What would you like, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian?”
“I’m easy, whatever is fine,” she answers from across the counter.
“How hungry are you?”
“For food or …?” She smirks.
This woman is going to be the death of me. “Something small but filling, Japanese it is, then.” I grin as I walk around the counter and grab her hand. “Go upstairs, run yourself a bath, and make yourself comfortable. I’m going to nip around the corner and grab us some food, wine, and be back in twenty, okay?”
“Sounds like a plan.” She smiles.
I walk around the counter and give her a kiss. “Wait for me in the bath,” I say, giving her a wink before rushing out the door.
Thirty minutes later and I hope she isn’t a shriveled-up prune waiting for me as I rush back to my home. I grab a tray and place the bowls of food on it. I ordered edamame, wakame salad, sliced Wagyu steak, an assortment of sashimi, salmon teriyaki, tempura vegetables, and some plain rice. I ordered a lot because I didn’t know what she felt like. I also add a couple of shot glasses of sake, chopsticks and cutlery, and some other condiments. Then I grab the vase of flowers I bought from the florist and a candle, and place them on the tray, too. Finally, I add the bottle of champagne and two glasses and somehow try to carry it up the stairs without dropping or spilling it. Carefully, step by step, I make it to the next level, then turn down the corridor to my bedroom and walk toward my ensuite bathroom where Rosie is lazily sitting in the bath.
“Sorry I’m late, I had to grab a couple of things,” I tell her as I place the tray and bottle of champagne on the vanity. I pick up the vase of flowers and bring it over to my bathtub which is filled with steamy hot bubbles. It’s a huge round bath that is more the size of a plunge pool than a bath. I wanted something to have fun in if I ever met anyone who I wanted to have fun with.
“I love your bath. I only just got in because I wanted to wait for you. Oh, you brought me flowers.” She gasps, staring at the pink roses. I place them on the ledge beside the bath and then drop a kiss atop her head as I pass and head back to get the rest of my goods.
“Bought a candle, too,” I say, pulling a lighter from the bathroom drawer to light it, and place it beside the flowers. Then, I bring back the bottle of champagne and glasses, pop the bottle, and pour us each a glass.
“You’re spoiling me,” she says, taking the glass, her face red and glowing from the hot bubbles. I take a quick sip and place the glass down before grabbing the side table, which I got made for the bath so that I could work, watch TV, and eat in the tub. I bring over the tray of food and set it up. Then, finally, I get undressed and love the feeling of Rosie’s eyes on me as I do before joining her in the bath and slipping into the warm water.
“This feels so good.” I moan as the warm water loosens up my tight muscles.
“I’ve never had a meal in a bath before.” Rosie giggles.
“Neither have I,” I confess, “but I think we are going to do it more often.” I grin, handing her the shot of sake.
“Only when Emily and Louis are out,” she warns, holding up the shot.
They need to hurry up and find a home because I am not missing out on bath time with Rosie.
“Then I will google which hotels have the best baths and we can hang out there till I kick them out.”
We both cheers and throw back the shot of sake, wincing at the taste. Rose looks so relaxed at her end with her glass of champagne as she almost drowns in bubbles. “Can I feed you?” I ask her. She lifts her head for a moment and then nods. I pick up a slice of steak with my chopsticks and hold it out for her to take, she groans as soon as the meat hits her lips. I take a slice for myself and do the same. It’s delicious, and so I keep feeding her until we are both full and the bathwater starts to cool down. I reach out and flick the button for spa and the water instantly warms and starts bubbling.
“That’s so cool. I’ve seen them at displays but not in someone's home.”
“I wanted something that I could sit in for a short time or a long time. I didn’t want to have to keep filling the bathwater up to keep it warm. That’s why I got one that does both.” Rosie shakes her head in awe. “Hey, you’re too far away, come here,” I tell her, pulling her to my side, there’s enough room for us. I wrap my arm around her as we drink our champagne. “How is your week looking?” I ask.
“Flat out this week, trying to get everything ready before Ivy’s birthday weekend.”
Shit. That’s right, next weekend is Ivy’s birthday and she is having a huge party down at their country house.
“Did you want to ride down together?”
“Wouldn’t that be weird?” she asks.
I shrug. “Do you have a car?” She shakes her head. “I do and you need a lift.” I can feel her stiffen a little in my arms. “But if you don’t feel comfortable, I can organize a car for you.”
“You don’t have to do that, I can hire one for the weekend.”
“Please, if I can’t drive you, then I’ll feel better if I know you are safe,” I tell her.
“Are you implying I can’t drive?” she asks, turning to me.
I try to go back in my mind to where I said that. Ah. Yeah, now I see how you might think that. “That’s not what I meant. You can sit in the car and work while driving down if you need to.”
She gives me a wary look, then grins. “You make a great point and it’s sweet that you worry about my safety, but I’ll rent a car.”
“That’s fine,” I say through clenched teeth. “Will you be staying the weekend?”
“Yes, and don’t you dare get any ideas, all your friends will be there, and Ivy is my boss,” she says.
“I’ll leave my door unlocked in case, you know,” I say, wiggling my brows.
She scoops up some bubbles and pops them on my nose. “Not going to happen.”
I grab and pull her into my lap.