Chapter Eleven
T he next several days sped past with the same routine of working during the day and seeing Daniel at night. It was planned that Friday, the two sisters and the men would double-date, go for a nice dinner, and some dancing.
Keira turned back and forth in front of the mirror and smoothed the sides of the white capris she put on. She added a light green short-sleeved shirt and sandals.
A knock came right on time. “Hi, come on in.” She held her arms out at her sides. “Is this okay? You said casual.”
Daniel’s gaze swept over her. She looked so young and fresh. “That’s perfect.”
“Okay, good. Let me get my jacket.”
He watched her turn toward the sofa, stop, and look around the room. She walked to the closet and her bedroom and then moved to the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” he asked when she walked back to him with confusion clear on her face.
Keira shook her head. “I can’t find the jacket I was going to wear. I thought I put it on the back of the sofa.” She walked back to the closet and reached for another jacket.
Daniel’s gaze scanned the room. “It will turn up.”
She tried to let the creepy feeling go. “I hope so. I’ve misplaced a few things in the last two days, and I never do things like that.”
Daniel frowned in concern. “Are you tired or overstressed?”
Keira shook her head. She wondered if she should tell him she felt like she was being watched and decided against it. “No, not at all. Come on. We’ll be late if we don’t go now.” She made sure the door was double locked.
Daniel glanced down when he felt a shiver course through her as he put his arm around her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Keira shook off the feeling of dread and smiled up at Daniel. She wasn’t going to let this affect her night out with him. “Absolutely.” She smiled shakily.
Keira didn’t mind the quiet on the drive to the restaurant, she had so many thoughts racing through her mind. A few things in her house had been moved or just lost altogether. She knew the move here had been stressful, but she’d always been an extremely organized person, and it threw her when things weren’t the way she wanted. She’d think about this later when she wasn’t with Daniel. She didn’t want anything to get in the way of being with him. She was startled when her car door opened.
Daniel frowned in concern at her silence, grasped her hand, and pulled her from the car. He relaxed a little when she smiled at him.
She looked around, a little intimidated by the fancy look of the place. “We haven’t been here before. Are you sure I’m dressy enough for this place?”
“Absolutely. Stop worrying. I see Logan’s car, so they must be waiting for us inside.”
Keira plastered on a smile, determined to enjoy this night with her sister.
Daniel escorted her to the bar area, where Logan and Layla were having a drink while waiting for them. Layla and Keira hugged.
“Our table is ready if you guys are?” Logan asked.
Daniel grasped Keira’s hand and walked behind the other couple.
“Keira, do you need any help with unpacking, or are you working too many hours at the shop?”
Keira looked up from her menu and frowned at her sister. “No. Why would you ask?”
“I think you’re working too hard. I can tell you’re not getting enough sleep.”
Keira rolled her eyes. “Wow, thanks. Do I look that bad?”
Layla snorted. “No. I just know you tend to work too hard and forget about taking care of yourself.”
A flush spread across her face, and she looked at Daniel out of the corner of her eyes. “I am just fine, Layla. You need to worry about your upcoming honeymoon, not if I’m getting enough sleep.”
Layla shrugged. “I can do both.”
Keira narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Oh, for God’s sake, Lay. We’re not going to talk about this right now. Let’s just enjoy our evening. I promise to tell you if I need help,” she said softly and raised the menu to shield her face.
Layla looked at Daniel and was glad to see concern on his face as he looked at Keira.
His gaze swept to Layla and then back at Keira. “Don’t worry, Layla. I promise to take care of her when you’re gone.”
Keira gasped and turned to him. “You will do no such thing. I am perfectly able to take care of myself. Can we please just order? I’m hungry.”
Logan slid his hand up and down Layla’s back, pressed his mouth to her ear, and whispered. “I think you’re embarrassing her, Honey.”
Layla relaxed her shoulders and asked in a normal voice, “What are you going to have, Logan?”
After that, the night went smoothly, and the conversation was consistent throughout the meal.
After dinner, Daniel and Logan took the girls to a bar. They found a table for themselves right away. The girls sat while the guys went for drinks.
“Keira, I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”
Keira turned toward her sister. “I know you’re just worried about me, Lay. I get that. You know how much I hate to depend on others.”
“Sometimes you have to, though. I was the same as you, remember, until I met Logan.”
“That doesn’t mean things will work out the same way with me and Daniel. Just please don’t push him at me. It’s liable to turn him off and make him walk away.”
Layla smiled. “There is no way that’s going to happen. You don’t see the way he looks at you when you’re not watching.”
Keira reached across the table for her sister’s hand. “I hope you’re right. I’ve never met a man like him before.”
“He is special.”
“I just don’t want to jinx it. We’re just getting to know one another right now. I am not going to get my hopes up yet, and you know why?”
“Yeah, I get that, Kiki. Just enjoy the time you have together.”
Keira chuckled. “Oh, I do.”
“Aww. You’re blushing.”
Keira threw a ball of napkin at her sister and laughed. “Stop, Lay.”
“Ah, oh, did we come back in the middle of a fight?” Logan said and sat, handing Layla her drink.
“No. We don’t fight. You know that. We never have.”
Daniel’s eyebrows went up. “Never? Really?”
Keira smiled. “Not that we can remember.”
“Hell, my sister and brother and I still fight.”
Keira laughed. “Tell me about them.”
“Well, they’re mean to me.”
Logan snorted and shook his head. “Daniel is the oldest, and he acts like it. They get mad when he tries to boss them around.”
Daniel’s eyebrows went up. “Kinda like you do to your poor sister?”
The women sat back, laughing, and watched the guys get into an insult match with each other. The jabs got meaner as they went on until Layla stood.
“I want to dance with my husband.”
Both men stopped instantly, and Logan stood and immediately pulled a laughing Layla out to the dance floor.
Daniel stood and gripped the back of Keira’s chair. “Will you dance with me, Honey?”
“Absolutely. I would love to.”
Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist on the dance floor, and brought her against his chest. For several songs, they swayed together to relaxing melodies, enjoying each other's company in silence.
After dancing, the women sat and listened to the stories the men shared about each other from their time on the force. Most of the stories would have embarrassed most people, but they didn’t seem to mind at all. The stories got bigger as the night passed.
Daniel asked once about Keira’s childhood, and silence descended over the table.
Keira looked at Layla and then at Daniel and shrugged. “There’s nothing to really tell. We had pretty boring lives. I’d rather hear some more stories from you guys.”
The other three knew she was dodging the question and let it slide. Daniel wasn’t disappointed since they had met just a week or so ago. They had plenty of time to get to know each other. And there was a lot he wanted to know about her.
Daniel stood and reached for her. “How about one more dance?”
Keira clutched his hand and followed him onto the dance floor. She couldn’t hold back a sigh when she was in his arms.
“Are you tired?” he asked when he heard the sound.
Keira shook her head. “No. I just really like feeling you against me.”
Daniel nuzzled the top of her head. “Me, too.” They dance silently for a few minutes. “Will you let me stay with you tonight?”
Keira shivered at the feeling of his breath in her ear and at the question of where the evening might lead. Was she ready for it? Yes, she decided. She didn’t want to waste any more time. She leaned back and looked up at him. “I’d like that very much.”
Daniel released a breath. “Is it too early to leave?”
His question made Keira giggle and look toward the other couple that were in their own little world. “I don’t think they would mind. Heck, they might not even notice we’re gone, but this will be the last time I see her before they leave for their honeymoon.”
He chuckled. “I doubt it, too. Let’s go tell them we’re leaving.”
****
K eira leaned back in the car seat and kept her eyes on Daniel. He had the most masculine profile, and she didn’t think she’d ever get tired of looking at it.
“I’m going to miss her when she’s gone. I know we’ve gone much longer not seeing each other, but it seems the older I get, the more I need to be around her, and I hate that we’ve had so much time apart as it is.”
Daniel glanced at her before he reached out, picked up her hand, and laced their fingers together. “I know, I’m sorry. I want to tell you it’s only three weeks, but to you, it will probably seem much longer.”
Keira agreed, but she’d be fine. She planned to keep as busy as possible. It would make the time go faster.