Chapter 2
Daniel
Few minutes from my sister’s house, I can’t wait to spend time with my niece.
Lately, all she talks about is her music teacher. Ms K, she calls her. According to her and my sister, Ms K says Cara has potential.
It sounds like Ms K is just making money off my sister all in the name of telling my niece she has potential.
My ten-year-old niece loves playing the piano which sounds good to me but is she a potential prodigy, that’s the part, I’m not quite sure about, but long as she loves playing that’s fine with me.
I might as well meet Ms K and let her know I’m on to her.
The drive to my sister Maggie’s house takes longer than estimated as traffic increases and it’s annoying just getting locked in traffic.
I weave through it and arrive forty-five minutes later than I had planned but I made it, and Cara can’t say I didn’t show up.
And since I’d promised to spend the week, I guess we are good.
Soon as I enter, Cara hears my voice and races over.
“Uncle Dan, you made it!” she shouts, bouncing into my arms like she has been doing since she was a little girl.
“Hi, my sprinkles.” I wrap my arms around her in a quick hug as she pulls away to talk a mile a minute.
“I’m so happy you made it. You get to meet Ms K and I can play for you. I learned a new song today and Ms K said with more practice, I can go to the next level.” Her excitement is blatant.
“Can you please let your uncle come in?” I hear my sister Maggie. “Hi, Daniel,” she says to me. She never calls me Dan; it’s always Daniel with her.
“Hi, Maggie. So, where is this famous Ms K?” I ask, following my niece as she pulls my arms to the family room where the piano is.
“Ms K went to the bathroom. She should be out in a few. Let me play what I just learned for you.” Excitement oozing from her
“Okay.” Soon as she sits to play, I hear the footsteps and turn.
My throat goes dry; the room tilts Fuck me! It’s her. The woman I couldn’t take my eyes off at Luke’s wedding. In the past few weeks, images of her have tortured my sleep.
Her ripped jeans cling to curves that make my pulse skip.
The white t-shirt rides up slightly as she adjusts her camo jacket, revealing a sliver of skin.
When she turns, her short hair swings, catching the light.
My question dies on my lips as Cara's voice cuts through the fog in my brain: "Miss K, look! Uncle Dan made it!" she exclaims.
Now, this is interesting, my niece’s music teacher is the same woman from the wedding. Once again, I’m in awe of her beauty. Universe has a twisted mind. I had a middle-aged lady in mind as Ms K and certainly not her. Things just got interesting. I chuckle inwardly.
“That’s lovely,” Ms K says. “I finally get to meet your Uncle Dan.”
Her voice is deep and husky. I never would have expected that. I move towards her.
“Hi, I’m Cara’s uncle,” I say as I put my hand out to her. She takes my hand and an unexpected wave of softness and calm flows through me along with a wake up in my pants.
Fuck, I feel it again. I can’t explain the strong attraction I’m feeling towards her. The first time, I thought it was because her body was so close to mine but today all I want is to hold her and I can’t do that.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ms K, Cara’s music teacher. She talks a lot about you,” she says with a beautiful smile as she drops my hand. I detect an accent, but I can’t quite place it. I want to hold on longer to her hand, but it would be awkward.
“No first name?” I ask, my tone inquisitive, keeping my gaze on her.
“It’s Makayla, but I prefer Ms K.” her voice firm.
I nod. I have a name to the face. I should stop but, weirdly, I can’t help myself. It doesn't help that my sister’s eyes are daring me to stop questioning her like she’s on a witness stand. I wouldn’t be me, if I didn’t ignore Maggie’s warning look.
“K for?” I ask, with a hint of challenge.
“Kuti,” she replies toneless with a smile that I can tell is practiced and not genuine like before. Makayla Kuti, I let her name marinate in my mind.
“Ms K, before you go, can I quickly play the new piece for my uncle?” Cara asks, excited as always.
“Okay, five minutes,” she says, carefully placing her canvas bag and slightly worn folder onto the polished wooden table.
Cara starts to play the piano. The notes dance in the air, creating a symphony that captivates us as we stand silently.
The applause is deafening when she finishes, and a thrilled Cara, in her haste to race into my arms, causes Miss K's bag and folder to spill open.
Suddenly, the wind roared through the open windows, and papers danced wildly in the gusts.
Cara and Ms K get on their knees to pick up the papers, and I get a good view of Miss K’s sexy ass. I’m fucked.
My sister notices my glued eyes and arches a brow higher than the Eiffel tower, and I return a shrug.
As they gather the papers, Ms K’s phone rings. She answers it on speaker and says “hold on” as she continues to gather the papers. It feels like the wind was working against her and in my favor. The moment Cara gathers some paper, the wind blows again, and the papers are off flying.
“Hey, you are on speaker and I’m with my student, so mind your language,” she immediately spills.
“Got it, MAK,” the male voice booms through and I feel irritation at this guy calling her. “I need your magic ears, MAK. Like right now. Ross and I just laid some good tracks, but I need your validation.”
“I have stuff to do,” she replies but doesn’t sound dismissive.
“Please, MAK. You know you are my girl,” the guy pleads, and it irks me.
“Fine, I’ll be on my way in five minutes.”
“No offense, MAK, but my granny drives faster than you. I already sent a car for you.”
“You don’t even know where I am.”
“We share location on our phones, remember?” his voice mocks
Who the fuck is this guy? My irritation grows. The real question is: why are you upset by this conversation that has nothing to do with you?
“Remind me to stop sharing location with you,” I hear her rebuff.
Yes, please, stop sharing location with him.
“No can do.” He laughs. “You are stuck with me for life. Ride or die, baby” his laughter echoes and I find myself upset.
Fuck me, who is this guy?
“Fine, who’s picking me up?” she asks and the guy on the line is quiet for the first time. Almost as if she could sense it, she rests her ass on her heels and stuffs the papers she and Cara picked into the folder and takes the phone off speaker. “Who is the driver?” her tone is firm.
I don’t hear the reply, but I know by her palm hitting her forehead and the deep breath that followed, it isn’t someone she likes.
“He creeps me out,” She whispers. I don’t hear the response. “Fine, I’ll be out in a few, but he better not speak to me.” She pauses. “You owe me big time for this.”
She hangs up, exhales and gets off the floor. I want to ask what’s going on, but my sister shoots me a death stare. Just this once, I do what she wants.
“Will you be here tomorrow, Ms K?” Cara asks.
“Can we do Saturday?” she asks, turning to my sister “I have an appointment tomorrow.”
“Sure, just let me know what time,” Maggie replies.
“I will, and thank you,” she says and turns to Cara. “Keep practicing and I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.” Cara nods. “It was nice meeting you, Uncle Dan,” she says to me as she turns to leave.
“Same here, Ms K.”
She smiles and I swear, my heart smiles as well.
I tell myself not to pull the sheer curtain and look out the window, but I can’t help myself and watch as she gets into a black Mercedes truck whilst another guy gets out of the car and into the small car I presume is hers.
Who the hell is the guy that sent a ride for her?
And what did the driver do to make her dislike him so much?
Cara returns to her piano, and my sister signals that I follow her and soon as we are in the study she lets it out.
“Don’t even think about it,” she commands.
“Think about what?” I ask feigning the innocence of a child. I can’t pass up a chance to make Maggie mad, something I’ve been a pro at since I was little.
“Let me spell it out to you. Don’t you dare think about chasing after Ms K or digging into her personal life.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” I lie. I plan to chase her; I plan on being a part of her personal life.
Her brow is raised again, challenging my lie.
“Fine, she’s beautiful.” I comb my hand through my hair. “It just caught me off guard.”
“Stay away from her. Cara loves her and she loves Cara, which for me is a blessing and a big win.”
“What does this have to do with Cara?” I ask
“I know you and your macho conquests. I won’t let you do it to her. Take it elsewhere.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” I scoffed, even though I absolutely was. “So, you need not worry.”
She let out a breath she’d been holding since Ms K left. “Good, do you still plan on staying the week?”
Way to switch, sis.
“Yes, I promised Cara that I would drive her to school tomorrow and hang out with her all week.”
“It would be nice to have you around,” she says, leaving the study.
I move towards my quarters at the back of the house. Knowing my sister, it’s prepped for me.
Once inside, my first thought is to place a call to Bruce, so I can find out everything about Ms K, but I stand back for a second.
I really need more info, and my best resource is Cara. A sheepish smile curves my lips. “Bad uncle,” I smirk.
After unpacking my bag and a quick change to lounge wears, I head back into the main house. I can hear my niece still on the piano and I must admit, her playing is better than the last time. Maybe Miss K is right, Cara does have potential and I’m about to mix that potential with my own interests.