Chapter Eighteen
The sun is high in the sky on this comfortably warm April day. As I enter my third month in Sydney, I am as happy and content as I’ve ever been. Today, I officially move in with Daniel.
I tried so hard to resist falling too quickly for him, but in the end, he had me.
I’m taking a chance my heart will continue to beat intact and stay safe in his care.
I have no idea if this is forever or just the remaining twenty-one months I have left on my current working visa.
Who knows what Australia has in store for my future.
I know I wouldn’t object if it wanted me here permanently or better still, if Daniel wanted me here permanently.
My mum and dad handled the news of my new boyfriend and living arrangements well.
They said all the usual parent stuff such as they hoped Daniel was good to me and wished me nothing but happiness.
What they didn’t do was question if this was the right move or ask what my intentions would be for the future.
Their support was a given no matter which path I chose.
Daniel is downstairs with Jack collecting the last of my things from the car when the home phone springs to life. Should I get it? I don’t feel comfortable enough to do that. I’ve been here all but a few hours as Daniel’s live-in girlfriend so I decide to let voicemail deal with it.
“Daniel, are you there? It’s me, just wondering how your new housemate is getting on.”
I dive to pick up the call, “Hi Diana, it’s Hannah.”
“Hannah, how are you? I didn’t think anyone was there?”
“I’m sorry. I nearly left it. Then I heard your voice.”
“You’re allowed to answer the phone,” she laughs. “It’s your home now.”
“So he’s told you?”
“He has.” The pure delight in her tone is clear. “Are you all moved in?”
“Not quite, although there isn’t a lot to unpack. I travel light.”
I love Diana Grant. She is the type of person who instantly puts you at ease, very much like my mum. I have a slight pang of homesickness while we talk until she distracts my thoughts with a certain Australian.
“Hannah, I have to tell you, Daniel is the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time. He’s had a rough ride for the last few years. I’m so glad he met you.”
“Me too, Diana.” My heart swells beyond belief at her words. I’ve never had any sort of relationship with a boyfriend’s mum before. It feels good to know she approves.
“Listen, I appreciate you’ve only just moved to your new home, but please promise to visit in the next few weeks.”
I’m not prepared for the question and my immediate thoughts turn to dealing with her irrational daughter-in-law.
“I’ll need to check with Daniel.” I’m sure Diana can sense my concern. She isn’t stupid, and she saw with her own eyes how Freya was with me .
“I understand. Have a chat and see what you both think.”
I don’t hear him walk through the door, and his voice startles me. “Hannah, that’s everything for—” Daniel stops in his tracks and Jack pulls up just behind as they bring in the last of my cases. I silently mouth, “It’s your mum. Do you want to talk to her?”
He shakes his head and mouths back, “Not now, I’ll call her later.” I nod then finish speaking to Diana. “Okay, so I’ll ask Daniel to get back to you about that as soon as we sort something out.”
“Perfect,” she says with so much optimism. “I’ll leave it with you.”
The few boxes I own are neatly stacked in the hall, and Jack has disappeared.
He does that. I’m getting to understand him better and I know I can trust him.
Just like I trust the gorgeous Australian who leans against the kitchen units.
His outstretched arms welcome me into his warm embrace.
The feel of his large hands as they slide around my waist and pull me against his lean body, warms my soul. “Good chat with my mum?”
“Very. She was wondering how we’re getting on with the move.”
He gives me one of his incredible broad smiles. “And I hope you told her how fantastic your new housemate is?”
“Actually, I told her how he could be a real pain in the arse.”
“Is that right?” With that, he has me curled up in a ball and finds my ticklish spots in a nanosecond. I can’t catch my breath while laughing at the same time. This is the Daniel I love. The playful, relaxed, regular version.
I’ve unpacked my clothes, my toiletries have found a shelf in the bathroom cabinet and I have a couple of family photos placed in the lounge. We’re about to tuck into a Chinese takeaway for two when I suddenly remember his mother’s phone call.
“I forgot to say, your mum asked if we wanted to visit the farm soon.”
Daniel rubs his fingers over his furrowed eyebrows, “Really?”
“What’s the problem? Don’t you want to go?”
He scowls slightly, “It’s not that. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. What have you told her?”
“I haven’t. I said I would speak to you first, and you’d call her back.”
“Right,” he nods. “Well, we don’t have to commit to a date yet so let’s just think about it.”
His set eyes lock with mine. I don’t want to argue with him. This is not how this special day should end. Although our last visit didn’t go well, we ought to go for his parent’s sake, but how to convince him. “I’d like to give her some idea. It seems rude not to.”
He sighs, “Mum is not the problem and you know it.”
He is obviously talking about Freya. I can understand if he’d rather keep us apart as she clearly doesn’t like me. Having said that, now Daniel and I are officially living together, she’s got to get used to it.
“Daniel, I don’t think we should let anything stop us. We have to live our lives as we want and not let anyone get in the way.”
Our now smiling eyes make contact and this time, I lose myself in his hazel pools for a moment. I love his intense focus, his beautiful thick dark hair, and his strong jawline. I just love him.
“I want you all to myself,” he says with the sexiest smile. My bits are on fire and I can’t wait to get this conversation done so I can straddle him, right here in our home.
“Well,” I say with a smirk, “as much as I want that for you too, we shouldn’t hide away. I’m ready for her, Daniel. She won’t stop us from visiting your parent’s at the farm.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“I’ve never been more certain.”
I hope my puppy dog eyes work, plus he knows he has to agree, not just for me, but for his mum too.
“All right, we’ll give it a go.”
“Thank you.” I get up from the table and head to his outstretched arms which wrap me in warmth before he holds me tight and kisses me deeply.
My appetite shifts from food to him when he lifts my legs to encircle his waist. We move to the kitchen worktop where he places me gently.
His lips run from my jaw and down my neck, leaving a trail of electricity. I breathe out his name, “Daniel…”
His mouth leaves my skin and takes my earlobe. He whispers, “This bench needs to be christened.”
His teeth now graze my lobe as my entire body is on fire with anticipation of what is to come. I’ve been to a few christenings before, but I doubt I’ll ever go to one quite like this again.
I love the normality I have with Daniel.
No awkward pauses while I wait for an overnight invitation, no panic or mad dashes for a change of clothes from the flat.
It’s only been a few weeks, but we have a routine already.
We always shower together then eat breakfast before Jack arrives to pick me up.
I could easily hop on the bus. It’s only a forty-five-minute ride from home, but Daniel insists I’m delivered safely and picked up at the end of each working day.
Meanwhile, he uses the home office almost full-time.
I use the title ‘home office’ loosely. It’s actually every man’s dream cave with all the boy’s toys you could wish for as well as weights, a rowing machine, and cross trainer.
It would be socially a lot healthier for him to be in the office and I hope I can persuade him one day. For now, it works.
However hard we work during the day, the evenings are ours. We love the local restaurants and often grab a bite before heading to see a film. We just enjoy our time together, although I still get my city fix when I go out with my girlfriends.
Richard wasn’t too thrilled about me moving in with Daniel at first, but even he can see how happy I am right now.
He does his best to be positive about it.
He went out of his way to ask us over for dinner one evening.
It was probably Alison’s idea, although the fact Richard was willing to go along with it was a breakthrough.
Daniel is aware how my boss feels, but at the end of the day, he has the upper hand.
He outranks Richard, and this was very much displayed in the way he informed my boss of our living status.
I think Daniel’s exact words were, ‘Get used to it. It’s permanent.
’ Is it wrong I was slightly turned on by that?
The weeks fly by, and we soon mentally prepare to visit the farm.
I walk through the revolving doors of our building at the end of a busy week.
With my weekend bag already packed and in the boot of the car, I just need to swing by home to pick up my man.
Jack is normally out on the pavement with the car door open by now.
Today he’s not. He’s sitting in the driver’s seat, his focus towards the rear-view mirror.
He’s talking to someone, although I can’t see who it is because of the blacked-out windows.
Jack spots me and is about to step out of the car before I rush forward shouting, “It’s okay, I can manage.
” I nearly topple over as I climb in the back and find Daniel’s wide hazel eyes.
This is a real breakthrough and I’m so excited he’s here.
“Quick, get in,” he growls. I pull the door shut and almost immediately, he kisses me hard.
Is this his way of coping? I wouldn’t say he was nervous, just eager to get away.
I’ll do all I can to distract him until we are safely out of the city.
Thankfully, the screen goes up between Jack and the back seat so I’m not embarrassed.
Daniel’s kisses are ravenous and I can’t deny I love every minute of their hunger.
Our snogging session has made us both a little more relaxed.
If I had the choice, I’d prefer to spend the entire weekend in the car like this.
Eventually, reality will bite and as Daniel draws endless circles on the palm of my hand, his slanted smile gives way to his concerns.
“Look, whatever happens, we’re stronger than Freya. We can handle it. Agreed?”
“Agreed, I understand how tough I have to be,” I reassure him.
His index finger runs a line under my chin and raises my face to meet his eyes. They lock instantly. “I hope so because being with me is not always an easy ride.”
“So you say, but if you’re sure that you and me,” I indicate with my finger between us, “is what you really want, then I’m prepared to fight for you. If she plays hardball, I’ve got to play harder.”
His enormous smile says it all and compels me to devour his lips with mine.
We are lost in that kiss for a while and when it ends, my train of thought leads me to Joe. “I wish your brother would come to his senses and realise she will break his heart.”
“It’s not as simple as that. He stands by her because he has to, not because he wants to.”
DANIEL
Why the hell did I agree to this? I don’t want to take my girl home.
She doesn’t realise she’s about to walk into a shit storm and has no clue how bad things already are.
Fuck it! Fuck, fuck, fuck it! How the fucking fuck do I tell her that the day she called to tell me she was moving in with me, Freya lost it and that’s why I couldn’t get back to her.
How do I explain how absolutely fucking wild she went?
When Joe and I tried to calm her, she spat, she screamed bloody murder and was so out of control and vicious to Joe; we had to call the doctor.
It was the worst I’d seen her, and I was the cause.
My brother talked to me for hours after that.
He’s trapped and has no choice but to stay married because if he doesn’t, it’ll break the family apart.
Mum and dad feel trapped by her too, but they won’t let her see that side of them.
They’ve got to show Freya that they are in control and not the other way around.
If she wanted to, Freya could finish us all.
HANNAH
“What is going on in that head of yours?”
Daniel jolts back to the here and now, his eyelids heavy. A half-smile appears as he pulls me in towards him and I nuzzle against his chest. His arms wrap around me as if he’s just realised I’m there and his hold is tight. Very, very tight.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for you? Any idea at all?” I shake my head against him. “Too long. There’s no way I’ll let anyone fuck this up for us.”
I realise the depth of his frustration as I sink against his chest and think ; you have absolutely no idea how much I’m in love with you, Mr Grant. I’m just not brave enough to say it. Not yet.
Apart from a few noisy horses, the farm seems quiet. Daniel gets out of the car and stretches his hands towards the sky. Jack is quickly at the back collecting our bags from the boot while Daniel comes to my aid, steadying my step out of the back by taking my hand .
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” I say, dipping to a low curtsy.
“You are most welcome, my lady,” he says with an exaggerated bow and his arms all a flourish, but our good mood is interrupted by the unwelcome tone of her sarcasm.
“How sweet. Aren’t you two just the perfect pair? Being together twenty-four seven obviously suits you.”
The more I’m around her, the nastier she gets.
She will not beat me. I’m not putting up with her pathetic snide comments.
I take a deep breath, roll my shoulders back and say in the happiest voice I can muster, “Yes, it does. We are ecstatically happy, thank you, Freya.” I squint and overstretch my lips to a forced state of happiness. “And how are you?”
She sees my fake smile and raises it with her pursed mouth, “Good. Great, in fact.”
I don’t give her a chance to elaborate because I don’t want to spend a second longer in her presence than I have to. “Excellent. See you later, no doubt.”
I turn towards Daniel, take his hand and we make our way to the main house. We leave Freya glued to the spot, watching us walk away, much like she did the first day I met her. She would have to get used to this. She would have to get used to me.